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Frank Ammirante's five fantasy football bold predictions for Week 2 of the 2025 NFL season. Expert predictions for Ricky Pearsall, Harold Fannin Jr., Tyler Warren, and more.
We're onto Week 2 of the 2025 NFL season, so it's a good time to use what we learned in Week 1 to help find our bold predictions. With that said, we have to balance this new information while trying not to overreact to what we saw.
My Week 1 bold predictions worked out well, as I hit Zay Flowers to get 100+ receiving yards and J.J. McCarthy to rush for a touchdown.
Let's try to build on that result with Week 2 bold predictions on Ricky Pearsall, George Pickens, Harold Fannin Jr., Jahmyr Gibbs, and Tyler Warren.
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Ricky Pearsall Catches 7+ Passes
Brian Thomas Jr. with Mac Jones last season
Ricky Pearsall will be JUST FINE, trust https://t.co/vLF8l2jaac pic.twitter.com/K4fY8XTEQv
— Adam Koffler (@AdamKoffler) September 8, 2025
Pearsall got off to a strong start in Week 1, catching four of seven targets for 108 yards. Dating back to last season, Pearsall now has 318 yards in his last three games. While this was a wide receiver whom I faded when he got steamed up draft boards, I can't deny the upside going forward, especially with the 49ers dealing with injuries.
With George Kittle out with a hamstring injury and Jauan Jennings at less than 100 percent with a shoulder issue, expect to see Pearsall peppered with targets. I'm not worried about Mac Jones being thrust into action due to Brock Purdy's toe and shoulder injuries. There are a couple of reasons to feel confident that Jones will keep this offense afloat.
For one, don't forget that Kyle Shanahan was high on Jones back in the 2021 draft. There were even rumors right down to the wire that the 49ers would pass on Trey Lance for Jones. Even though that didn't happen, where there's smoke, there's fire. I believe that Shanahan thought Jones was a perfect fit for his scheme.
With that in mind, there's a reasonable possibility that Jones can get the job done in Purdy's absence. On top of that, we saw the former Patriots quarterback help Brian Thomas Jr. break out last season. The Jaguars star wideout put up 80+ yards in six of eight games with Jones under center.
With the 49ers playing indoors against an exploitable Saints defense, we could see Jones lock onto Pearsall, just like he did with Thomas. I'm betting that this uptick in targets results in a bunch of receptions for Pearsall in Week 2.
George Pickens Puts Up 100+ Receiving Yards
Pickens was one of my favorite wide receiver targets in drafts this year. I'm not backing down on that take just because of a slow Week 1, where the former Steeler hauled in three of four targets for only 30 yards.
Expect to see the Cowboys try to get their new toy more involved in their home opener against the Giants. This is a team that is likely to score at a higher rate at home in an indoor environment, as it's consistently been the case whenever Dak Prescott has been healthy.
We see this reflected in the Week 2 implied totals, where the Cowboys are projected to score 25 points, which ties them for the fifth most on the slate. While the Giants have an imposing pass rush with Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Dexter Lawrence II, they'll likely continue to struggle on offense with Andrew Thomas out of the lineup, resulting in more possessions for the Cowboys.
We just saw Deebo Samuel Sr. have a big game against the G-Men, where he hauled in seven of 10 targets for 77 yards. I'm confident that we'll see Pickens have a similarly strong performance.
Harold Fannin Jr. Gets 8+ Receptions
Since 2000, there have been only 2 rookie TEs to put up 9+ targets, 7+ receptions, and 60+ yards in their NFL debut:
Tyler Warren
Harold FanninSource: Stathead pic.twitter.com/bl2rtjWBPg
— Frank Ammirante (@FAmmiranteTFJ) September 9, 2025
Fannin was the hot ticket in waiver wires following an impressive NFL debut, where he caught seven of nine targets for 63 yards. Remember, this is a rookie who set records in his final season at Bowling Green, putting up 117 receptions for 1,555 yards and 10 touchdowns. Those are video game numbers for a tight end.
You have to love the usage that the Browns gave Fannin in his first game, as the rookie tight end led the team in targets. It's rare to see a first-year player immediately lead their team in targets, especially a tight end.
Quarterback Joe Flacco attempted 45 passes in Week 1. There's no reason to expect much different vs. the Ravens, as the Browns are heavy underdogs expected to play from behind, which means more passing volume. It's clear that Fannin is a major part of this team's plans on offense, so expect to see him heavily involved once again.
Detractors are concerned about the sustainability of this volume with David Njoku still there. After all, Njoku is a talented tight end with a strong track record. However, the Browns are playing Fannin all over the field, including in-line, in the slot, out wide, at fullback, and even in the Wildcat formation.
This is a Swiss Army knife that the Browns will feature all year. Remember, Cleveland is rebuilding, so it's in the best interest to feature its young players, like Fannin. Bet on another big game from the rookie in this upcoming pass-heavy game script.
Jahmyr Gibbs Totals 150+ Yards
Gibbs had a disappointing Week 1, where he was limited to only 19 rushing yards and 31 receiving yards. The new-look Lions offensive line -- which isn't nearly as good as last year's version -- had a tough time against a talented Packers front seven.
The good news is that Gibbs was still able to rack up 10 receptions, albeit for only 31 yards. The reason why I'm optimistic about Gibbs in Week 2 is that with the Lions struggling so much on offense in Week 1, I'm expecting them to rely on their most talented players in their home opener. That means force-feeding the ball to Gibbs.
We just saw the Bears give up 68 rushing yards on 15 carries to Jordan Mason and a 27-yard touchdown reception on a wheel route to Aaron Jones Sr. I could absolutely see Gibbs combining that production en route to a big game in a bounce-back spot vs. their division rival.
This is one of the most talented running backs in the NFL, featuring a huge ceiling. I'll go bold and say that it happens here in Week 2.
Tyler Warren Racks Up 8+ Receptions
My final bold prediction zeroes in on my other favorite rookie tight end, Warren. The former Penn State star delivered on preseason hype in Week 1, catching seven of nine targets for 76 yards.
Here's the kicker: it was in a blowout game script where the Colts dominated from kickoff and didn't have to throw much in the second half. What's Warren's stat line going to look like in a projected closer game vs. the Broncos? With stud corners like Pat Surtain II locking down the perimeter, there's a good chance that Daniel Jones will look to his rookie tight end early and often in this one.
As with Fannin in Cleveland, the Colts like to get Warren involved all over the field. That means a boatload of underneath targets as Jones tries to avoid pressure that will likely come from one of the best defenses in the NFL. With that in mind, we'll go bold and say Warren gets eight catches this week.
