10 Fantasy Football Bold Predictions - Andrew Lalama's 2025 Picks

August 31, 2025

Andrew Lalama's 10 fantasy football bold predictions for the 2025 NFL season, including predictions for Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Jaylen Waddle, and more.

Welcome to my favorite article of the year -- 2025 Bold Predictions. Every NFL season is pure chaos, and every offseason, fantasy players convince themselves they’ve got it all figured out. The truth? Nobody does. That’s why embracing variance and leaning into outlier outcomes is one of the best ways to get an edge on draft day. Playing it safe won’t win your league -- being bold just might.

In past years, I’ve had some pretty memorable calls: Last year, I predicted Jayden Daniels would have the greatest fantasy rookie QB season of all time, and promoted playoff-week league winner Jonathan Taylor. I also hyped up Brian Thomas Jr. and Sam Darnold, who turned out to be huge values. In 2023, I was all-in on both Lions RBs and rookie year Sam LaPorta. I also spotlighted Cooper Kupp in 2021 before his historic fantasy-breaking season.

My approach is simple: forget floor, chase upside, and bet on youth. Median season-long projections are overrated given the volatility of the NFL. Most draft picks won’t decide your season, but a handful of them absolutely will. This article is about finding those difference-makers.

1. TreVeyon Henderson breaks the record for most receptions by a rookie RB

You wanted bold, right?

In 2018, Giants rookie RB Saquon Barkley caught 91 passes. This is a lofty prediction, but I am extremely high on TreVeyon Henderson. Henderson went 38th overall in the NFL Draft and had an excellent college career as an explosive playmaker at Ohio State. Henderson boasts a 4.43 speed and plays that fast on film. He has adequate size at 5-10, 202, and is terrific as a pass-catcher. While he may not be the most physically punishing back, fantasy bets on who can house it from anywhere are always intriguing. He has already shown this big-play ability in the preseason.

Henderson may never be a workhorse, but he's bigger than Jahmyr Gibbs and should carve out a significant role in a passing attack that isn't exactly loaded with explosive weapons at WR and TE. Henderson will quickly become Drake Maye's favorite target, and every Josh McDaniels game plan will include all types of routes and screens for the explosive rookie back. While 92 catches is a lofty goal, keep in mind that he does not need to average as many catches per game as Barkley did because of the 18th game.

TreVeyon Henderson

Josh McDaniels offense peppered receiving backs with targets. Yes, that was with Brady and Maye will run a lot.

CMC had 80 catches as a rookie with Cam Newton as his QB. And 107 in his 2nd year with Cam.

Henderson is going to command a lot of targets.

— Andrew (GPNGC) (@draft32teams) August 8, 2025

2. Jaxon Smith-Njigba finishes fifth in the league in targets

Jaxon Smith-Njigba has everything we want in a breakout fantasy star. He's projected to lead his team in targets and has shown steady growth in his first two seasons. The market is down on Sam Darnold, but the Seahawks paid him a lot of money and have improved their offensive line in a big way. They also won't have a first-year college offensive coordinator calling plays. For all of Darnold's flaws, he made two fantasy WRs valuable last year in Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. He has the ability to pepper his No. 1 weapon with targets.

The Seahawks want to run the ball, but Klint Kubiak's offense also features a lot of 12-personnel and condensed formations, which fit JSN's game beautifully. Bet on the third-year breakout from a former first-round pick who was no stranger to enormous production in college.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba is one of the best clicks on the board.

Elite producer in college
High draft capital
Steady improvement yrs 1 & 2

Entering Year 3 healthy & locked in as the top target.

Embrace ambiguous environment - if the O is actually good? Watch out.

— Andrew (GPNGC) (@draft32teams) August 4, 2025

3. Justin Fields rushes for 1028 yards and finishes as the QB8

All offseason, the Jets offense has been mocked on social media for poor performances at training camp. Jets beatwriters, possibly some of the most tortured souls in the sports world, rarely had anything positive to say about first-year offense coordinator Tanner Engstrand's offense. The truth is, training camp stats are meaningless, and the Jets' defense being good might have something to do with early growing pains in practice periods that don't count.

I don't expect Justin Fields to all of a sudden become an elite passer. I don't expect the Jets offense to set records. However, their offensive line could be sneaky-great, and that factor is being overlooked in fantasy analysis. Aaron Glenn is likely going to want to establish the run, and adding the extra threat with Justin Fields' legs is a huge schematic advantage. There is a possibility that this Jets offense will feature the most diverse and creative QB run schemes the league has ever seen.

With a potentially awesome offensive line, two solid RBs, a legit WR1, and game-breaking wheels, Justin Fields has a clear runway to pop off this season.

If you want to fade the Jets that’s fine just please don’t make training camp practice stats the reason.

This OL has real potential. pic.twitter.com/INZ8V0fuS1

— Andrew (GPNGC) (@draft32teams) August 6, 2025

4. Michael Penix Jr. accounts for 37 total TDs and leads the Falcons to the playoffs

Sophomore quarterbacks have been good to the fantasy community over the years. Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, and Carson Wentz all broke out in year two. Michael Penix was an older prospect and got his feet wet at the tail end of last season, so he's in a prime position to hit the ground running in year two. Penix was a surprising pick at No. 8 in last year's NFL Draft, but he has all the tools to develop into a franchise QB.

I love to target players in year two of an offensive system. Zac Robinson called plays last year, and year two represents an opportunity for everyone involved to play faster and call the game more smoothly. In year two, there is less thinking involved by the players, and the tweaks made by the staff can make a huge difference after gathering a year of film and data. Defenses still don't have a huge sample and will be reactionary to the adjustments made.

Personnel-wise, the Falcons have the RB1 based on ADP, and a top-15 overall player at WR based on ADP. With Darnell Mooney also a borderline top 100 pick, Michael Penix's price simply makes no sense. The market expects Bijan Robinson and Drake London to smash, yet Michael Penix is going outside the top 20 for QBs?

Even if you wanna be an analytics hardo Penix is a great click. Just going so late as a high 1R QB in YR2 - quintessential breakout yr. If he’s actually good, he might be an insane value. https://t.co/RZgy7Yogs5

— Andrew (GPNGC) (@draft32teams) July 25, 2025

If Penix does have a huge year, another reason will be because...

5. Kyle Pitts actually happens, to the tune of 79/945/9

Kyle Pitts has been both a massive and mild disappointment in his four years as a pro. After being burned by him so many times, the market is fed up. Fantasy players are reacting emotionally to a situation where logic may point to a solid value or more.

Kyle Pitts is just 24 years old. He had over 1000 yards as a 20-year-old rookie, but has struggled to put up meaningful numbers since. Last season, he dealt with injuries throughout the year. Seemingly healthy right now, it is absolutely within the range of outcomes that he figures it out. We used to give tight ends time to acclimate to the NFL. It is possible that it clicks this year -- the human brain isn't even fully developed until your mid-twenties.

If Michael Penix Jr. is good, Pitts will likely smash his TE17 price tag. Bet on talent and draft capital, and consider that some professional athletes take time to develop and reach their full potential.

If Kyle Pitts is healthy he’s an absolutely amazing value at TE17.

He’s just 24 years old and had 1000 yds as a rookie.

Market overreacts if they get burned once. The way Pitts has hilariously burned ppl multiple years - it’s impossible for human beings to NOT be irrational.

— Andrew (GPNGC) (@draft32teams) July 24, 2025

6. Dylan Sampson finishes as RB14

With Quinshon Judkins still unsigned, the Browns have been giving rookie 4th-round pick Dylan Sampson first-team reps. Jerome Ford is the only other option to start, but he's been mediocre throughout his career. Sampson was a young prospect who ran in the 4.4s at his pro day and put up big numbers in the SEC last year. It is very rare that last year's SEC Offensive Player of the Year is slept on like this as a rookie.

Sampson is a bit of an unknown coming from the super spread-out Tennessee offensive system, and his ultimate draft capital wasn't all that promising. However, he's the type of prospect where if he hits -- he hits in a way that makes a lot of other teams look foolish. Sampson is not the most natural receiver, but he's built low to the ground and has the type of quickness and speed that translates to the pro game.

I don't expect the Browns to be a dynamic offense, but if their veteran offensive line can play better, Sampson could be a sneaky-good starting RB all season. Even before Judkins' horrific offseason, I thought Sampson had a shot to carve out a role and eventually play his way into lead-back duties. Now, he has a chance to claim that role in Week 1 and never look back.

Dylan Sampson is an obvious “NFL got it wrong” 4th rd pick.

The case against him - too small. How can we translate him from that scheme? Not a pass catcher..

So what?

Productive - SEC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR as true JR

~4.42 40

Good runner.

pic.twitter.com/T2RxHdLTza

— Andrew (GPNGC) (@draft32teams) July 21, 2025

8. Jaylen Waddle goes 103/1472/8

The entire Dolphins offense was a mess last year, and Jaylen Waddle's production dipped as a result. He put up career lows across the board and is now priced in the fifth and sixth rounds of fantasy drafts. Simply put, Waddle is not nearly as bad as his performance last season, and buying the dip on talented players is one way to gain an edge in fantasy football.

Waddle was awesome in his first two seasons, breaking the record for receptions as a rookie and putting up 1356 yards and eight touchdowns with an 18.1 yards per catch average as a sophomore. While he hasn't missed many games in his four seasons, he's been hobbled quite a bit. Healthy with a fresh slate in 2025, Waddle has a chance for his best year yet, especially considering the disturbing vibes surrounding Tyreek Hill and his relationship to the team.

If Hill were to miss time or get traded, Waddle would be the WR1 on a team without much else. Even if Hill stays with the team, his play declining at 31 years old is possible. Drafting Waddle gives you a high floor and a WR1 ceiling that's not easy to find after the fourth round.

9. Bhayshul Tuten spikes during the fantasy playoffs

Prior to the NFL Combine, I pounded the table for Bhayshul Tuten based on his film and projected athleticism. He tore up the combine with a 4.32 40 and 40-inch vertical, confirming the explosiveness I saw on film. Tuten didn't earn amazing draft capital as the second pick in the fourth round, but he was part of a very deep RB class, and his ultimate landing spot could end up being ideal.

While this is a bet on talent first, it doesn't hurt that Tuten's head coach is an offensive wiz who helped Bucky Irving break out as a fourth-round rookie last year. The Jaguars don't seem thrilled with either Travis Etienne or Tank Bigsby, and neither has ties to the new regime. While the two veterans may start the season with bigger workloads, it's been proven over and over again that rookies tend to spike later in the year, which includes the fantasy playoffs.

I love fantasy RBs who can house it from anywhere on the field. Tuten has legit game-breaker within his range of outcomes, and he's not bad at breaking tackles either.

Tuten is so fast he slows up at the 12 and gets run down 😂

This is game-breaking burst and long speed pic.twitter.com/J97d7lzdTf

— Andrew (GPNGC) (@draft32teams) February 21, 2025

10. You will skim this article and read the titles, looking to confirm the biases you already have for your players

1-for-1. Off to a great start! Thanks for reading, and good luck this season.

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