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Dave Ventresca's 6 fantasy football bold predictions for the 2025 NFL season, including predictions for De'Von Achane, Tyreek Hill, and more.
We are less than a week away from the start of the 2025 NFL season. While many fantasy drafts are already in the books, there are numerous more that will be completed within the next few days.
Whenever your fantasy draft takes place, one thing remains true. If you want to win your league’s championship trophy, sometimes, you have to be a bit bold. That’s what we will attempt to accomplish today, as we’ll go over six bold predictions for the upcoming season. Some of these might seem a bit far-fetched, but that's the point when you’re making bold predictions.
Make sure you’re following RotoBaller on X and check out RotoBaller.com for all your fantasy football needs. Here are six bold predictions for the 2025 fantasy football season.
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De’Von Achane Has 1K Rushing and Receiving Yards to Finish 2025 as the Overall RB1
Achane may never function as a true bellcow back for Miami, but he doesn’t need to be that for this prediction to come true. He has already proven he can deliver huge rushing totals on limited touches. Remember, Achane averaged an absurd 7.8 yards per carry as a rookie in 2023. With his big-play ability, Achane is more than capable of eclipsing 1,000 rushing yards on just 200 carries.
DEVON ACHANE 67-YARD TD
THE DOLPHINS HAVE 70 POINTS.
📺: #DENvsMIA on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/UQdQ05hqXN pic.twitter.com/bZOSLxVaoa— NFL (@NFL) September 24, 2023
He’s also a very proficient receiver out of the backfield and led all running backs with 78 receptions in 2024. With Jonnu Smith no longer in Miami and Tyreek Hill looking like a player in decline, Achane’s role as a receiver should be safe. There’s a realistic scenario where his receiving production actually increases and Achane emerges as the Dolphins’ de facto WR2.
There’s a lot to like about his profile this year. He has fallen in drafts recently due to concerns over a preseason calf injury. However, the Dolphins have made it known that the team is purposely being cautious with its RB1. General Manager Chris Grier basically confirmed Achane will be good to go for Week 1, so Miami doesn’t seem to think this injury is as worrisome as the fantasy football community does.
Stop overreacting to preseason soft tissue injuries. https://t.co/hvpBfPe4aD
— Dave Ventresca (@FF_Stallion) August 27, 2025
Buy the dip on Achane in your drafts. He has a great chance to finish the season as the overall RB1, but doesn’t cost as much as the top running backs available in drafts this year. If Achane hits his ceiling, he can carry you to a title.
Kenneth Walker III Finishes as a Top 3 Back
Walker has displayed some immense talent during his three-year career. He is a threat to score anytime he touches the ball, and that is a skill that fantasy football owners gravitate toward.
.@Kenneth_Walker9 cuts back for a 23-yard TD!
📺: #PHIvsSEA on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/bbJNB6yPkz pic.twitter.com/Kp48DcMVsQ— NFL (@NFL) December 19, 2023
While his 2024 statistics certainly underwhelmed, Walker posted some very good advanced metrics. Among 46 backs with 100+ attempts in 2024, Walker finished:
Third in PFF rushing grade
Third in PFF elusive rating
First in Fantasy Points Data Suite's missed tackles forced per attempt
Ninth in Fantasy Points Data Suite's missed tackles forced
10th in Fantasy Points Data Suite's yards after contact per attempt
This has also been the case in every season of Walker's career. The above data indicate that Walker is much better than his traditional statistics say.
The popular thing to do this offseason has been pointing to Walker missing six games last season as proof that he is an injury-prone player. While six games is a lot of time to miss, it’s worth pointing out that Walker only missed four games due to injury during his first two years in the league. This is not a Rashaad Penny situation, where Walker has not consistently missed huge chunks of games every year. So the injury-prone narrative is really just based on one season, and that's not entirely fair to Walker.
Following an ESPN report that Zach Charbonnet might have a bigger role on offense in 2025, Walker has become an even more polarizing player in fantasy drafts. While many gamers and analysts are concerned about Walker missing time this summer with a foot injury, head coach Mike Macdonald has been clear that the team has been intentionally limiting Walker’s reps to ensure he’s ready for the upcoming season.
While Charbonnet is a good back, he does not have the same upside as Walker. He was unable to supplant Walker as the team’s RB1 last year, even with Walker missing multiple games. If Walker stays healthy, and that is a big if, he should lead this team in touches. Seattle made improvements to its offensive line and hired Klint Kubiak to be its new offensive coordinator. These changes should help Walker reach his ceiling.
Ultimately, this prediction is a health bet. Walker is the most talented player in Seattle’s backfield. If he stays healthy, that talent will shine through. Put an ideal rushing scheme, a talented back, as well as the fact that Walker is playing for a new contract in 2026, all together, and it sounds like a great recipe for a breakout season.
Tucker Kraft Has 1K Receiving Yards, 10+ Touchdowns, and Finishes as the Overall TE1
Okay, I might be getting a bit over my skis with this call, but there are a ton of reasons to love Kraft this year.
Why is Tucker Kraft still the TE12 in FFPC drafts?
He was 5th among all TEs in YAC in 2024 and his head coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterback have all said he’ll be more involved this year. #FantasyFootball doesn’t have to be hard#GoPackGo
— Dave Ventresca (@FF_Stallion) July 17, 2025
Kraft’s head coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterback have all said he will have a bigger role in the offense this year. If that's true, then Kraft could easily hit the above yardage and touchdown marks after posting a 50-707-7 line on just 70 targets last year. He scored very well across various metrics and is a legitimate force in the open field.
There are some concerns about the Packers' offense being too run-heavy. However, Jordan Love fought through several injuries in 2024, and this may have forced Green Bay to change their offensive strategy. Love is expected to be fully healthy entering Week 1, and that may prompt the Packers to air it out more this year.
If they do, or if the team stays true to its word and gives Kraft a larger share of the pie, then a massive breakout might be on the horizon.
Tyreek Hill Finishes Outside of the Top 36 Wide Receivers
Hill took a major step backward last year, and it wasn’t all due to the absence of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. He appeared to have trouble separating from defenders with the same consistency we’ve grown accustomed to seeing. Many of his advanced metrics also declined. Here’s a look at some of Hill’s advanced data from the last two seasons, courtesy of Fantasy Points Data Suite.
2023
38% targets per route run
4.05 yards per route run
31.1% target share
38.5% first read percentage
2024
25% targets per route run
1.99 yards per route run
20.1% target share
23.9% first read percentage
This data indicates that Miami did not prioritize featuring Hill last year. This all points to a player in decline.
Hill is also reportedly not on great terms with Tagovailoa.
Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill’s Chemistry Appears Off https://t.co/TiQXQcmaIZ
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) August 18, 2025
It’s odd these two are suddenly having issues. Perhaps it has to do with Hill’s decision to remove himself from the 2024 season finale and boldly tell teammates on the sidelines he was “out” after doing so. Tagovailoa has publicly stated that Hill needs to continue earning back his teammates' respect after that incident. Perhaps Hill didn’t take too kindly to this.
Regardless, we now know there’s a part of Hill that isn’t happy in Miami. If he continues to decline or isn’t as featured in the offense as much as he’d like, Hill could outright ask for a midseason trade. It just feels like there’s a lot of bad juju surrounding him this year.
2025 will also be Hill’s age-31 season, and he already showed signs of decline last year. When an older player starts to slow down, it’s generally a good idea to believe what you’re seeing instead of hoping for a resurgence.
Don’t be fooled into thinking Hill is a draft day value. Pass and let someone else think they’re getting a bargain.
J.J. McCarthy Finishes as a Top 10 QB
McCarthy is one of the league’s biggest unknowns entering the 2025 season. He missed his entire rookie year due to a meniscus injury, but was able to sit, watch, and learn as Sam Darnold led Minnesota to an improbable 14-win season.
There is a long list of quarterbacks who have benefited greatly from sitting and learning for a year or two. Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady, and Aaron Rodgers are prime examples. McCarthy enters a fantastic situation for a first-time starting quarterback. He has a great play-caller in Kevin O’Connell, a solid offensive line, and a plethora of weapons at his disposal. McCarthy is also a better athlete than people think and could offer gamers sneaky rushing upside.
Let me put it to you this way. If Kevin O’Connell could help Darnold, a confirmed draft bust and career journeyman, have a career-best season in 2024, then what do you think he can do with his handpicked QB1 in McCarthy?
There’s zero reason to think McCarthy can’t be as successful as Darnold. That makes McCarthy an ideal late-round quarterback target.
Mason Taylor Finishes 2025 as a Top-12 Tight End
Taylor, who is the son of Hall of Fame defensive end Jason Taylor, is one of the least talked-about tight sleepers this year. New York selected Taylor in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, so it’s safe to say they have big plans for the young tight end.
Mason Taylor is a baller.
The #Jets have no clear no. 2 option behind Garrett Wilson.
Taylor is worth a late-round pick if you wait on tight end in your #fantasyfootballdraft #fantasyfootballadvice #fantasyfootball
— Dave Ventresca (@FF_Stallion) August 12, 2025
The Jets don’t have a clear WR2 behind Garrett Wilson, and there’s a real possibility Taylor emerges as New York’s second-best pass-catcher. That would be noteworthy because when looking for ideal late-round tight end targets, we typically want to gamble on tight ends who will be one of their team’s top two targets.
With Justin Fields as QB1, the Jets will likely deploy a super run-heavy offense this year. While that is less than ideal, Fields does have a history of supporting fantasy-relevant tight ends. He helped Cole Kmet post two straight top-eight finishes from 2022 to 2023. Fields could do the same for Taylor in 2025.
Don’t be surprised if Taylor has a strong rookie year and emerges as a weekly TE1 play. He’s worth a selection with one of your last few picks.
