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Scott Engel's fantasy football bold predictions for the 2025 fantasy football season. His picks and predictions for every NFL team including Davante Adams, Isiah Pacheco, more.
Fantasy football analysts very often get things wrong. Sure, we love to boast when we make correct calls. Because the goal is to help readers, listeners, and viewers win their own leagues. When a player forecast misses the mark, though, we must admit it was a whiff.
Several months from now, I can look back at this column with both glee and disappointment. But that is the fantasy prediction business. The players and forecasts I do hit on can help you win a title. I fully and confidently back all of the 2025 fantasy football proclamations found here.
To win it all in fantasy football, one has to be aggressive and often adventurous. Sure, there are some players I will recommend avoiding because of legitimate reasons, but the rocket must get hooked to many others who carry promising outlooks in 2025. While I may avoid Christian McCaffrey in the first round and a certain Bills wide receiver altogether, there will be other valiant chances to take. Here are my boldest predictions for 2025, by division.
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Fantasy Football Bold Predictions: AFC East
Buffalo: Keon Coleman will soar into fantasy WR2 territory, catching 10 TD passes. As much as I want to believe ex-Bill Stevie Johnson and his Buffalo podcast co-host Michael F. Florio that Joshua Palmer will be the team’s leading WR, I just can’t go down the Palmer path again.
Miami: Ollie Gordon II will rush for eight TDs because of injuries to De'Von Achane and a role as a frequently useful goal-line runner.
New England: DeMario Douglas will lead the Patriots in receptions and will be the best fantasy wide receiver from the team.
great cut on Duo by Braelon Allen pic.twitter.com/AQ2mJ8ncAu
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) August 26, 2025
New York Jets: Braelon Allen will rush for more TDs than Breece Hall. By Week 6, Hall will no longer be in green and white as he gets traded, boosting the fantasy appeal of both running backs. Those who hold onto Hall might be pleased with his role on a new team later in the season.
Fantasy Football Bold Predictions: AFC North
Cincinnati: Ja'Marr Chase’s numbers will drop, yet he will still fare well enough to finish as a top-4 fantasy WR. You are drafting him for the extremely high floor at WR, not to approach a season he may never match. The returns will still be reliable and outstanding.
Cleveland: Dylan Sampson will be the clear lead RB for the Browns by Week 4, if not sooner. Joe Flacco will keep the starting QB job for an extensive period, boosting the outlook of all Cleveland skill position players for a good chunk of the season.
Baltimore: This is not a fantasy football prediction, but the Ravens will win Super Bowl 60.
Pittsburgh: A healthy Roman Wilson will emerge as a highlight producer for the Steelers. He might be one of the most sought-after waiver wire adds following Week 1 or 2.
Fantasy Football Bold Predictions: AFC South
Indianapolis: Tyler Warren will finish as the No. 2 tight end in fantasy football. Only Trey McBride will outscore him in PPR formats.
Trevor Lawrence still has so much untapped potential 🔥 pic.twitter.com/38KTGNMUuT
— Football’s Greatest Moments (@FBGreatMoments) August 13, 2025
Jacksonville: Trevor Lawrence will finally start to live up to his potential. The floor will be a top-8 fantasy QB season, and the ceiling will be top-5. The addition of Travis Hunter to a deep supporting cast and the arrival of Liam Coen will end the run of annual Lawrence fantasy frustration.
Houston: Expect a big rebound season from C.J. Stroud. His receiving crew is looking more impressive than in past seasons, and the Texans won’t be able to consistently depend on their running game.
Tennessee: Tony Pollard will rush for 1,200-plus tards and 10 TDs as Cameron Ward injects new life into the Titans’ offense. Elic Ayomanor will be a hot fantasy football waiver wire pickup no later than Week 3.
Fantasy Football Bold Predictions: AFC West
Kansas City: Isiah Pacheco will bounce back for a career season, rushing for 1,100 yards and nine TDs. He runs with possibly the purest determination in the NFL.
Las Vegas: Despite the addition of Amari Cooper, Dont'e Thornton Jr. will still lead the Raiders in TD receptions with eight.
Los Angeles Chargers: Omarion Hampton will finish as a high-end fantasy RB2. That’s not necessarily a “bold” call, but I think the presence of Najee Harris will cap his ceiling and just keep him out of RB1 territory.
Denver: Courtland Sutton will catch 95-plus passes, setting a new career high in receptions. Sutton is underrated and will flourish as Bo Nix continues to rapidly improve in his second pro campaign.
Fantasy Football Bold Predictions: NFC East
CeeDee Lamb. HOW?! 🤯
(via @NickHarrisFWST) pic.twitter.com/E9nT1ZGUYh
— Yahoo Fantasy Sports (@YahooFantasy) August 2, 2025
Dallas: CeeDee Lamb will finish as the No. 1 WR in fantasy football. Dak Prescott will lead the NFL in passing attempts because Dallas won’t have a reliable ground game and will get involved in many shootouts. George Pickens will see so many of his own opportunities while not cutting into Lamb’s massive production.
New York Giants: Jaxson Dart will not start unless he is needed due to an injury. Russell Wilson will be a steady presence and a respectable superflex QB2. Jameis Winston will get traded to throw interceptions elsewhere.
Philadelphia: The Eagles will pass the ball more this season, and A.J. Brown will finish with a career-high 12 TD receptions.
Washington: Jacory Croskey-Merritt will rush for 1,050 yards and seven TDs. That’s not necessarily bold either, but I am a believer in him eventually settling in as a fantasy RB2.
Fantasy Football Bold Predictions: NFC North
Green Bay: Matthew Golden will lead all rookie WRs in receptions and yards. The Packers spent a first-round pick on him, and he will bust out as their new and unrivaled WR1.
Minnesota: Jordan Mason will be a week-winning fantasy starter when Aaron Jones misses five to seven games. He will rush for three TDs in one game. The Minnesota offense will be steady and sometimes explosive under J.J. McCarthy.
Detroit: Isaac TeSlaa will outproduce Jameson Williams, who will be a fantasy disappointment. The rookie will be more dependable than Williams. Jared Goff has lost his two best offensive linemen and will look to TeSlaa more often on key passing downs.
Chicago: Rome Odunze will truly break out, finishing as a top 10 fantasy WR. He will flirt with the 10-TD mark. No matter the game script, he will function as a highly trusted playmaker for Caleb Williams.
Fantasy Football Bold Predictions: NFC South
Bucky Irving looking like a WR on this TD 🙌
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/xV1L135kA8
— NFL (@NFL) August 16, 2025
Tampa Bay: Bucky Irving will deliver a top-3 fantasy RB season. He’s a dazzling runner who will display more versatility while emerging as a double-digit source of TDs as a combined runner and pass-catcher.
Carolina: Jalen Coker will be a very popular early-season waiver wire add. If you read this before draft day, snare him with a late pick. Those who have already drafted should add him before the season starts if possible.
Update - Coker has been placed on the injured reserve due to a quadriceps injury. As a result, he is only worth targeting in formats that have IR spots.
New Orleans: Devaughn Vele will be the second-most productive pass-catcher for the Saints, and he will be useful as a bye week/injury plugger and streamer.
Atlanta: Bijan Robinson will rush for four TDs in one game. Don’t trade him after that happens.
Fantasy Football Bold Predictions: NFC West
Seattle: Tory Horton will catch seven TD passes while operating as a reliable starter for the Seahawks when Cooper Kupp misses a few games. RB George Holani will be a surprise standout in a week where both Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet are out.
San Francisco: Ricky Pearsall will finish as a fantasy WR2, emerging as the top target for Brock Purdy early in the season. The second-year man will become a highly trustworthy target for Purdy very quickly.
Los Angeles Rams: Davante Adams will finally start to show signs of falling off at age 32. He has performed so admirably throughout his career, yet might not even be a firm starter when Matthew Stafford is out.
Arizona: Marvin Harrison Jr. will deliver a top-5 fantasy WR season, catching more than 12 TD passes. The Cardinals know they must get their top playmaker the ball as often as possible. Watch Kyler Murray unfurl more deep shots to him this season.
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