Quarterback: C.J. Stroud (Texans) (ADP: Yahoo!: 119.9 ESPN: 142.4 )
There was a real argument to be made that Stroud's historic rookie season in 2023 led to his fantasy stock getting overly inflated for 2024. The pendulum has swung in the other direction as the top sites have punished him too harshly for the semi-slump he experience in his sophomore season. While his ceiling remains a bit shaky due to the question marks surrounding his offensive line, Stroud has a pretty steady floor thanks to the collection of reliable pass-catchers (Nico Collins, Christian Kirk, Dalton Schultz, Xavier Hutchinson, potentially rookies Jayden Higgins) he has surrounding him and the possibility of them leaning more on the pass this season as Joe Mixon is currently entering his age 29 season nursing a lingering ankle injury without a viable successor (fellow injury-hampered vet Nick Chubb is expected to be the top backup) waiting in the wings to take on a meaningful share of the heavy workload he had last season.
Honorable Mentions: Jordan Love (Packers), Geno Smith (Raiders), Bryce Young (Panthers)
Rookie Sleeper: Cam Ward (Titans)
Running Back: Tony Pollard (Titans) (ADP: Yahoo!: 62.6 ESPN: 85.7)
A middling TD total (5) and the lingering fear that Tyjae Spears is going to swoop in and steal at least some of his touches has relegated Pollard to the middle rounds of the draft. In my eyes, this situation makes Pollard a prime target for anybody that's waiting to draft a RB2/3 until rounds 5-7. Pollard cleared 1,000 YDS rushing for the 3rd straight season last year, has decent pass-catching production (41 receptions last year, 55 in 2023, 39 in 2022) and should have a much easier time finding open rushing lanes with a true athletic threat in Cam Ward under center than he did last year with the Will Levis/Mason Rudolph pocket passing horror movie.
Honorable Mentions: Aaron Jones (Vikings), D'Andre Swift (Bears), Jaylen Warren (Steelers)
Rookie Sleeper: Cam Skattebo (Giants)
Wide Receiver: Calvin Ridley (Titans) (ADP: Yahoo!: 76.8 ESPN: 71.0 )
Back-to-back members of the reigning worst team in the NFL? Say it ain't so! Ridley hasn't been a favorite of mine since he returned to football in 2023 following his year-long gambling suspension, largely because he has an Amari Cooper-esque gift for pulling several multi-week disappearing acts every season. That being said, he should continue to be a target hound in his 2nd year with the Titans and the chemistry he's flashed with his new QB Cam Ward during camp/preseason games is a promising sign that he could be something more than a volume-dependent WR3 in 2025.
Honorable Mentions: Jakobi Meyers (Raiders), Jauan Jennings (49ers), Josh Downs (Colts)
Rookie Sleeper: Jayden Higgins (Texans)
Tight End: Tucker Kraft (Packers) (ADP: Yahoo!: 96.8 ESPN: 109.9)
Of all the players in fantasy this year, nobody's current ADP confuses me more than Kraft's. The 3rd year tight end took a huge leap last year-hauling in 50 catches for 707 and 7 TD's and despite the selection of Matthew Golden in the 1st round of April's draft, remains the favorite to be the top redzone target on a Packers squad that largely lacks size at WR/TE. There are some bigger names (Sam LaPorta, T.J Hockenson) out who have put up similar numbers who are going 3-5 rounds higher for reasons that remain unclear to me (I get that there has to be a "middle ground" between the McBride/Bowers/Kittle trio whose WR-esque production has elevated them into the top 30 overall picks and the fringe guys that will only end up being drafted in 55-75% of leagues, but it's insane to have guys putting up WR3/4 numbers go in the top 55-60 simply due to how few game-changers there at the position). It wouldn't surprise me at all if electing to draft Kraft over those guys being taken in rounds 5 or 6 ends up being the difference between winning the title and falling short of one for some people out there.
Honorable Mentions: Dallas Goedert (Eagles), Dalton Kincaid (Bills), Zach Ertz (Commanders)
Rookie Sleeper: Elijah Arroyo (Seahawks)
Defense/Special Teams: Chargers (Yahoo!: 134.7 ESPN: 169.5)
Based on this year's fantasy rankings, you would be right to assume that the Broncos were the top defense in the league last year. The ironic reality is that distinction actually belongs to their AFC West rivals down in Los Angeles. To be fair, there are more questions surrounding the Chargers ability to perform at a high level again than the Broncos considering how much older they are as a group. Still, it's nuts that the price to acquire the reigning #1 scoring defense in the league that is returning the majority of its starters from a year ago is so low (especially on ESPN).
Honorable Mentions: 49ers, Bears, Patriots
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