We’ve officially hit the halfway point of the 2025 fantasy football season, and the stars have separated from the pack. From breakout second-year wideouts to resurgent veterans and dominant workhorse backs, there are a plethora of players from different backgrounds who made this list. Below, I will showcase the MVP from the 1st half of the season and the All-Pro 1st team in fantasy football.
2025 Midseason MVP
Jonathan Taylor RB (IND)
Jonathan Taylor has been nothing short of dominant through the first half of the fantasy season, claiming his title as one of the league’s premier running backs. He’s piled up 850 rushing yards on 143 carries (5.9 YPC) with 14 total touchdowns and 25 receptions for 206 yards, averaging 27.1 fantasy points per game, the most among all running backs. His explosive efficiency has skyrocketed, ranking #1 in explosive plays (19) and #2 in Value Over Starter (+11.6) according to PlayerProfiler. Taylor’s blend of power and burst has turned the Colts’ offense into a scoring machine, notching four games with three touchdowns, including back-to-back hat tricks heading into Week 9.
The 26-year-old is on pace for a career year, combining elite red-zone usage with improved involvement as a receiver. With an 85% snap share and nearly 18 carries per game, Taylor’s workload is as secure as any back in fantasy football. Minor injury concerns aside, his production and consistency make him the clear frontrunner for Offensive Player of the Year and our midseason fantasy football MVP. Facing a Steelers defense ranked 19th against the run, Taylor is positioned to continue his historic pace this week.
Runner-Up: Jaxon Smith-Njigba WR (SEA)
2025 Midseason Fantasy Football All-Pro Team
QB: Patrick Mahomes (KC)
Patrick Mahomes has returned to his unstoppable form in 2025, delivering 2,099 passing yards, 21 total touchdowns, and averaging 25.0 fantasy points per game through eight weeks. Despite early turnovers in Week 8, Mahomes rebounded with three consecutive touchdown drives, reaffirming why he’s the most resilient and dynamic quarterback in football. His 106.3 Explosive Play Rating and 7.3 yards per attempt highlight a more vertical, efficient Chiefs offense that’s finding its rhythm just in time for fantasy playoff pushes.
Mahomes’ dual-threat upside has quietly become a weapon again, adding 280 rushing yards and four scores, giving him top-3 QB fantasy production across formats. With an elite True Passer Rating (97.3) and the league’s #1 red-zone attempt rate, Mahomes’ weekly ceiling remains unmatched. Mahomes was a steal this offseason, going as the QB6 in many drafts. As Kansas City gears up for a marquee showdown with Buffalo, Mahomes is primed to strengthen his MVP case and looks to finish as the fantasy football MVP at QB this year.
Runner-Up: Josh Allen (BUF)
RB: Christian McCaffrey (SF)
Even in a slightly down year by his absurd standards, Christian McCaffrey continues to redefine versatility at the running back position. Through eight games, he’s tallied 490 rushing yards, 559 receiving yards, and six total touchdowns, averaging 24.6 fantasy points per game, second among all RBs. McCaffrey leads all running backs in targets (74) and receptions (56), reaffirming his elite PPR floor despite a dip in rushing efficiency (3.5 YPC). His 27.3% target share and #1 Weighted Opportunity Rating show just how much of the 49ers’ offense still runs through him.
After a quiet performance against Houston’s elite front, McCaffrey looks poised to bounce back in a favorable Week 9 matchup versus the Giants. His unmatched combination of volume and pass-game involvement makes him a weekly top-3 option regardless of matchup. As long as he maintains an 84% snap share and remains the engine of Kyle Shanahan’s offense, McCaffrey is an easy bet to finish as a top fantasy scorer once again — and could make another run at Comeback Player of the Year honors this year with his play.
Runner-Up: De’Von Achane (MIA)
RB: Bijan Robinson (ATL)
Bijan Robinson continues to prove why he’s one of the most complete backs in football, producing 549 rushing yards on 106 carries (5.2 YPC) with two rushing touchdowns and adding 33 receptions for 413 yards and two scores through seven games. Despite a quiet showing against Miami’s run defense, Robinson remains a fantasy cornerstone, ranking top-three among running backs in yards per touch (6.9), explosive plays (16), and expected fantasy points (115.4 EPX). His dual-threat ability gives Atlanta’s offense flexibility few teams can match, and even with inconsistent quarterback play, Bijan’s 77% snap share and heavy receiving usage keep him firmly in RB1 territory.
Fantasy managers shouldn’t overreact to his Week 8 dud; volume and talent always win long-term. Robinson leads all running backs in yards created per touch (5.54) and ranks among the league’s best in both juke rate (37.0%) and yards after contact (4.6), signaling elite underlying efficiency. With the Falcons facing softer run defenses down the stretch, Bijan is set up for a strong second half and remains as one of the top fantasy RBs the rest of the season. His explosive skill set and dependable passing-game role give him elite upside that very few players can match.
Runner-Up: James Cook (BUF)
WR: Jaxon Smith-Njigba (SEA)
Jaxon Smith-Njigba has made the leap from breakout candidate to certified fantasy superstar. The Seahawks’ second-year phenom leads the NFL in receiving yards per game (117.0) and sits at 819 yards and four touchdowns on 50 catches through seven contests. He’s pacing for a near 2,000-yard season, fueled by elite route running and his dominant usage with new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. His 50.3% air-yard share and 38% target rate make him the focal point of Seattle’s passing game, while his #1 Yards Per Route Run (4.36) cements his efficiency dominance.
Smith-Njigba has now recorded three straight 100-yard, one-TD games, and has a great matchup this week against a struggling Commanders secondary. His connection with Sam Darnold continues to flourish, and with Seattle’s offense firing on all cylinders, JSN’s rest-of-season ceiling is enormous. Expect him to remain a weekly WR1 with explosive upside every time he takes the field, a true league-winner for fantasy football managers who secured him in the third round this offseason.
Runner-Up: Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET)
WR: Puka Nacua (LAR)
Puka Nacua has continued his meteoric rise from breakout rookie to fantasy cornerstone over the past few seasons. Despite battling a minor ankle injury, he’s compiled 54 receptions for 616 yards and three total touchdowns, averaging 23.1 fantasy points per game, top-5 among wide receivers despite only playing in 5 full games. His 31.7% target share and 84.6% catchable rate show just how vital he is to the Rams’ offense and his chemistry with Matthew Stafford. Even with the addition of Davante Adams, Nacua’s production this year has matched Cooper Kupp’s during his peak years for the Rams.
Nacua’s combination of consistency and explosiveness (10 explosive plays, #3 among WRs) gives him one of the safest floors in fantasy football. The Rams have some favorable matchups ahead, and Nacua may even reach new heights when he returns from his ankle injury against the Saints this week. As long as Matthew Stafford is healthy, Puka remains a high-volume WR1 who can single-handedly swing matchups every week.
Runner-Up: George Pickens (DAL)
TE: Tucker Kraft (GB)
Tucker Kraft has exploded into a fantasy football superstar at tight end, hauling in 30 receptions for 469 yards and six touchdowns while averaging 16.2 fantasy points per game, a top-3 mark at the position. His 15.6 yards per reception and 108.4 receiving EPX showcase elite downfield usage, while a 31% dominator rating cements him as the centerpiece of Green Bay’s passing attack for the 1st time in his career. His career-best 143-yard, two-TD performance on National Tight Ends Day against the Steelers was the exclamation point on a breakout month.
Kraft’s blend of size, athleticism, and chemistry with Jordan Love makes him one of the few tight ends capable of producing WR-level fantasy outputs. He ranks #3 in yards per route run and #1 in yards per team pass attempt, elite efficiency metrics that signal sustainability, along with his increased utilization this year. Kraft is starting to reach new heights this year and has a strong argument as the most talented player at the position. Expect Kraft and the runner-up, Trey McBride, to battle for this award in the second half of the year.
Runner-Up: Trey McBride (ARI)
FLEX: Ja’Marr Chase (CIN)
Ja’Marr Chase has reestablished himself as one of fantasy football’s most reliable and dominant wide receivers, posting 70 receptions on 99 targets for 720 yards (10.3 YPR) and five touchdowns through eight games. Despite a slight dip in efficiency from last season, Chase’s elite target volume and commanding 36.4% target share have made him nearly matchup-proof in PPR formats. His connection with Joe Flacco has unlocked new life in Cincinnati’s passing attack, as Chase has drawn 18 targets per game in those starts, including a franchise-record 23 targets in the Week 7 win over Pittsburgh. Even in games where the Bengals’ offense struggles, his floor remains elite thanks to his league-leading 53.8% team target share since Flacco took over.
Fantasy managers should continue viewing Chase as a set-and-forget WR1 and a legitimate Offensive Player of the Year contender given his usage and red-zone dominance. The Bengals face a favorable stretch run, and as long as Flacco remains under center, Chase’s volume projects to sustain elite fantasy production. His combination of alpha usage, elite route running, and red-zone trust provides both a top-five weekly ceiling and a high-end WR1 rest-of-season outlook. Simply put, as the Bengals’ offense goes, so does Ja’Marr Chase, and that’s good news for fantasy managers chasing a championship.
Runner-Up: Javonte Williams RB (DAL)
FLEX: Jahmyr Gibbs (DET)
Jahmyr Gibbs continues to flash elite efficiency in Detroit’s thunder-and-lightning backfield, posting 526 rushing yards (5.1 YPC), 194 receiving yards, and seven total touchdowns through seven games. Averaging 20.0 fantasy points per game, Gibbs has become a weekly RB1 when given volume, with a 30% juke rate and top-10 rankings in both yards per touch and explosive plays. His Monday Night Football explosion before the bye (over 200 total yards and a touchdown) showcased his game-breaking ability, the kind that wins fantasy championships.
With David Montgomery struggling to sustain efficiency, Gibbs’ role continues to expand, particularly in the passing game, where he owns a 14.4% target share and ranks #4 in receiving EPX among RBs. His elite speed and vision have been pivotal to Detroit’s offensive rhythm, and coming out of the bye, he’s a near-lock for RB1 status rest of the season. Managers who invested in Gibbs are watching him bloom into the next great fantasy dual-threat back, with a ceiling that mirrors peak Alvin Kamara.
Runner-Up: Josh Jacobs (GB)
