As the 2025 NFL season kicks off, several players across the league are already making waves in training camp and early preseason action. From breakout rookies to veteran handcuffs and key role players, understanding who is poised to gain touches and impact their teams’ backfields and receiving corps is crucial for fantasy football success. This article breaks down the latest usage trends, snap shares, and early production to help you identify which players are trending up or down. Let’s dive into the teams and players you need to know heading into the new fantasy season.
Baltimore Ravens
RB Keaton Mitchell ran for 68 yards and a TD on 9 carries. If he overtakes Justice Hill as BAL RB2, he’ll be a valuable late-round pick. Hill has rested and has operated as the primary 3rd down back over the last few seasons for the Ravens
Fantasy Summary: Mitchell’s production, including a touchdown and solid yardage, puts him in contention for the RB2 role behind Derrick Henry. He is more of a situation to monitor than to draft at this point. If Henry goes down at any point this season, Mitchell might be the more valuable handcuff to own.
Carolina Panthers
WR Tetairoa McMillan has been showing out in camp and had a great start to his NFL career. He was targeted 5 times and caught 2 passes for 43 yards, including a contested catch on the sideline. Chemistry with Bryce Young is evident. He’s one of my favorite WRs to draft right now.
RB Chuba Hubbard led in carries, securing 50% of snaps and 60% attempts, but ceded more snaps and routes to Rico Dowdle (40% attempts, 57% route participation), capping Hubbard’s upside.
Fantasy Summary: McMillan is a clear fantasy sleeper WR who has WR1 upside. Hubbard’s volume is solid, but sharing work with Dowdle limits the ceiling. Dowdle and Hubbard look to be heading towards a 60/40 split in 2025.
Chicago Bears
WR Luther Burden III entered the game after Devin Duvernay and Tyler Scott then posted an 82% route participation. DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, and Olamide Zaccheaus were among the rested starters.
RB Kyle Monangai handled 83% of snaps and 67% of attempts with Bagent on the field, collecting 30 yards on six attempts and posting 60% route participation.
Fantasy Summary: Monangai’s usage with Swift and Johnson out is encouraging for him, pushing for starting reps this year. He performed well and could earn work with the 1st team at some point. Burden, on the other hand, I am worried about. A slow start to camp and now operating down the depth chart, I am not drafting him at all right now.
Cincinnati Bengals
RB Chase Brown saw 8 touches (3 targets) on 12 snaps with starters. Last season, he played over 80% of snaps after Zack Moss’s injury and led RBs in targets/game.
RB Samaje Perine took the only third down of more than one yard and three other passing plays, playing sparingly with backups on third downs.
RB Tahj Brooks didn’t play with the starters but was the clear second-team runner and Brown’s handcuff.
Fantasy Summary: Brown remains integral to the Bengals’ offense and is looking like one of the best picks of the draft in the 2nd round. Samaje Perine will operate sparingly on third down while Tahj Brooks is down the depth chart.
Cleveland Browns
RB Jerome Ford rested (unclear if due to injury or starter status).
RB Dylan Sampson started and played 73% of snaps on first two drives, handling all RB carries and remaining on field during passing downs. He’s battling Ford for the No. 1 role; Quinshon Judkins’s future is undetermined.
Fantasy Summary: Sampson’s usage makes him a high-upside stash in deep leagues, while Ford’s status is uncertain. Sampson could emerge as lead back if Ford remains sidelined or loses the role.
Denver Broncos
RB RJ Harvey dominated starter snaps (67%) and handled 100% of rushing attempts early. He also posted a 40% target per route run which is encourgaging for his upside in the passing game.
RB J.K. Dobbins operated as RB2 with limited snaps, despite being the RB1 on the depth chart. There is speculation that a helmet malfunction led to a smaller role for the veteran, but Harvey will have a big role in this offense.
Fantasy Summary: Both Harvey and Dobbins will have big roles in this Broncos backfield. Harvey has legit RB1 upside with his skillset, while Dobbins can be a steady RB2 with strong production on early downs.
Green Bay Packers
WR Matthew Golden played every first-team snap (100% route participation) and logged a 20% target share, remaining on field in two-WR sets.
Golden is priced too low for a Round 1 pick in a situation with no clear pecking order.
Fantasy Summary: Golden is a low-end WR3 with WR1 upside, making him a strong draft target in the middle rounds
Houston Texans
RB Nick Chubb rested with Houston starters, indicating he’s RB1.
RB Woody Marks worked behind Dare Ogunbowale.
WR Jayden Higgins rotated heavily despite other WRs (Collins, Kirk, Schultz) sitting. Registered a 60% route participation, left after three drives.
Jaylin Noel (40% route participation, 20% target share) also left after three drives, ahead of John Metchie III and Justin Watson. This unsettled depth chart makes Noel a massive potential value.
Fantasy Summary: Chubb remains the RB1 as long as Joe Mixon is out with Woody Marks falling off draft boards due to his spot on the depth chart. Higgins will operate as the other starting receiver in three wide receiver sets while Noel is stuck behind Kirk in the slot.
Indianapolis Colts
TE Tyler Warren played every snap over the first three drives with no rotation, posting a 71% route participation and 25% target share (31% adjusted). He finished with 3 catches for 40 yards.
He was a clear target in the Week 1 game plan and looks like the next great rookie TE.
Fantasy Summary: Warren’s early involvement and target share project him as a low-end TE1 with upside and a high weekly floor. I am drafting him as my TE7 now with no hesistation even if the current Colts quarterback situation is up in the air.
Jacksonville Jaguars
RB Travis Etienne played 100% of snaps with Lawrence, handled 67% of attempts, notched 14% target share on 88% route participation. Finished with 16 yards on 3 touches.
RB Tank Bigsby played next two drives but not with Lawrence.
RB Bhayshul Tuten took over for Bigsby in 2nd quarter, behind Etienne and Bigsby, showing late-season breakout traits.
WR Travis Hunter played every key WR snap with first team (88% offensive snaps), 100% defensive snaps on 2nd & 3rd series, primarily in slot with 29% target share alongside Brian Thomas Jr. (also 29% target share, 100% route participation).
WR Dyami Brown locked in as WR3 with 75% route participation, left after one drive.
Fantasy Summary: Etienne is the clear RB1 and Bigsby is the RB2. Etienne is currently a value at his current ADP and a player I will be targeting more often. Hunter’s heavy snap share and target volume while being in the slot make him a high-uspide option in PPR formats.
Kansas City Chiefs
RB Isiah Pacheco played first drive with Mahomes then rested and looked explosive on his 1 carry,
RB Kareem Hunt played 75% of snaps on second series, handled 50% rushing attempts, left after second drive.
RB Elijah Mitchell played 25% snaps on second drive with starters, ran routes on 20% dropbacks (McKinnon-style role).
RB Brashard Smith played only in third and fourth quarters, currently fifth RB on depth chart.
Fantasy Summary: Pacheco remains lead back and looked like he did in 2023 on his one touch. Expect Hunt to work in on early downs and Mitchell’s role as pass-catching specialist gives him upside if he can find the field. Smith has minimal current value and should not be drafted late.
Miami Dolphins
RB De’Von Achane played first 8 snaps then rested.
RB Jaylen Wright entered after Achane and finished first drive, handled 53% of attempts over three drives, scored a touchdown, and had three carries inside 5 yards (one touchdown).
RB Alexander Mattison operated as the RB3, then rookie Ollie Gordon had a nice day as the RB4 entering in the third quarter.
Fantasy Summary: Wright is locked in as RB2 and offers PPR value and goal-line upside. Mattison will now have some more compeititon for the RB3 slot after Gordon’s strong showing.
New England Patriots
RB TreVeyon Henderson looked amazing, 75% route participation with Drake Maye, took first NFL touch for 100-yard kickoff return TD, 1 carry for 18 yards, 3 catches for 12 yards.
RB Rhamondre Stevenson led with 7 carries for 36 yards, handled 83% rushing attempts, averaged 5.1 yards/carry, favorite for early-down work.
Fantasy Summary: Henderson is a must-have with big-play ability and receiving role. Stevenson offers solid early-down volume and touchdown upside but is limited in PPR. Henderson is mid-range RB2 with low-end RB1 upside, Stevenson is a value right now at his current ADP.
New Orleans Saints
RB Alvin Kamara rested.
RB Kendre Miller started, played 82% snaps first three drives, 67% route participation.
RB Cam Akers handled 71% of snaps after Miller’s night ended. Miller is clear Kamara handcuff.
Fantasy Summary: Kamara is lead back if healthy. Miller is valuable handcuff with upside. Akers is a solid backup in committee
New York Jets
RB Breece Hall in three-way timeshare with Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis. Hall had 50% snap share, 75% attempt share, but low 33% route participation then exited with the starters
RB Braelon Allen 20% snaps, 25% rushing share, last in route participation at 17%.
RB Isaiah Davis matched Hall’s 33% route participation, was LDD back (100%).
Hall is RB15, Allen is RB4, Davis a passing-down specialist.
Fantasy Summary: The timeshare news is real with all three running-backs getting opportunities with the 1st team. Hall exited with the starters but im knocking him down my board with the increased competition for touches. Meanwhile Allen is a target larter in drafts.
Philadelphia Eagles
RB Will Shipley played each of first 14 snaps, ahead of A.J. Dillon, before being replaced. Shipley had a nice day as well finishing with 48 rushing yards and a touchdown. This was surprsing considering that Dillon was the expected RB2 in the offense.
Fantasy Summary: With Shipley’s strong showing and usage suggests he is the clear handcuff to own in Philadelphia over AJ Dillon.
Pittsburgh Steelers
RB Kenneth Gainwell started first four plays, then rested.
RB Jaylen Warren rested with starters, likely committee backfield.
RB Kaleb Johnson played five drives after Gainwell rested, 69% snap share, 8 rushes for 20 yards, looks RB2 with Warren involved.
Fantasy Summary: Not great for Kaleb Johnson truthers, as Jaylen Warren looks like the early lead as the starter. Also nervous that Johnson played after Gainwell as well. When or if the Steelers offense rolls out their starters I am interested to see how much involvment Warren and Johnson have on early downs.
Seattle Seahawks
WR Tory Horton started, posted 95% route participation on first four drives, led team with 41% target share, 3 catches for 31 yards and a TD before resting. JSN, Cooper Kupp, and MVS all rested while the rookie got to showcase his skillset.
Fantasy Summary: Horton is a late-round sleeper with potential to surpass MVS for WR3 spot and has the talent to take over as a consistent target for the Seahawks passing game.
Tennessee Titans
RB Tyjae Spears carted off with high ankle sprain, casting doubt on Week 1. Signifcantly hurts his valye as deep sleeper late in drafts.
RB Tony Pollard played 79% of snaps first two drives before injury, huge value boost, now mid-5th to 6th round pick candidate.
TE Chig Okonkwo played every snap with starters (100% route participation), strong sleeper TE option.
Fantasy Summary: Pollard’s value skyrockets with Spears injured; Pollard has high-end RB2 upside with his usage. Okonkwo’s usage makes him a strong late-round TE pick with upside in deeper leagues.
Stay tuned for more preseason news and updates on my X account leading up to your draft 🤝
