Yesterday, we took a look at the first 6 of my Preseason Top 12 QBs for the 2025 fantasy football season. Now, we take a look at the next 6.
The second group has a strong mix of veterans and second-year players, and all of them have plenty of upside to crack the top half of the Top 12. Let’s get into the second group!
No. 7: Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City
The Chiefs and Mahomes fell short of becoming the first team and quarterback to win three straight Super Bowls. And Kansas City should be primed again to make a deep playoff run with Mahomes and most of the offense returning.
Despite having career-lows in passing yards (3,928) and yards per attempt (6.8) in his 8 seasons as the starter, Mahomes should have WR Rashee Rice back from his knee injury at the beginning of training camp. Xavier Worthy proved to be a standout late in the season and during the playoffs, while Hollywood Brown was re-signed to a one-year contract. TE Travis Kelce may be in the twilight of his career but he can still be productive, and fifth-year Noah Gray may be Kelce’s heir apparent.
So Mahomes has the receiving corps to return to the top half of the Top 12 QBs, but could the late playoff runs be starting to take their toll?
No. 8: Bo Nix, Denver
I believe Nix may have better upside than Washington’s Jaylen Daniels. Now, don’t get me wrong Daniels has legit Top 3 potential, but Nix has the bigger hill to climb. Nix is consistently in the 7-15 range for most preseason rankings.
But his upside is based on his sneaky running ability, the Broncos’ talented group of WRs led by Courtland Sutton, and the signing of veteran TE Evan Engram. Sutton had a career-high in targets, and he is surrounded by a young group of WRs who on any given Sunday have WR1 upside. Engram gives Nix that safety net at the TE spot, which the Broncos lacked last season.
Nix rushed for 430 yards and three TDs last season, vital stats for QB scoring in fantasy football.
No. 9: Jared Goff, Detroit
Goff continues to be the leader of the Lions’ explosive offense. With the likes of Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, and Jameson Williams, any pass from Goff can be taken to the house on any given drive.
But what helps keep Goff in the fantasy Top 12 is his uncanny accuracy. His last two seasons have produced career highs in completion percentage, 72.4 and 67.3 percent, respectively. And he has averaged 32 TD passes during the last three seasons. The Lions may have a chip on their shoulders of falling short of the Super Bowl, and Goff will be at the helm of the redemption tour.
Goff averaged 23.9 fantasy points a game in the last six games of the last fantasy football season.
No. 10: Kyler Murray, Arizona
Murray’s main weapon continues to be his legs for the Cardinals. He appeared completely healthy, recovering from his 2023 injury season as he finished with 572 rushing yards and 5 TDs last season.
His passing numbers should improve as Marvin Harrison Jr. will have a year under his belt vs. NFL secondaries, while TE Trey McBride should see some positive TD regression in 2024 (fingers crossed as I have him in one keeper league). James Conner returns as Murray’s backfield running mate, and Conner has a nose for the end zone around the goal line, limiting some of Murray’s upside.
No. 11: Justin Herbert, LA Chargers
Once Herbert recovered from his early-season injury in 2024, he exploded in the passing game. I also believe the Chargers’ head coach Jim Harbaugh realized he was wasting Herbert’s talents early on.
Herbert averaged 255 yards passing his last 11 games and added 17 TD passes. And he ran for double-digit yards in 8 of his last 11 games.
Now, if his WRs can be more consistent with catching the ball. Mike Williams was re-signed in free agency after a year away from the team, and free agency talks continue to swirl around a Keenan Allen return.
No. 12: Caleb Williams, Chicago
Williams was a little boom or bust last season in fantasy football for the Bears, but the booms were big. Now, if he can become more consistent, a rise to the top half of the Top 12 is not out of the question.
With Allen not returning, the WR corps is still loaded with WRs D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze and TE Cole Kmet. Plus, Williams is not afraid to pull it down and run. He finished 7th among QBs with 489 yards but failed to score a TD. Positive regression should be on his way for rushing a TD in 2025.
And the Bears have a new head coach in Ben Johnson. Johnson was the offensive coordinator who led the Lions’ high-powered offense the last two seasons before the Bears wrangled him away. One can only hope that the way Johnson boosted Goff’s stats will benefit a younger and more talented Williams with benefit.
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