We’re into the off-season, but there is still plenty of work to do on our fantasy teams. At this point, it’s about reflecting on the season, checking out rosters, and reading the tea leaves for these NFL Franchises.
Over the next few weeks, we’ll look at the biggest fantasy question for each of the 32 NFL teams. Today, we’re starting with the top of the draft order, looking at teams that hold picks 10 to 18. To read about picks 1 through 9, check it out here!
No. 10: Chicago Bears
Record: 5-12
Biggest Fantasy Question: Who will be the coach?
About: The Chicago Bears have a lot of pieces on offense. The team has a good veteran receiver in D.J. Moore and a young receiver in Rome Odunze. The Bears have a young tight end in Cole Kmet and a veteran in Gerald Everett. The Bears have a veteran running back in D’Andre Swift and a young player in Roschon Johnson. And they have a franchise quarterback in 2024 No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams. But who leads this team?
Unless it’s a long-shot Thomas Brown, whoever is tapped as head coach and offensive coordinator will be the third playcaller for this young quarterback. Williams is raw and needs some polish. And this offense needs some polish. But the pieces are there to compete and be successful; it all comes down to the coaching.
Sure, there is a question about whether veteran Keenan Allen will be brought back or if they’ll add a receiver from the Draft or Free Agency. But, on paper, the Bears have the pieces they need. They need the architect to get there, and if they get it wrong, it could be another lost season in the Windy City.
No. 11: San Francisco 49ers
Record: 6-11
Biggest Fantasy Question: Who leads the WR group?
About: The 49ers were in the Super Bowl last season. This season, injuries and inconsistency limited them to six wins. As always, health is probably one of the biggest questions. But beyond that, the 49ers are in good shape moving forward.
This off-season should see an extension for Brock Purdy. The team must also find a backup quarterback and probably bring back one of James Mason or Elijah Mitchell to keep some good depth behind Christian McCaffrey.
But the biggest question is what happens at receiver? The team has Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk on big-money contracts. Jauan Jennings signed an extension before 2024, and the team drafted Ricky Pearsall. And, honestly, Jennings and Pearsall looked like the 49ers’ best receivers down the stretch. Combined with tight end George Kittle, that creates an embarrassment of riches and a lot of cap space locked up in skill-position players.
There’s a real chance the 49ers will move on from one of their veteran receivers, with my best guess being Samuel. That will change this pass-catching group’s shape and the fantasy value of all the players in the mix here. That is a situation to observe moving forward.
No. 12: Dallas Cowboys
Record: 7-10
Biggest Fantasy Question: What do they do at RB?
About: The Cowboys didn’t spend last off-season. Instead, they tried to gamble at running back by bringing veteran Ezekiel Elliott back and adding Dalvin Cook to the Practice Squad. Neither made an impact. The one running back who did produce something, Rico Dowdle, is now a free agent.
The Cowboys are looking for a head coach and a new person to lead the offense. But Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb are still under contract. The biggest question remains the running game. Will Dallas bring back Dowdle? They could, but that hardly feels like enough. The Cowboys eschewed getting a good free agent, despite interest from Derrick Henry and skipped picking an impact back in the draft. It didn’t work.
This off-season, they’ve got to make a move at the position. Could it be using the No. 12 pick on Ashton Jeanty? That’s not out of the realm of possibility. Whatever the path, they need a boost in the backfield.
No. 13: Miami Dolphins
Record: 8-9
Biggest Fantasy Question: What happens with Tyreek Hill?
About: After making the playoffs in 2023, the 2024 season was a disaster for the Dolphins. Starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was limited to 11 games, and the offense seemed out of sync most of the season. Getting a quality backup quarterback should be a priority.
But the biggest question is the team’s biggest star, Tyreek Hill. He had a middling season, catching 81 passes for 959 yards and six touchdowns. It was a massive comedown from a 2023 season that saw him nearly get to 2,000 yards and be regarded as one of the best offensive players in the game. Worse yet, Hill sat out a key fourth quarter in the last game and posted on Social Media that he was out. He’s since met with the team, and we’ve been assured it’s all good. But is it?
Hill is under contract for two more years, and at a cap hit in 2025, that makes it hard to believe the Dolphins would release him. More importantly, they need him back and producing at a top level if they want to make the playoffs. But it’s hard to let go of what we saw to end the season. This is a crucial story worth watching as we make our way through the off-season.
No. 14: Indianapolis Colts
Record: 8-9
Biggest Fantasy Question: What happens with Anthony Richardson?
About: The second season with Richardson was supposed to be a boon for the Colts and fantasy players. Instead, it was a disaster for both. Richardson took himself out of a game due to fatigue and got benched for Joe Flacco. He finished the season back as the starter, but then an injury forced him from the last couple of games.
Worse yet, when he was on the field, it wasn’t good. Richardson completed 47.7 percent of his passes for 1,814 yards, eight touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He added some rushing upside, but it wasn’t enough to make him a good start for the Colts or fantasy players. Richardson has said he welcomes competition this off-season, and the team surely needs it. Flacco is a free agent, but the Colts need someone as another viable option. This off-season and crucial third year is becoming make-or-break time for a player who went as high as 1.01 in some rookie drafts just two years ago.
No. 15: Atlanta Falcons
Record: 8-9
Biggest Fantasy Question: What happens with Kirk Cousins?
About: Desperate to solve the riddle at quarterback, the Falcons splashed out a huge deal on Cousins last off-season. Then they took Michael Penix, Jr., at the eighth overall pick. By the end of the season, Cousins was struggling, and Penix was in to start the final three games. Now, it appears Penix will be the Falcons’ starter in 2025.
So, what happens with Cousins? The Falcons could release him, but it wouldn’t make much sense given the lofty amount of dead cap it would create. They could keep him as a backup, but that feels like a tricky situation for Cousins and Penix, especially if the latter is to be the new franchise quarterback.
What about a trade? Cousins was only 7-7 as a starter, but he didn’t have a horrendous season. He looked slowed returning from injury but will be a year further removed. He completed 66.9 percent of his passes for 3,508 yards and 18 touchdowns. Many teams saw worse under center. They’d like for Cousins’ mobility to improve and his turnovers to come down, but he could be an attractive target for teams looking to improve this off-season.
No. 16: Arizona Cardinals
Record: 8-9
Biggest Fantasy Question: Who is the WR2?
About: The Cardinals took a step forward in 2024. They also have the pieces in place to compete in 2025. They have a franchise quarterback in Kyler Murray, a stud tight end in Trey McBride, a No. 1 receiver in Marvin Harrison, Jr., and a pair of running backs in James Conner and Trey Benson.
That doesn’t leave many questions aside from who serves as WR2. Better yet, will that player be relevant to fantasy? The top three targets in the passing game are McBride, Harrison, and Conner. And it’s not a robust passing game, as Murray has yet to hit 4,000 pass yards in a season. However, a starting receiver on an NFL team still holds value.
The question is whether Michael Wilson can be that guy. In two years, we’ve seen flashes, with him garnering more than 500 yards receiving and three touchdowns in each season. But is that his ceiling? That’s the question for fantasy players. Those who are betting on Wilson taking a step forward in year three need to watch closely this off-season to be sure the Cardinals don’t add to the receiver room. And it won’t hurt to hope Murray has a career-high in passing yards in 2025.
No. 17: Cincinnati Bengals
Record: 9-8
Biggest Fantasy Question: What happens with Tee Higgins?
About: Higgins has been a big part of the Bengals’ offensive attack. He has said he wants to remain in Cincinnati. Joe Burrow and fellow receiver Ja’Marr Chase have said they want him back. But can the two sides work out a deal?
In 2024, Higgins played on the Franchise Tag. The Bengals are notoriously cheap, and there haven’t been any talks of a deal with Higgins yet. The team also still needs to come up with a long-term team for Chase. That’s a lot of balls in the air. Do they use the Franchise Tag again? That could rankle Higgins and make it harder to reach a long-term deal. But if they let him hit the open market, it’s far from a guarantee that they can get him back.
And if Higgins departs, the Bengals don’t have much behind him. Andrei Iosivas is a solid role player, but rookie Jermaine Burton was a year-one bust. So, for both fantasy players and Bengals fans, Higgins’ fate remains at the top of their minds this off-season.
No. 18: Seattle Seahawks
Record: 10-7
Biggest Fantasy Question: What do they do on offense?
About: The Seahawks had a strong season, falling just percentage points short of being in the playoffs. In the wake of a 10-7 regular season, the team parted ways with Offensive Coordinator Ryan Grubb.
Now, the Seahawks enter the off-season with questions about what they want to do on offense. That’s a big question for the team and for fantasy as several key contributors—including quarterback Geno Smith, receivers D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, and running back Ken Walker III—are all entering the final year of their contract in 2025. The new coaching staff and how they deploy their assets will determine the fantasy value—and long-term fate—of much of this Seahawks offensive group.
Matthew Fox is a die-hard NFL fan and Broncos’ homer. He’s a member of the FSWA. You can find more from him on Twitter @knighthawk7734 or as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast, a part of the Campus2Canton Network.
