Fantasy Baseball Prospect Report: Will JJ Wetherholt force the Cardinals' hand and get a call-up this season?
That out of the way, here's a look at the top prospects who can help your fantasy baseball roster this season.
Advertisement
1. Jordan Lawlar, 2B, Arizona Diamondbacks
2025 stats: 53 G, .319/.410/.583, 10 HR, 18 SB, 30 BB, 60 SO at Triple-A Reno; 8 G .000/.175/.000, 0 SB, 3 BB, 9 SO at Arizona.
Well, now it gets tricky. There's no prospect who appears to be on the cusp in the minors — we had a nice run where we got to cheat at the top spot because of an imminent promotion for four straight weeks — and while Lawlar is the most talented prospect at the Triple-A level, he's now on the injured list with a hamstring strain. I'm still rolling with Lawlar as my top guy, because if he does get a chance to play sometime after the All-Star break, he's the prospect who has the best chance to fill five different categories. All that's been announced so far is that the former sixth overall pick is going to miss 'weeks,' so even if that debut doesn't come until August, I'll take him over any prospect right now. Call me crazy.
2. Samuel Basallo, C/1B, Baltimore Orioles
2025 stats: 57 G, .253/.372/.547, 16 HR, 0 SB, 36 BB, 51 SO at Triple-A Norfolk.
Advertisement
Frustrating. Even with the Orioles' catching depth dwindling by the minute, Baltimore has decided to roll with Jacob Stallings and Alex Jackson behind the plate rather than call up their top hitting prospect who has put up strong numbers in Triple-A. Clearly Baltimore is playing the long game with the backstop/first baseman position, and maybe if the Orioles were in playoff contention they'd be singing a different tune. I still have Basallo second on this list because there's no player in Triple-A outside of Lawlar who offers more fantasy upside; especially when you consider his positional value. If Baltimore changes its mind, fantasy managers should rush to add Basallo as well.
[Smarter waivers, better trades, optimized lineups — Yahoo Fantasy Plus unlocks it all]
3. Harry Ford, C, Seattle Mariners
2025 stats: 66 G, .308/.425/.470, 9 HR, 4 SB, 49 BB, 52 SO at Triple-A Tacoma.
Advertisement
Ford continues to get on base at an impressive rate, and continues to do so while getting plenty of hits and drawing plenty of walks. Meanwhile, Mitch Garver has started to swing the bat better and has been solid behind the plate. Imagine me telling you Garver was going to become a defense-first backup catcher when the Mariners signed him to a two-year, $24 million deal. It's hard to imagine that Garver makes the Mariners better than Ford would, and there'd be plenty of ways to get him in the lineup assuming Jorge Polanco starts playing in the field on a more consistent basis. There's a little more risk with Ford in 2025, but there's reward because of his catcher-eligibility as well.
4. C.J. Kayfus, OF/1B, Cleveland Guardians
2025 stats: 73, .313/.406/.563, 12 HR, 4 SB, 39 BB, 81 SO at Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus.
We got a newbie. Welcome, C.J. Kayfus. He was a 2023 third-round selection who has done nothing but hit at every level, and that includes the International League where he's slashing .297/.382/.554 with 11 homers over 55 games with Columbus. He's a left-handed hitter who can hit for both average and power, and has shown the ability to produce against both right- and left-handed hurlers. Right now he's playing mostly at first base, and that's one position the Guardians seem to not need room. He's a good enough athlete to handle the corner outfield, however, and it's pretty easy to see him being a solid fantasy option if/when Cleveland gave him that opportunity. He's not getting nearly enough attention in keeper leagues as well, so if that's what you read these articles for, go get him.
Advertisement
5. JJ Wetherholt, INF, St. Louis Cardinals
2025 stats: 62 G, .300/.425/.466, 7 HR, 14 SB, 44 BB, 41 SO at Double-A Springfield.
We are officially deep enough in the season where it becomes 'ok' to list players that have a real chance to not make their debut in 2025. The best of those players, in my humble estimation, is Wetherholt. The seventh pick of last year's draft out of West Virginia, Wetherholt has plus-speed, above-average power in a left-handed bat, and one of the best projected hit tools regardless of level. He's alternated between playing shortstop and second base as of late, and it'd probably be the latter position if Wetherholt is going to break into the Cardinals' everyday lineup. There are players with a higher ceiling than he possesses, but not many, and very few who have a higher (perceived) floor.
Around the minors
I debated a few players for the fourth spot — Wetherholt is probably going to remain in spot five until he receives a promotion to Triple-A or St. Louis — and the one that just missed was Cubs' outfield prospect Owen Caissie. Caissie went 3-for-5 during Sunday's game for Triple-A Iowa, and is slashing .280/.388/.556 with 16 homers over 70 games in the Pacific Coast League. The power being there is no surprise, but even with a considerable amount of swing-and-miss as seen in 93 strikeouts over 261 at-bats, his hit tool has a chance to be above average because there's so much loud contact. The problem for Caissie in 2025 is there's just no room at the inn, but if a spot opened up — or if he was to be traded in a blockbuster deal — he'd be well worth an add in most fantasy formats.
Advertisement
We featured Ryan Johnson last week, but we have to do it again after the top pitching prospect in the Angels' system had one of the best starts of any minor-league pitcher in 2025 for High-A Tri City on Saturday. He fired a complete game while allowing just one hit, and was able to strike out 12 without issuing a walk. Johnson has now gone seven innings in his last four starts — something you don't see in the majors very often, much less the minors — and allowed a total of four runs over 30 innings with a K/BB ratio of 32:4. Yes, Johnson wasn't ready for the majors, but you see why Los Angeles was so excited about the 22-year-old's potential. He has a chance to be a good one.
Speaking of players that are too good for their current levels. Dakota Jordan was selected in the fourth round of the 2024 draft out of Mississippi State, but don't let that round fool you; he was considered one of the best collegiate athletes in the class and the Giants paid him a bonus just under $2 million to procure his services. He's spent all year with Low-A San Jose and is slashing .303/.377/.454 with seven homers and 27 stolen bases over 75 games. It's a little weird seeing a 22-year-old playing at that level, but it's nice to see him excelling at least. He's a tremendous athlete who was a former three-star wide receiver recruit out of high school, and there's the potential for considerable power in his right-handed bat as he fine tunes some things. Jordan should receive a challenge in High-A, but either way, he could be a solid option in fantasy leagues by the end of the decade.
Advertisement
The Rockies probably aren't going to make the postseason it looks like (hold for laughter), but they do have a solid farm system, and one of the more underrated prospects in that system is left-hander Konner Eaton. Eaton was a sixth-round selection out of George Mason by the Rockies in 2024, and he has a 3.31 ERA and 92/30 K/BB ratio over 84 1/3 innings in his professional season with High-A Spokane. He's been even better than that lately; he's thrown 13 shutout innings with 19 strikeouts against three walks over his past two starts. Eaton's stuff is certainly good enough to play at the highest level with a plus-slider and a mid-90s fastball that offers good movement, but the question has been if he can repeat his delivery well enough to throw consistent strikes. If the command is close to average he's a starter — potentially a mid-rotation one — but if not, it's easy to see Eaton being a potential high-leverage reliever. He's a name to keep an eye on over the coming seasons.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
25 minutes ago
- USA Today
Every NFL team's non-QB MVP heading into 2025
When it comes to Most Valuable Player, it's a discussion dominated by quarterbacks. And for good reason. After all, quarterback is the most important position in football. In fact, the last 12 NFL MVPs have been quarterbacks. The last non-QB to win the award was Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson in 2012. But there are other players on the field also deserving of recognition, which makes for an interesting discussion about the most important player on each team (outside of QB). From Myles Garrett to Ja'Marr Chase to Micah Parsons, our NFL Wire editors identified every team's non-quarterback MVP heading into the 2025 season. Arizona Cardinals: WR Marvin Harrison Jr. It was tight end Trey McBride who had the monster year in 2024, and his play was critical, but most expect Harrison to have a big jump on production in 2025. His 62 receptions for 885 yards made for a fine rookie year but paled in comparison to some of the other rookies and their production last year. Previous first-round receivers this century for the Cardinals have all increased their reception output by at least 44% and a yardage increase of at least 80% from Year 1 to Year 2 in the NFL. A 40% increase in catches and 50% increase in yards would give Harrison 87 catches for over 1,300 yards in 2025, which would be huge. – Jess Root, Cards Wire Atlanta Falcons: RB Bijan Robinson Robinson is the heartbeat of the Falcons offense and one of the most productive running backs in the league. Last season, the former top-10 pick finished third in the NFL with 1,456 rushing yards. Robinson's dual-threat ability (119 career catches) and nose for the end zone (23 career touchdowns) make him Atlanta's most valuable non-quarterback heading into 2025. We also considered safety Jessie Bates III for this spot but felt Robinson would have a greater impact on the team's success in 2025. With Michael Penix Jr. pushing the ball down the field, Robinson should have even more room to work with this season. – Matt Urben, Falcons Wire Baltimore Ravens: RB Derrick Henry Baltimore had one of the top rushing attacks before the arrival of Henry. Still, the NFL's second-leading rusher in 2024 helped open up the passing for Lamar Jackson who led the NFL in passer rating (119.6) while becoming the first quarterback in league history with at least 4,000 passing yards and 800 rushing yards after he posted 4,172 yards through the air and 915 yards on the ground. In his first season with the Ravens, Henry ran for 1,921 yards in 17 regular-season games and scored 16 touchdowns. He also added two scores through the air. Baltimore's success percentage last season, according to Next Gen Stats, was even better when eight or more defenders were near the line of scrimmage (50.9%), compared to a neutral defensive approach (43.4%). Of Henry's 16 rushing touchdowns last season, 14 came against a stacked box. – Glenn Erby, Ravens Wire Buffalo Bills: WR Khalil Shakir It's simple and just like last season. Shakir was Buffalo's top receiver in 2024 and there are a slew of new wideouts around him. The Dalton Kincaid draft pick has always been curious because quarterback Josh Allen does not appear to look toward his tight ends as much as his receivers… and that showed last season when Shakir was the team's leading receiver. Expect that to remain the same. – Nick Wojton, Bills Wire Carolina Panthers: DL Derrick Brown The Panthers fielded one of the worst defenses of all-time in 2024, setting a new NFL record for points allowed (534). 16 of their 17 games in that 'historic' run did not feature Brown, who sustained a season-ending knee injury during the team's Week 1 loss in New Orleans. By year's end, Carolina ended up relinquishing a whopping 179.8 rushing yards per contest—nearly 40 more yards than the next closest unit. Even with their promising defensive additions from this offseason, the Panthers will still need their Pro Bowl wrecking ball to be the centerpiece of the group. – Anthony Rizzuti, Panthers Wire Chicago Bears: CB Jaylon Johnson After signing a well-deserved contract extension last offseason, Jaylon Johnson once again proved that he's one of the most important players on the Bears roster -- and one of the NFL's best cornerbacks. Johnson had his second consecutive Pro Bowl season, where he forced three turnovers and recorded a career-high in tackles (53) and tackles for loss (7) all with teams electing to steer clear of him when they could. He'll be a cornerstone of new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen's defense. – Alyssa Barbieri, Bears Wire Cincinnati Bengals: WR Ja'Marr Chase It doesn't get much easier than this, right? Chase, still just 25 years old, just reeled in a historic Triple Crown feat on the back of 127 catches for 1,708 yards and 17 touchdowns. There's reason to believe he hasn't hit his peak, either. He's still developed his game in recent years, including working from the slot. And the surrounding offense (ahem, offensive line) could always improve, helping free him up more. The Bengals simply don't have any other options for non-quarterback MVP, either, with Trey Hendrickson's 17.5 sacks in back-to-back seasons going overlooked in the face of the explosive offensive fireworks. – Chris Roling, Bengals Wire Cleveland Browns: DE Myles Garrett I mean, is this one even a question? Outside of Aaron Donald, there has not been a more terrifying defensive lineman for opposing teams to gameplan around than Myles Garrett. He is the first player in NFL history to record four consecutive seasons with at least 14 sacks, and coming off of a mega-contract, there is no reason to think Garrett will slow down. Especially in what looks to be a down year in Cleveland as they try to spin the wheel once again on finding a quarterback of the future, there is not a more valuable player on their roster than Garrett. – Cory Kinnan, Browns Wire Dallas Cowboys: DE Micah Parsons This one's a bit of a no brainer. Parsons is the most impactful non-QB in the league, so of course he's the most impactful non-QB on the team. While he hasn't won a Defensive Player of the Year award yet, his finishes in the top three his first three years in the league speak for themselves. The first NFL player to have over 50 sacks in his first four years out of college is a demon to pass protectors, and if the Cowboys force him to play on a contract year, he might break every record imaginable just to force them to shatter contract records. – K.D. Drummond, Cowboys Wire Denver Broncos: CB Pat Surtain PS2 is an obvious choice for the Broncos. He is the best cornerback in the NFL and the best overall player on Denver's roster. After winning the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year award in 2024, Surtain returns as the most important player on the Broncos' defense. The NFL is a quarterback-dominated league, so Bo Nix is the team's most important overall player, but Surtain is an easy choice as Denver's non-QB MVP going into 2025. – Jon Heath, Broncos Wire Detroit Lions: WR Amon-Ra St. Brown There are a lot of worthy candidates here: Aidan Hutchinson, Penei Sewell, Jahmyr Gibbs, Kerby Joseph. But the Lions offense works so well in no small part because of everything St. Brown provides. He's an always-open target with great hands and YAC ability. He's Jared Goff's security blanket, but also so much more than that. On the rare occasions the Lions offense has struggled lately, it's almost always tied to St. Brown being limited or having an exceedingly rare bad game. – Jeff Risdon, Lions Wire Green Bay Packers: RB Josh Jacobs By the end of the 2025 season, it won't be surprising if a player like Jayden Reed, Tucker Kraft or even Edgerrin Cooper has made a legitimate run at this title. But for now, Jacobs is the obvious pick. A Pro Bowler in 2024, Jacobs produced almost 1,700 total yards and 16 total touchdowns during his first season in Green Bay. He was the engine of the offense at times, especially during Jordan Love's injury issues early, and he consistently converted red zone opportunities into touchdowns. He also created missed tackles at an elite rate and was a highly efficient receiver out of the backfield. The Packers could have one of the NFL's best offenses in 2025 if Love is healthy and Jacobs remains a dominant dual-threat back. – Zach Kruse, Packers Wire Houston Texans: WR Nico Collins It would be easy to go with Derek Stingley Jr., Will Anderson Jr. or even Danielle Hunter, but for C.J. Stroud to reach his 2023 form once more, he'll need a healthy Collins. Over the first five games, Collins averaged 113.4 yards per game and was a security blanket for Houston's 4-1 hot start. Once he left with a hamstring strain, the Texans' scoring dropped by near 7.1 points per contest. As the veteran, Collins must set the tone. When he's on point, there's maybe three or four pass-catchers teams would covet more. After coming off a second 1,000-yard season, Collins has proven 2023 wasn't a fluke. He's been worth every cent of what continues to look like the best contract in the NFL entering training camp. – Cole Thompson, Texans Wire Indianapolis Colts: RB Jonathan Taylor Taylor gets the nod here for two reasons: his overall production and the massive impact he can have on the Colts' offense. Taylor rushed for 1,431 yards last season, the fourth-most among running backs, and he was lights out during the final month of the year. But going beyond the numbers, Taylor's success will be vital to the success of the Colts' quarterback–whoever that is–and the overall offense. When there is a strong running game to lean on, it keeps the offense ahead of the sticks, out of predictable passing situations, and can open up opportunities through the air. On the flip side, without a steady run game, offenses find themselves in predictable passing situations, where the defense then has the advantage. If Taylor isn't producing, then the jobs of the quarterback and everyone else on the offense becomes much more difficult. – Paul Bretl, Colts Wire Jacksonville Jaguars: WR Brian Thomas Jr. As a rookie in 2024, Thomas was already one of the most productive receivers in the NFL, totaling the third-most receiving yards during the regular season. This year, under Liam Coen, it looks like Thomas' role is going to expand, and that doesn't only refer to potential targets and yards, but more so it's about how he's utilized. In this new offense, Thomas will be moved around the formation more, including more snaps from the slot, and he will attack each level of the field with more regularity and do so in a variety of ways with his speed and route running abilities. An already difficult matchup, this multiplicity element that comes with Coen's offense can make Thomas even more difficult to defend with his ability to go after defenses in a number of different ways. The trickle-down effect of this is that not only does this help create additional opportunities for Thomas, but also for those around him as well. – Paul Bretl, Jaguars Wire Kansas City Chiefs: OC Creed Humphrey While left tackles are usually considered to be the most valuable players on a team's offensive line, Humphrey is the rare type of interior lineman who deserves recognition in a 'non-quarterback MVP' discussion. His savvy leadership has helped star quarterback Patrick Mahomes lead Kansas City to two of its three Super Bowl titles in the Andy Reid era. The former Oklahoma Sooner has yet to miss a start in his career. Entering his fifth season in the NFL, Humphrey is consistently ranked as one of the league's top centers. Given that he just turned 26 years old on June 28 and is under contract with the Chiefs through the 2029 season, it might not be an exaggeration to say that Kansas City's front office has built its offense around Humphrey as much as it has Mahomes. – John Dillon, Chiefs Wire Las Vegas Raiders: DE Maxx Crosby Crosby has been the MVP of the Raiders for most of his career even if you include the QBs in the conversation. A season after the Raiders had by far the worst sack total in the league, Crosby came in as a fourth round rookie and put up 10 sacks his first season and hasn't looked back. His energy and work ethic sets the standard for the team. The latter half of the 2023 season, he led the rally from the defensive side of the ball to finish strong after the firing of Josh McDaniels. Last season he was fighting through a high ankle sprain most of the year and the impact it had on the Raiders as a team was obvious. He was injured in week three and the Raiders immediately lost 11 of their next 12 games. The only 'win' was the one Deshaun Watson gift wrapped for them in week four. That being said, I'm sure Crosby and the rest of the team is hoping Geno Smith can be the first QB in a while to make a strong case for being Raiders team MVP. – Levi Damien, Raiders Wire Los Angeles Chargers: EDGE Khalil Mack Mack contemplated retirement following the 2024 season, but decided not to hang up the cleats and stay with the team that traded for him in 2022. The 34-year-old Mack has been vocal about wanting to win and hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, which was the primary reason he stayed in Los Angeles, calling it a "no-brainer' of a decision. Mack is coming off another productive season, even while dealing with multiple groin strains. He finished first among the team in quarterback pressures (54) and second in sacks (6). Mack also had the second-highest Pro Football Focus run defense grade among all edge rushers in the NFL (88.0). Mack's presence off the edge is the most vital out of any other player on the team, not named Justin Herbert, if the Chargers want to have success in 2025. – Gavino Borquez, Chargers Wire Los Angeles Rams: WR Puka Nacua Aaron Donald was always the easy choice for this exercise, as was Cooper Kupp. But now that both players are gone, the decision is a little harder. Thinking of the player the Rams can least afford to lose, I think it's Nacua. He just does everything well, from turning screens into big gains to running dig routes over the middle for large chunks of yards. He's a good blocker in the run game, too, which adds even more value in a scheme like the Rams'. There's a reason the offense took off last season after Nacua returned from injury, showing just how valuable he is as a receiver. As long as he can stay healthy and available, he'll go for at least 1,200 yards in his sleep – even with Davante Adams now in the mix at receiver. – Cameron DaSilva, Rams Wire Miami Dolphins: DL Zach Sieler De'Von Achane jumps out as an obvious choice and he'll likely have the gaudy stats to justify that, but there's a reason Dolphins players voted Sieler their team MVP at the end of the 2024 season. The unheralded former undrafted defensive lineman finished each of the last two seasons with 10 sacks, no small feat for a 300-pound defensive tackle. Following the departure of Calais Campbell, Jalen Ramsey, and Jevón Holland on the defensive side of the ball, the Dolphins will be looking to Sieler more than ever to be a leader, anchor, and cornerstone up front. – Adam Stites, Dolphins Wire Minnesota Vikings: LB Blake Cashman Not likely to be the pick that many people will expect to read here, but his impact can be summed up not by any fancy metric or box score number. Instead, look at the games he missed in 2024 in the regular season. He missed three games, two of which were Vikings losses, and they exposed the team's lack of run defense in the process. In his three games he missed, the Vikings gave up 105 rushing yards per game compared to their usual 95 they did the rest of the year. It may not seem like much, but time of possession means a lot, and those ten yards extend drives, and in those games, it came down to the wire. – Andrew Harbaugh, Vikings Wire New England Patriots: CB Christian Gonzalez The best player currently on the Patriots' roster is All-Pro cornerback Christian Gonzalez. He looked like one of the best defensive backs in the league as a rookie in 2023, despite playing in only four games. Last year, he took things to another level and earned his first All-Pro nod in his first full NFL season. A day is coming when Gonzalez will be widely recognized as the best cornerback in the league. He will do wonders in Mike Vrabel's reconstructed defense and help make the Patriots a formidable out against every opponent they face. – Jordy McElroy, Patriots Wire New Orleans Saints: C Erik McCoy Here's a stat for you. When McCoy was available last year (logged at least 68% of snaps in five games), the Saints went 4-1, losing to the Washington Commanders by a single point. When they had to work without him after he exited two games early and missed ten more, New Orleans went 1-11, beating the Atlanta Falcons by three points. They badly missed the Pro Bowler in the middle of the line, and he'll be even more important in 2025 with an inexperienced starter next to him after Trevor Penning moved to left guard. The offensive line goes as far as McCoy take them, and the offense goes with them. Whether it's Tyler Shough or Spencer Rattler starting under center, having McCoy snapping the ball to them makes a difference. – John Sigler, Saints Wire New York Giants: NT Dexter Lawrence Even when factoring in the quarterbacks, there is no better player on the New York Giants' roster than nose tackle Dexter Lawrence. He has established himself as the premier interior defensive lineman in football and has dominated at a level unheard of. In 2024, Lawrence faced a double-team rate of 74.5%, more than any other iDL in football by a country mile, but still generated 36 QB pressures over 13 games. That has been a theme for the past three seasons, with Sexy Dexy recording 103 total QB pressures. The next closest iDL? Vita Vea with 23 – Dan Benton, Giants Wire New York Jets: LB Jamien Sherwood Sherwood started to make a name for himself in 2024 once CJ Mosley went down with an injury again. That's why Mosley was expendable as a cap casualty this offseason as well. It was surprising to see how seamlessly Sherwood stepped into Mosley's shoes, but new head coach Aaron Glenn will lean on Sherwood after his breakout season and he'll only improve, potentially as the Jets' best defender in a unit that includes cornerback Sauce Gardner. – Nick Wojton, Jets Wire Philadelphia Eagles: OL Lane Johnson The Eagles have the NFL's best offensive line, and everything starts with the All-World right tackle. Philadelphia is nearly unbeatable with Johnson in the lineup. Since he was drafted to the team in 2013, the Eagles have a 102-55-1 record with Johnson on the field. They are just 15-23 without him. That discrepancy is one of the largest for any offensive lineman in the league. Last season, Johnson ranked 1st among NFL right tackles in PFF pass-blocking grade (88.1), pressure percentage (2.2%), and knockdown percentage (0.2%). Johnson allowed zero sacks and 1 QB hit in 451 pass-blocking snaps. – Glenn Erby, Eagles Wire Pittsburgh Steelers: OT Broderick Jones It would be easy to point to a guy like edge defender or wide receiver DK Metcalf when it comes to a non-quarterback MVP but we are going a a different direction. After a very strong rookie season, Jones didn't show much growth in 2024. But if the Steelers are going to contend in 2025, Jones, the new starting left tackle needs to have an All-Pro caliber season. – Curt Popejoy, Steelers Wire San Francisco 49ers: RB Christian McCaffrey It sure feels like the 49ers' offensive success this season relies heavily on McCaffrey's availability. Last year he played in only four games and the 49ers offense spent the season fighting uphill. With Jauan Jennings dissatisfied by his contract situation and a shaky wide receiver depth chart behind him, the run game will be imperative for San Francisco this season. If McCaffrey is on the field, the 49ers offense should once again be one of the more formidable outfits in the NFL. If his health is a problem again, it's hard to see the 49ers making any serious run at a postseason berth. – Kyle Madson, Niners Wire Seattle Seahawks: LB Ernest Jones IV Seattle's defense, especially against the run, went from being abysmal once more to a stone wall seemingly overnight. This was thanks to the midseason acquisition of linebacker Ernest Jones IV, who was traded by the Rams and Titans last year before finally finding a permanent home in the Emerald City. Jones immediately proved himself to be a difference maker and a leader, as Seattle entrusted him with playcalling responsibilities despite coming in halfway through the year. The Seahawks once again have linebacker to terrorize opposing offenses and generate crucial plays when needed. – Kole Musgrove, Seahawks Wire Tampa Bay Buccaneers: S Antoine Winfield Jr. The Bucs' All-Pro safety was not himself during the 2024 season, and as a result, the entire defense suffered. Winfield Jr. was coming off a big contract extension, and expectations were high, but injuries held him back from ever truly getting momentum going. If he is healthy, like everyone expects him to be, he should be on a revenge tour that would make everyone blush by the end of it. Not only does he need it, but the Bucs' secondary needs it because the group as a whole remains unchanged, and they were less than impressive last season. – Andrew Harbaugh, Bucs Wire Tennessee Titans: DT Jeffery Simmons We considered going with new LT Dan Moore and RB Tony Pollard here. However, DT Jeffery Simmons remains Tennessee's best player. The combination of Simmons and T'Vondre Sweat gives the Titans one of the best defensive tackle duos in the NFL. While so much focus is on the offense, Tennessee's defense was good for a portion of last season. Simmons is an interior disruptor, and he can make up for the Titans' concerns on the edge. If Tennessee is to surprise this year and compete in the AFC South, its defense needs to rise to the occasion. It all starts up front with Simmons. – Bryan Manning Titans Wire Washington Commanders: LB Frankie Luvu It was tempting to go with WR Terry McLaurin here. He will be excellent again. But Washington needs more from its defense in 2025. Enter Frankie Luvu. Luvu was excellent last season, finishing second on the team with eight sacks and earning second-team All-Pro honors. The Commanders didn't bring in a ton of help on the edge because they know Luvu can help there. Von Miller's signing will not impact Luvu's usage as a pass rusher. Luvu was all over Washington's defense last season and established himself as a villain to Philly fans. That's how you know you've arrived. Expect Luvu to hit the double-digit mark in sacks in 2025. – Bryan Manning, Commanders Wire
USA Today
25 minutes ago
- USA Today
What's in the bag? Caitlin Clark peeks in Ellie the Elephant's purse, goes viral at WNBA All-Star
Editor's note: Click link for live coverage of the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game with USA TODAY Sports. Ellie the Elephant had the best seat in the house at the 2025 WNBA All-Star festivities Friday. Not only did Ellie the Elephant get to see her New York Liberty compatriots Sabrina Ionescu and Natasha Cloud sweep the 3-point contest and skills competition, the ever-fashionable Liberty mascot took in all the action next to Indiana Fever darling Caitlin Clark at a rocking Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Clark and Ellie the Elephant were spotted catching up with each other courtside. At one point, a curious Clark took a peek into Ellie the Elephant's purse, which included a magnifying glass and binoculars. 2025 WNBA ALL-STAR FRIDAY RESULTS: Sabrina Ionescu wins 3-point contest; Liberty sweep Caitlin Clark 🤝 Ellie the Elephant Fans called the interaction between Clark and Ellie the Elephant a crossover we didn't know we needed. Both Clark and Ellie the Elephant had rooting interests in Friday's All-Star events. Clark was pulling for teammate Lexie Hull, who replaced her in the 3-point competition after Clark injured her right groin Tuesday. Hull turned in 20 points, good for a fourth-place finish out of five competitors. Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu went on to win the contest for the second time in her career with a score of 30 points in the final round, marking the second highest total all-time. Ionescu's 37-point performance in 2023 holds the record. Earlier in the night, Natasha Cloud defeated Erica Wheeler of the Storm by 1.1 second to win the skills challenge. "Oooooop swept yall," Liberty All-Star starter Breanna Stewart wrote on social media Friday evening, to which Ellie the Elephant replied, "Very Much." She added a broom emoji and Statue of Liberty emoji. The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
Business Insider
an hour ago
- Business Insider
How to watch the WNBA All-Star Game online in 2025
All-Star Weekend is underway, and dozens of top WNBA players have descended on Indianapolis to celebrate and showcase the league. We've compiled everything you need to know about how to watch the WNBA All-Star Game online in 2025, including some of the best live streaming services for those without cable. Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx and Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever captain the two All-Star teams, although Clark will just serve as support this year instead of playing due to a groin injury. Team Clark includes Aliyah Boston, Sabrina Ionescu, and A'ja Wilson, among others, under New York Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello. Team Collier, under Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve, features players like Paige Bueckers, Skylar Diggins, and Breanna Stewart. The 2025 All-Star Game, held at the Indiana Fever's Gainbridge Fieldhouse, will bring back the 4-point shot in select areas on the court located 28 feet from the rim (about six feet further than the standard 3-point line). Additionally, GloRilla is scheduled to headline the halftime show, so it's shaping up to be an action-packed event. Below, you can find everything you need to know about catching tonight's game, including tip-off time, rosters, and streaming options. If you're not interested in reading any further: one of the cheapest ways to live stream the All-Star Game in the US is via ESPN Plus. What channel is the WNBA All-Star Game on? The WNBA All-Star Game tips off on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC. The network's WNBA Countdown coverage begins at 8 p.m. ABC has the game scheduled until 10:30 p.m., at which point the network will switch to a half-hour of WNBA All-Star Postgame coverage. How to watch the WNBA All-Star Game in the US If you don't have access to cable or an antenna, there are a few different live streaming services that will be able to help you out. Our top recommendation is ESPN Plus, which costs $12 a month. ESPN Plus unlocks live streaming for select sporting events, including some WNBA games, in addition to certain NFL, NBA, and NHL match-ups. This year, coverage will also be available on Disney Plus. You can combine ESPN Plus, Disney Plus, and Hulu for a discounted price in one of the Disney Plus bundles. You can also live stream ABC through a live TV streaming channel package, such as Sling TV, DirecTV, or Fubo — three of the best services we've tested. DirecTV's MySports carries ESPN and ABC (in select regions), in addition to about 20 other popular sports channels, in its lineup. The genre pack also includes access to ESPN Plus, which is how you can watch the game if ABC isn't available on DirecTV in your region. Subscriptions cost $70 a month, but there's a five-day free trial for new customers. With Sling, you'll want to opt for Sling Blue, which carries ABC and 40+ other live channels in its lineup, including the NFL Network, FS1, and CNN. Subscriptions cost $46 a month, but new users can get 50% off their first month of service. Local channels like ABC vary in availability from region to region on Sling, so we recommend looking up your ZIP code before subscribing to ensure you have access. ESPN, ABC, and 150+ other live channels are available through Fubo 's base Pro plan. This tier costs $85 a month, making it the most expensive option today, but new users can get their first month for $65 after a seven-day free trial. How to watch the WNBA All-Star Game from anywhere WNBA fans traveling outside the US can still access their usual streaming services with the help of a VPN. Short for virtual private networks, VPNs are cybersecurity tools that let people change the virtual locations on their devices. This way, their usual websites and apps work from anywhere in the world, just like they would back home. The services we've recommended require US payment methods, so this option is best for Americans who are just traveling abroad at the moment. NordVPN is our go-to recommendation. It's a user-friendly VPN, even for beginners, and comes with a wide selection of security features. Plus, it has a hassle-free 30-day money-back guarantee. You can read more about the app in our NordVPN review. Team Collier roster Napheesa Collier (Captain), Minnesota Lynx Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings Skylar Diggins, Seattle Storm Allisha Gray, Atlanta Dream Kayla McBride, Minnesota Lynx (replacing Rhyne Howard) Nneka Ogwumike, Seattle Storm Kelsey Plum, Los Angeles Sparks Angel Reese, Chicago Sky Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty Alyssa Thomas, Phoenix Mercury Courtney Williams, Minnesota Lynx Team Clark roster Caitlin Clark (Captain), Indiana Fever Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever Sonia Citron, Washington Mystics Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty Kiki Iriafen, Washington Mystics Brionna Jones, Atlanta Dream (replacing Satou Sabally) Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever Brittney Sykes, Washington Mystics (replacing Caitlin Clark) Kayla Thornton, Golden State Valkyries Gabby Williams, Seattle Storm A'ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content might constitute a breach of the terms of use for certain services. Business Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.
