Latest news with #FantasyFootball
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Buccaneers' Pass Catcher Predicted 'League-Winning WR' in Fantasy Football
Buccaneers' Pass Catcher Predicted 'League-Winning WR' in Fantasy Football originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Tampa Bay Buccaneers wideout Mike Evans has been underestimated throughout his entire pro career. All he's done is exceed expectations each and every campaign since being drafted by the Bucs. Advertisement Even after missing three games last season with a hamstring issue, Evans continued his record streak of 11 straight seasons with at least 1,000 yards receiving. This season, while many may be once again undervaluing his season at the age of 30, he's expected to excel in your fantasy football league. Derek Brown of Fantasy Pros thinks Evans will once again surpass expectations in your fantasy league. "Mike Evans has finished no lower than WR13 in fantasy points per game over the last four years, and he didn't show any signs of slowing down last year," Brown wrote. "While he has dealt with hamstring issues in each of the last three years, he has never played less than 14 games in any season. Last year, Evans ranked 23rd in target share, fifth in yards per route run, 16th in receiving yards per game, fourth in route win rate, and second in separation (per Fantasy Points Data). Evans is primed to produce as a WR1 again in 2025." Advertisement Evans has tallied at least 11 touchdowns in four of the past five years while finding the end zone 57 times during that period. The former Texas A&M Aggies pass catcher has never caught less than 70 passes in a season and has been targeted at least 110 times in 10 of the last 11 years. The last time he averaged less than 14 yards per catch was in 2016. You can continue to underestimate Evans' value in your fantasy league, but it'll be your own fault if you don't draft him early. Related: Todd Bowles and Jason Licht React to Buccaneers' Contract Extensions Related: Todd Bowles and Jason Licht React to Buccaneers' Contract Extensions This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fantasy Football: Which teams are set to pass the most (and least) in 2025?
Top-five pass-rate teams in 2024 1 - Cleveland Browns The Browns pushing to the top of the league in pass rate was a result of multiple factors. For starters, they were a bad team that was frequently in negative game script. That will always over-inflate a team's passing total. However, this was also part of Kevin Stefanski and the coaching staff adjusting the offense from what he typically wants to do into a more Deshaun Watson-centric approach. Advertisement [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] Every indication Cleveland has given this offseason — from firing Ken Dorsey to drafting a pair of running backs — says that it intends to return to the original Stefanski offense. The Browns ranked 29th, 27th and 25th in pass rate from 2020 to 2022. I'm not sure we're going all the way back to those days but I wouldn't necessarily pencil in Cleveland as a high-flying passing team for this upcoming season. 2 - Cincinnati Bengals The Bengals certainly had to take to the air to keep pace with teams that were burning their defense on the other side. However, Cincinnati has always been pass-heavy by design with QB Joe Burrow under center. The Bengals were No. 1 in neutral pass rate last season and second only to the Chiefs since 2021. We can safely project Cincy as one of the more pass-leaning teams going forward; good news for anyone interested in paying the high ADP cost required to snag Bengals pass-game players. 3 - Las Vegas Raiders Former head coach Antonio Pierce preached a big-time 'establish the run' gospel from the moment he took over the interim job in 2023. Things did not go to plan. The Raiders were the worst rushing team in the NFL and didn't have the defense to stick with it, regardless. Advertisement Las Vegas cleaned house at the end of the season, bringing in Pete Carroll at head coach and Chip Kelly at offensive coordinator. Carroll has always had an affinity for a ground-and-pound operation and Kelly's teams finished fourth, seventh, 11th and fifth in rush attempts. Unlike the last Raiders staff, they have the personnel at running back to actually maintain a strong run game. I'll be stunned if they're a top-five pass-rate team again in 2025. 4 - New York Jets The Jets are another team in this top five who cleared out their coaching staff at the end of the season. Tanner Engstrand is an unknown as the offensive coordinator under new head coach Aaron Glenn but if he brings anything over from Detroit, where he was the passing-game coordinator for multiple years, the Jets offense is in for some big structural changes. Advertisement Frankly, this unit won't resemble its 2024 counterpart in any way. The 2024 Jets were one of the most static and spread-out offenses in the league. The Lions specialize in condensed formations and tons of pre-snap eye candy. Detroit has also been a run-heavy operation in neutral situations. I'd bet that the Jets turn in that direction this season, especially with Justin Fields under center. 5 - Seattle Seahawks The Seahawks make it four out of five teams listed that parted with their offensive coordinator. Ryan Grubb's unit was a mess at multiple levels last year and while the Seahawks were extremely pass-heavy, they were woeful in constructing protection plans. Klint Kubiak was brought in to clean up some of the pass-game designs and revive a stagnant run game. Advertisement The Saints were 25th in neutral pass rate under Kubiak last year and were in the bottom half of the league even before injuries struck the receiver room. Seattle running back Kenneth Walker III has been steaming up fantasy ranks in anticipation of the better run game. This also means Jaxon Smith-Njigba will have to make up for some lost volume with improved efficiency and more downfield plays. QB Sam Darnold is a question mark in this regard but playing more outside should have JSN running deeper routes. The good news is that this is baked into his WR14 ADP, which is lower than where he finished in his breakout second season. Bottom-five pass-rate teams in 2024 32 - Philadelphia Eagles With an elite defense, a rushing quarterback and one of the best running backs in the sport, the Eagles have the perfect cocktail for a run-heavy team. Even with a change in offensive coordinator with Kellen Moore taking the Saints head coaching job, I won't be projecting much change to the way this team wants to play on offense. Advertisement A.J. Brown is still an elite wide receiver in the NFL and fits comfortably in the top five of my real-life rankings. That being said, you're counting on big plays and efficiency. Luckily, he led all wide receivers with 4.27 yards per route run vs. man coverage last year; a ridiculous mark and a testament that he can still be a WR1 in fantasy football in this offense. 31 - Baltimore Ravens The Ravens don't have a defense quite at the Eagles' level in this era of their franchise, but they also present a similar list of ingredients leading to a run-heavy attack. That being said, they're quietly 11th in neutral pass rate the last two years under Todd Monken (24th last year and seventh in 2023). That's a stark departure from their 26th ranking from 2019 to 2022 under Greg Roman. Advertisement I continue to believe that the Ravens offense is slowly evolving under Monken as Lamar Jackson continues to blossom as an elite-level passer. While they should be run-heavy again with Derrick Henry, don't completely pencil them in as the slow-dinosaur, condensed offense they were in Jackson's early seasons. There is more juice to squeeze for these pass-catchers in fantasy than in the days of old. 30 - Green Bay Packers If there's any team I think can make a slight jump in the pass-rate board from the basement, it's the Packers. Green Bay was dead last in neutral pass rate last year but my suspicion is that was overinflated by the team being cautious with Jordan Love's constant injury flareups. The Packers were 20th in neutral pass rate in 2023 with a healthy Love under center. The team obviously loves Josh Jacobs and what he brings to the table, but if I'm right about this, there's a chance we've just completely overstated the team's run-first nature because of a 2024 outlier. If they throw the ball more in 2025, pass-catchers like Matthew Golden, Jayden Reed and Tucker Kraft could be big-time winners at their light ADPs. 29 - Buffalo Bills The Bills went from eighth in neutral pass rate to 17th last season. So, while they are indeed more run-heavy under Joe Brady than they were under former OC Ken Dorsey, their placement at 29th is impacted by game script. Advertisement Brady has done a great job building up a strong foundational ground game with James Cook as the lead back behind an underrated offensive line. Josh Allen is a needle-mover in the run game himself. The Bills should also remain one of the better teams in the AFC and will be in plenty of positive game scripts. Perhaps they won't be bottom-five in pass rate again this season but I don't see much evidence they'll kick up toward the top of the league again anytime soon. 28 - Pittsburgh Steelers No surprise to see the Steelers here, as we know what Arthur Smith wants to do: pound the rock. His Titans offenses were always near the bottom of the league in pass rate, and the 2022 and 2023 Falcons were in the bottom five of each season. Even with Aaron Rodgers in the mix, the Steelers likely won't push any higher than 20th in overall pass rate. Their offensive line should be a strong unit this season and their pass-catcher arsenal is light. If they push any higher, that means Rodgers won a power struggle for offensive control over Smith. Advertisement Fantasy managers really only want DK Metcalf to hit from this passing game, which can still happen with this overall team volume. We'll just need Metcalf to have a 28%-30% target share. He's never done that at any point in his career but given the other options at wide receiver, it's possible in 2025.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Win a draft weekend trip for you (and your entire Yahoo Fantasy football league) to Las Vegas!
Win a draft weekend trip for you (and your entire Yahoo Fantasy football league) to Las Vegas! Have you been in the same Yahoo Fantasy football league for many years? Do you have a cast of memorable characters in your league? Is every season filled with unforgettable, unbelievable moments? If any (or all) of those things apply, then you (and your league) have a chance of winning a truly one-of-a-kind draft experience! Advertisement [Enter the Yahoo Sports Fantasy Football contest here] Yahoo Sports is running a nationwide contest to award one lucky Yahoo Fantasy user and their league the ultimate Yahoo Fantasy Draft Weekend Grand Prize, which includes round-trip airfare to Las Vegas, a two-night stay at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas and a VIP Hospitality Suite to conduct their draft in style. Contestants can enter to win by sharing what makes their fantasy league special, whether it's a legendary commissioner, wild traditions, epic moments, or more. The deadline to enter is Sunday, July 6. 50 U.S. or D.C. 21+. See Official Rules. This awesome contest is just one part of the Yahoo Fantasy Draft Weekend, a three-day celebration at The Venetian Resort packed with exclusive fan experiences, analyst insights and draft-day perks, from August 22-24. Advertisement [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] Throughout the weekend, Yahoo Sports analysts will be on-site at the Yahoo Sportsbook powered by William Hill in The Venetian Resort, recording shows and answering questions to help fans build championship rosters. Fans can purchase a Yahoo Fantasy Draft Weekend package to stay at The Venetian and host their draft in a Hospitality Suite, complete with premium food and beverages, draft essentials and the ultimate party setup. Think your league stands out from the rest? Enter the contest now! F.A.Q. WHERE: Yahoo Sportsbook powered by William Hill The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, NV WHEN: August 22-24, 2025 Purchase a Yahoo Fantasy Draft Weekend package here. Enter the Yahoo Sports Fantasy Football contest here. Visit the contest official rules here.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
3 New York Giants named fantasy football 'super sleepers'
The New York Giants made major changes to the quarterback room this offseason. After trading back into the first round of the 2025 NFL draft to select Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart, head coach Brian Daboll made it clear that veteran free agent acquisition, Russell Wilson, would be the starter when the season began in the fall. Advertisement Many believe that, even at age 36, Wilson has a chance to raise the Giants' offense to a level fans can be excited about. In fact, CBS Sports has highlighted a few players from the team's passing game that could be deep sleepers in 2025, including Wilson. Giants Russell Wilson, QBWan'Dale Robinson, WRDarius Slayton, WR Hopefully Wilson provides competent quarterback play to support this passing game, especially when it comes to Malik Nabers. But on his own, Wilson might prove to be a waiver wire option, and he has averaged at least 20.0 Fantasy points in 10 of 13 seasons in his career and only one year with fewer than 18.6 Fantasy points. Robinson had six games in 2024 with at least 13.1 PPR points, and Slayton's big-play ability might thrive with Wilson. You can draft Robinson in Round 15 based on FantasyPros, Wilson's ADP is Round 16 and Slayton is available in Round 18. Obviously, with the offense built around a superstar in the making, Malik Nabers, he wouldn't fit into the category of a fantasy sleeper. However, Nabers may be the key reason the other three made the list. After just one year, Nabers may be the most talented receiver Wilson has ever played with in his career, even after playing with George Pickens last season and spending time with D.K. Metcalf when he was with the Seattle Seahawks. With the attention of opposing defenses focused on Nabers, the other featured receivers, Wan'Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton, may benefit from the team bringing in Wilson to be the team's starting quarterback. Advertisement If the offensive line can play like it did to start the season last year, coupled with the emergence of running back Tyrone Tracy, the offense could be a balanced, functional unit for the first time in a long time. This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: 3 Giants named fantasy football 'super sleepers'
New York Times
11-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Club World Cup Fantasy: How does the game work and what are the best strategies for success?
No summer tournament — even an expanded, revamped FIFA showpiece like the Club World Cup — is complete without an accompanying fantasy football game. For those fantasy addicts who have no desire to give themselves a few months off from Fantasy Premier League and the like, Club World Cup Fantasy, the official game run by FIFA, will be taking place during this summer's 32-team competition in the United States, allowing managers to compete while signing players from Real Madrid, Inter Miami and Wydad. Advertisement So how does Club World Cup Fantasy work? How do the rules differ from FPL and what are the best tactics for success? Holly Shand explains… Similarly to FPL, you have a budget of $100million to use to pick a squad of 15 players. It's the usual combination of players required here: two goalkeepers, five defenders, five midfielders and three forwards. Managers then select a starting XI in a valid formation with a minimum of three defenders, three midfielders and one forward, with four players on the bench. Managers also receive unlimited transfers before the tournament kick-off as well as ahead of the start of the round of 16, the knockout stage of the competition. Managers will receive two free transfers before Matchday 2 and Matchday 3, which still sit within the group stage, with the ability to carry one of those transfers over into the next group-stage matchday. For the knockout stages, managers receive four free transfers for the quarter-finals, five for the semi-finals and six ahead of the final. Any transfers above that allocated number of free transfers deduct three points from your total. Points are scored across a variety of metrics, including goals, assists and clean sheets. The scoring matrix is broadly similar to FPL but with some differences. A player who wins a penalty receives two points while a player conceding a penalty loses a point, with a goalkeeper penalty save worth three. Clean sheets are given more prominence: defensive players are rewarded with five points for a clean sheet and penalised one point for each goal conceded after the first goal. Defensive midfielders have a greater purpose in this format of the game, with one point gained for each three tackles made, while their more creative counterparts can earn a point for every two chances created. Forwards with an eye for goal earn one point for every two shots on target. Advertisement There's no traditional bonus point system like in FPL but if a player scores from a direct free kick, they gain an additional goal point and there are also extra points available for differential players — if you have a player who is in less than five per cent of teams and they earn four or more points in a match, they will receive an additional two points. This could lead to greater variety in defensive choices! In the group stage, you may only select three players per club, with this increasing by one during each knockout stage and capped at eight per club for the final. Ahead of the knockout phase of the competition, your budget increases by $5million to account for higher player values for the remaining clubs — player prices are fixed and won't fluctuate throughout the tournament. Unlimited manual substitutions are permitted through a matchday to utilise bench players providing that player hasn't played yet, so it's important to invest in a full squad of starters: not just your starting XI. When initially setting your starting line-up, this should be chosen by the day each player plays, with those featuring earlier in the matchday selected first, with a view to substituting them if they have underperformed. Be mindful of time zones and timing of games here, especially if you're not based in the U.S., since it may not be practical to make substitutions during the day of the 'matchday'. With this in mind, try to pick goalkeepers who play on different days and ensure you log in at least once each day to make manual substitutions where required. As with FPL, your selected captain will score double points. However, as we've seen in UEFA and FIFA fantasy competitions in the past, captaincy can change an unlimited number of times during a live matchday, as long as the new selected captain is yet to play. Advertisement Given this, it's important to forecast several captaincy options for the upcoming matchday and decide on a points return that you would be prepared to stick with. This threshold may decrease as the matchday progresses, where twisting can become riskier. With this in mind, managers might look to build a strong attacking front seven to increase the captaincy options across the matchday and at some points, it may even be viable to captain a defender, giving you multiple bites of the cherry. The challenge is being able to stay on top of captaincy changes while the matchday is live, especially given the timing of some of the games if you aren't in a U.S. timezone, so for some, it may only be viable to have one captain option per day. There are four chips — this game calls them 'boosters'— available for Club World Cup fantasy: Wildcard, 12th Man, Maximum Captain and Mystery Booster. The Wildcard allows you to make unlimited changes within a specific round and is perhaps most powerful to use in one of the group stages of the competition. It is the only booster which cannot be cancelled once activated. Meanwhile, 12th Man allows you to select one additional player to score points for your team in a matchday — this player cannot be substituted, captained or transferred, and so this chip should be used with caution. This is a player who isn't already part of your squad, with team or budget restrictions not applying in this instance. Maximum Captain is a particularly powerful booster, allowing you to get double points from whichever player scores the most points from your starting XI. This is likely to be more powerful during the knockout stages of the competition, where results are less predictable and there are fewer opportunities to change your captain pick. Finally, there's a Mystery Booster which will be revealed and available going into the knockout stages of the competition. Each booster can only be used once, and only one can be used each matchday. Advertisement In Group C, Bayern Munich are the clear favourites to progress in a group which contains underdogs Auckland City, who they face in Matchday 1, as well as Boca Juniors and Benfica. Meanwhile, Chelsea are the big favourites in Group D, although their easiest fixture comes in Matchday 3 against ES Tunis, at a point where they may already have qualified for the knockout stages. Elsewhere, Inter Milan have an appealing opener in Group E against Monterrey. In Group G, Manchester City have a plum opener against Moroccan team Wydad and Juventus also kick off with an enticing fixture against Al Ain, with these two teams not facing each other until Matchday 3. Real Madrid have the easiest group on paper, facing Al Hilal, Pachuca and RB Salzburg in Group H. They could be a key side to triple-up on from the off. The four most expensive players in the game are all forwards priced at $11million: Harry Kane, Erling Haaland, Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe, with Lionel Messi coming in slightly cheaper at $10.5 million. Looking at the opening fixtures, Real Madrid's Vinicus Jr and Mbappe appear to be the key targets for Matchday 1 teams, while there's an early opportunity to use the 12th Man booster on Haaland for this round of games. Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembele ($10.0m) is the most expensive midfielder in the game but has a tricky opener against Atletico Madrid. I'd be more inclined to back Cole Palmer ($9.6m) for Matchday 1 against Los Angeles FC or Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham ($9.3m). Having made an early switch in the transfer window from Liverpool, Trent Alexander-Arnold ($6.4m) is among the premium defenders to back from the start, coming in $0.1 million cheaper than the most expensive option in PSG's Achraf Hakimi ($6.5m). Denzel Dumfries ($6.3m) will also be an important early pick from Inter given his high positioning on the pitch, which often translates to attacking returns. I was looking forward to a break from fantasy football over the summer but the format of this game has got me intrigued! Advertisement I think the beauty of fantasy games for international tournaments is that it gives you specific interest in matches you wouldn't normally watch and also provides a great opportunity to get to know players from different clubs, especially from sides outside of Europe, who might be less familiar. If you plan to watch the tournament avidly, then this fantasy game could provide the perfect accompaniment. I particularly like the scoring matrix for the tournament, with the bonuses available for differentials, which should go hand-in-hand with the higher rewards on offer for clean sheets. For those managers taking the game seriously, it will be important to stay abreast of the schedule and timings, setting alarms to make manual substitutions and captain changes between each game in order to maximise points. Engaged managers should be richly rewarded!
