Biggest Fantasy Football Storylines Amid 2025 OTAs
As NFL teams host voluntary organized team activities (OTAs), coaches are laying the groundwork for offensive systems and roles. Fantasy football managers should lock in to the latest on these practices.
As is the case every offseason, there are plenty of storylines to follow late in the spring that will linger into training camp.
This year's strong running back class will shake up backfield rotations.
A couple of AFC East teams that offered limited fantasy value last year will implement new offensive systems. These changes should grab your attention if you're looking for sleepers and middle-round selections who could be league-winning pickups.
A few upstart wide receivers have already generated some buzz.
What can we expect from the New Orleans Saints offense following Derek Carr's retirement?
We'll break down 10 of the biggest storylines amid OTAs, and how managers can apply information from these practices to their roster-building strategy.
Who Is RB1 in Dallas?
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The Dallas Cowboys have a star on their helmet but not in the backfield.
This offseason, they spent conservatively on running backs, signing Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders to one-year deals. They waited until Day 3 to address the position, taking Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah in the fifth and seventh rounds, respectively.
The Cowboys' running back by committee is shaping up to be a nightmare. Yet The Athletic's Jon Machota believes he has a handle on how the pecking order will shake out for the season:
"I see Williams being the leading guy early in the season, but eventually Blue ends up getting more carries and leading the team in rushing. Now, that's not saying it will be leading the team with a 1,000-yard season. But I think by the end of the year, Blue will be their No. 1 guy."
Williams feels rejuvenated nearly three years removed from serious knee injuries. The fifth-year veteran could look like the promising player from his 2021 rookie campaign. In that year, he accumulated 1,219 scrimmage yards and scored seven touchdowns.
Sanders, a seventh-year veteran with a 2022 Pro Bowl year on his resume, will push for carries as well.
If Machota is correct, the Cowboys could shift the burden of the carries from the veterans to the rookies with fresher legs. That said, Blue served in a backup role in all three of his collegiate terms and never led the Texas Longhorns in rushing for a season.
For now, managers should avoid Dallas running backs but keep an eye on the touch distribution through training camp.
Can Matthew Golden Be Packers' WR1?
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For the first time in 23 years, the Green Bay Packers selected a wide receiver in the first round of the draft. Team CEO Mark Murphy turned the selection into a spectacle in front of the Green Bay crowd.
Will Matthew Golden play up to the buzz and lofty expectations?
Thus far, quarterback Jordan Love seems impressed with the rookie and called him a "very polished receiver."
Green Bay has a solid group of wideouts, but Golden has the potential to be special because of his explosiveness. In his final collegiate term, he averaged 17 yards per catch.
General manager Brian Gutekunst expects wide receiver Christian Watson to miss about half of the upcoming season recovering from a torn ACL. The 26-year-old averaged 21.4 yards per catch last season.
Perhaps Love develops that deep-ball connection with Golden. While the rookie wideout may not have the target volume of a WR1, he has intriguing upside.
Jayden Higgins Primed to Fill Texans' Void at WR?
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The Houston Texans allowed Stefon Diggs to walk in free agency. According to the Houston Chronicle's Jonathan M. Alexander, Tank Dell will "more than likely miss the 2025 season."
The Texans acquired Christian Kirk from the Jacksonville Jaguars, and still, quarterback C.J. Stroud should have plenty of targets to spread among his secondary pass-catchers.
Wide receiver Nico Collins will command most of the attention in the passing game, though the Texans still selected Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel in the second and third rounds of the draft, respectively, after trading for Kirk.
Houston signed Higgins to a fully guaranteed deal, a first for a second-round pick in the NFL.
At 6'4", 210 pounds, Higgins can be a reliable target in the red zone, though he made plays all over the field at Iowa State, catching 140 passes for 2,166 yards and 15 touchdowns in two collegiate terms.
At 5'11", 201 pounds, Noel may compete with Kirk for snaps in the slot. Higgins could surpass John Metchie III on the depth chart this summer.
Despite the Texans' injuries at receiver, Metchie didn't fully capitalize on increased opportunities last season, which may explain why the team double-dipped at the position on Day 2 of the draft.
Higgins is a dark-horse candidate to lead rookie wideouts in catches and receiving yards.
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Can Stefon Diggs Bounce Back from Injury into WR1 Form?
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Stefon Diggs tore his ACL in October last year, which limited him to just eight games. Consequently, he saw his six-year streak of 1,000-plus receiving yards end.
He could return to lead receiver form with the New England Patriots. They signed him to a three-year, $63.5 million deal, a sizeable contract for a 31-year-old receiver coming off a significant injury.
Early in the offseason, ESPN's Mike Reiss reported Diggs was "ahead of schedule" in his recovery. But The Athletic's Chad Graff believes it's "reasonably" the best-case scenario that he returns to action in Week 4 as the go-to target for Drake Maye.
Remember the Patriots drafted Kyle Williams in the third round, and they signed Mack Hollins, who had his most productive season in play-caller Josh McDaniels' offense, hauling in 57 passes for 690 yards and four touchdowns in 2022. Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker will look to make strides in their second year with the team.
The Patriots have enough depth at receiver to ease Diggs back into action. If he misses the first few weeks of the season, Williams is the guy to keep an eye on.
TreVeyon Henderson Carving Out an Early Role as a Three-Down RB?
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Typically, you should avoid complicated backfields with more than two players set to take on different roles unless you're building a best ball roster.
However, managers need to make an exception for TreVeyon Henderson.
The New England Patriots selected the Ohio State product in the second round of the draft. He'll join Rhamondre Stevenson, who signed a four-year, $36 million extension last offseason, and hybrid tailback-receiver Antonio Gibson.
Yet, according to The Athletic's Chad Graff, Henderson stood out at OTAs and will have a clear pathway to touches with the ability to produce big plays.
"For a team that has lacked explosiveness, his speed is obvious," Graff wrote. "He should be a weapon on screen passes and third downs."
After the Patriots drafted Henderson, executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf noted that the 22-year-old is a "really good pass protector."
At the least, the former Buckeye will have value in points-per-reception leagues. He could also steal carries from Stevenson, who lost his starting job because of ball-security issues last season.
Likely to touch the ball at least 10-12 times per game, Henderson has high-end RB2 upside.
Jets Prepared to Tush Push Justin Fields?
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The Green Bay Packers' proposal to ban the tush push fell short by two votes in the spring owners' meetings. Ten teams voted against it, and the New York Jets were one of those clubs.
ESPN's Rich Cimini noted why the Jets may have supported the play and gave reasons why they could try to emulate it with Justin Fields:
"Fields, one of the league's most dangerous running quarterbacks, has attempted 12 push sneaks in his career, converting 11 for first downs, per ESPN Research. Since 2021, only two quarterbacks have tried it more than Fields: Jalen Hurts (86-for-100) and Josh Allen (50-for-55)."
Whether the Jets successfully execute the tush push or not, Fields has appealing upside as a starter because of his rushing production.
As a starter in 15 games with the Chicago Bears for the 2022 season, the 2021 No. 11 overall pick racked up 1,143 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground. Through 50 contests, he is averaging 50.2 rushing yards per game.
If the Jets convert on the tush push at a high rate, specifically near the goal line, Fields will finish within the top 10 in fantasy scoring among quarterbacks. He ranked sixth in his most productive rushing season in 2022.
Will TE Mason Taylor Be No. 2 Option in Jets' Passing Attack?
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In the second round of the draft, the New York Jets selected Mason Taylor, who posted decent numbers through three collegiate terms and boosted his stock with a strong showing at the scouting combine.
Though the LSU product heard his name called after first-round tight ends Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren, he may have a more significant impact on his team's offense.
Loveland will share targets with sixth-year veteran tight end Cole Kmet. Warren has to work his way into a talented pass-catching group that includes Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, Alec Pierce and Adonai Mitchell while the Indianapolis Colts evaluate a quarterback battle between Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones.
Meanwhile, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn has an unquestioned starting quarterback in Justin Fields and a "clear vision" for Taylor's role in the offense.
"Mason is exactly who we thought he was," he told reporters. "He has dynamic movements. He can really catch the ball. He did a good job catching the ball away from his body. He's quick to bring it in and get north and south exactly like we want."
Wide receiver Garrett Wilson, Fields' former collegiate teammate, will be the go-to target in the Jets' passing attack, but the complementary role is up for grabs.
Allen Lazard and Josh Reynolds will battle for the No. 2 receiver spot, but neither has a strong enough resume to run away with the second-most targets.
As the starting quarterback with the Chicago Bears, Fields had a solid connection with Kmet, who led the team in catches (50), receiving yards (544) and touchdown receptions (seven) for the 2022 season.
As the Detroit Lions tight ends coach and pass game coordinator, Jets offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand worked closely with Sam LaPorta, who caught 86 passes for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns in his 2023 Pro Bowl rookie campaign.
Most rookie tight ends need extended time to make a significant impact in the fantasy football circuit, but Taylor landed in an ideal spot to produce in his first year.
Kaleb Johnson Has 'Very Good Chance' to Lead Steelers' Backfield
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The Pittsburgh Steelers allowed Najee Harris to walk in free agency, and they drafted Kaleb Johnson in the third round. The rookie will pair up with Jaylen Warren in the backfield.
Though Warren has an early edge over Johnson for the majority of the touches, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Gerry Dulac believes the newcomer has a "very good chance" to take over the lead role at some point in the upcoming season (h/t Steelers Depot's Ross McCorkle).
Over the last three years, Warren has served in a complementary role to Harris. He hasn't recorded more than 210 touches in a single season. As the smaller tailback (5'8", 215 lbs) compared to Johnson (6'1", 224 lbs), he may continue to split his carries while maintaining a pass-catching role.
Through three collegiate terms at Iowa, Johnson provided minimal impact in the short passing game, catching 29 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns, but he scored 21 touchdowns on the ground last year.
In PPR leagues, Johnson has little upside, but if he takes over Harris' role, managers can pit him in the RB2 tier. Harris has been RB23 or higher for fantasy scoring in all four of his seasons, with an RB3 finish in 2021.
Is 49ers WR Ricky Pearsall Ready to Break Out?
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The San Francisco 49ers have notable question marks at wide receiver.
They traded Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders, and Brandon Aiyuk is recovering from a torn ACL and MCL. The club signed Demarcus Robinson, but he could be subject to a three-game suspension, according to general manager John Lynch.
Fresh off a four-year extension, tight end George Kittle will play a big role in the passing game early in the season, but someone has to be a threat on the boundary.
Even though Jauan Jennings finished second on the team in catches (77), receiving yards (975) and touchdowns (six) last season, Grant Cohn of Sports Illustrated believes Ricky Pearsall is primed for a big year:
"If Pearsall stays healthy, I would expect he'll have more receiving yards than Jennings next season even if Jennings gets more targets than Pearsall. And that's because Pearsall is a deep threat and Jennings is not. So Pearsall most likely will average more than 15 yards per catch while Jennings averages closer to 12 yards per catch.
"Don't sleep on Pearsall. He's in line to have a surprisingly productive season."
Based on Cohn's projections, managers in PPR leagues may prefer Jennings because of the volume. However, Pearsall's big-play ability could result in gaudy numbers in weeks you need to overcome a large deficit.
Pearsall will be the most explosive player in the 49ers offense while Aiyuk recovers from injury.
How Will Saints Offense Operate Without Derek Carr?
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Though Derek Carr isn't a highly valued fantasy commodity, his retirement changes the dynamic of the New Orleans Saints offense.
New Orleans will have an open quarterback battle, with rookie second-rounder Tyler Shough, Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener in competition for the starting job. Because of the uncertainty at the position, the Saints receivers have lost some appeal.
Nonetheless, head coach Kellen Moore's track record suggests the running backs could be in line for a highly productive year. As a play-caller, his rushing offenses have ranked ninth or better in three of the last four seasons.
Moore had proven quarterbacks in Philadelphia and Dallas while he leaned on the ground game, but the Saints' rushing attack may be the strength of the offense as one of the young signal-callers gains experience under center.
Five-time Pro Bowler Alvin Kamara will likely handle a heavy workload, though Moore told reporters he's evaluating third-year running back Kendre Miller on a "blank slate."
The Saints also selected Devin Neal in the sixth round of the draft. He has a three-down skill set with 77 receptions for 771 yards and four touchdowns in addition to 4,343 yards and 49 touchdowns on the ground.
The Saints may play from behind in several matchups, which will force them to throw late in games. But if the offensive line can win at the line of scrimmage, Kamara, Miller and even Neal could rack up yards on the ground and in the short passing attack.
Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.
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