7 Players Whose Fantasy Stock Skyrocketed After NFL OTAs

In the NFL, OTAs stands for organized team activities.

In fantasy football, it stands for “Overreaction Time, All.”

It’s an occurrence as annual as draft day and the fantasy playoffs. Every rave review of a player on the practice field is met with absolute certainty from some that said player will be a fantasy league-winner. Never mind that this early in the summer there are no pads. And no contact. And for every report critical of a player, there are 127 positive ones.

It’s a time of hope in the NFL. Reality will come crashing down soon enough.

However, in the midst of all the hype, there are kernels of truth. Real, actionable information about players who could be on the cusp of seasons that will far exceed their asking price when draft day rolls around.

So, with that in mind, let’s hop on the OTA skyrocket and look at some players who are building up a nice head of steam as we move deeper into the summer.

What? I like to overreact as much as the next guy.

It’s fun.

Bryce Young, QB, Carolina Panthers

AP Photo/Danny Karnik

It has been a bumpy couple of seasons for Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young. After a rocky rookie season, Young was benched after struggling early in Year 2. That benching appears to have been a “lightbulb” moment for Young—his level of play improved markedly after returning to the starting lineup.

Now, entering a pivotal third season, Young has been far more vocal huddle in workouts. Panthers head coach Dave Canales told reporters that he’s impressed with Young’s leadership and improvement in play.

"He just has a defiance to him. That's just kind of his way of competing. He's not super-animated with it, but he definitely thrives off of that, feeds off that energy. He takes chances when he can, because Jaycee is trying to bait him into throw the ball over there. But it does bring a level of confidence to the guys, 'Hey, we're dangerous when we're out there.'''

The Panthers made an effort to improve the weapons around Young and the offensive line in front of him, headlined by the first-round acquisition of wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan. The ingredients are all there for Young to continue to improve in 2025.

From Week 12 on last year, Young was quietly a top-10 fantasy quarterback. With an improved offense around him and better play from Young himself, even bigger and better things could be in store in 2025.

And with an ADP of QB24 at Fantasy Pros, that could make Young one of the biggest values available at quarterback this year.

Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots

AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty

There’s a lot of change in New England this year, including a new head coach in Mike Vrabel and a new offensive coordinator in Josh McDaniels. It can be a lot for a young quarterback to absorb.

But as Drake Maye heads into his second season, he told reporters from OTAs that he’s finding his stride in the new scheme.

"I'm starting to really find a stride. It's all the same concepts in the league, but it's different words, different verbiage. It's mostly the same guys running [routes], but just feeling out how they run it and timing when you get into different concepts. It's been good. Coach does a great job of getting guys in matchups and letting them win. I'm looking forward to doing that. I have to do my part of getting guys lined up, playing the right side [of the field], and just doing my part of taking what's open."

As with Young in Carolina, the Patriots made a concerted effort to get better in the offseason, whether it was bolstering the offensive line with rookie tackle Will Campbell or bringing in veteran wide receiver Stefon Diggs.

Maye showed flashes of considerable upside as a rookie, including rushing for 421 yards, which ranked in the top 10 among quarterbacks. That rushing ability should afford Maye a safer fantasy floor and the potential for an even higher ceiling.

It’s hard to make a list of quarterbacks available outside the top 15 with legitimate breakout potential in 2025 and not include Maye on it.

Brian Robinson Jr., RB, Washington Commanders

AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.

This is a make-or-break season for Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. He’s heading into the final year of his rookie deal, and while there have been flashes (including a career high in yards per carry a year ago), Robinson has yet to rush for 800 yards in a season and has missed time all three years.

While addressing the media from OTAs, offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said that Robinson has impressed on the practice field—and that he knows the stakes are high in 2025.

“He's been really focused. The biggest thing that came out of last year I think was that any of the guys that we asked to go in and play, played at a really high level. B-Rob's a guy who has played an incredibly high level. I thought early in the year when he was really healthy, he was what we expect him to be, and the focus this offseason has been great. He knows what this year means to him and can mean to us when he plays at that level."

Given his average draft position of RB30 at Fantasy Pros, it appears that fantasy managers aren’t overly enamored with Robinson in the early going. But the Commanders should field a potent offense this season, and somewhat surprisingly the team did very little to upgrade the backfield in the offseason.

Robinson’s chief competition for touches this year is 30-year-old Austin Ekeler who had 112 touches in 2024. If Robinson can stay on the field, he’s going to vastly outperform his early asking price.

Travis Etienne Jr., RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack

There may not be a running back who wishes the 2024 season never happened more than Travis Etienne Jr. of the Jacksonville Jaguars. After gaining over 1,000 rushing yards in each of his first two seasons, Etienne’s production fell off a cliff last year.

That makes the 2025 campaign a make-or-break season for Etienne. Trade rumors have swirled around Etienne from the moment that the Jags drafted Bhayshul Tuten, but Jacksonville head coach Liam Coen didn’t sound like a man planning to send Etienne packing while speaking to reporters.

"Everything we've asked him to do, he's done at a good clip for us," Coen said. "I mean, the ability in the screen game, to hand him jet sweeps. His vision, so far, in the run game has been good. He's done everything we've asked him to do, and more. There's been a consistency."

Saying that Etienne’s value has “skyrocketed” may be stretching that term just a tad. But let’s be real about Jacksonville’s running backs. Tank Bigsby is a between-the-tackles grinder who is a non-factor in the passing game. Tuten is a Day 3 rookie who struggled with both fumbles and pass protection at Virginia Tech.

Etienne’s struggles in 2024 went well beyond the back himself—the entire Jacksonville offense was a mess. If Coen can turn that offense around this year, the No. 1 running back should be a big beneficiary.

And whether folks want to admit it, Etienne is the No. 1 running back.

Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints

AP Photo/Kyusung Gong

When healthy, New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave has shown considerable fantasy upside—the former Ohio State star surpassed 70 receptions and 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons.

Unfortunately, Olave has also suffered multiple concussions—one each in 2022 and 2023 and two during a massively disappointing 2024 season. Now, however, Olave is healthy, and he told reporters that while sitting last year was challenging, he’s far more excited about the future than worried about it.

"It was tough, man, at first; I ain't never really sat out that long. That was really my first major injury. Just not being able to go and practice and go to meetings with my guys was the worst part, but I feel like I'm ready. I was training and lifting and everything in December. So, I feel like I'm good. They said I was OK back in December when they cleared me. It was just unlucky situations I was being put in. God's got me at the end of the day. I'm not worried about nothing. So, just got to go out there 100% and be ready."

Seeing a healthy Olave on the practice field at OTAs is undoubtedly welcome news for a Saints team that isn’t exactly overflowing with passing-game weapons. But it should also be welcome news to fantasy managers—after last season’s letdown, Olave is being drafted at the back end of WR3 territory on average.

Even with the Saints’ massive question marks under center, a healthy Olave will substantially outperform that modest asking price.

After all, the Saints will probably be playing quite a bit of catch-up this year.

DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Baltimore Ravens

AP Photo/Matt Freed

It has admittedly been a while since DeAndre Hopkins was fantasy-relevant—at least consistently. The 33-year-old caught 75 passes for 1,057 yards and seven scores with the Tennessee Titans in 2023, but that was the only time in the past four years that “D-Hop” has surpassed 1,000 yards.

Now, Hopkins is in Baltimore with the Ravens—his fourth team since 2022. But as head coach John Harbaugh told reporters, Hopkins is putting his best foot forward with his new team.

"First of all, I think he's a heck of a football player. Obviously, you saw him today. He's a gifted guy. He's a talented guy. He's going to be a big-body, contested-catch receiver for us, certainly. He's moving great. Plus, he brings all that experience. He's been in big games before. He's made plays in the big games. He knows how to make plays. There's not going to be any situation that's going to be too big for him, but I just thought he and Lamar (Jackson) looked really good today out there together. It was nice to see."

Now, the passing-game pecking order in Baltimore is admittedly crowded—the Ravens have Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman at wide receiver and Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely at tight end. The fantasy community has taken one look at that room and said “no thanks” with Hopkins—his average draft position is outside the top 75 receivers.

But every fantasy drafter needs a couple of late-round lottery tickets in their hip pocket come draft day—a “sleeper” target or two.

If Hopkins continues drawing rave reviews as we move into training camp, he may just fit that bill.

Evan Engram, TE, Denver Broncos

AP Photo/David Zalubowski

The Joker isn’t just Batman’s arch nemesis. It’s also a big part of what Denver Broncos Sean Payton wants to do offensively this season. While speaking to reporters, Payton outlined what he’s looking for in the role.

“(The Joker is) either a running back or tight end with exceptional ball skills and then you can work matchups,” he said. “We’ve had that at the running back (position). Reggie Bush was the Joker, Darren Sproles and Alvin Kamara. Those were all unique players, not just in the running game, but they had passing game skill sets that allowed you to do multiple things.”

Now Payton is hoping he has a new Joker in veteran tight end Evan Engram. And after watching Engram at OTAs, Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton told reporters he’s sold on the idea.

“Everyone’s excited watching him run around,” he said. “The last two weeks has been really good, so I’m excited to have him here. He’s a freak. That’s exactly what you want. I think he’s a really good player. I think he’s a great addition to our team. I think he just gives us another weapon on offense. I’m excited.”

As badly as the Broncos need reliable passing-game weapons to complement wide receiver Courtland Sutton, fantasy managers need consistently productive tight ends even more—the lack of depth at the position this year is a real problem.

If Engram continues to impress in training camp, his ADP of TE8 will rise.

Gary Davenport is a two-time Fantasy Sports Writers Association Football Writer of the Year. Follow Gary on X at @IDPGodfather.