Fantasy Football 2025: PPR Rankings Cheat Sheet and Expert Reaction

The Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Chargers officially opened the 2025 NFL preseason on Thursday night. For fantasy football fans, that game also marked the official start of draft season.

Experienced managers know that, while the preseason doesn't mean anything in the final standings, these next few weeks can provide valuable fantasy-related information. The on-field results might not matter, but tracking player usage, lineup changes and player health can help managers predict regular-season roles.

It doesn't hurt to check in with training camp reports and listen to what the experts have to say either, though there's only so much to be gleaned from unpadded practices.

Here, we'll dive into some of the latest camp buzz and examine updated point-per-reception (PPR) for the top 50 players of 2025.

PPR Top 50

AP Photo/Jeff Dean

Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase

1. Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
2. Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons
3. Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings
4. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys
5. Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams
6. Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Detroit Lions
7. Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
8. Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Detroit Lions
9. Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
10. Drake London, WR, Atlanta Falcons
11. Malik Nabers, WR, New York Giants
12. Nico Collins, WR, Houston Texans
13. Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers
14. Ashton Jeanty, RB, Las Vegas Raiders
15. Brock Bowers, TE, Las Vegas Raiders
16. A.J. Brown, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
17. Ladd McConkey, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
18. Derrick Henry, RB, Baltimore Ravens
19. Trey McBride, TE, Arizona Cardinals
20. De'Von Achane, RB, Miami Dolphins
21. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seattle Seahawks
22. Gerrett Wilson, WR, New York Jets
23. Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
24. Chase Brown, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
25. Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills
26. Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens
27. Bucky Irving, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
28. Josh Jacobs, RB, Green Bay Packers
29. Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins
30. Davante Adams, WR, Los Angeles Rams
31. George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers
32. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts
33. Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
34. Jayden Daniels, QB, Washington Commanders
35. Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
36. Terry McLaurin, WR, Washington Commanders
37. Kyren Williams, RB, Los Angeles Rams
38. D.J. Moore, WR, Chicago Bears
39. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Arizona Cardinals
40. Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints
41. Kenneth Walker III, RB, Seattle Seahawks
42. DK Metcalf, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
43. Courtland Sutton, WR, Denver Broncos
44. James Cook, RB, Buffalo Bills
45. Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals
46. DeVonta Smith, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
47. Chuba Hubbard, RB, Carolina Panthers
48. Breece Hall, RB, New York Jets
49. Zay Flowers, WR, Baltimore Ravens
50. James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals

*Rankings based on PPR scoring

Christian McCaffrey Poised for Bounce-Back Year

AP Photo/Jeff Chiu

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey was a fantasy league-winner two years ago but was a massive disappointment in 2024 because of injuries. It looks like he'll head into 2025 healthy, though the 49ers are easing him back into action.

"This has been part of the plan," 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said, per ESPN's Nick Wagoner.

San Francisco will likely make an effort not to overwork McCaffrey this season. However, he should again be the centerpiece of the offense if healthy—in part because Deebo Samuel is gone, while Brandon Aiyuk remains sidelined.

McCaffrey may not top 2,000 scrimmage yards this season, but ESPN's Daniel Dopp believes that he's worth trusting.

"I understand the concerns you may have, from an injury perspective," Dodd said on Fantasy Focus. "But I am viewing Christian McCaffrey as a first-round running back, someone you can take as a top-five runner."

Managers will have to decide for themselves whether they'll accept the injury risk, but McCaffrey could provide immense value if he starts to slide in drafts.

Marvin Harrison Jr. Could Be Ready for Breakout Year

AP Photo/Darryl Webb

Arizona Cardinals receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. entered the NFL last season as a heavily hyped "can't-miss" prospect. He then disappointed fantasy managers in a Cardinals offense that rarely played to his strengths.

Entering his second season, Harrison has added muscle and has worked to build chemistry with quarterback Kyler Murray. That work appears to be paying off, as Harrison "stole the show" at one recent camp practice, according to Theo Mackie of the Arizona Republic.

Mackie also noted that, throughout camp, Harrison has been a more polished pass-catcher.

"More important than Harrison’s size is his comfort level in the offense," Mackie wrote. "...In camp this year, he already looks quicker and more decisive."

This suggests that Harrison is ready to produce more impressive numbers than he did as a rookie (62 catches, 885 yards, 8 TDs). However, there's no guarantee that the Cardinals have crafted a better game plan for him, which is why it's worth tracking Harrison and the Arizona offense during the preseason.

Don't Discount Travis Hunter as a Viable Fantasy Option

AP Photo/John Raoux

Managers can often find value in rookies because their lack of experience typically curbs their draft rankings. That could be especially true for Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback/receiver Travis Hunter, who is gearing up to play both ways in the NFL.

Hunter has spent time at both receiver and cornerback in camp and, reportedly, has impressed in both roles.

"Hunter has put together an impressive string of practices. After dominating at cornerback on Sunday, Hunter has spent the last two days at wide receiver and arguably had his best practice yet on the offensive side of the ball on Sunday," John Shipley of SI.com wrote on Tuesday.

The Jaguars have their No. 1 receiver in Brian Thomas Jr., so Hunter's ceiling as a rookie may be in the WR2/flex range. However, his floor should be fairly high, as long as Trevor Lawrence remains healthy.

"It might take Hunter more time to make an impact defensively, but expect him to be a playmaker pretty quickly on offense when he’s given a chance," The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner wrote. "Athletically, he’s been ready for at least two years."

Expect Hunter to make more of a rookie impact as a receiver than as a cornerback in IDP leagues.