It’s that time of year again when fantasy leagues are getting ready for their drafts, and everyone is looking at who to target and who to stay away from. We know you don’t want to endure your league’s punishment, so here is one player from each position poised for a bounce-back in 2025 who can help you win the championship.
QB — Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Prescott came in second place in MVP voting in 2023 and was the third-ranked QB on Sleeper that year. His 2024 season got off to a slow start, and then a hamstring injury sidelined him before he could get back on track. But now Dak is back and ready to return to his MVP-caliber performance.
On the offensive side, he has star WR CeeDee Lamb and tight end Jake Ferguson at his disposal. When healthy, he’s been one of the top QBs during the regular season since he came into the league. This year, he’s aiming for a repeat of 2023, where he was top 3 in passing yards. Whether or not this is the Cowboys’ “year” depends on the health of Dak Prescott, and all reports from their camp show that he’s healthy and ready to go.
New this year for Prescott will be head coach Brian Schottenheimer, who was his former offensive coordinator for two years before being promoted. Prescott’s familiarity with Schottenheimer’s system will help the Cowboys’ offense hit the ground running.
RB — Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
Returning from an Achilles injury is never easy, but McCaffrey was able to do it after missing the first eight games of 2024, but his season was cut short with another injury, this time the PCL.
Reports coming out of the 49ers camp are that he looks even better than before the injuries. QB Brock Purdy told the media recently that he is “back to the McCaffrey that we all know,” which is an encouraging sign for a player coming off both a PCL injury and Achilles tendonitis.
When healthy, McCaffrey is a league changer. He has the potential to score 30+ fantasy points per week, and his skill set as a receiving back makes him one of the hardest players to guard. Drafting McCaffrey is risky because of the injuries, but it’s a risk worth taking, as he can elevate your team to the top as long as he stays on the field.
WR — DJ Moore, Chicago Bears
Moore was traded to Chicago two years ago and immediately had the best season of his career with Justin Fields at QB, and Bears fans were excited for his second year with the team, especially with the new addition of #1 overall pick QB Caleb Williams. But year 2 with the Bears was disappointing to say the least. Moore, like the rest of the offense, looked dead in the water. Moore dealt with three different offensive coordinators and two head coaches after Matt Eberflus was fired in November, so it’s no wonder his fantasy points struggled as he finished as the 16th-ranked WR in fantasy according to Sleeper.
Entering 2025, Moore has spent a full season with QB Caleb Williams and now has a completely revamped offense under new head coach Ben Johnson. The Bears boast an almost entirely new offensive line, which will give Williams time to find Moore, along with former top 10 pick Rome Odunze and 2025 1st and 2nd round pass catchers Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III. This offense has the potential to be one of the best in the NFC, and Moore (who was targeted 140 times last year) will lead the charge as WR1.
TE — TJ Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings
Hockenson is entering his second full season with the Vikings after a midseason trade in 2022, and a torn ACL and MCL at the end of 2023. His recovery was progressing well, but he still missed the first 7 weeks of the 2024 season. This year, he’s back and ready to return to his old Pro Bowl-caliber self.
The Vikings have one of the best receiving corps in the NFL with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. While Addison is serving a suspension for the first three weeks of the season, look for TJ Hockenson to play a bigger role in the offense. With JJ McCarthy getting his first taste of NFL action, he’ll need a reliable target, and a big, talented tight end like Hockenson will be looked at often. I love Hockenson as a top-five TE this season, so don’t be afraid to jump on him when the time comes.
Parting Shot
Draft day is about finding value where others hesitate. Prescott, McCaffrey, Moore, and Hockenson all have paths to reclaiming elite fantasy status. If you’re bold enough to believe in the bounce-back, these could be the players who carry your roster through the long grind of 2025.
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