5 Overreactions to the NFL Preseason With a Fantasy Slant.
- One Team at a Time
- Aug 19
- 2 min read
The 2025 preseason chatter is loud, but noise doesn’t equal value, you can fade or lean into these five storylines with confidence when drafting in your fantasy leagues.
1. Washington’s Backfield Will Thrive Without Brian Robinson Jr.
In redraft formats there’s zero need to panic if Washington moves Brian Robinson Jr. You can still draft him in Round six or seven at ADP RB30 overall, Chris Rodriguez Jr. looked explosive in camp, Austin Ekeler slots around RB22 overall and remains a PPR workhorse, Deebo Samuel is healthy enough to scoop up passing-down work, targeting Rodriguez as a late handcuff or rotating Ekeler in your flex is smarter than upending your board. Their value explodes if Robinson is traded.
2. Bet on Caleb Williams for Total Bears Exposure
Rather than fretting over Chicago’s wideout pecking order, drafting Caleb Williams in superflex or two-QB redrafts locks in exposure to D.J. Moore, Rome Odunze, Cole Kmet and every weapon in Ben Johnson’s offense, Williams goes off boards around QB12 overall which is bargain-basement for guaranteed volume, if you can’t roster him just draft D.J. Moore in Rounds three through five for a high floor while snagging Odunze late as an upside dart, either way you capture all the targets this scheme will generate. The Bears offense looks like the real deal now with the new retooled offensive line, and Ben Johnson's genius.
3. Dak Prescott Isn’t Worth Early Capital, It’s Wild Jayden Blue Hasn’t Earned RB #1
Dak’s ceiling peaked when Dallas leaned on a stout run game, without it his efficiency cratered, in single-QB redrafts you can stream QBs or wait until Rounds eight or nine rather than burning a second-round pick, and speaking of the ground attack it’s almost absurd that Jayden Blue hasn’t wrestled the role from Royce Williams given Blue’s three-down skill set, stash Blue as a late-round flier and pounce if or when he finally takes over. Maybe the fact that Blue hasn't won the backfield is a cautionary tale? What don't we know? Is Royce Williams really that good?
4. Matthew Golden Is Set to Emerge as Green Bay’s WR1
Matthew Golden’s contested-catch prowess and after-the-catch explosiveness stand out, his mid-to-late-round ADP around WR35 overall massively undershoots his ceiling once he and Jordan Love sync their timing. Treat Golden as your Rounds nine or ten breakout dart and you’ll be locked in when he commands 20 elevated targets in what used to be a committee approach in Green Bay.
5. Temper Cam Ward Hype While Respecting Realistic Upside
Cam Ward flashed poise and accuracy in limited preseason action, but designed runs were few and the Titans project to keep him in the pocket, he drifts off boards around QB10 through QB12 overall which makes him a fine late-round bench stash in single-QB leagues, don’t burn Day-Two capital, but if Tennessee leans into his arm strength and he navigates NFL windows efficiently he could emerge as a usable QB2 without relying on rushing volume.
Even the best preseason storylines are guesses, anchor your board to ADP, target proven veterans early, sprinkle in upside darts through Rounds seven through twelve, and stay ready to pivot once Week One usage rolls out.
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