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In as we speak’s period of fantasy soccer, you possibly can’t afford to attend till potential traits turn out to be apparent alerts. By the point everybody agrees these developments matter, the sting is gone — which is why I write this column. My purpose is that can assist you spot traits earlier than your competitors, hopefully main you to this yr’s league-winning choose, like Brock Bowers, Brian Thomas or Jayden Daniels final season.
Every week, I flag creating traits that may matter for fantasy soccer. Final Saturday, this column highlighted De’Von Achane’s usage, Emeka Egbuka’s alternative and Isaac TeSlaa’s flashes, estimating Achane’s preseason ADP will drop barely whereas Egbuka’s and TeSlaa’s will rise considerably.
I’ll evaluate every creating pattern after three weeks to enhance my course of and make it easier to perceive the worth of this column, and since it was a popular addition to my 13 insights column from 2023. Except in any other case famous, all stats are tailor-made to redraft, half-PPR, 1-QB leagues.
Six issues I discovered this week:
1. WR Rashee Rice is trending up (Present ADP: 78 total, WR35)
Rice may be my favourite choose in all of fantasy soccer, even when he finally ends up suspended for a few games (as long as it’s lower than 4). The reason being apparent: Rice completed because the WR15 in factors per sport final season, regardless of taking part in simply 6% of snaps in Week 4.
In his first three, wholesome weeks, Rice averaged 17.6 factors per sport as the focus of Kansas Metropolis’s offense. And he stored getting higher, catching 12 of 14 targets for 110 yards and a landing in his third and closing regular-season sport. The 25-year-old suffered a brutal knee damage, additionally contributing to his depressed ADP, however I’m under no circumstances anxious after talking with The Athletic’s Chiefs beat reporter Jesse Newell.
Right here’s what he mentioned once I requested him about Rice’s knee:
💬 Jesse: “Folks across the Chiefs truly suppose Rice might need extra explosiveness than he did pre-injury. And bear in mind, Rice was off to a monster begin for the Chiefs in 2024, with 24 catches for 288 yards in three and a half video games earlier than struggling his setback.
“When he’s on the sector, I absolutely count on Rice to be the Chiefs’ No. 1 WR, as he’s been quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ favourite goal by far in coaching camp. The Chiefs consider Rice nonetheless has extra ceiling to point out, and that ought to come this yr (sooner or later) if he stays wholesome.”
Favourite goal. By far. Extra explosive than final yr. I’m all in on Rice, whose 17.6 factors per sport would’ve ranked behind solely Ja’Marr Chase throughout the complete season. A possible top-5 receiver at WR35?! That gained’t final, people.
Projected early-September ADP: 51 total, WR24. And even that’s nonetheless low-cost for Rice, who I’d draft over Garrett Wilson.
Jake Ciely’s tackle Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy
2. WR Cooper Kupp has nonetheless obtained it (Present ADP: 97 total, WR45)
The Seahawks’ 32-year-old slot receiver isn’t a beautiful choose, and I don’t blame anybody for passing on him. In spite of everything, Kupp’s completed because the WR41 and WR40, respectively, throughout the previous two seasons, lacking 5 video games in every. His transfer to Seattle brings an apparent downgrade at quarterback and extra competitors for slot targets from Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the league’s best slot receiver final season.
However I’d draft Kupp a spherical early, and also you most likely ought to, too. Right here’s why:
1.) The chance — As Michael Salfino aptly defined, 130 targets is a reasonable expectation for Kupp, given the absence of DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.
2.) The ability — Beat reporter Michael-Shawn Dugar has made it clear: Kupp is not washed.
“Kupp will get open with elite quickness out of his breaks. This stands out when he’s going in opposition to [corner Devon] Witherspoon, whose twitchiness is subsequent degree. Kupp has proven the psychological and bodily capability to win his justifiable share of battles in opposition to probably the greatest.”
Final season, Kupp completed WR22 on a points-per-game foundation regardless of being phased out of the Rams’ closing three regular-season video games, and fantasy factors per sport is the very best metric for predicting a participant’s outcomes the subsequent season.
So, positive, he may not keep wholesome, however when Kupp is in your lineup, you’re getting a top-25 receiver at a WR45 price ticket. The latter will change as your leaguemates be taught of Kupp’s spectacular coaching camp. I’d take Kupp over Jayden Reed, Rome Odunze and Jauan Jennings.
Projected early-September ADP: 85 total, WR39
3. WR Keenan Allen by no means left (ADP: 107 total, WR51)
Allen’s ADP jumped when he signed with the Chargers, however not excessive sufficient. Considerations over his 2024 manufacturing, when he completed WR35, are overblown. The one particular person in charge for final season is former Bears offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, whose scheme made life troublesome for Caleb Williams and his receivers.
- With Waldron as OC: Allen’s yards per route run had been 1.04, and his EPA per goal was 0.07, properly beneath his profession norms.
- After Waldron was fired: Allen improved his yards per route run to 1.62 and greater than quadrupled his EPA per goal, to 0.30.
In different phrases, that is nonetheless the identical participant who completed as WR8 total with the Chargers in 2023, regardless of taking part in simply 13 video games. Allen is able to choose up the place he left off, as The Athletic’s Chargers beat reporter Daniel Popper has written, with Allen already making his mark in follow.
As for his place, like Kupp, the 33-year-old Allen finds himself competing for slot targets with a youthful incumbent. I’d count on the Chargers to rotate him and Ladd McConkey, however give Allen extra reps on the surface. Right here’s why that’s a great factor:
- McConkey averages extra anticipated factors per route within the slot (0.14) than when lined up outdoors (0.08), although his yards per route run are comparable for each positions.
- Allen has barely extra anticipated factors per route when outdoors (0.08) than within the slot (0.06). His yards per route run since 2019 are additionally notably larger when lined up out extensive (2.24) than within the slot (1.67).
Additionally: Who else can Justin Herbert throw to? Jerry Rice’s son? Come on, man! If the market fails to regulate, we must always all profit. I doubt we’re this fortunate for for much longer.
Projected early-September ADP: 91 total, WR43
4. WR Chris Godwin is falling, and that’s OK (ADP: 88 total, WR42)
Godwin’s damage provides the most important points-per-game low cost amongst all prime gamers, as he’s drafted a whopping 39 spots beneath his factors per sport rank amongst receivers final yr (he completed WR2, but is being drafted as WR42).
The apparent purpose is the uncertainty surrounding his ankle damage, which is justified after he had a second surgical procedure within the spring and is more likely to begin the season on the PUP record.
Buccaneers beat reporter Rick Stroud shared GM Jason Licht’s statements that Godwin is “exactly where they anticipated and hoped he can be at this level,” however that “We’ve nonetheless obtained a methods to go.”
That danger is already baked into his value at WR42, so even when I’ve to interchange Godwin within the early weeks, I’m focusing on the 29-year-old who led the NFL in receptions, receiving touchdowns and yards after the catch earlier than his damage. Nonetheless, his ADP doubtless continues to fall as he misses extra follow time, so I’d moderately watch him fall to me than take him above his ADP.
Projected early-September ADP: 98 total, WR46
5. RB Braelon Allen may be the Jets’ prime runner (ADP: 143 total, RB47)
The Jets’ greatest working again this offseason, Allen, has elevated to turn out to be “one of the crucial spectacular guys on the sector over two days” of joint practices with the Jets, based on The Athletic’s beat reporter Zack Rosenblatt.
If Allen continues to impress, the Jets might tailor their offense to the 21-year-old RB in his second yr.
“Braelon is a 240-pound man that’s at all times falling ahead,” mentioned Aaron Glenn. “I’m not simply saying briefly yardage, these downhill runs, it’s going to weigh on defensive gamers, and while you proceed to do this, you simply create one thing so far as a crew, so far as an id, that this league will take discover of, and I’m wanting ahead to that.”
Whereas Breece Corridor stays the starter and should see more work in the passing game, I count on the 50/50 nature of this cut up to turn out to be extra evident as we strategy the common season. Allen has been a star in coaching camp, working behind a much-improved offensive line, catching dump-offs from Justin Fields and pairing properly with Fields in a run-heavy offense.
Projected late-August ADP: 115 total, RB38
6. TE Harold Fannin Jr. is somebody to observe (Free, TE47)
Right here’s a secret from Browns camp: Fannin seems like a possible No. 2 choice of their passing sport.
Regardless of main school soccer in receiving yardage final yr, the 21-year-old stays a hidden gem on the tight finish place.
This caught my eye in Zac Jackson’s training camp report:
“Fannin is forward of schedule, even when (Kevin) Stefanski gained’t immediately say it. And after the rookie tight finish dropped a landing cross from Flacco on the second play of follow Thursday, Fannin responded by catching the subsequent one — and later scoring once more on a deep nook route from Gabriel.
“Fannin goes to line up everywhere in the formation, and he’s completely going to be concerned within the offense.”
.@_dillongabriel_ deeeeeep ➡️ @fannin_jr ➡️ finish zone pic.twitter.com/22APAf0qAf
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) August 14, 2025
Undrafted in every single place however the deepest of leagues, Fannin’s presently listed because the TE47 in ESPN’s ADP, behind names like Mitchell Evans (?) and Brock Wright (!). He ought to simply beat that in a Browns offense anticipated to characteristic two tight ends, with David Njoku probably taking extra blocking snaps.
Projection: Stays free, finishes as a top-20 tight finish.
Prior Takes
To be reviewed in two weeks.
► De’Von Achane, RB, MIA (ADP: fifteenth total, RB7)
- Projected ADP: twenty second total, RB10
► Emeka Egbuka, WR, TB (ADP: 113 total, WR51)
- Projected ADP: 95 total, WR44
► Isaac TeSlaa, WR, DET (ADP: 275 total, WR92)
(Photograph of Rashee Rice: Denny Medley / Imagn Photos)
