Every serious fantasy football player does their research each offseason and locks in on a handful of guys they’re looking to target in their draft. Obviously, we all want the Bijan Robinsons and Josh Allens of the world, but there are nine or eleven other people drafting, too. So let’s focus on some guys early and in the middle to later rounds who will help you win that league championship trophy and secure bragging rights until next season kicks off!
Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow put up MVP-caliber numbers last season; he just happened to do so in a year where Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson also had fantastic seasons. People may reach for the big four dual-threat QBs in Josh, Lamar, Jayden Daniels, and Jalen Hurts, but if that happens and I can still get Joe Burrow closer to pick 50, I’d be happy with that. I still consider him in that top tier of QBs.
Burrow put up video game numbers last year with 4,918 passing yards, 43 passing TDs, and another two on the ground. Those passing yards and TD numbers led the league, and he also had the most passing attempts.
In recent seasons, Burrow has seen very limited (if any) preseason action. PFSN reported Head Coach Zac Taylor planned to play Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and other starters into the second quarter in both of their first two preseason matchups in hopes of building early-season rhythm and avoiding slow starts. They have struggled out of the gate for three consecutive seasons, starting 2–3, 1-3, and 1-4, respectively, since 2022.
We’ll see if the change in philosophy pays dividends once games start to matter next month, but the Bengals have stuck to that plan and so far in just a few series in each of Cincy’s two preseason games, Burrow is 18/24 for 185 yards and 3 TD’s; not too shabby in terms of shaking the rust off early.
Joe Burrow with a dart to Charlie Jones for six! 🎯
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Stream on @NFLPlus and ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/71FYimTSSP— NFL (@NFL) August 19, 2025
Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions
Amon-Ra St. Brown has been extremely reliable and durable throughout the first four seasons of his NFL career. He has played in all but two games and has increased his touchdown totals every season. His receptions have increased substantially every season, with the exception of 2023 to 2024, where he went from 119 to 115. St. Brown has also caught six passes in 75.8% of his games over the past two seasons, making him an extremely reliable fantasy option (PFSN) as opposed to some high-end picks who fall more into the boom-or-bust category.
His red zone involvement has steadily jumped every season as well, starting at 23.7% of routes as a rookie and hitting 33% last season. With an offense as explosive as Detroit’s and coming off such an early, disappointing postseason exit following an outstanding regular season, expect great things from St. Brown once again.
Kyren Williams, RB, Los Angeles Rams
Kyren Williams will remain the Rams’ workhorse in the backfield after signing a 3-year, $33M extension this offseason. He has scored 31 touchdowns over the past 2 seasons, tied with Derrick Henry among running backs, and has averaged 18.8 fantasy PPG, good enough for 4th over that span. He had only one clunker where he failed to reach 10 points, and scored 20 fantasy points in PPR leagues for managers six times last season.
Expect more of the same this year as the Rams replaced Cooper Kupp with Davante Adams, and this will still be a respectable offense. Rookie Jarquez Hunter and second-year back Blake Corum are not real threats to steal much of Williams’ workload.
Evan Engram, TE, Denver Broncos
Engram comes over to Denver, expected to fill the “Joker” role in Sean Payton’s offense, which New Orleans Saints great Jimmy Graham excelled in back in the day. He did have a somewhat inconsistent 2024 season due to injury (only played nine games), but still managed to score roughly 10 PPG in PPR formats and finish as TE12, targets never being the issue.
Engram ranked fifth in targets per route run and third in target share last year. If Denver QB Bo Nix can take the second-year leap in this Payton-led offense, Engram just may have a shot to be a top 5 Tight end this upcoming season.
