With the preseason now underway, it is important to note that special teams battles are in full swing, just like any other position. For fantasy football purposes, some people are interested in who will be returning to plan drafting around, while others don’t get a single point for returning.
As for people who are just fans of football, we thought that your team’s returner who may not get the shine they deserve during the year should get some love now, so this article will show who is projected to lead each team’s return corps for the 2025-26 season.
Arizona Cardinals: DeeJay Dallas
DeeJay Dallas seems like an appropriate player to start this article with, as he was the first player in NFL history to score a touchdown with the new return rules that were implemented last season. He returned a kick 96 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of their Week 1 matchup with the Buffalo Bills. He appears to have a steady hold on the job as their top returner, averaging 30.6 yards/return last year.
THE FIRST DYNAMIC KICKOFF RETURN TOUCHDOWN.
DEEJAY DALLAS. 96 YARDS.
📺: #AZvsBUF on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/COYfonnYxR— NFL (@NFL) September 8, 2024
Atlanta Falcons: Ray-Ray McCloud
This situation is a little more fluid, as Ray-Ray McCloud was actually out returned by Avery Williams last season, 15 to 14, but Williams is now in Philadelphia. With his departure north, it remains to be seen if McCloud will take on a bigger role in the return game, or if they will have someone else come in to take a secondary role in the return game, as McCloud does have a decent role in the Atlanta offense.
Baltimore Ravens: Keaton Mitchell
With respect to Justice Hill, once Keaton Mitchell started returning kicks for the Ravens, it was pretty evident that it was his role to keep. He averaged 31.2 yards/return and had a long of 47. He may cede some returns to Hill, but we expect Mitchell to be one of the top returners this upcoming season.
Buffalo Bills: Brandon Codrington
Brandon Codrington is the only true return man on the Buffalo roster, we have seen Ray Davis and Ty Johnson take reps from him, but they hold roles in the offense and pose no real threat to Codrington’s hold as lead returner. He averaged 27.82 yards/return with a long of 53 last season.
Carolina Panthers: Raheem Blackshear
Raheem Blackshear was a top return man in the NFL last year, with 31 returns (most), 791 return yards (2nd), and a long return of 43 yards. Xavier Legette had a few returns, but he has a prominent role in the offense, so there is no threat of him coming for Blackshear’s job as of today.
Chicago Bears: Devin Duvernay
Chicago was dealt a tough hand when top return man DeAndre Carter left the team to join the Cleveland Browns. Luckily for them, they acted quickly and brought Devin Duvernay in from the Jaguars. I think the Bears’ special teams unit will help him increase on his 25.07 yards/return. He had a long return of 34 yards last season, but we have seen in years past that he can break loose at any moment.
Cincinnati Bengals: Charlie Jones
While Charlie Jones may not take on the lion’s share this position like other returners, he has the big play for the team, so it is fair to assume that in a full season’s worth of games he should at least a two-thirds share and that is something to keep an eye on for sure.
CHARLIE JONES 100 YARDS ON THE OPENING KICKOFF
📺: #CINvsCLE on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/rxdtFzQnra— NFL (@NFL) October 20, 2024
Cleveland Browns: DeAndre Carter
DeAndre Carter signed with the Browns in the offseason after spending last season in Chicago. He returned 15 kickoffs in 2024, averaging 31.9 yards per return, which ranked third in the league among players with at least 10 returns. For the Browns last season, Jerome Ford returned 15 kicks for an average of 25.9 yards per return.
Dallas Cowboys: KaVontae Turpin
KaVontae Turpin is the top return man in the league by a decent margin. He returned the second-most kicks in the league (27), had the most yards (904), and the highest yards/return average (33.48) among qualifying returners in the league. Look for him to continue in this role for 2025-26.
TURPIN RETURNS IT 99-YARDS TO THE HOUSE 😱
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/TemErsmk1n
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 24, 2024
Denver Broncos: Marvin Mims Jr.
For a team that didn’t often return, Marvin Mims Jr. proved capable at handling kick returns for them last season. He averaged 27.71 yards/return, with a long of 38 yards. His main competition for reps from 2024-25, Tremon Smith, has signed with the Houston Texans this offseason.
Detroit Lions: Kalif Raymond
The return duties were split among a number of players last year, but it seems that Kalif Raymond has the first crack at returning duties for the Lions. I would say he probably has one of the least secure holds on his job of any of the returners on this list, but winning the role out of spring training has to mean something, right?
Green Bay Packers: Keisean Nixon
The Packers’ leading return man from a year ago, Keisean Nixon, should have a firm hold on the role going into the 2025-26 season. He had the sixth-most return yards (528) and had an impressive 29.33 yards/return on 18 returns last year, with a long of 43.
Houston Texans: Braxton Berrios
Braxton Berrios found himself buried deep in the Miami depth chart and fell behind Malik Washington in terms of carving out a role in returning kicks. Berrios averaged 25.33 yards/return last season and will look to get closer to his long from last year of 31 on average.
Indianapolis Colts: Tyler Goodson
The lead returner for the Colts is expected to keep a hold on this role for the upcoming season. He averaged 26.33 yards/return with a long of 36 yards. He may face some competition from impressive wideout Anthony Gould, but I believe he will soon secure a role in the offense, which will limit his use in returning.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Bhayshul Tuten
Although he missed time with a hamstring injury, the door is wide open for the athletically gifted Tuten to stand out as a returner. He ran a 4.32-second 40-yard dash and ranked fifth in athleticism among running backs being drafted into the NFL this season. His standout year as a returner was in 2023-24, where he averaged 28.9 yards per return and had two touchdowns.
Kansas City Chiefs: Nikko Remigio
The Kansas City lead return man from a year ago led the team in yards (295) even though he just played in five games. He averaged 26.82 yards/return and had a long of 36. He has some competition, especially from Mecole Hardman, who will have a smaller role in the offense.
Las Vegas Raiders: Dylan Laube
Dylan Laube is someone I think is worth keeping an eye on to potentially land the return job for the Raiders, as I felt he did a fantastic job last season. He had a 59-yard return, and the sum of his work led to a 27.33-yard/return average. Look for him to take it to the next level with Ameer Abdullah, who is now in San Francisco.
Los Angeles Chargers: Derius Davis
Derius Davis is among those who are the safest in their role as kick returner for the 2025-26 season. He amassed 524 return yards last year, good for seventh in the NFL, and had a long return of 56 yards. He is a threat any time the ball is in his hands, and it shows with how much he has been trusted with this role.
Los Angeles Rams: Jordan Whittington
Second-year wideout Jordan Whittington found a role in the Rams’ return corps and ran with it. He averaged an impressive 28.31 yards/return and had a long of 43. I think he will break through with a touchdown this year, even if he carves out a role in the offense.
Miami Dolphins: Malik Washington
Malik Washington has the potential to be in the top five returners next year, with the potential he flashed last season. He averaged 30.71 yards/return and had a long return of 67. He is trapped behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle in terms of receiver reps, so he has found a way to make an impact at a high level this season.
Minnesota Vikings: Ty Chandler
Another team that doesn’t have a ton of returns accounted for, but Ty Chandler had the bulk of the returns last season and was solid with them. He averaged 25.63 yards/return and had a long return of 35 yards. I think the Vikings will hope for a little bit more from this unit, and look for a replacement in 2026-27 if he doesn’t take a step forward.
New England Patriots: Antonio Gibson
Antonio Gibson was solid last year in his nine returns, averaging 26.56 yards/return, with a long return of 42 yards. He has Jamycal Hasty on his tail, who got some reps but was not as good as Gibson with them. I would say that he is safe if the return room stays with everyone in the house, but if they make a last-second move, he may not get the reps anymore.
New Orleans Saints: Rashid Shaheed
Rashid Shaheed is one of the most underappreciated, exciting players in the league, from catching bombs to getting loose on returns. He would have been among the top returners last year with his 28.50 yards/return average, but he played just six games before getting injured for the year. Look for him to establish himself as a top-five returner in the league this season.
New York Giants: Ihmir Smith-Marsette
Speaking of impact in returning, Ihmir Smith-Marsette is someone I project to be an impact player in the return game. We all saw him break out for a 100-yard return touchdown, and even beyond that, he averaged 34.64 yards/return, which would’ve been the best of any qualifying returners if he were one.
New York Jets: Xavier Gipson
Xavier Gipson’s return game was one of the lone bright spots for the Jets last season, and he has the steady skill set to repeat as a top-ten returner in the game again. He averaged 28.76 yards/return and had a long of 45. I would say he also has one of the safer jobs in the league, given how he has been so steady since he came into the league.
Philadelphia Eagles: Avery Williams
With Kenneth Gainwell leaving for Pittsburgh, the Eagles brought in Avery Williams, who was a good returner last year but was splitting reps with Ray-Ray McCloud. Look for Williams to be motivated by the fact that he played better than McCloud next year to continue the stability that Gainwell brought to the return corps. Williams averaged 27.20 yards/return and had a long of 38. His job is very safe with Gainwell out of town.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Kenneth Gainwell
Kenneth Gainwell left a long tenure with the Eagles to go across state to the Steelers this offseason, presumably to take on the lead kick returner job. Gainwell averaged 25.33 yards/return and had a long return of 36. He provides stability to the return game there, which really struggled last year.
San Francisco 49ers: Ameer Abdullah
Note: Abdullah was placed on injured reserve on August 11 with a rib injury.
This is an interesting one for me, as with Deebo Samuel being traded to Washington, a lot of people think that the job will go to Isaac Guerendo. I am still predicting that Ameer Abdullah wins the job and really makes a strong impact in that role. I don’t think Guerendo will be entirely void of returns, but I think with Abdullah’s 32.89 yards/return in limited returns last year, that he has a strong skillset that is hard to ignore
Seattle Seahawks: Steven Sims Jr.
Seattle’s top return man, Laviska Shenault Jr., left for Buffalo, so they brought in Steven Sims Jr., who was impressive in limited reps returning the ball. He averaged 27.86 yards per return, with a long of only 37, indicating he was pretty steady in his returning. Look for him to increase that number in Seattle.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Sean Tucker
It seemed like Sean Tucker and Bucky Irving would be splitting these duties until Irving broke out as the team’s running back. I don’t think any of the team’s other options are good enough to supplant Tucker, who averaged 27.33 yards/return and had a long of 53. I think with an offseason under his belt, those numbers will only improve as well.
Tennessee Titans: Tyjae Spears
While disappointing as a runner last year, Tyjae Spears is electric in the return game. He averaged 28.29 yards/return and had a long of 42. Julius Chestnut and Jha’Quan Jackson got some reps but were not nearly as effective, so I fully expect Spears to be an impact returner this season.
Washington Commanders: Luke McCaffrey
This is another fluid situation, as sometimes they throw Austin Ekeler back there, who is a great returner in his own right, but the true returner for the team goes to Luke McCaffrey. I think they will focus on keeping Ekeler healthy this year and see his return numbers go down. McCaffrey averaged 29.90 yards/return and had a long of 47. Look for him to have another great year returning as well.
