With Week 1 finally approaching, let's dive into some general commentary and (sometimes irresponsible) fantasy predictions for every team in the conference in an NFC season preview. I expect three new teams to make the playoffs in 2025 in what appears to be a relatively open NFC outside of the defending Super Bowl champions, who lost some pieces during the offseason. Bonus prediction: Some, if not many, will be wrong!
Philadelphia had the second-lowest pass rate since 2011 last season, finishing with an NFL-low 448 pass attempts -- more than 200 fewer than the Browns and Bengals. Regression is coming, and Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith will all benefit greatly.
Saquon Barkley had 482 touches last season and doesn't get a ton of receiving work. On the other hand, Barkley remains one of the most efficient backs and plays behind the NFL's best offensive line. He was tackled a league-high 11 times at the 1-yard line last season. Barkley's ADP feels just about right, but Will Shipley should be a priority stash/late-round flier by all fantasy managers. He can be a weekly league winner.
Predictions: Hurts wins MVP (20/1) and outscores Jayden Daniels in fantasy, while Brown catches 12 touchdowns. Philadelphia lost some talent during the offseason, but the Eagles will win the NFC again in 2025.
Dallas has scored on an NFL-high 46.9% of its possessions in Dak Prescott's starts over the past two years and added George Pickens during the offseason. But the Cowboys' defense has gone from league-best to second-worst with and without Micah Parsons on the field over the past four years.
Predictions: Parsons plays for Dallas and wins Defensive Player of the Year, but his return is a must for the Cowboys to have any playoff hopes. Prescott leads the NFL in passing touchdowns, while Pickens is a top-12 fantasy wide receiver; CeeDee Lamb is fantasy's No. 1 wide receiver; Jaydon Blue emerges as the Cowboys' most valuable fantasy back by a wide margin; and Jake Ferguson finishes as a top-12 fantasy TE. The Cowboys were among the NFC favorites entering last year and made a significant upgrade at a glaring WR2 weakness. New OC Klayton Adams brings an intriguing run scheme as well, helping lead Dallas back to the postseason.
Jayden Daniels has a strong argument as the No. 1 pick if starting an NFL franchise; he's a clear superstar. But his talent far outpaces his current surroundings in Washington, and the Commanders won't run so epically pure on third and fourth downs in 2025. Washington also benefitted from the league's easiest schedule last year. Remember, the Commanders went 1-4 against playoff teams (and won another game via Hail Mary).
Predictions: Terry McLaurin catches 5+ fewer touchdowns than last season, while Deebo Samuel disappoints fantasy managers outside of Kyle Shanahan's system. Rookie Jaylin Lane emerges as one of the Commanders' top wideouts and becomes a must-add in all fantasy leagues; Austin Ekeler is a top-25 fantasy back until an early injury clears the way for America's favorite sleeper, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, to take over; Daniels (sadly) misses games, and the Commanders miss the playoffs.
The Giants might have the league's best defensive line and playmaker, so there's upside, given competent QB play. Jaxson Dart looks like the real deal, and a rough early schedule could lead to the rookie starting as soon as Week 5. Malik Nabers' fantasy managers would prefer Jameis Winston, but New York's quarterback play will be significantly better than last year. I have Dart as my QB29 entering the year. He'll be added in every league this season.
Predictions: Nabers breaks the all-time targets record and is commonly drafted as fantasy's No. 1 overall pick in 2026; Cam Skattebo outscores Tyrone Tracy during the second half of the season; Theo Johnson is a deep sleeper who finishes as a top-20 fantasy TE; Abdul Carter wins Defensive Rookie of the Year; New York will likely pull off a few upsets this season, but the league's most difficult schedule and some Dart growing pains lead to a last place finish in the NFC East.
The Vikings enter with arguably the top five offensive and defensive lines in football, and their coach might be in the top three. Minnesota's big question is its first-year starter at quarterback, and the offense could look different this season. With a loaded roster (thanks in part to J.J. McCarthy's rookie contract) and an elite coach, the Vikings have win-the-NFC upside in 2025. Minnesota quarterbacks have scored the sixth-most fantasy points over the past three seasons, yet McCarthy is being drafted as the QB19.
Predictions: Justin Jefferson isn't a top-five fantasy wide receiver in 2025. Minnesota will have to overcome a tough projected schedule, but Detroit's and Green Bay's aren't favorable either. The Vikings will lose in the NFC Championship Game.
Detroit scored the third-most points per game (33.2) last season of any offense over the past 10 years. But the Lions lost OC Ben Johnson and long-time center Frank Ragnow during the offseason and play a difficult projected schedule that includes seven games outdoors. Jahmyr Gibbs has a strong case to be fantasy's top pick this year (especially with the Falcons down another offensive lineman). He was fantasy's clear RB1 when David Montgomery was out last season, and signs point to the Lions giving Gibbs more work in 2025.
Predictions: Jared Goff, who's due for TD% regression and benefitted from seeing the highest percentage of pass attempts thrown to a receiver with a step or more of separation and almost never being quickly pressured in Johnson's system, isn't a top-15 fantasy QB; Amon-Ra St. Brown isn't a top-10 fantasy WR, but Jameson Williams is top-20; Detroit overcomes some hurdles and is playoff bound again.
Green Bay's defense ran hot with turnovers and benefitted from a favorable schedule last season, but the Packers have the potential to make a deep playoff run if health allows. Green Bay figures to pass more in 2025 after Jordan Love played through multiple injuries last season, and the Shanahan system is productive for fantasy managers. The Packers spread out their WR playing time as much as any team in the league, but injuries and an impressive summer have rightfully catapulted Matthew Golden up draft boards.
Predictions: Dontayvion Wicks, who led the Packers in targets last season, overcomes his drop problem and is one of the best WR waiver wire adds of 2025; Tucker Kraft catches 10 touchdowns and finishes as a top-five fantasy tight end; Emanuel Wilson becomes a priority pickup after a Josh Jacobs injury; the Packers fall just short of the playoffs in a crowded NFC wild card picture thanks to a tiebreaker.
Chicago somehow averaged just 10 yards during opening drives last year, but won the offseason. Chicago might have gone from a bottom-five coaching staff and offensive line to top-five in both. But there are many mouths to feed, and fantasy managers will need Caleb Williams to play significantly better than last season. We'll learn just how important Ben Johnson is this year. Williams enters 2025 as the league's biggest question mark. He had some downright scary peripherals as a rookie, but his situation has improved immensely, and he's one of only a handful of quarterbacks capable of throwing for 4,000 yards and rushing for 500.
Predictions: Fantasy managers of D'Andre Swift are continually pained watching Kyle Monangai and/or Roschon Johnson steal touchdowns; DJ Moore isn't a top-30 fantasy wide receiver, while Luther Burden is Chicago's first WR drafted in 2026 fantasy leagues. The Bears have obvious potential, but a loaded division and continued growing pains from Williams keep Chicago outside the playoffs.
Tampa Bay is due for regression after leading the league in converting third downs over expectation (+11.3%) last year and losing Liam Coen during the offseason, but a soft division helps. Chris Godwin's injury was far worse than originally reported, and fantasy managers shouldn't count on him returning to full strength any time soon (2026?). Mike Evans has produced the most consistent start to a WR career ever, but he's entering his 12th season in the league and carries heightened risk (both with injuries and production).
Predictions: Baker Mayfield, who posted the second-best red zone TD% all-time last season and lost Coen, isn't a top 10 fantasy QB; Emeka Egbuka leads all Buccaneers wide receivers in fantasy scoring; Sean Tucker produces a couple of big spike weeks; and Tampa Bay wins the NFC South for the fifth straight year.
The Falcons lost center Drew Dalman during the offseason, and RT Kaleb McGary will miss significant time after suffering a knee injury in practice. A strength could turn into a weakness, and Atlanta already enters with arguably the league's worst defensive line. Michael Penix has a high aDOT, never checks down and rarely takes sacks or scrambles. He's an ideal QB for Drake London to put up video game stats in 2025.
With Penix at QB, and given Darnell Mooney is without a timeline to return, Kyle Pitts could be considered a post-post-post hype sleeper. However, Hunter Henry and Brenton Strange are strong alternatives, going even later in fantasy drafts.
Predictions: Bijan Robinson, who averaged 124.7 yards from scrimmage and 2.0 touchdowns during Penix's starts, records his first career 40-yard run while finishing as the top fantasy RB; and Drake London leads the NFL in receiving yards and is a top-five fantasy WR. Atlanta can win this division, but Penix's extensive injury history in college is a concern.
Carolina allowed the most points in any season in NFL history last year, but the Panthers are spending heavily on their offensive line and used an early draft pick on Tetairoa McMillan to help Bryce Young. Carolina's range of outcomes includes winning the NFC South, but its defense remains a problem.
Predictions: Young, who would likely be a backup on a different team if not for an Andy Dalton car accident, finishes as a top-20 fantasy QB and outscores C.J. Stroud; McMillan is a top-15 fantasy WR as a rookie, outscoring Mike Evans, Davante Adams, Marvin Harrison and Garrett Wilson; and Jalen Coker emerges as a WR3 in fantasy leagues.
The Saints have one of the easiest projected schedules, but it may not mean much with the possibility of league-worst QB play. Alvin Kamara could beat me this season with volume, but he's been a fade. Kamara is 30 years old and has missed multiple games every season of his career since he was a rookie. The Saints will be among the lowest scoring teams, and Kamara's screen targets will suffer going from OC Klint Kubiak to Kellen Moore.
Predictions: Kamara is a top-15 fantasy back over the first half of the season but fades afterward, when Kendre Miller becomes an RB3; Rashid Shaheed outscores Chris Olave; and the Saints (and Browns) win the fewest games in the NFL this season.
San Francisco is coming off a true nightmare season that included being the most injured team, facing the largest rest disadvantage and the league's most difficult schedule. The 49ers get the NFL's easiest projected schedule in 2025, but injuries have continued to strike during the summer (and they have been a theme in San Francisco).
Predictions: "Glock Purdy" finishes as a top-10 fantasy QB, while Christian McCaffrey stays mostly healthy and is a top-three fantasy back (Brian Robinson is now one of fantasy's top backups); George Kittle pays off big for those who drafted him in Round 4; and Jauan Jennings is San Francisco's most valuable WR in the fantasy playoffs. The 49ers will rely on Robert Saleh to help a defense featuring multiple rookies and Kyle Shanahan to fix a suspect offensive line, but they could be playing at home during the Super Bowl if health cooperates.
The Seahawks could have a top-five defense in Year 2 under Mike Macdonald, and the hope is that new OC Klint Kubiak's scheme helps mask a suspect offensive line. Sam Darnold has struggled against pressure throughout his career, so there's a chance Jalen Milroe gets a late-season audition.
Predictions: Kenneth Walker sees more targets and is highly productive in Kubiak's system, but continued health issues lead to a bigger role for Zach Charbonnet. Both backs are at risk of losing goal-line touchdowns to Milroe using the tush-push; Jaxon Smith-Njigba finishes as a top-10 fantasy WR, while Tory Horton outscores Cooper Kupp in the fantasy playoffs. The Seahawks have potential, but they'll need to overcome a competitive division (and keep Darnold upright).
Los Angeles' season comes down to Matthew Stafford's uncertain back injury. Puka Nacua has No. 1 overall player upside this year, but it's risky drafting him over the other true WR alphas given Stafford's condition.
Predictions: London outscores Nacua, and James Cook outscores Kyren Williams (who played an NFL-high 888 snaps last season). The Rams nearly beat the Eagles in the NFC Championship Game (on the road and with a dramatic rest disadvantage), so Los Angeles' upside is winning the Super Bowl. But there's real concern that Jimmy Garoppolo and Stetson Bennett will be starting games this season.
The big question is whether the Cardinals will attempt to change their offense to feature Marvin Harrison more in 2025. Harrison was one of the most effective receivers on throws over the middle of the field last season, but 75% (the league's second-highest rate) of his (mostly unsuccessful) targets came on the perimeter. The Cardinals saw their pass rate over expectation rise from -5.1% over the first 10 weeks to +6.7% over their final seven games, but Kyler Murray's limitations remain.
Predictions: James Conner misses multiple games, and Trey Benson is an RB1 during his absences; Trey McBride leads all tight ends in touchdown catches after securing just two last season; Dak Prescott and Justin Fields outscore Murray. Arizona could have a sneaky defense this season, but a competitive division holds them out of the playoffs.