Fantasy Football 2025 Rankings Update: Jacory Croskey-Merritt And TreVeyon Henderson Are Rising
Matthew Freedman conducted a series of updates to his fantasy football rankings, and offers analysis on key players rising and falling on draft boards.
Now that we're entering the final week of preseason NFL action, I've done a big round of updates to my 2025 fantasy draft rankings as well my season-long player projections.
Among the players whose ranks and projections I've just changed, these are the guys who stand out to me the most.
To see my rankings and projections and the rest of our tools, use promo code FREEDMAN for 20% off our FantasyLife+ package.
Fantasy Football 2025 Rankings Updates
Quarterbacks
Rankings Risers
QB Daniel Jones (Colts)
- Previous Rank: QB34
- Current Rank: QB28
The Colts this week named Daniel Jones as their Week 1 starter. I expect that at some point this year he will be benched in favor of the more athletic Anthony Richardson (more on him shortly), but for now Jones is a boon to all the receivers in the offense.
Is Jones a great passer? No.
In no season has he ever had a 7.0 AY/A, and over the past two years he's sported an abysmal 5.2 AY/A.
But I can say this for him: He's not Richardson.
Rankings Fallers
QB Anthony Richardson (Colts)
- Previous Rank: QB17
- Current Rank: QB34
Jones isn't Richardson … but he's still Jones, which means Richardson has a shot to see some action this season.
In 15 NFL starts, he has 10 rushing TDs.
His NFL future is highly uncertain, but his rushing ability is elite.
Running Backs
Rankings Risers
RB Chase Brown (Bengals)
- Previous Rank: RB10
- Current Rank: RB8
In eight games last year without former starter Zack Moss (since released), Chase Brown had 930 yards and 6 TDs on 151 carries, 44 targets, and a position-best 95 Utilization Score (per our Fantasy Life Utilization Report).
And his preseason usage indicates that he's likely to be a workhorse this year.
Check out Dwain McFarland's excellent preseason breakdowns: Week 1 & Week 2.
RB TreVeyon Henderson (Patriots)
- Previous Rank: RB24
- Current Rank: RB18
Dwain and I have disagreed about TreVeyon Henderson multiple times on the Fantasy Life Show.
While I still think veteran Rhamondre Stevenson will have a large backfield role, I must admit that the second-round rookie has looked electric in the preseason (5-38-1 rushing, 3-12-0 receiving, a 100-yard KRTD).
Even with a part-time role, Henderson might be a strong producer, à la 2023 De'Von Achane and 2017 Alvin Kamara.
RB Quinshon Judkins (Browns)
- Previous Rank: RB44
- Current Rank: RB30
Last week, the second-round rookie received word that he wouldn't face charges in connection with his misdemeanor domestic battery arrest earlier this summer.
The NFL is still investigating him, and Quinshon Judkins has yet to sign with the team, but I expect he'll be the No. 1 RB for the Browns sooner rather than later.
Judkins is one of this week's notable ADP risers.
RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt (Commanders)
- Previous Rank: RB62
- Current Rank: RB36
Jacory Croskey-Merritt (aka "Bill") put up an efficient 1,368 yards and 19 TDs in 13 games of FBS action before heading to the NFL, and the seventh-round rookie has flashed enough in camp and the preseason (18-70-1 rushing, 3-8-0 receiving) to make a push for the team's between-the-tackles role.
He legitimately might be the Week 1 starter for the Commanders.
RB Braelon Allen (Jets)
- Previous Rank: RB62
- Current Rank: RB47
Last year, Braelon Allen—as a 20-year-old rookie—outperformed starter Breece Hall in success rate (51.1% vs. 46.4%) and rushes per broken tackle (23.0 vs. 29.9).
And then in the preseason he has rotated in with Hall and looked good with 15-67-0 rushing.
He seems increasingly likely to have a real offensive role this year.
Rankings Fallers
RB Breece Hall (Jets)
- Previous Rank: RB17
- Current Rank: RB19
With QB Justin Fields as the starter, the Jets could have a slow, subpar, run-heavy offense—and Breece Hall could lose work both as a runner (to Fields and the aforementioned Allen) and a pass catcher (because of Fields' inclination to scramble instead of check down to the RB).
Hall is on my do-not-draft list.
RB Joe Mixon (Texans)
- Previous Rank: RB31
- Current Rank: RB34
Joe Mixon (foot/ankle) has averaged over 1,200 yards per season across his eight-year career.
And last season—his first with the Texans—he put up 1,325 yards and 12 TDs in 14 games … but he was also hampered with injuries that have sidelined him throughout training camp and now threaten his Week 1 availability.
RB Brian Robinson (49ers)
- Previous Rank: RB29
- Current Rank: RB38
Over the past two years, Brian Robinson has totaled 2,059 yards and 17 TDs … but that performance caused him to hit some escalators in his contract … and that has incentivized the team to prefer some of the cheaper options at the position (such as the previously mentioned "Bill").
Now Robinson has been traded to the 49ers, where he will battle Isaac Guerendo for the backup role behind Christian McCaffrey. That RB room has dealt with injuries this training camp, except for CMC. If Robinson were to lose out on the backup role and finds himself released or traded, I still expect him to be less productive with his new team than he has been with the Commanders … unless he lands with the Cowboys.
If that happens, he'd move ahead of Bijan Robinson in the ranks.
Did I mention I'm a Cowboys fan?
Wide Receivers
Rankings Risers
WR Tetairoa McMillan (Panthers)
- Previous Rank: WR26
- Current Rank: WR21
I'm going to speak out of both sides of my mouth with this one.
On the one hand, Tetairoa McMillan has stood out in the preseason. In Week 2, he had a 100% route rate with the starters. That's what we want to see.
On the other hand, he's still one of the guys I'm fading at cost, and I'm still lower on him than almost everyone else is in our rankings.
The Panthers offense could still be subpar with QB Bryce Young, and McMillan will need to compete for targets with WR Adam Thielen (1,629 yards on 199 targets over the past two seasons) and second-year WRs Xavier Legette (Round 1 draft capital) and Jalen Coker (10.4 yards per target).
WR Emeka Egbuka (Buccaneers)
- Previous Rank: WR26
- Current Rank: WR43
No. 1 WR Mike Evans (32 years old) is past his prime. And WRs Chris Godwin (ankle) and Jalen McMillan (neck) are injured.
The setup is ideal for the first-round rookie, and Emeka Egbuka has been a first-team playmaker this preseason.
I especially like him in Guillotine Leagues™ because of his reduced cost.
WR Hollywood Brown (Chiefs)
- Previous Rank: WR55
- Current Rank: WR50
No. 1 WR Rashee Rice is facing a looming suspension.
In his absence, second-year speedster Xavier Worthy is expected to get a productivity boost—but the veteran Hollywood Brown could also capitalize on his expanded opportunities.
Rankings Fallers
WR Garrett Wilson (Jets)
- Previous Rank: WR19
- Current Rank: WR22
My projection for Garrett Wilson is low—but my gut agrees with it.
The training camp reports on the new offense with Justin Fields and OC Tanner Engstrand have been discouraging, and the offense hasn't impressed in the preseason.
I entered the preseason expecting the Jets to have a fairly inefficient, slow, and run-heavy offense … and it might be worse than my initial expectations.
WR Terry McLaurin (Commanders)
- Previous Rank: WR22
- Current Rank: WR25
Terry McLaurin hasn't participated in training camp, and he's in a standoff with the team.
He could sit out part of the regular season. He could be traded. He could suffer an injury because he didn't train fully in the preseason. He could be deemphasized within the offense.
There are so many ways McLaurin could disappoint investors this year.
WR Chris Godwin (Buccaneers)
- Previous Rank: WR49
- Current Rank: WR56
Chris Godwin (ankle/foot) still has not returned to practice, and even with his recent activation from the PUP list, he's unlikely to play until October.
And when he does return, he might find himself as the No. 3 WR in an offense coordinated by a guy (Josh Grizzard) who has never called plays before at any level of football.
Tight Ends
Rankings Risers
TE Tyler Warren (Colts)
- Previous Rank: TE14
- Current Rank: TE10
Last week, it looked like the accuracy-challenged Anthony Richardson would be Tyler Warren's QB.
Now, Daniel Jones is the clear Week 1 starter.
That's not great—but it's still an improvement for the first-round rookie.
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