8 Hot Fantasy Football Takes from the WalterPicks Team 🌶️

Patrick McDonnell - Patriots Creator

Hot Take: The Cowboys have two top-10 fantasy WRs in CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens

Reasoning: The complementary skill sets of these two receivers, and Dallas's incredibly high passing rate, are going to make so some explosive weeks for both Lamb and Pickens. Think Mike Evans/Chris Godwin in 2019 or Ja’Marr Chase/Tee Higgins in 2024. The Cowboys' spotty run game should only help their volume.

Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (out of 5)

My take: Having two WRs finish inside the top-10 at the position does not happen very often. However, it has happened most recently in 2022, when A.J. Brown (WR6) and DeVonta Smith (WR9) both finished as top-10 fantasy WRs.

Lamb is almost a virtual guarantee at this point to finish as a top-10 fantasy WR if healthy. The real intrigue lies with Pickens. While the odds may be against him cracking that top-10 WR tier, the foundation is definitely there. The Cowboys are moving the 24-year-old all around the formation, and Pickens has looked explosive so far in training camp. With Dak Prescott having the second-best odds (on DraftKings) to finish with the most passing yards this season, we could see him emerge as a low-end WR1 on some weeks.

Avery Rousos - Commanders Creator

Hot Take: George Kittle finishes as the overall TE1

Reasoning: Kittle was the TE1 in fantasy points per game in 2024. Now, the 49ers lose Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk is coming off a major injury, and Jauan Jennings wants a new contract. This is a top offense that scores a ton of points.

Spicy Level: 🌶️ (out of 5)

My Take: Kittle finishing as TE1 could definitely happen in 2025. While he is going behind both Brock Bowers and Trey McBride in drafts, fantasy managers might be overlooking just how dominant Kittle was on a per-game basis last season.

He averaged 16.6 PPR fantasy points per game last season while ranking as the TE2 in yards per route run (2.9), TE1 in red zone reception (TE1), and TE3 in receiving air yards per game (54.6). The veteran will remain the top pass catcher in this San Francisco offense and have a solid chance of finishing as the overall TE1.

Trevor Martin- Lead Data Scientist

Hot Take: Geno Smith will outscore Jared Goff in fantasy

Reasoning: Goff lost basically all of his coaching in the offseason, and the Lions have the third hardest schedule in the NFL. Smith moved to an offensive system with Pete Carroll and Chip Kelly, who are poised to run a ton of plays.

Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (out of 5)

My Take: After finishing third among all QBs in passing TD rate last season, some regression is inevitable for Goff. Offensive guru Ben Johnson left for the Bears’ head coaching job, and his departure could hurt this offense as a whole. However, it is a pretty bold to say that Smith will finish above him in 2025.

Smith has finished outside the top-12 at the QB position in back-to-back years, and the Raiders are going to lean on the run a ton throughout the season. On top of that, Goff just has the better weapons in his offense. Even if Goff regresses a bit, an offense with Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Sam LaPorta, should help him put up better fantasy numbers than Smith.

Sam Factor - CEO

Hot Take: Drake Maye and Caleb Williams will outscore Patrick Mahomes in fantasy football points per game.

Reasoning: Williams has a real shot to throw for more passing yards and passing touchdowns than Mahomes. His new play-caller (Johnson) has also ranked top-5 in points scored each of the last 3 seasons, and the Bears lack a true goal-line back.

Maye led all QBs in yards per carry last season and has a 10+ rushing touchdown ceiling that you won't get with Mahomes. Maye is also going from zero explosive skill position players last season to potentially three this season (Stefon Diggs, TreVeyon Henderson, and Kyle Williams).

Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (out of 5)

My Take: Sam is banking on the breakouts of both second-year QBs in 2025, and it’s not wild to see that happen. Williams will have an all-around upgraded offense, which includes a solid pass catching core of DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III, Colston Loveland, and Cole Kmet. The Bears QB also has some sneaky rushing upside after running for 489 yards as a rookie.

A lot of the same things that pertain to Williams can be said about Maye as well. The Patriots’ offense will be in a much better spot than a year ago, and we definitely should not sleep on his rushing potential. Maye rushed for at least 30 yards in six of his 13 games last season, including a 95-yard rushing effort in Week 9 against the Titans.

So, is this hot take spicy? Yes! But can we see both of these young QBs score more fantasy points per game than Mahomes? Also, yes! Mahomes averaged just 18.4 fantasy points per game last season (the lowest of his career), and he doesn’t provide much rushing upside.

Andrew Sampogna - Falcons Creator

Hot Take: Cam Skattebo takes the vast majority of snaps at RB for the Giants. 

Reasoning: Skattebo has been flashing in camp, and he possesses an excellent pass-catching skillset. As long as he secures the ball, he should surpass Tyrone Tracy Jr. with ease, especially with Tracy’s ball-carrying issues. 

Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️ (out of 5)

My Take: We all saw Skattebo on the big stage last year in the College Football Playoffs. He looked like a complete back who could handle every down work at the highest level. Therefore, we could see the rookie slowly eat into Tracy’s workload before eventually overtaking him for that starter role.

Skattebo can do it all as a runner and a pass-catcher, and it’s a fantastic sign that he is already turning heads at training camp. Given that Tracy ranked 33rd in true yards per carry (4.1) and 33rd in catch rate (71.7%) among all RBs last year, the rookie just brings more explosiveness to this backfield. At his ADP, he's exactly the type of upside swing you want to take in those later rounds.

Seth Burton - Steelers Creator

Hot Take: Eagles Players are not worth drafting (except Saquon)

Reasoning: Look at the pass volume on this team. It’s near the bottom of the league. That is not going to change. Jalen Hurts NEEDS the tush push TDs or he will be a disappointment. AJ Brown averaged 7.5 targets per game last season, and Devonta Smith only 6.8. There are many high-volume (more consistent) options available around their ADP, or later, with similar weekly upside.

Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (out of 5)

My Take: This one might be the spicest take yet, considering where Hurts, Brown, and Smith are going in drafts. Hurts has a 39.3 ADP, Brown has a 17.3 ADP, and Smith has a 53.6 ADP. All three of these players are going within the first five rounds of drafts.

But Seth makes a great point about both Brown and Smith. They are both going too high in drafts, especially since the team ranked 32nd in pass plays per game (29) last season. As a result, both will likely be hit-or-miss each week in fantasy. As for Hurts, he projects to remain a top-5 QB option in 2025. With the tush push not being banned and his double-digit rushing TD upside, he will be a safer pick at his position.

Hadley Hollern - Giants Creator

Hot Take: Malik Nabers finishes as the overall WR1

Reasoning: The talent is right there with Chase, Lamb, and Justin Jefferson. But he’s a stand-alone guy for targets. The Giants also have a perfect QB situation for him.

Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (out of 5)

My Take: Nabers burst onto the scene as a rookie with 109 catches for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns. Those numbers helped him finish as the overall WR6 in PPR formats.

Now, Nabers got a QB upgrade in Russell Wilson — who ranked second in deep ball completion and fourth in true passer rating last year — and the sophomore WR faces very little competition for targets. With the 22-year-old locked into a heavy volume season, a top-5 fantasy WR finish is surely attainable. Predicting an overall WR1 season in this New York offense, though, is still extremely bold.

Bradley Russo - 49ers Creator

Hot Take: Davante Adams outscores Puka Nacua

Reasoning: Working as the X receiver last season, Demarcus Robinson scored seven TDs. I expect Adams to score double-digit TDs/lead his team in red-zone targets. Nacua has been a target machine, and a washed Cooper Kupp didn't pose as much of a threat as a healthy Adams will.

Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (out of 5)

My Take: There’s no doubt that Adams will get his fair share of opportunities in Los Angeles. This is considered a pass-friendly offense with Matthew Stafford directing things under center. Nevertheless, it’s hard to envision this happening — unless an injury occurs to Nacua.

The 24-year-old should remain the clear WR1 in this Rams offense. He ranked fourth in target share (29.9%) and first in target rate (43.6%) among all WRs last year, and Stafford just loves looking his way. Nacua also ranked first in yards per route run (4.07) in 2024. Adams will probably be a solid WR2 play each week for fantasy managers, but being a better fantasy option than Nacua seems unlikely.