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We’re officially in that golden stretch of the offseason. Where draft boards are shifting, training camps are creeping closer, and the savvy GMs (like you) are quietly stacking advantages while everyone else is still half-asleep at the wheel.
Today, we’re shining the spotlight on the Atlanta Falcons. Diving into team vibes, sleepers, busts, and yes, IDP goodness. It’s the kind of full-picture breakdown that helps you stay two steps ahead in every format.
And if you’re a PPR player? You’re in for a treat. Sigmund Bloom just dropped his updated Top 250. It’s fresh. It’s sharp. And it’s ready to help shape your draft plan.
Plus, as always, Bob Harris has your News and Notes to keep you locked in.
Bloom's PPR Top 250, Updated – Which surprising risers and subtle fallers define July's PPR outlook? Sigmund Bloom walks through his updated Top 250.
IDP Green Dot Linebackers – In his annual Green Dot update, Gary Davenport outlines the key linebackers positioned for every-down roles across the league.
Atlanta Falcons Fantasy Overview - With Michael Penix Jr. at the helm, Kyle Pitts at a discount, and Bijan Robinson under the microscope — the 2025 Falcons might flip your board.
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A PPR Top 250 list is notoriously difficult to prepare during OTAs.
We can still take our best shot as the official start of summer is approaching. Having a strong foundational starting point to make adjustments from is key to not overreacting to random news events.
Players in green are underrated by the rest of the fantasy community. Players in yellow are overrated.
The Bloom Top 250 Updated June Edition
Ja'Marr Chase (WR-CIN) - Was still #1 wide receiver without massive games vs BAL
CeeDee Lamb (WR-DAL) - Only fell off in 2024 because of his and Prescott's injuries
Saquon Barkley (RB-PHI) - Still reasonable to fear year N+1 after a 482-touch season
Bijan Robinson (RB-ATL) - Wheels up with Penix at quarterback
Jahmyr Gibbs (RB-DET) - Just entering his prime in top-flight offense
Justin Jefferson (WR-MIN) - First-year starter, low pass volume small worries
Puka Nacua (WR-LAR) - Knee injury didn't slow ascent, likely to establish new ceiling
Washington Commanders WR Terry McLaurin has not made much progress in contract extension talks with the Commanders at this point, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Our view: Even without progress on a new deal, local observers still contend McLaurin, coming off a season in which he caught a career-high 13 touchdown passes and added three more in the playoffs, isn't going anywhere. The expectation is the Commanders will do right by him. As we approach camp, both sides will be increasingly eager to finalize a deal, which could lead to a new agreement for McLaurin. We'll be watching for more.
Houston Texans RB Joe Mixon rushed for 503 yards and five touchdowns during the first half of the 2024 season and rushed for 513 yards and six touchdowns during the second half of the season.
Our view: Mixon's 1,016 rushing yards were his fourth time crossing the 1,000-yard mark, though they were the fewest of those instances. His 4.1 yards per carry were a step up from the season prior, and he added another 309 yards on 36 receptions. His 11 touchdowns were the second-most in his career. Still, with Mixon's age (he'll turn 29 this month) and previous workload, the Texans could mix in other backs -- including the recently signed Nick Chubb -- to keep the veteran fresh. Mixon, who was RB10 last year. is being drafted as RB19 in early Round 5.
New York Giants TE Darren Waller was acquired by the Miami Dolphins Tuesday, July 1, in exchange for a conditional 2026 seventh-round draft pick
Our view: Waller was one of the league's best tight ends in 2019 and 2020, recording a combined 197 receptions for 2,341 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns for the Raiders, who rewarded him with a three-year, $51 million extension in 2022. However, they traded him to the Giants the following year, and Waller, who missed 21 games over his past three seasons, retired after just one season in New York. The 32-year-old is familiar with Dolphins' offensive coordinator Frank Smith, who coached the Raiders' tight ends from 2018 to 2020 -- Waller's prime, but fantasy investors shouldn't overreact here; he's not a front-line asset.
Las Vegas Raiders TE Michael Mayer isn't a player the team is interested in trading.
Our view: While reports suggested the Dolphins might be interested in acquiring Mayer after shipping Jonnu Smith to Pittsburgh, Miami instead went with a former Raider, Darren Waller, who will come out of retirement to play for the Dolphins. For now, we'll assume Mayer remains the No. 2 TE in Las Vegas -- behind Brock Bowers -- until further notice.
Free-agent WR Tyler Boyd (Titans) had conversations with the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason, according to team insider Mark Kaboly on 93.7 The Fan. Kaboly said he was not sure if a formal offer was made during those conversations. He added that the money that Boyd has been offered around the league this offseason from any team has not been in the neighborhood he's looking for and that he's continuing to wait to see if a better offer can come his way.
Our view: While he might be waiting to see if more money becomes available, Boyd recently stated that he'd "absolutely" be interested in playing for the Steelers this season. DK Metcalf, Calvin Austin, Roman Wilson, Robert Woods, Scotty Miller, and Ben Skowronek are the current wideouts for the Steelers. Boyd spent eight seasons with the Bengals before moving to the Titans last season. He had 39 catches for 390 yards in Tennessee. We'll watch for more.
Washington Commanders RB Brian Robinson Jr. has had 'a good offseason,' per head coach Dan Quinn, who added that you could feel the running back's 'urgency and intensity.' Robinson is healthy as well heading into a contract year.
Our view: If healthy, Washington's lead runner could recapture his early-season form (he averaged 4.6 yards per carry through Week 9). The Athletic's Jacob Robinson advised readers to keep an eye on rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt, too, as he's the only back who could unseat Robinson. Meanwhile, Robinson is being drafted as RB30 in ongoing drafts.
Jacksonville Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence recently participated in workouts with WRs Brian Thomas Jr., WR/CB Travis Hunter and Dyami Brown.
Our view: As USA Today noted, one of the crucial elements of the Jaguars' offense under Liam Coen will be multiplicity. At the receiver position, this means having Thomas, Brown, and Hunter all able to line up across the formation, attack different levels of the field, and do so in various ways. There's a level of unpredictability that the offense gains when each wideout can fill a variety of roles. But the QB needs to be in sync with his receivers, and the extra work they're putting in together in June and July will ensure that's the case this fall.
New Orleans Saints RB Alvin Kamara rushed for 505 yards and six touchdowns in the first eight games of the 2024 season but posted 445 yards and zero rushing touchdowns during the second half of the season. He did catch 28 passes for 236 yards and one touchdown during the second half.
Our view: Kamara also set a career-high in rushing last year and had his best season in terms of yards per carry since 2020. He caught 68 passes and had almost 1,500 total yards. New coach Kellen Moore has discussed wanting to center the Saints' offense around Kamara in 2025, which could help ease the burden on rookie QB Tyler Shough, who is expected to win the starting job. Kamara, who finished last season as RB5, is projected to finish as RB14. He's currently being drafted as RB16 in Round 5.
Indianapolis Colts WR Alec Pierce is entering the final year of his current contract and has not had any contract extension talks with the team at this point, according to sources.
Our view: Since Pierce entered the league in 2022, he leads all players in yards per catch at 17.6. One out of every 10 receptions in his career has produced a touchdown. And his seven catches of 40 yards or longer is second only to the Cincinnati Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase (8) since 2022. But Pierce has long maintained he's more than just a deep threat, and he's looking to prove it in 2025. And if he does? The Colts might be more willing to be the team paying him when this deal expires.
Denver Broncos WR Troy Franklin was 'playing with a much greater awareness (this spring)' and showed off to offseason workouts 'a little thicker,' according to head coach Sean Payton. 'There's that (saying that) repetition is the mother of learning. You're seeing him play faster with a much greater awareness within each play. He's extremely explosive, and I think he's, I would say, five pounds heavier. A little thicker. He's had a good spring,' Payton told reporters last month.
Our view: As USA Today pointed out, Marvin Mims made a significant leap on offense in his second year, and Payton believes Franklin could make a similar jump in 2025. "I think you're going to see those types of ascensions with players like Troy," Payton said. "There are a number of young players competing for not so much spots, but competing for touches. He's one of them." We'll see. Franklin is WR84 on the Footballguys projections, making him more of a late-round flier or waiver-wire watchlist candidate than a viable front-line player.
New York Giants QB Russell Wilson faces a daunting first four weeks with games against the Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, and Los Angeles Chargers. If Wilson looks 'competent' and wins 'at least one' game during that four-game stretch 'he could start all of 2025,' in the opinion of The Athletic's Jacob Robinson. If not, however, Robinson suggests that rookie QB Jaxson Dart 'could start earlier than anticipated.'
Our view: Wilson's QB30 Footballguys projection is indicative of his job security here. Nobody should be investing in him -- or Dart, for that matter -- in redraft formats. We'll continue to monitor this situation and make necessary adjustments, but as Robinson suggests, a move is unlikely until well into the season.
Philadelphia Eagles RB Saquon Barkley totaled 436 carries, including the playoffs, during the 2024 season, which matched the highest number of carries in a season since 2000 -- former Dallas Cowboys RB DeMarco Murray logged an identical 436 carries in 2014.
Our view: Despite the massive workload, Barkley claims there are no aftereffects. "I feel really good," he said last month. "Like I'm entering my prime." But the concern is obvious. As Footballguy Gary Davenport pointed out, of the 30 running backs to surpass 370 carries in a season since 1980, only one, Eric Dickerson in 1984 (when he set the NFL all-time rushing record), gained more rushing yards the following year. Forty percent saw their production drop by over half. That said, Barkley is still this year's RB1, according to current ADP data, going with the second pick overall.
Carolina Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard rushed for 803 yards and seven touchdowns on first down during the 2024 season.
Our view: Hubbard proved to be a perfect fit for Dave Canales' offense. He set career highs in rushing attempts (250), rushing yards (1,195), rushing touchdowns (10), and receptions (43) while recording 171 receiving yards and an additional touchdown in his 15 starts. Hubbard, who finished 2024 as RB15 in total points (and RB13 in points per game), is being drafted as RB18 in Round 4 this year.
As the fireworks start flying and the grills start smoking, remember: this is the time of year when the real ones put in the work. The group chat may be quiet now, but it won't be for long, and we want you to be the envy of the league. Again.
Thanks for making Footballguys part of your prep. We’re proud to ride with folks like you who still love the game and the grind.
We’ll see you tomorrow with more.
Peace, Love, and Fantasy Football,
J
Joe Bryant
Guide
Written By Joe Bryant. News by Sigmund Bloom, Bob Harris, and Cecil Lammey
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