Fantasy soccer: Eight gamers who’ve stunned early on, in good methods and unhealthy

Bear in mind your high fantasy soccer targets this summer time? I do. Gamers with excessive ceilings. The upside guys with breakout potential. All of us had these. Then there have been the rookies with the productive faculty tape and pro-ready traits. Potential stars within the league. And let's not neglect in regards to the bounce-back candidates. Put them on the checklist, too.

We had all of the solutions.

Three weeks into the NFL season, nevertheless, a few of these targets, the fellows we pounded the desk for, have been complete busts.

However there are additionally gamers who did not discover their means onto the fantasy radar in July and August. Forgotten names. But, they're those producing weekly numbers and dealing their means into fantasy lineups, as a result of we won't ignore their utilization and manufacturing.

Under are eight gamers who've stunned us — each positively and negatively — early within the 2025 season. I wish to begin with a rookie working again who's enjoying a tone-setting function, with a possibility in entrance of him that ought to result in extra manufacturing.

Nice surprises

Cam Skattebo, RB, New York Giants

Skattebo's utilization has elevated over his previous two video games, and he simply dropped 24.1 factors on the Chiefs this previous Sunday evening. With Tyrone Tracy Jr. out two to 4 weeks with a shoulder damage, it is time to run with Skattebo within the lineup.

Look, this man invitations contact. He is a glass eater with the ball in his fingers. Skattebo is averaging 5.0 yards per carry previously two video games, with a landing run in every, plus he provides you a dual-threat factor. He caught six of eight targets for 61 yards towards the Chiefs, which is what we anticipated based mostly off his faculty tape at Arizona State. Whereas Devin Singletary may even get touches within the Giants backfield in Tracy's absence, Skattebo is the participant I need within the flex spot, beginning Sunday towards the Los Angeles Chargers.

Quentin Johnston, WR, Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers are utilizing Johnston's deep-ball means and lengthy velocity. The third-year wideout is averaging 18.6 PPG and has seen a minimum of seven targets in every recreation, scoring a number of touchdowns in two of them. Of Johnston's 14 receptions this season, 5 have gone for 20 or extra yards.

Can Johnston proceed to see quantity right here? Certain, as a result of he performs a selected function within the Chargers' route tree, averaging 17.1 yards per catch whereas giving quarterback Justin Herbert and this offense a vertical factor on the third stage of the sphere. Plus, Johnston can get rolling after the catch on beneath throws.

When you drafted Ladd McConkey (like I did), then I get the frustration right here, as he's offering solely 10.4 PPG. However with Johnston's uptick in quantity, plus the presence of veteran Keenan Allen, Herbert has three viable targets. And that makes this offense go.

Daniel Jones, QB, Indianapolis Colts

After two video games of a minimum of 22 factors to begin the season, Jones scored 15.8 factors within the Colts' Week 3 win over the Tennessee Titans. Indianapolis managed that recreation all through, so I would not learn an excessive amount of into the ultimate numbers for Jones. Nevertheless, after watching the tape on Jones this week, there's loads to love right here in coach Shane Steichen's system.

Jones' pocket motion has improved since his time in New York. That is teaching. He is getting the ball out shortly, too. And he is throwing with accuracy/location. Jones has accomplished 71.6% of his throws this season, and the Colts have one of many extra underrated teams of go catchers within the league. There's versatility on the receiving corps, and run-after-catch expertise, too. Plus, Steichen is not afraid to name Jones' quantity on the purpose line, as Jones has three dashing scores on QB sneaks whereas averaging 18.3 dashing yards per recreation.

Weekly matchups will matter when deciding whether or not to fit Jones into your lineup, and his means to deal with strain late in downs — which he'll see versus the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday — will decide his ceiling as a passer. However with the offensive setup beneath Steichen and Jones' elevated stage of play, he will grasp across the QB1 line.

Hunter Henry, TE, New England Patriots

The tight finish place is all the time very unpredictable in fantasy soccer. And it is no totally different this yr, with Jake Ferguson, Juwan Johnson, Tucker Kraft and Henry all ranked within the high 5 of fantasy scoring on the place.

Henry has two video games with eight or extra targets and double-digit fantasy manufacturing this season, and he simply lit up the Pittsburgh Steelers' protection for 29 factors in Week 3, the second-highest complete in his near-decade within the league. Do not depend on Henry to have game-winning weeks repeatedly, however he's a extremely good slot in Josh McDaniels' system.

Henry can work a number of ranges of the route tree for quarterback Drake Maye, plus he generally is a middle-of-the-field outlet. And he is a big-body goal who will also be schemed within the crimson zone, like we noticed within the Pittsburgh recreation. I'd be snug with Henry in my lineup (which he's) as a lower-tier TE1 in 12-team leagues, as a result of it is getting more durable to seek out consistency on the place.

J.Ok. Dobbins, RB, Denver Broncos

RJ Harvey was the Broncos working again to focus on this summer time, proper? I did it, too, in a number of leagues, relying on the upside of the rookie as a dual-threat participant in Sean Payton's offense. Nevertheless, by way of three weeks, Dobbins is the Broncos working again you wish to roster.

Dobbins has produced 15.2 PPG this season, and he is averaging 13.7 carries a recreation in contrast with Harvey's 6.2. Dobbins additionally has a dashing rating in all three video games performed. Although he hasn't seen high-level utilization as a receiver, he is averaging 2.0 targets a recreation. And till Harvey earns a extra outlined function beneath Payton, you'll be able to roll with Dobbins as a productive RB2/flex.

Early-season letdowns

Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Arizona Cardinals

Again in Week 1, Harrison scored 18.1 factors versus the New Orleans Saints. We noticed the big-play means and Harrison additionally discovered the top zone. Since then, it has been tough. Over the previous two video games, Harrison has caught simply 5 of 11 targets for 71 yards whereas working 30 routes per recreation and averaging solely 6.1 PPG.

Now, Harrison did have a drop in Week 3 on a schemed idea that may have produced an explosive play, however there are additionally misses from quarterback Kyler Murray on the tape. And I do not love Harrison's route tree within the Cardinals system. So, in Yr 2, we're nonetheless leaning on the “flashes” we see from Harrison, which I get. There's numerous expertise right here. However the numbers and general deployment make Harrison a growth/bust WR3 in my ranks till I see extra constant manufacturing.

Ashton Jeanty, RB, Las Vegas Raiders

Jeanty is averaging 8.6 PPG heading into Week 4 of the season. I didn't anticipate these numbers when focusing on Jeanty within the high 12 of mock drafts this summer time. An excessive amount of contact stability, imaginative and prescient, short-area velocity and residential run juice. However once you watch the tape, it is fairly clear the Raiders' run recreation is a significant concern.

Jeanty is averaging only one.02 yards per carry earlier than first contact. That ranks forty third within the league. And what occurred to the passing-game utilization? Jeanty, who has all of the traits to win on backfield releases, has caught 5 of six targets this season … for 3 yards.

This week, he does get a constructive run-game matchup towards the Chicago Bears, who've allowed 5.5 yards per carry (thirty first). Till we see solutions from coordinator Chip Kelly and this Raiders dashing assault, nevertheless, Jeanty should slide down into the RB2 ranks. Sure, you'll be able to depend on the weekly quantity, as he's seeing 15.7 carries per recreation, however that has but to translate to constant fantasy manufacturing for the rookie.

Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

I've watched numerous tape on Thomas. In all probability an excessive amount of. And I nonetheless do not have nice solutions for his lack of manufacturing. Sure, there are drops on the tape (three) and a few tight-window throws from quarterback Trevor Lawrence that do create some legitimate questions. However with a catch price of solely 28% — on 27 targets — one thing has to present, proper?

We all the time concentrate on participant utilization in fantasy, and that is precisely what you get with Thomas. He has seen a minimum of six targets in every recreation, plus he is averaging 34.3 routes run per recreation. But, Thomas is providing you with 8.5 PPG in an offense beneath coach Liam Coen that ought to create fantasy manufacturing. So, at this level, I'd preserve Thomas within the lineup as a WR2, however that is purely based mostly on expertise/upside and anticipated weekly utilization.