Fantasy soccer: Bo Nix, Calvin Ridley amongst Eric Moody’s favourite draft targets

It’s peak fantasy soccer draft season, and the work you set in now can arrange a championship run this fall. Mock drafts, statistics, traits and projections all matter, however so does how a participant seems to be in reside sport motion. I wish to say it is vital to play the piano with each fingers. You may make music with one hand, but it surely’s masterful whenever you use each. Meaning balancing secure, constant picks with upside playmakers who can win you weeks on their very own.

Listed here are 10 gamers I am enthusiastic about this season, gamers I consider will exceed expectations and outperform their common draft place (ADP). Additionally included are some late-round fliers value contemplating. This consists of quarterbacks exterior the highest 20, working backs past the highest 40, large receivers after the highest 50 and tight ends past the highest 16.

Bo Nix, QB, Denver Broncos (ADP: QB8)

Nix quietly emerged as one of many high fantasy quarterbacks in 2024, ending as QB7 in his rookie season, thanks partly to his dual-threat ability set. Nix’s accuracy improved because the season progressed and was extra environment friendly within the passing sport. Trying on the movie, Nix excels when performs break down, utilizing his legs and off-platform throws to show losses into positive aspects. He’ll even be enjoying behind an offensive line that returns all 5 starters, a unit I’ve projected as a top-5 group this season. With new playmakers corresponding to TE Evan Engram and RB RJ Harvey becoming a member of Courtland Sutton, Nix is a high-upside quarterback goal at his present ADP.

Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots (ADP: QB16)

When Maye took over because the full-time starter in Week 6, he showcased his passing and dashing capability, passing for two,254 passing yards and 15 TDs and dashing for 409 dashing yards and two TDs over these 11 begins, good for 16 fantasy factors per sport. Getting into 12 months 2, Maye has a considerably upgraded supporting solid that features Stefon Diggs, TreVeyon Henderson, Mack Hollins and Kyle Williams, plus enhancements alongside the offensive line with Morgan Moses, Garrett Bradbury, Will Campbell and Jared Wilson. With Josh McDaniels’ adaptable schemes and new coach Mike Vrabel emphasizing stability, Maye’s dual-threat ability set positions him as a high-end QB2 with upside. Do not be shocked if he finishes inside the highest 10.

Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts (ADP: RB8)

Taylor has been certainly one of my favourite second-round targets all summer time. He completed final season high 5 amongst working backs in each dashing makes an attempt and dashing yards and averaged 17.5 fantasy factors per sport (RB7). Sturdiness has been a difficulty, with Taylor lacking video games in each season aside from in 2021, and he hasn’t been a significant factor as a go catcher, however the Colts proceed to belief him as the point of interest of their offense. Taylor averaged 22.9 touches per sport final season, second most amongst working backs. With Daniel Jones beneath middle, Shane Steichen’s employees ought to lean closely on the bottom sport. Regardless of accidents throughout the offensive line final season, Indianapolis nonetheless ranked fourth in run block win fee. Rookies Tanor Bortolini and Matt Goncalves flashed promise in restricted motion, and in the event that they take one other step ahead, this unit might grow to be one of many league’s finest.

RJ Harvey, RB, Denver Broncos (ADP: RB26)

Over his closing two seasons at UCF, Harvey racked up 2,993 dashing yards, 38 touchdowns and 39 catches for 505 yards. Drafted in Spherical 2, he lands in an excellent state of affairs beneath head coach Sean Payton, whose offenses have traditionally leaned on working backs. Broncos backs have mixed for a league-high 214 receptions over the previous two seasons, and Harvey profiles because the clear receiving again. At 5-foot-8, 205 kilos with 4.40 pace, he brings burst and flexibility. Sharing the backfield with J.Okay. Dobbins, Harvey is firmly on the flex radar and has RB1 upside if he seizes high-value touches in Payton’s and offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi’s system. He additionally advantages from an elite offensive line that returns all 5 starters from a unit that led the league in run block win fee and completed second in go block win fee in 2024.

D’Andre Swift, RB, Chicago Bears (ADP: RB21)

Swift enters his second season with the Bears beneath new coach Ben Johnson, who labored with Swift in Detroit and is aware of the best way to maximize his versatile ability set. Swift performed all 17 video games for the primary time in his profession final season, ending tenth in dashing makes an attempt and 14th in targets amongst RBs, and recorded 1,345 yards from scrimmage. His dashing effectivity suffered behind a shaky offensive line, however the Bears upgraded the unit in the course of the offseason. Swift is projected to deal with the vast majority of touches in Chicago’s backfield in 2025, positioning him as a high-floor flex with upside.

Courtland Sutton, WR, Denver Broncos (ADP: WR24)

Sutton’s rapport with Bo Nix was simple in 2024, leading to a profession season for the wideout. Sutton completed with profession highs in targets (135), receptions (81) and fantasy factors (240.3). The clear high possibility within the Broncos’ passing sport, Sutton is the one participant within the league to have seen no less than 12 finish zone targets in every of the previous three seasons If Nix takes one other step ahead, Sutton might see his worth rise even additional. He is a secure starter, and at his present ADP in ESPN leagues, he is tough to miss.

Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Carolina Panthers (ADP: WR33)

A dominant power in faculty at Arizona, the 6-foot-4 rookie gives speedy fantasy upside. McMillan’s measurement, ball expertise and manufacturing ought to result in a easy transition into the league as he steps right into a Panthers offense led by Bryce Younger, who was much-improved within the second half of 2024. The Panthers did not have a single participant with greater than 84 targets in 2024, however Adam Thielen (a current topic of commerce rumors) noticed 137 targets with Bryce Younger in 2023 and completed as a top-20 fantasy large receiver. With Thielen getting older and Xavier Legette nonetheless unproven, McMillan has a transparent path to the goal share typical of a No. 1 receiver, and our projections mirror that.

DK Metcalf, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers (ADP: WR20)

With George Pickens off to Dallas, Metcalf steps in because the Steelers’ clear No. 1 receiver for Aaron Rodgers and inherits one of many league’s largest vacated goal swimming pools. Metcalf was off to a top-5 tempo via Week 7 final season in Seattle earlier than a knee harm slowed him. By the point he returned, Jaxon Smith-Njigba had emerged because the Seahawks’ alpha receiver. Metcalf has 4 top-25 fantasy seasons in his six years within the NFL and leads the league in finish zone targets since getting into the league in 2019, making him a high-floor WR2 with a WR3 price. His crimson zone utilization and upgraded quarterback state of affairs make him a premier middle-round goal in 2025 drafts.

Calvin Ridley, WR, Tennessee Titans (ADP: WR27)

Regardless of shaky quarterback play, Ridley caught 64 of 120 targets for 1,017 yards and 4 touchdowns in his first yr with the Titans. Ridley persistently received in opposition to man, zone and press protection, and his elite route working makes his pairing with rookie quarterback Cam Ward particularly intriguing on curl routes, slants and digs. Ridley is a superb worth at WR27 in ESPN leagues, with clear upside for extra because the Titans’ No. 1 receiver.

Evan Engram, TE, Denver Broncos (ADP: TE9)

My colleague Matt Bowen and I are each excessive on Engram, who matches completely into Sean Payton’s “joker” function. A flexible playmaker who creates mismatches all around the subject, Engram caught 114 passes simply two seasons in the past, commanded a 25% goal share in 2024 and has completed seventh or higher in fantasy factors per sport in 5 of eight seasons. The Broncos lacked a dependable tight finish final season, and Engram offers Payton precisely what he wants. With Nix and one of many NFL’s most progressive offensive minds main the offense, Engram carries respectable top-5 upside.

5 late-round fliers to have on the radar

Bryce Younger, QB, Carolina Panthers

Managers in superflex codecs ought to prioritize Younger as a possible QB3. He averaged 18.0 fantasy factors per sport over his closing 10 video games final season, and the Panthers proceed to encompass him with playmakers.

Ray Davis, RB, Buffalo Payments

James Prepare dinner lately signed an enormous contract extension, however do not forget that Davis was very productive filling in for him final season when he was injured. Davis is without doubt one of the finest insurance coverage backs within the league and has league-winning fantasy potential if Prepare dinner misses time within the Payments’ explosive offense.

Keon Coleman, WR, Buffalo Payments

Coleman confirmed big-play capability as a rookie, averaging 19.2 yards per catch with 12 receptions of 20-plus yards regardless of lacking 4 video games. With a transparent path to a beginning function and with no true X-receiver backup, he is poised for a giant second-year leap in Buffalo.

Emeka Egbuka, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Egbuka seems to be poised to open the season because the Buccaneers’ No. 2 receiver, stepping up amid accidents to Chris Godwin (ankle) and Jalen McMillan (neck). He can have a transparent path to targets in 2025 and is presently the WR46 in ESPN leagues.

Hunter Henry, TE, New England Patriots

Henry may very well be primed for a profession season in 2025. After a robust 2024 with 66 catches for 674 yards, he advantages from growing chemistry with Maye and a artistic offense beneath Josh McDaniels, positioning him as a dependable crimson zone goal.