As the 2025 NFL season and the associated fantasy football campaign approach, preparation for the upcoming challenges begins now. With training camps in full swing, vital insights for fantasy managers can be extracted from these practice sessions. Key indicators such as identifying frontrunners in positional battles, monitoring players receiving more first-team reps, and assessing the implications of injuries provide a competitive edge for fantasy enthusiasts ahead of draft day.

Reports from beat writers and industry insiders present essential information that is often not available through traditional outlets, granting an advantage to those who actively gather insights. With that understanding, it is beneficial to explore the latest training camp developments and make educated predictions for the upcoming fantasy football season. For context, fantasy points, rankings, and average draft positions utilize data from FantasyPros.com based on PPR settings.

Focusing on the Arizona Cardinals, the team's passing attack, featuring Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr., may draw attention, but the ground game is expected to be the cornerstone of their offense in 2025. Despite a passing offense that ranked 18th last season, the Cardinals managed to stay in playoff contention due in large part to an impressive rushing game that ranked 7th overall. This was largely attributed to James Conner, who recorded a career-high 1,094 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, along with significant receiving contributions. Although Conner's fantasy points positioned him as an RB11, he is anticipated to experience decreased volume as the Cardinals evolve their backfield into a committee approach. Conner has acknowledged plans for sharing time with second-year running back Trey Benson, aiming to establish a robust rushing unit. Benson has expressed confidence and intends to learn from Conner in hopes of improving from a lackluster rookie campaign. Given the successful model demonstrated by teams like the Detroit Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona's staff may replicate a strategy to utilize both backs effectively in 2025.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made a notable selection during the 2024 draft when they acquired Bucky Irving, who enjoyed a strong rookie campaign, finishing as RB13 with 244.4 fantasy points while sharing time with Rachaad White. Irving is projected to begin 2025 as Tampa’s starting running back, with an expanded role expected to include significant participation in the passing game—a role previously dominated by White. Despite a commendable rookie season, Irving’s production on the ground was impressive, amassing 1,122 yards and eight touchdowns. While White was historically the team’s more utilized passing back, there appears to be a shift in volume distribution following Irving’s breakout performance. With White's usage steadily declining, Irving's appeal significantly increases as he is perceived as a more well-rounded back. It is plausible that Irving could achieve a top-8 fantasy finish as he takes command of the majority of the Buccaneers' backfield workload.

In Cleveland, the Browns have undergone considerable changes in their receiving corps, marked by the acquisition of high-profile trade signee Jerry Jeudy. Emerging as a potential No. 2 wideout is Cedric Tillman, who could find himself significantly involved in Cleveland's revamped offense. Despite setbacks due to injuries, Tillman has exhibited potential since entering the league and is expected to benefit from other offensive elements, including the presence of Jeudy and tight end David Njoku. During a four-game stretch last season, Tillman averaged 75.5 yards and 0.8 touchdowns per game while reclaiming a prominent role among the team’s targets. He expressed his eagerness for the upcoming season after a frustrating conclusion to the previous one. Although Tillman experienced a minor setback with a lower leg issue, he has avoided serious injury and maintains prospects for a productive 2025 season with considerable potential for fantasy relevance.

The Jacksonville Jaguars' backfield presents a complex challenge this season as expectations grow with new coaching additions, including Liam Coen. The intention to retain four running backs complicates the prospect of fantasy managers navigating this crowded roster. Travis Etienne, who has led the backfield for the last three seasons, faced substantial challenges last year, finishing with disappointing stats. While he dealt with injuries and inconsistent performance on the ground, his backup, Tank Bigsby, made marginal improvements but neither player seemed positioned for success with the coaching staff's decision to add two additional backs in the recent draft. This increase in competition complicates matters further, as neither Bhayshul Tuten nor LeQuint Allen appears ready to take over the starting role. Coen’s potential to use a hot-hand approach could yield inconsistent fantasy performances, making it a high-risk situation for those considering Jacksonville running backs.

Lastly, Kyle Pitts has been regarded as one of the more disappointing fantasy contributors over the past three seasons, but there may be hope for a resurgence in 2025. With the Atlanta Falcons acquiring Michael Penix Jr. as a first-round draft pick, expectations for improved quarterback play give Pitts a renewed opportunity. Following an impressive rookie season, Pitts struggled in consecutive years, failing to finish as a top-12 tight end despite being drafted as a TE8 or higher. Nevertheless, reports indicate that Penix and Pitts have been fostering their connection off the field, potentially translating into improved on-field chemistry. If Pitts can maintain health—having experienced earlier injury concerns—he is poised to play an integral role in the Falcons’ offensive strategy and exceed expectations as a strong fantasy option.