Buzzy players often rule the fantasy football summer discussions, and I understand. We’re all looking for ascending players and the next big thing. But that doesn’t mean we should completely discount the possibility of making profits elsewhere — often by landing a veteran player who’s offering some boring but efficient value.
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So that’s the pitch for today’s piece — the All-Boring Team. Maybe you won’t build a marketing strategy around these guys, but never forget, in fantasy football, we just want the points.
QB Jared Goff, Lions
Goff isn’t a flashy personality or a flashy player, and he’s one of the most reluctant QB runners in the league. He also has to handle the loss of OC Ben Johnson this year, but a loaded cast of pass-catchers return to his huddle. When an NFL team has a veteran quarterback who’s been around several seasons, you can consider that QB a part-time offensive coordinator. Goff hasn’t forgotten what works with Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, Jameson Williams and Jahmyr Gibbs. Detroit might not be the NFL’s best offense again, but it should land somewhere in the top five.
RB Aaron Jones Sr., Vikings
I understand the excitement about new running back Jordan Mason, and I’d like a seat on that bus, too. But Jones isn’t going to be left curbside. Jones played a full season last year, collected 1,546 total scrimmage yards, and was especially handy as a receiver (51 catches, 8.0 YPC). With the market starting to move Jones and Mason closer in ADP, I suspect the elder back is starting to become the more appealing value.
RB J.K. Dobbins, Broncos
Dobbins had a nifty comeback season with the Chargers, pushing to 1,058 total yards and nine touchdowns, finishing as the RB23 in half-point PPR scoring. And although Denver rookie RJ Harvey is the buzzy name in this backfield, the Broncos clearly had a platoon backfield in mind when they signed Dobbins in June. Dobbins is a capable receiver and an excellent pass blocker, which gives him a leg up for the hurry-up and third-down work. And even if Harvey eventually takes over this backfield in the second half of the year, I expect Dobbins to provide enough projectable volume to easily pay off his modest Yahoo ADP of 111.2.
WR Calvin Ridley, Titans
Ridley’s had a meandering ride in the NFL, missing most of his age-27 season and all of his age-28 season. But he kept his head above water in the last two years, managing 140 catches and 2,033 yards despite the instability in Jacksonville and Tennessee. If rookie QB Cam Ward is anything close to league average, Ridley has a chance to smash his current mid-70s Yahoo ADP. Given that Ridley was able to survive with Will Levis and Mason Rudolph throwing him the ball, he’s probably earned the right to be called quarterback-proof.
WR DeVonta Smith, Eagles
Smith commonly flies under the radar because he’s the No. 2 passing option on a run-heavy team. But it’s doubtful the Eagles can maintain last year’s historically high run rate over expectation — everything had to fall right on both sides of the ball — and while A.J. Brown is still the featured target in Philly’s offense, at least Smith is part of a condensed target tree. Smith averages 1,082 yards and 7.3 touchdowns for every 17 games played in the NFL. That likely represents his floor in 2025, and there’s plenty of room for an ADP-profit season.
WR Courtland Sutton, Broncos
Suttons’ career season stands on its own merit, but things really get cooking if you focus on the final 10 games: 60 catches, 804 yards, six touchdowns. Why do we cut up that sample of games? Because it adequately reflects when Sean Payton started to coach proactively with Bo Nix, his improving rookie QB. Sutton isn’t a separation king, but his ability to win on boundary plays and in tight coverage serves him well in the red area. It’s a pleasure to watch his subtlety at work.
TE Travis Kelce, Chiefs
Kelce turned down the volume in his age-35 season, scoring just three touchdowns and averaging a pedestrian 8.5 yards per catch. But there’s something to be said for the volume he receives — he’s drawn 100 or more targets for 10 straight years, including 133 looks last year — and there are plenty of questions about the Kansas City wideouts. How many games will Rashee Rice be suspended for? Is Xavier Worthy ready for an expanded route tree? Can Hollywood Brown stay healthy and consistent?
Kelce’s days as the king of the tight end position are obviously over, but I can’t see why he won’t catch another 85-90 passes, with perhaps a modest uptick in touchdowns. He’s always going to be the biggest player downfield, the simplest read for Patrick Mahomes.
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