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NFL Nation
Welcome to Week 6 of the 2025 NFL season. There aren’t any undefeated groups after the Eagles and Payments suffered one-score losses to the Broncos and Patriots, respectively. In the meantime, the Jets are the one winless crew after getting trounced by the Cowboys.
How do all of those groups slot in our Energy Rankings? We restacked the NFL heading into Week 6, which incorporates byes for the Vikings and Texans. Along with our 1-32 rankings, our NFL Nation reporters are each crew’s fantasy soccer shock (good or unhealthy) this season. They went off ESPN Fantasy‘s preseason projections and current scoring leaders in PPR leagues.
Let’s get into it with our No. 1-ranked crew. Our energy panel of greater than 80 writers, editors and TV personalities evaluated how NFL groups stack up towards each other, rating them from 1 to 32.
See earlier rankings: Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5
Soar to a crew:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND
JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN
NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF
SEA | TB | TEN | WSH
Week 4 consequence: Beat the Bengals 37-24
Week 4 rating: 3
Fantasy shock: WR Jameson Williams
After his first 1,000-yard season in 2024, Williams has began slowly in 2025. He hasn’t logged greater than 50 receiving yards in 4 of the Lions’ 5 video games, as he works to get in sync with veteran quarterback Jared Goff and overcome dropped passes. Williams is seen as a dangerous choice as a result of he is averaging solely 7.9 fantasy factors per recreation in PPR leagues. He hasn’t turned restricted targets into manufacturing or delivered persistently this season — however he can nonetheless make huge performs. — Eric Woodyard
Week 4 consequence: Misplaced to the Patriots 23-20
Week 4 rating: 2
Fantasy shock: TE Dalton Kincaid
This is also operating again James Cook, however Kincaid has been the larger eye-opener. He has a extra vital function and the second-most fantasy factors amongst tight ends (66.7 to date this season) after being ranked No. 15 on the place in ESPN Fantasy’s preseason projections. In his third season, Kincaid already has a profession excessive in receiving touchdowns (three) and was focused six occasions in three of the 5 video games. A wholesome Kincaid and a rising relationship with quarterback Josh Allen are positives for fantasy managers — even in an offense that spreads across the ball. — Alaina Getzenberg
Week 4 consequence: Misplaced to the Broncos 21-17
Week 4 rating: 1
Fantasy shock: WR A.J. Brown
Brown is ranked fortieth amongst receivers in complete fantasy factors (44.4), a world away from his preseason projection because the No. 9 wideout. He eclipsed 100 yards receiving in Week 3 against the Rams however has averaged simply 21 yards within the different 4 video games. It seems the Eagles are making extra of an effort to place Brown in opportunistic conditions, and he’ll have higher matchups after going through the Broncos’ Pat Surtain II. — Tim McManus
Week 4 consequence: Beat the Seahawks 38-35
Week 4 rating: 6
Fantasy shock: QB Baker Mayfield
It is not an enormous shock that Mayfield is No. 2 amongst quarterbacks in fantasy. It’s shocking that he is averaging 21.1 factors per recreation with out two key huge receivers. Mayfield hasn’t had franchise-leading scorer Mike Evans and was with out Chris Godwin Jr. for the primary three video games. With out Evans and Godwin in three video games final season, Mayfield averaged 16.4 fantasy factors per recreation. The explosion of rookie huge receiver Emeka Egbuka, who has 5 touchdowns this season, is an enormous cause Mayfield has been on such a tear. He has additionally made it work with Sterling Shepard, Ryan Miller, Tez Johnson and Cade Otton — and now Godwin is back. — Jenna Laine
1:19
McAfee wonders if Bucs are a ‘crew of future’
Pat McAfee and A.J. Hawk talk about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ electrical win over the Seahawks.
Week 4 consequence: Beat the Raiders 40-6
Week 4 rating: 10
Fantasy shock: QB Daniel Jones
Jones has cooled off a bit after his sizzling begin, however two landing passes Sunday gave fantasy managers a pleasant increase. It was his first recreation with a number of TD passes this season, making him the seventh-highest scoring quarterback in fantasy (95.2 factors) this season. As well as, few anticipated him to have already got three speeding touchdowns, which made up for the Colts’ lack of landing passes early on. However coming off their greatest pink zone efficiency of the season towards Las Vegas, the Colts are trending towards being much more productive when in scoring place. — Stephen Holder
Week 4 consequence: Beat the Rams 26-23 (OT)
Week 4 rating: 12
Fantasy shock: TE Jake Tonges
With tight finish George Kittle out (right hamstring injury), Tonges has emerged as a authentic receiving choice with a knack for scoring touchdowns. The third-year tight finish has 19 receptions for 166 yards with three touchdowns. These numbers will doubtless tumble dramatically when Kittle returns, however Tonges has proved he generally is a stable No. 2 tight finish within the passing recreation — one thing the Niners have lacked for many of Kyle Shanahan’s tenure. — Nick Wagoner
Week 4 consequence: Bye
Week 4 rating: 8
Fantasy shock: Protection/ST
The Packers’ protection ranks fourth in actual soccer (fewest yards allowed per recreation and second towards the run), however that hasn’t translated to fantasy factors. Inexperienced Bay is tied for twentieth (5.3 fantasy factors per recreation) after rating third final season (8.2). That is largely as a result of the Packers have struggled to trigger turnovers. They’ve simply two interceptions and no fumbles recovered, which comes after 17 interceptions and 14 fumbles recovered final season. Although they’re getting stress on opposing quarterbacks — thanks partly to edge rusher Micah Parsons — they are not getting fantasy managers factors with takeaways. — Rob Demovsky
Week 4 consequence: Misplaced to the 49ers 26-23 (OT)
Week 4 rating: 4
Fantasy shock: WR Puka Nacua
Although there was little question about Nacua’s significance to this offense, it is nonetheless considerably shocking that he is main all fantasy scoring after 5 weeks — largely due to the goal share required for that. The Rams even have receiver Davante Adams, however he has usually been shadowed by the opposing crew’s high cornerback. Nacua has 52 catches for 588 yards on 62 targets and has a goal share of 34.6% to date this season. — Sarah Barshop
Week 4 consequence: Beat the Eagles 21-17
Week 4 rating: 13
Fantasy shock: RB J.K. Dobbins
Within the Broncos’ Week 4 win over the Bengals, Dobbins had the primary 100-yard speeding recreation for Denver since Latavius Murray within the 2022 season finale. It was additionally the primary 100-yard speeding recreation of Sean Payton’s tenure as Broncos coach. Payton has steadily moved Dobbins right into a agency RB1 function, and Dobbins adopted his 100-yard recreation with 20 carries in Week 5. The Broncos have used Tyler Badie of their two-minute offense, and rookie RJ Harvey will proceed to get snaps, however Dobbins has been the one to assist the offense transfer. — Jeff Legwold
Week 4 consequence: Misplaced to the Jaguars 31-28
Week 4 rating: 7
Fantasy shock: RB Isiah Pacheco
Pacheco was supposed to present the Chiefs higher stability on offense after lacking most of final season due to a damaged proper leg. However he’s in a funk, averaging simply 7.2 fantasy factors per recreation and 32.6 speeding yards per recreation. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes led the crew in September with 130 speeding yards. The earlier Pacheco can regain his type, the earlier the Chiefs can turn out to be a totally dynamic offense once more. — Nate Taylor
Week 4 consequence: Misplaced to the Buccaneers 38-35
Week 4 rating: 9
Fantasy shock: WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba
That is solely a slight shock. Nobody doubted that Smith-Njigba can be the focus of the Seahawks’ passing recreation, as he entered the season because the crew’s unquestioned WR1. However he may be producing barely above some fantasy expectations. Smith-Njigba was twenty fourth in common draft place in ESPN snake drafts and thirty first in common worth in wage cap drafts. With 34 catches for 534 yards and a pair of touchdowns, he is Eleventh total in fantasy factors scored by 5 weeks. — Brady Henderson
Week 4 consequence: Beat the Chiefs 31-28
Week 4 rating: 14
Fantasy shock: WR Brian Thomas Jr.
Thomas completed with 284 fantasy factors as a rookie in 2024, catching 87 passes for 1,282 yards and 10 TDs. This season, he has simply 48 fantasy factors, with 16 catches for 244 yards and no receiving touchdowns (he has a landing run, although). He additionally has three drops, all coming in a Week 2 loss to the Bengals (one on a fourth down). Thomas is likely one of the fundamental causes the Jaguars’ passing offense has been inconsistent to begin the season. — Mike DiRocco
Week 4 consequence: Bye
Week 4 rating: 11
Fantasy shock: Protection/ST
The Steelers’ protection was the highest unit throughout fantasy drafts (across the Ninetieth-overall choose in snake drafts). Via the primary two weeks, that choose did not fairly pan out, because the Steelers gave up no less than 30 factors in back-to-back weeks and practically 400 yards in every recreation. However of their subsequent two video games, they’d seven takeaways and held opponents to 17.5 factors. It seems the tide may be turning for fantasy managers who caught with the Steelers after a rocky begin. — Brooke Pryor
Week 4 consequence: Beat the Chargers 27-10
Week 4 rating: 16
Fantasy shock: WR Deebo Samuel
Samuel ranks seventh amongst all receivers in fantasy factors (88.6). A few of that stems from receiver Terry McLaurin lacking two video games due to a quad injury. Samuel has 30 catches for 300 yards and three touchdowns, and he additionally has seven carries for 46 yards. Washington desires to make use of him rather a lot, so his productiveness should not diminish an excessive amount of when McLaurin returns. Within the three video games they performed collectively, Samuel caught 16 passes. — John Keim
1:22
Daniel Dopp: Deebo Samuel a must-start fantasy WR
Daniel Dopp breaks down his fantasy optimism for Deebo Samuel, even after Terry McLaurin returns.
Week 4 consequence: Misplaced to the Commanders 27-10
Week 4 rating: 5
Fantasy shock: WR Quentin Johnston
After an inconsistent first two seasons, Johnston is turning into the participant the Chargers anticipated after they chosen him within the first spherical of the 2023 draft. He leads the Chargers in receiving yards (377) and receiving touchdowns (4). Johnston was roughly the thirty eighth huge receiver taken in ESPN Fantasy drafts. However he’s eighth amongst receivers in fantasy factors (86.4) this season, probably the most amongst Chargers move catchers. — Kris Rhim
Week 4 consequence: Beat the Browns 21-17
Week 4 rating: 17
Fantasy shock: RB Jordan Mason
The Vikings are leaning into Mason as a real goal-line runner, one thing they have been lacking since Dalvin Cook‘s ultimate season with them in 2022. Mason has three touchdowns in 5 goal-to-go carries this season. Which may not sound like many, but it surely places him on tempo to exceed the crew’s 11 such scores over the earlier two seasons mixed. Solely the Jets (seven) had fewer throughout that interval. Mason, acquired in the offseason through commerce from the 49ers, is a robust runner with good imaginative and prescient for cutbacks. — Kevin Seifert
Week 4 consequence: Beat the Payments 23-20
Week 4 rating: 21
Fantasy shock: WR Stefon Diggs
Diggs grew to become the primary Patriots receiver to document consecutive 100-yard video games since Julian Edelman in 2019, displaying that he can nonetheless get down the sphere and make explosive performs — regardless of being ranked forty first in preseason fantasy rankings. Diggs has 16 catches for 247 yards and 40.7 fantasy factors over the previous two weeks. One of many knocks on him was that his yards after catch have decreased in latest seasons, however he has 131 to date in 2025. — Mike Reiss
1:08
Rex Ryan: Mike Vrabel is the difference-maker for Pats
Rex Ryan and Adam Schefter clarify why the Patriots’ win over the Payments proves they’re a crew to be reckoned with.
Week 4 consequence: Beat the Ravens 44-10
Week 4 rating: 22
Fantasy shock: RB Woody Marks
Marks entered coaching camp because the fifth operating again on the depth chart. It was truthful to counsel that Joe Mixon, Nick Chubb, Dameon Pierce and Dare Ogunbowale have been forward in mid-July. However Mixon landed on the non-football injury list, and Pierce missed half of camp due to a leg harm. So, it was clear Marks would have an even bigger function this season. Within the Texans’ Week 4 win over the Titans, he broke out with 27.9 fantasy factors, recording 119 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns. The rookie fourth-rounder is continuous to carve out a noticeable function on the roster. — DJ Bien-Aime
Week 4 consequence: Bye
Week 4 rating: 19
Fantasy shock: Protection/ST
After having a porous protection final season, the Falcons put their belief in 4 rookies — edge rushers Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr., security Xavier Watts and nickel nook Billy Bowman Jr. — and two second-year inside linemen who barely bought snaps in 2024 — Ruke Orhorhoro and Brandon Dorlus. So, it made sense that the Falcons have been (on common) the twenty fourth protection taken in fantasy drafts. However led by Watts’ two interceptions and Zach Harrison‘s 2.5 sacks, Atlanta has the seventh-most fantasy factors per recreation (8.8) amongst defenses this season. — Marc Raimondi
Week 4 consequence: Bye
Week 4 rating: 20
Fantasy shock: QB Caleb Williams
The Bears had one participant projected in ESPN Fantasy’s preseason high 50 (huge receiver DJ Moore), however Williams’ enchancment in his first month in Ben Johnson’s offense has elevated his fantasy worth. Williams has established a powerful connection together with his go-to receiver Rome Odunze (5 touchdowns) whereas throwing for 917 yards with eight landing passes and two interceptions. And he has been efficient whereas scrambling, speeding for 97 yards and a landing. Williams’ common of 20.5 fantasy factors per recreation is seventh amongst quarterbacks. — Courtney Cronin
Week 4 consequence: Beat the Jets 37-22
Week 4 rating: 23
Fantasy shock: RB Javonte Williams
Williams entered the season because the Thirty third-ranked operating again in ESPN Fantasy. After 5 video games, he’s ranked third. He has 447 speeding yards after operating for simply 513 yards final season in Denver. Williams has a career-high 5 speeding touchdowns this 12 months — the Cowboys had simply six final season. The Cowboys thought Williams can be their No. 1 operating again, however they didn’t suppose he can be this productive. He’s on tempo for 1,520 yards, which might be sixth greatest in franchise historical past. — Todd Archer
1:09
Why Javonte Williams is the highest fantasy cut price this season
Tristan Cockcroft breaks down why Javonte Williams is a weekly dependable RB for fantasy managers.
Week 4 consequence: Misplaced to the Texans 44-10
Week 4 rating: 15
Fantasy shock: RB Derrick Henry
Henry has gone from being the fourth-best operating again in ESPN Fantasy in 2024 to twenty seventh this 12 months, averaging 11.8 fantasy factors per recreation. He was projected because the ninth-best operating again within the preseason, however he has failed to achieve that stage. He has been held to 50 yards speeding or fewer in 4 straight video games, which matches his longest rut from 2016, when he was DeMarco Murray’s backup. However after going through the NFL’s Eleventh-best run protection within the Rams next Sunday, he’ll play three of the league’s worst run defenses after the bye: the Bears (thirty first), Dolphins (thirty second) and Vikings (twenty fourth). — Jamison Hensley
Week 4 consequence: Misplaced to the Titans 22-21
Week 4 rating: 18
Fantasy shock: QB Kyler Murray
Murray was ranked because the ninth-best fantasy QB within the preseason, however he is seventeenth in complete factors (77.8) — a product of a Cardinals offense that hasn’t discovered its footing this season. He ranks thirty first in air yards per try and twenty ninth in yards per dropback, although his saving grace is his speeding. Murray is ranked fourth in speeding yards amongst quarterbacks, seventh in speeding yards per play and fifth in speeding yards per recreation. Nonetheless, he has only one speeding landing. — Josh Weinfuss
Week 4 consequence: Beat the Dolphins 27-24
Week 4 rating: 28
Fantasy shock: WR Xavier Legette
The main focus was on first-round choose Tetairoa McMillan having an enormous 12 months, and he has been stable. However Legette was anticipated to flourish with McMillan getting additional consideration from opposing defenses — and he hasn’t. After lacking Weeks 3 and 4 due to a hamstring harm, Legette scored a landing towards Miami. However he has solely six catches on 18 targets for 39 yards this season. He has a hit catch charge of solely 16.7%. — David Newton
Week 4 consequence: Misplaced to the Lions 37-24
Week 4 rating: 24
Fantasy shock: RB Chase Brown
Brown had the potential of being a top-10 operating again this season, however that hasn’t come near materializing because the Bengals have one of many league’s worst offenses. In response to ESPN Analysis, he’s thirty sixth amongst operating backs in fantasy scoring per recreation (6.3-point common in normal leagues). Although Brown hasn’t gotten a lot assist from the offensive line, among the metrics aren’t in his favor. He ranks twenty first in proportion of rushes the place he’s hit at or behind the road of scrimmage. He has 22 passing targets however has but to seek out the top zone there. — Ben Child
Week 4 consequence: Misplaced to the Vikings 21-17
Week 4 rating: 26
Fantasy shock: RB Quinshon Judkins
Uncertainty round Judkins’ standing — he missed coaching camp due to a legal situation — landed him at RB29 in ESPN Fantasy drafts. Since making his debut in Week 2, the thirty sixth choose on this 12 months’s NFL draft has stepped into the lead-back function. He ranks fourth within the NFL in speeding yards (347) throughout that point span and is RB14 in PPR leagues. — Daniel Oyefusi
Week 4 consequence: Beat the Giants 26-14
Week 4 rating: 31
Fantasy shock: TE Juwan Johnson
Johnson was the Thirtieth-ranked tight finish in ESPN’s PPR positional fantasy rankings. Via 5 weeks, he has been ninth in scoring amongst tight ends and had double-digit factors in PPR leagues within the first three video games. Johnson’s utilization may change with tight ends Foster Moreau and Taysom Hill again within the lineup, however Johnson has been one in every of quarterback Spencer Rattler‘s most frequent targets this season. — Katherine Terrell
Week 4 consequence: Misplaced to the Panthers 27-24
Week 4 rating: 29
Fantasy shock: TE Darren Waller
It has been solely two games for Waller within the Dolphins’ offense, however he has scored three touchdowns and caught all eight of his targets. Waller missed practically all of coaching camp and the crew’s first three video games of the season due to a hip harm. Ending the season with three touchdowns would have been an affordable expectation for somebody who hasn’t performed since January 2024, and he was the seventeenth tight finish taken in ESPN Fantasy leagues. However Tua Tagovailoa‘s belief in Waller is clear. And at a skinny fantasy place, you may do rather a lot worse than Waller. — Marcel Louis-Jacques
Week 4 consequence: Misplaced to the Colts 40-6
Week 4 rating: 25
Fantasy shock: TE Brock Bowers
Bowers was meant to be the focus of the Raiders’ passing recreation, beginning the season at No. 1 in ESPN Fantasy’s preseason projections. As an alternative, a knee injury has prevented him from enjoying at full energy, and that has mirrored in his numbers. After averaging 20.9 yards per catch within the season opener, Bowers averaged 8.7 yards per catch and fewer than 10 fantasy factors per recreation from Weeks 2 by 4. He didn’t play towards the Colts, and coach Pete Carroll mentioned the All-Professional tight finish is day-to-day. — Ryan McFadden
Week 4 consequence: Misplaced to the Saints 26-14
Week 4 rating: 27
Fantasy shock: TE Theo Johnson
The Giants do not actually have a fantasy standout with out star receiver Malik Nabers (torn ACL) within the lineup. However with rookie Jaxson Dart at quarterback, Johnson has turn out to be extra of an element. He had three touchdowns in Dart’s first two begins and had a career-high seven targets in Week 5. Johnson shouldn’t be a fantasy starter, however he is a sneaky potential riser with Dart’s capacity to see the center of the sphere and match the ball into tight home windows. — Jordan Raanan
Week 4 consequence: Beat the Cardinals 22-21
Week 4 rating: 32
Fantasy shock: WR Calvin Ridley
Ridley confirmed promise throughout coaching camp, the place he made a reference to rookie quarterback Cam Ward. However Ridley has solely 15 receptions and no touchdowns this season. He confronted the same state of affairs final season, with 9 catches in his first 5 video games. However he nonetheless completed with 1,000 yards. He confirmed promise this Sunday after having 5 receptions for 131 yards, giving fantasy managers 18.1 factors. Though Ridley did not get to the top zone, he had two impactful receptions that led to 10 of Tennessee’s fourth-quarter factors. — Turron Davenport
Week 4 consequence: Misplaced to the Cowboys 37-22
Week 4 rating: 30
Fantasy shock: WR Garrett Wilson
It is no shock that Wilson is the crew’s main receiver, however his numbers are shocking as a result of it was broadly assumed that his manufacturing would dip as a result of Justin Fields‘ inconsistency at quarterback and the crew’s ground-heavy method. Wilson was projected to regress this season (241.4 fantasy factors) in contrast together with his 2024 haul (251.9 fantasy factors). However he is tied for sixth in receptions (33) and seventh in receiving yards (382) whereas catching 4 touchdowns. At this tempo, he’d set profession marks in all three classes. — Wealthy Cimini
