Not who we thought they were: Five nice surprises and three early-season letdowns

Remember your apical fantasy football targets this summer? I do. Players with precocious ceilings. The upside guys with breakout potential. We each had those. Then determination were the rookies with the productive assemblage portion and pro-ready traits. Potential stars successful the league. And let's not hide astir the bounce-back candidates. Put them connected the list, too.

We had each the answers.

Three weeks into the NFL season, however, immoderate of those targets, the guys we pounded the array for, person been full busts.

But determination are besides players who didn't find their mode onto the phantasy radar successful July and August. Forgotten names. Yet, they are the ones producing play numbers and moving their mode into phantasy lineups, due to the fact that we can't disregard their usage and production.

Below are 8 players who person amazed america -- some positively and negatively -- aboriginal successful the 2025 season. I privation to commencement with a rookie moving backmost who is playing a tone-setting role, with an accidental successful beforehand of him that should pb to much production.

Pleasant surprises

Cam Skattebo, RB, New York Giants

Skattebo's usage has accrued implicit his past 2 games, and helium conscionable dropped 24.1 points connected the Chiefs this past Sunday night. With Tyrone Tracy Jr. retired 2 to 4 weeks with a enarthrosis injury, it's clip to tally with Skattebo successful the lineup.

Look, this feline invites contact. He's a solid eater with the shot successful his hands. Skattebo is averaging 5.0 yards per transportation successful the past 2 games, with a touchdown tally successful each, positive helium gives you a dual-threat element. He caught six of 8 targets for 61 yards against the Chiefs, which is what we expected based disconnected his assemblage portion astatine Arizona State. While Devin Singletary volition besides get touches successful the Giants backfield successful Tracy's absence, Skattebo is the subordinate I privation successful the flex spot, starting Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Quentin Johnston, WR, Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers are utilizing Johnston's deep-ball quality and agelong speed. The third-year wideout is averaging 18.6 PPG and has seen astatine slightest 7 targets successful each game, scoring 1 oregon much touchdowns successful 2 of them. Of Johnston's 14 receptions this season, 5 person gone for 20 oregon much yards.

Can Johnston proceed to spot measurement here? Sure, due to the fact that helium plays a circumstantial relation successful the Chargers' way tree, averaging 17.1 yards per drawback portion giving backmost Justin Herbert and this discourtesy a vertical constituent astatine the 3rd level of the field. Plus, Johnston tin get rolling aft the drawback connected underneath throws.

If you drafted Ladd McConkey (like I did), past I get the vexation here, arsenic helium is providing lone 10.4 PPG. But with Johnston's uptick successful volume, positive the beingness of seasoned Keenan Allen, Herbert has 3 viable targets. And that makes this discourtesy go.

Daniel Jones, QB, Read Entire Article