AI-assisted summary
• The College Football Playoff committee announced changes to their selection metrics, emphasizing strength of schedule.
• The new metrics aim to reward wins against strong opponents and penalize losses against weak opponents.

Relax, everyone. The good folks on the College Football Playoff selection committee are on it. 

New metrics, new ideas, new philosophy released Wednesday, Aug. 20, to choose who plays in the college football postseason. 

To this I say: what in the world were they doing all along?

“All of these modifications will help the selection committee as they rank the Top 25 teams,” says CFP executive director Rich Clark.

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Before we go further, with the ghost of John Heisman as my witness, I swear I’m not making this up. 

The CFP committee announced that in the current strength of schedule metric, more weight will be applied to games against strong opponents. Duh, you say. 

Wait, it gets better. 

A new additional metric of “record strength” will help the committee determine how teams performed against their schedule, rewarding those that beat high-quality opponents — while minimizing the penalty of losing to one. 

Yeah, no $%#@, Sherlock, you say.

We’re not done yet.  

The new changes will also – hold onto your striped overalls, Indiana fans – provide minimal reward for beating a lower-quality opponent while imposing a greater penalty for losing to one.

Now I’m gonna puke. 

Again I ask, what in the world has the selection committee been doing since the first playoff in 2014? These are no-brainer metrics, standards that should be engrained in the minds of every college football poll voter in the history of polls. 

From the US LBM Coaches poll, to the AP Poll, to the CFP rankings, the foundational aspect of any ranking system should be weighted heavily on strength of schedule. It doesn’t take quantum physics to understand 9-3 in the SEC is a heavier lift than 11-2 in the ACC.

There should be zero hesitation in negating an 11-win season when the schedule consists of two games against teams with winning records — and one win in those two games.

But here we are, an offseason removed from the CFP selection committee choosing Indiana and SMU over any number of more valuable and worthy teams. And now we know why. 

Because their records looked pretty. 

Those 11 wins sure look shiny, that’s for sure. Not just anyone can run through a schedule of the worst Florida State team in half a century, Stanford, Pittsburgh, Duke, Boston College, Virginia and California. 

To say nothing of a corresponding non-conference schedule of Nevada, Houston Christian, TCU and Brigham Young. Terrifying. Absolutely, terrifying.

Then SMU loses by 28 in the first round of the CFP. 

Not just anyone can beat the worst Michigan team since the halcyon days of Brady Hoke, roll a putrid conference schedule and top it off with a non-conference schedule of Florida International, Western Illinois and Charlotte. 

Then Indiana loses by 10 in the first round of the CFP after Notre Dame got bored and let off the gas.

I don’t know what’s more incredulous: that the CFP committee successfully shoveled Indiana and SMU at us, or that the committee now says they’ve got it figured out with some new and improved metrics they should’ve been weighing heavily all along.

The CFP committee says it has historically evaluated teams this way, and that making it a computerized metric helps simplify the process publicly.

To that, I say: no, you haven’t.

When you sell Indiana and SMU in 2024, you absolutely, positively, haven’t done it this way all along. 

When you drop unbeaten and No.1 Georgia out of the CFP on the last poll of the 2023 season – after a three-point loss in the SEC championship game to No.8 Alabama, and after winning four previous games against ranked teams by an average of 27.5 points – there’s zero chance this has been the unwritten rule all along.

But now they’ve got it figured out. These new metrics will eliminate coaches and athletic directors on the selection committee bending ears about how “tough” it us to win 11 games — no matter the schedule. 

Now they know the difference between pretty and powerful.

So help me, John Heisman.      

Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB.

Penn State head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley was joined at the 2025 ESPYS by her five graduating seniors as she was honored with the Jimmy V Award for perseverance after she battled cancer during the 2024 season. The Nittany Lions ended up finishing the year hoisting their first NCAA national championship since 2014.

‘I was so happy that my entire family was there, the five (graduating) seniors and the coaching staff to just rehash stories of the Final Four and just the season,’ Schumacher-Cawley recalled to USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday, referring to graduates Jess Mruzik, Taylor Trammell, Camryn Hannah, Anjelina Starck and Quinn Menger. ‘When the season ended in December, all the seniors were done and kind of went their own way. So for us to get back together and to enjoy some time, it was so special and it was something that I’ll never forget.’

The 2024 season had a storybook ending. Penn State went 29-2 in the regular season, clinched a share of the Big Ten title for the first time since 2017 and defeated rival Nebraska twice in the same season for the first time in program history, all while navigating Schumacher-Cawley’s breast cancer diagnosis.

It’s now officially time to turn the page on their championship as Penn State prepares to open the 2025 season and start their title defense against Creighton on Saturday.

‘We’re done talking about last year’s team,’ Schumacher-Cawley said. ‘Every semester is a new team and a new season. We’ll take the lessons we’ve learned and move forward with this group and let them find their identity.’

Penn State will look a little different this year after losing five seniors, including Mruzik, the 2024 Most Outstanding Player of the 2024 NCAA tournament, who you simply ‘can’t replace,’ Schumacher-Cawley said. That may explain why the defending champion Nittany Lions are ranked No. 2 in the preseason AVCA Coaches Poll behind Big Ten foe Nebraska.

But if you ask Penn State, they ‘don’t necessarily care.’

‘The rankings are for the fans and it gives everyone something to talk about,’ Schumacher-Cawley said. ‘We don’t really talk about the awards and we don’t talk about the preseason rankings. ‘With our players we just stress getting better every day in the gym. … Every week is a different challenge and it’s just how you attack it.’

New leaders emerge after seniors graduate

Schumacher-Cawley said the team will rely on returning players like senior libero Gillian Grimes and senior middle blocker Jordan Hopp to take on leadership in the locker room.

‘I try to empower every single player to be a leader in their own way, in their own voice,’ Schumacher-Cawley said. ‘It’s the players that were on the team last year that got a taste of what it took to win a Big Ten (title), be at a Final Four and win a championship.

‘They’ve taken the responsibility to help the new players and the younger ones on how we do things here and what’s helped us be successful.’

Grimes is one of three Nittany Lions named to the preseason All-Big Ten Team, in addition to sophomore setter Izzy Starck, the AVCA National Freshman of the Year last season, and junior outside hitter Kennedy Martin. 

‘I couldn’t be on that list without my teammates and without my coaches, so I’m really happy for that,’ Grimes said at the Big Ten media day last month, highlighting a team-first philosophy that pulses through Penn State.

The ring features two pink diamonds in honor of Schumacher-Cawley’s battle with breast cancer. She announced she was cancer-free in February.

Penn State reloads through transfer portal

Penn State landed All-American Kennedy Martin in the transfer portal, who Schumacher-Cawley said ‘just fits in’ with the team’s culture. Martin led the nation in points per set (6.28) and was second in kills per set (5.57) last season during her sophomore campaign at Florida.

‘(Kennedy) brings a high level of play, but she is so fun to be around and she is such a great teammate,’ Schumacher-Cawley said. ‘I’m excited to see her wear the blue and white and see her compete this weekend for us. And I think she just brings a level of confidence to the group and she’s going to help everyone be better.’

The Nittany Lions also added Saint Louis setter Addie Lyon and Ohio State outside hitter Emmi Sellman, who Schumacher-Cawley said ‘almost single handedly beat us last year when she was at Ohio State.’

‘There’s always been pressure for us’

Penn State women’s volleyball is used to having a bullseye on their back. The Nittany Lions have won eight national championships, the second-most of any school behind Stanford (9), including a historic four-peat from 2007 to 2010.

‘There’s always just been pressure for us,’ Starck said. ‘Coming into this season, it’s just the same mindset we always have of how we work hard with each other and how we push each other. I definitely think winning the national championship last year helps us, because we know what it takes and we know how to help the new players.’

The Nittany Lions have a tough schedule and will have to go through Nebraska twice (Oct. 3 and Nov. 28) during the regular season, in addition to facing at least 15 other teams that made it to the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The spotlight will be even brighter as Penn State will have 16 nationally televised matchups across FOX, BTN, and FS1, up from 12 nationally broadcast regular-season games last year.

‘You have to play great competition to prepare for the Big 10 Conference,’ Schumacher-Cawley said. ‘Being in these opening tournaments will set the tone and show us what we need to do and how we need to be better… the end goal is to be great in November and December.’

Penn State opens the season against Creighton on Saturday at the AVCA First Serve Showcase at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska. The matchup will be broadcast on FS1 Network at 5 p.m. ET.

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are taking a major step toward bringing back wide receiver Chris Godwin, who has remained off of the field since Week 7 last year.

Tampa Bay will soon activate Godwin from the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, allowing him to ‘begin his ramp-up process for games.’

The Bucs’ star wideout likely won’t return to game action until October, Schefter reported, but he is expected to start practicing during Week 2 of the regular season.

Godwin missed the final 11 weeks of the 2024 season after dislocating his ankle in the final minutes of a Week 7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens last year. He had been on pace for one of the best years of his career prior to the injury with a league-leading 50 catches to go with 576 receiving yards (second-most) and five touchdowns (third-most).

Godwin re-signed with the Buccaneers on a three-year, $66 million one day before he would have officially hit free agency.

Defense may win championships in real life, but that’s rarely true in fantasy football. More likely, it’s nothing more than a thorn in your side.

However, if you happen to be someone who celebrates tradition and enjoys the defensive mayhem that can occur on a football field, we’re here for you. And there’s ample evidence that picking the right defense/special teams for your fantasy squad can certainly help win a title.

In 2024, the top-scoring defense in fantasy football – the Denver Broncos – would’ve been a top-25 wide receiver in half-PPR formats.. 

Defensive success can be hard to predict year-over-year. No D/ST in Fantasy Pros data dating back to 2002 has repeated as the top-scoring team. Will that remain the case in 2025?

Here’s a look at USA TODAY’s preseason fantasy D/ST rankings.

2025 POSITION RANKINGS: QB | RB | WR | TE | K | D/ST | Overall

2025 fantasy football D/ST rankings

1.Denver Broncos

• 2024 stats: 63 sacks, 15 interceptions, nine fumble recoveries, five touchdowns, two safeties | 179 fantasy points (1st)

Despite a difficult division and a middle-of-the-road schedule, the Broncos maintain their hold on the top spot until proven otherwise. They were fantasy’s best unit in 2024 and added talent in the offseason. With the Titans and Colts on tap to start the season, Denver can get out to a hot start. Couple that with a favorable schedule for the fantasy playoffs, including two matchups at home, and there is recipe for success.

2. Houston Texans

• 2024 stats: 49 sacks, 19 interceptions, nine fumble recoveries, three touchdowns, one safety | 139 fantasy points (5th)

The Texans benefit from playing in a division that will feature a rookie quarterback in Tennessee and a situation in Indianapolis that will have defensive coordinators salivating. An aggressive DeMeco Ryans defense should only make life more difficult, especially after adding C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the fold. They can challenge for the best fantasy D/ST of 2025.

3. Philadelphia Eagles

• 2024 stats: 41 sacks, 13 interceptions, 13 fumble recoveries, one touchdown | 132 fantasy points (T7th)

Philly lost Milton Williams, Josh Sweat and Darius Slay, but is littered with talent across the board. After a dominant Super Bowl performance, there is more than enough here to continue their strong play.

4. Baltimore Ravens

• 2024 stats: 54 sacks, 12 interceptions, five fumble recoveries, two touchdowns | 118 fantasy points (11th)

The Ravens are the fast food of the fantasy D/ST realm. It’s consistent and you know exactly what you’re getting. Sometimes they’re better than expected, but it’s never bad enough to prevent you from coming back. That counts for something.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers

• 2024 stats: 40 sacks, 17 interceptions, 16 fumble recoveries, two touchdowns | 140 fantasy points (4th)

Another fantasy staple, Pittsburgh has gone all-in for 2025. T.J. Watt’s contract dispute ended before it became an issue and the secondary got an upgrade in Jalen Ramsey. Coming off another top-five finish in 2024, this remains one of the more consistent units to trust in fantasy.

6. Minnesota Vikings

• 2024 stats: 49 sacks, 19 interceptions, nine fumble recoveries, three touchdowns, one safety | 139 fantasy points (2nd)

Brian Flores runs an aggressive defense, but J.J. McCarthy being an unknown could put this unit in some tough spots this season. Some key departures mean they’re likely to take a step back, but not by much. Still, this isn’t a D/ST for the risk averse.

7. Buffalo Bills

• 2024 stats: 39 sacks, 16 interceptions, 16 fumble recoveries, three touchdowns | 133 fantasy points (6th)

The Bills are favored in every game of the 2025 season, meaning they should have plenty of positive game scripts to work with. After forcing 32 turnovers last season, there is no reason to believe a repeat isn’t in store, especially since the Bills are no stranger to repeating history.

8. Seattle Seahawks

• 2024 stats: 45 sacks, 13 interceptions, five fumble recoveries, five touchdowns, one safety | 132 fantasy points (T7th)

This team is almost unrecognizable, resembling a group thrown together by the computer in the fifth season of a Madden franchise mode. Yet that is more on the offensive side of the ball as Mike Macdonald’s team finished as DST7 in 2024. Having added even more pieces this offseason, things are looking up on young Macdonald’s farm.

9. New York Jets

• 2024 stats: 43 sacks, seven interceptions, 10 fumble recoveries, one touchdown | 93 fantasy points (19th)

The Jets defense took a step back in 2024, but should benefit from the return of Jermaine Johnson and the addition of Aaron Glenn as head coach. With a team that projects to run the ball and control the clock, their defense should be on the field a lot less in 2025 – creating an all-around more effective unit, even with the question mark that is their offense.

10. Detroit Lions

• 2024 stats: 37 sacks, 16 interceptions, eight fumble recoveries, two touchdowns | 123 fantasy points (10th)

Despite a lengthy list of injuries in 2024, the Lions still managed a DST10 finish to the season. With new coordinators on both sides of the ball, however, there are some concerns. The reinforcements on the way, especially the return of Aidan Hutchinson, should make the transition smoother though.

• Cameron Turner, Colts quarterback coach, was asked whether the coaching staff failed Anthony Richardson or vice versa.
• ‘I just think, right now, the consistency is not where we wanted it to be,’ Turner said.
• Daniel Jones has been named the Colts’ starting quarterback.

Was Anthony Richardson just consistently inconsistent? According to one Indianapolis Colts coach, that might have been the case.

With the former No. 4 overall selection being passed up on the Colts QB1 job in favor of Daniel Jones, Cameron Turner, Colts quarterback coach, was asked whether the coaching staff failed Richardson or vice versa.

‘I feel like I’ve tried everything I can do and I feel like he’s giving great effort in that aspect, too,’ Turner said. ‘I don’t think either way, one or the other. I just think, right now, the consistency is not where we wanted it to be.’

Turner’s comments add a bit more context surrounding head coach Shane Steichen’s explanation regarding the benching. Steichen referenced Jones’ 2022 season with the Giants – which resulted in a wild-card round playoff victory over the Minnesota Vikings – as a reason the passer has showcased enough talent to warrant another shot at a starting gig.

Jones hasn’t quite had the same success since that playoff victory, throwing 10 touchdowns to 13 interceptions in the two seasons (16 games) since, resulting in his 2024 release from the New York Giants, and later, his signing with the Vikings.

Jones signed a one-year, $14 million contract with the Colts during free agency. That number potentially indicated a quarterback competition with Richardson for Indy’s starting job. As it turns out, the competition may not have been much of one at all.

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• “MVP: The Mo Vaughn Podcast,” begins Aug. 21, and there are fresh episodes every Thursday at 5 a.m. ET on podcast formats.
• Vaughn chats this week with fellow former Red Sox star David Ortiz.
• Episodes will debut Thursdays on Vaughn’s YouTube channel at noon and air at 8 p.m. ET on PerfectGame.TV and on the PGTV app.

Mo Vaughn was nothing short of formidable as a hitter during the prime of his 12-year major league career.

Today, he admits, he’s a little nervous.

“Every time I’ve had a mic in front of my face, what are we doing? We’re deflecting, we’re trying not to say too much,” says Vaughn, the former AL MVP who hit .293 and averaged 35 home runs per 162 games. “We gotta be cognizant of so-called not creating headlines and things like that.

“Now I got the podcast in front of me and we’re talking trash.”

“MVP: The Mo Vaughn Podcast,” his new weekly show presented by Perfect Game, premieres Aug. 21. He chats this week with fellow former Red Sox luminary David Ortiz, who has become a baseball media personality as well.

How can you watch Mo Vaughn’s podcast and who are the guests?

There will be fresh episodes every Thursday at 5 a.m. ET on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Play and other podcast platforms. Episodes will debut Thursdays on Vaughn’s YouTube channel at noon and air at 8 p.m. ET on PerfectGame.TV and on the PGTV app.

Vaughn, 57, was disenchanted with baseball until he began coaching his son, Lee, now 13, and has thrown himself back into the game. He says he’ll be delivering candid baseball conversations from the youth level to the big leagues.

‘I know how it feels to struggle’: Why Mo Vaughn coaches kids

Upcoming guests after Ortiz include former major league All-Stars Rafael Palmeiro and Nomar Garciaparra and former MLB commissioner Bud Selig.

“This has been such a great time talking to them, guys I played with, guys I played against, guys that came into Boston and did great things and won championships,” Vaughn tells USA TODAY Sports. “I talked to my friend Rafael Palmeiro, who I know was feeling a certain way after he left the game. I got a chance to let them know that, no matter what was said, who cares? We were all baseball guys, and I’m here to amplify the good things that you are. And I think that’s what I enjoy.”

What does Mo Vaughn discuss on his podcasts?

Vaughn launched his Vaughn Sports Academy in 2017 in Boca Raton, Florida, and coaches baseball at a local high school. He also works with young players from around the country through Perfect Game, the elite baseball and softball scouting service for which he is an adviser.

“I got Nomar Garciaparra, a kid I raised in the game, and I get to talk to him about certain things,’ he says. ‘That’s where it’s all about for me but I was nervous, like I didn’t know how it was gonna go, but, man, almost like therapy, this podcast has been, because when I start talking to ’em, my thing is I want to amplify them, what they are, how good they were, and let people know exactly why they were good. There’s a game inside the numbers that I know because I was a player.

“I go in there, I hit different things and bring up their stats and I’m looking at it and I’m going, this is pretty good. Now I know why people want to be journalists and reporters now because they get to look at these things and create these stories. I get it. I’m doing the same thing on a smaller level.”

Ortiz and Vaughn never played together in Boston, though their big league careers overlapped by a number of years in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

“Big Mo, man, he was one my biggest guys I want to watch and learn from,” Ortiz says to Vaughn on the podcast, which was shared with USA TODAY Sports before its release. “In our days I always had questions for him and he always had answers for me.”

Such as about hitting the ball toward Fenway Park’s left field wall.

“The Green Monster,” Ortiz says, “after many conversations with you, I can understand the importance of driving the ball that way. It was like a way out for us, to be honest with you.”

The two take a relatively unfiltered look at the majors past and present. Ortiz opines on Aaron Judge (“A lot of people are gonna hate what I’m gonna say right now but Aaron Judge is one of my favorite players because he is that good”) and how Rafael Devers helped get himself traded out of Boston to the San Francisco Giants in June. (“As a superstar, when they let ’em get away with this, they let ’em get away with that … you begin to engage yourself toward something that at some point became unstoppable.”)

Of umpires, Ortiz says: “I had a great relationship with umpires but we all got that one moment that you lose it. The way I prepared to play every game, it was different. I got to the field by noon to play a 7 p.m. game. The umpire get to the field an hour before the game. … You don’t know what I was doing those six hours before the game. … That’s all I do, hit. And you’re not gonna take it away from me. I’m not donating at-bats.”

What does Mo Vaughn want to ask Bud Selig?

Vaughn, who co-hosts the podcast with ESPN Radio personality Brendan Tobin, has had lots of time to reflect on his tenure in the majors, which ended rather abruptly in 2003 after he dealt with a wave of injuries.

“Bud Selig was an owner,” Vaughn said in our interview earlier this month. “He took his Milwaukee Brewers to the World Series in ’82. I want to ask him, ‘Commissioner, you went to the World Series. I’m sure you guys stole bases. I’m sure you guys bunted with a man on first and second with no outs when you needed a run. I’m sure you got the guy over from second to third with no outs. What do you think the state of the game is right now?’ Because he has to know … they got a little market team in Milwaukee, I think they’re kind of playing the game the way the old guys played the game.

“You’re spending all this money in the Northeast in these big markets, and we can’t get a bunt down, turn a double play, hit behind the runner. Well, we got a great example in Milwaukee doing all those things. I think it’s gonna show for itself and I hope it gets back to corner guys hit home runs, your center fielder can run it down, your two middle guys can play defense, make the routine plays, and the catchers gotta get back up on their feet and start defending and blocking and doing what they gotta do. I hope it gets back to that because that’s when the game was great.”

Will Vaughn talk about PEDs in the podcast?

Vaughn didn’t address performance enhancing drugs in the podcast with Ortiz, who was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2022. Ortiz tested positive for a banned substance during anonymous survey drug testing in 2003, a result commissioner Rob Manfred later questioned.

Palmeiro, 60, who topped 3,000 hits and 500 homers during his 20-year major league career that ran from 1986 to 2005. That final year, testifying before Congress, he said, ‘I have never used steroids. Period.’

Later that season, MLB announced Palmeiro had violated the league’s joint drug program and would be suspended for 10 games. He was soon out of the majors.

He acknowledged that he had tested positive for the anabolic steroid stanozolol, according to former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell’s report on performance-enhancing drug use in baseball, which was released in 2007.

 “I didn’t do anything intentional to enhance myself,” Palmeiro told SI.com in 2022. “I had no reason to cheat.

“[The test] killed my career. It killed my personal life. It killed my friendships. It killed my opportunity to make money. It’s been tough.”

Vaughn said this year he injected his knee with human growth hormone near the end of his career.

“I would do anything to get back on the field,” he told USA TODAY Sports. “I don’t even consider it really anything factual that it’s a testament to what I did in the game, do for the game and in the game. It’s just a part of time, in my opinion.”

Vaughn and Palmeiro have both fallen off the Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballot after receiving less than 5% of the vote.

Sly Jake Paul.

He’s often barking or shouting or agitating. But on Wednesday, Aug. 20, subtlety appeared to be part of his repertoire.

In a post on X announcing his fight with Gervonta “Tank” Davis, a 5-5 ½ lightweight, Paul wrote, “First, I am going to kill David, then I will go on to slaughter Goliath.’’

 OK, so that language wasn’t exactly subtle. But later, Paul posted, “First David, then Goliath.’’

First David, then Goliath. Meaning, first Davis, then Anthony Joshua?

Davis, who last fought at 135 pounds, will be playing the role of David against the 6-1, 200-pound Paul.

And the 6-6 Joshua clearly would be playing the role of Goliath.

Paul’s business partner, Nakisa Bidarian, told ESPN the potential fight between Paul and Joshua is still on the table.

‘Jake is looking at it like he wants to show the world that he’s going to fight David and then he plans to take on Goliath,’ Bidarian said.

Earlier this month, Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, said Paul is the frontrunner to be Joshua’s next opponent and the fight would likely take place in the first quarter of 2026.

Paige Bueckers continues to impress during her rookie season with the Dallas Wings, adding the highest-scoring game of the year to her resume.

According to the WNBA, Bueckers also set the single-game rookie scoring record with a 44-point performance against the Los Angeles Sparks in an 81-80 loss Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena.

(Cynthia Cooper of the Houston Comets scored 44 points back in 1997 against the Sacramento Monarchs during the league’s first season, but that total is not considered the rookie record, per ESPN’s Alexa Philippou.)

Bueckers also became the first player in the league’s history with 40-plus points on 80%-plus field goal shooting.

She shot 81% from the field and produced four rebounds and three assists in 36 minutes of play as the Wings fell to 9-27 on the season thanks to Kelsey Plum’s last-second shot.

Bueckers was named an All-Star earlier this year and entered Wednesday averaging 18.8 points, 5.4 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game in 28 games started.

Paige Bueckers stats tonight vs. Sparks

• Points: 44
• FG: 17-for-21
• Rebounds: 4
• Assists: 3
• Steals: 1
• Blocks: 0
• Turnovers: 3
• Fouls: 3
• Minutes: 36

Paige Bueckers, Wings vs. Sparks highlights

When does Paige Bueckers play next?

The Dallas Wings host the Seattle Storm on Friday, Aug. 22, at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas.

Maximizing value is the name of the game in fantasy football. Finding edges in the draft can pay off immensely during the regular season and into the playoffs.

Identifying mid- to late-round value picks isn’t easy. Every new season provides a fresh batch of potential sleeper picks that could take your season from avoiding a last-place punishment to contending for championship glory.

Last year saw a lot of value from the wide receiver position. Rookies Brian Thomas Jr., Malik Nabers and Ladd McConkey were some of the best players at their positions in fantasy football. Others, such as Terry McLaurin, saw a new quarterback or coordinator provide a boost.

This year could see more of that improvement thanks to environmental changes for wide receivers and other positions alike. A quarterback with a new play-caller, a running back with an improved offensive line or more touches, or a tight end with a new quarterback or system could see a big jump in production compared to what’s expected.

But it’s not just those positions where you can find sleepers. It’s all over your lineup. We’ve chosen at least two sleepers at every position in 2025. With the exception of tight end (arguably the thinnest position in fantasy football), all of these sleeper candidates are 15th or lower at their position by average draft position (ADP) so you can truly find value outside of the first four rounds.

Top fantasy football QB sleepers

C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans

• FantasyPros ADP: QB18, OVR130

Stroud struggled in Year 2 after setting high expectations from his rookie season. There’s a change in play-caller with Nick Caley coming over from the Los Angeles Rams, and an influx of talent in the receiving corps with Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel and Christian Kirk. Even a small improvement in structure could make him a high-end QB2 — much better than his current ADP.

Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

• FantasyPros ADP: QB22, OVR144

Just like Stroud, Lawrence has a new play-caller on offense with the arrival of head coach Liam Coen. He also will have some improvements on the offensive line as well as a new weapon in the passing game in Travis Hunter. Brian Thomas Jr. was a standout wideout as a rookie and this environment should see Lawrence outplay his status as a low-end QB2.

Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons

• FantasyPros ADP: QB24, OVR158

Penix is a risky choice given his inexperience but that makes him an even better sleeper. If you project his three starts from last year over the entire season, he’d have finished ahead of Stroud and Matthew Stafford. He has proven weapons on offense in Drake London and Bijan Robinson and a solid offensive line. He could make this ranking look silly come December.

Top fantasy football RB sleepers

Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks

• FantasyPros ADP: RB17, OVR44

Walker III has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career and that’s depressed his value this season. Klint Kubiak’s arrival in Seattle as offensive coordinator is great news for Walker as more outside zone concepts could unlock him even more. His ADP paints him as a solid RB2. If he can stay healthy, there’s a chance he’s a top-10 RB by the end of the season.

TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots

• FantasyPros ADP: RB23, OVR56

Henderson’s ADP shot up recently after he took a kickoff the distance for a touchdown in the preseason opener. That kind of electric play is going to get plenty of attention from fantasy managers, and for good reason. He’s the most dynamic player in the Patriots offense and that will matter for second-year quarterback Drake Maye and company. The opportunity is there for him to capitalize.

Jordan Mason, Minnesota Vikings

• FantasyPros ADP: RB34, OVR94

Reports out of Vikings camp is that Minnesota coach Kevin O’Connell is running more of an even split in the backfield than in prior years. The Vikings gave up draft value to get Mason, showing how much they value his skillset. Minnesota’s offensive line could take a step in 2025 and the team might lean on the running game as J.J. McCarthy gets his footing. That’s enough opportunity for Mason to get touches alongside Aaron Jones Sr., who is entering his age-31 season.

Braelon Allen, New York Jets

• FantasyPros ADP: RB54, OVR154

New York wants to run the ball more in Year 1 under coach Aaron Glenn and offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand. The offensive line should be better than in 2024 and already looks in training camp to be better in run blocking than pass blocking situations. Allen’s had a solid share of the touches out of the backfield with Breece Hall, and the team appears heading to a committee approach this season.

Top fantasy football WR sleepers

Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals

• FantasyPros ADP: WR19, OVR43

Harrison was one of the most anticipated rookie wide receivers in years last season. If not for fellow draftees Brian Thomas Jr., Ladd McConkey and Malik Nabers shining in Year 1, we likely would have a rosier view of Harrison’s first season. He’s a prime post-hype sleeper candidate; the production and high hopes for the son of a Hall of Famer could bear out with another offseason to develop.

Calvin Ridley, Tennessee Titans

• FantasyPros ADP: WR30, OVR72

Tennessee’s quarterback situation is one of the most improved league-wide from 2024. No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward will almost certainly be a better starter than Will Levis and that’ll be to Ridley’s benefit. Free-agent additions Tyler Lockett and Van Jefferson aren’t game-changers, but they should open things up for Ridley to produce better than he did a year ago.

Ricky Pearsall, San Francisco 49ers

• FantasyPros ADP: WR44, OVR96

Pearsall’s late-season production in 2024 might be a sign of things to come. He and quarterback Brock Purdy have established a great connection in training camp and the opportunity is there for the second-year wideout to produce. Brandon Aiyuk likely will miss the first month of the season and Jauan Jennings is in the midst of a contract dispute. Pearsall could make the most of it and far outplay his low-end WR4 status in drafts.

Keon Coleman, Buffalo Bills

• FantasyPros ADP: WR51, OVR133

Coleman’s been candid about his struggles as a rookie and what he needs to improve going into Year 2. Luckily, he has one of the best quarterbacks in the league to throw him the ball and a well-established wideout alongside in Khalil Shakir. Coleman might have a capped ceiling given Shakir’s presence and the Bills’ potent running game but there’s every chance he could take a step in Year 2 and be much more than a WR5.

Top fantasy football TE sleepers

Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers

• FantasyPros ADP: TE10, OVR104

Kraft finished as TE8 in half-PPR leagues last season on just 50 receptions, the second-fewest of any tight end in the top 15. Only Kyle Pitts (47, TE15) had fewer. There are a lot of mouths to feed in the Packers offense, but that didn’t faze Kraft last season. First-round pick Matthew Golden’s arrival shouldn’t impact him as much as it will the other wide receivers.

Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars

• FantasyPros ADP: TE22, OVR187

Strange is a deep sleeper but could pay off. Like we said about Lawrence, Coen’s arrival should facilitate the Jaguars offense taking at least a small step forward in 2025. With Christian Kirk and Evan Engram out of the building, it’s unclear who will be the No. 2 target in the Jaguars passing game. Strange could take advantage; Coen made Cade Otton the top target in Tampa Bay for some stretches last season.

Top fantasy football K sleepers

Tyler Loop, Baltimore Ravens

• FantasyPros ADP: K15, OVR276

This one is pretty straightforward. The Ravens had a top-three scoring offense in 2024 and keep their coordinator and MVP runner-up quarterback as well as most of the starting players. There’s little reason to think they’ll slow down. They’re playing a first-place schedule against many of the top powers in both conferences so they’ll need all of the points they can get. It’s a bit risky going with a rookie kicker but Loop could pay off.

Daniel Carlson, Las Vegas Raiders

• FantasyPros ADP: K18, OVR313

Carlson finished as K10 in leagues last season and that was with the 29th-ranked scoring offense. Las Vegas invested heavily in offense this offseason and will have a huge upgrade at both quarterback and running back in 2025. This offense should be able to move the ball better throughout the season, giving Carlson more chances to score.

Top fantasy football D/ST sleepers

Seattle Seahawks

• FantasyPros ADP: D/ST13, OVR249

The Baltimore Ravens defense took a huge step forward in 2023 to become the top unit in the league under Mike Macdonald. This season marks Macdonald’s second in Seattle and the defense could take a step as well.

Seattle very likely could end the year as a top-10 defense in both fantasy and on the field. The Seahawks face the AFC South and NFC South teams outside of their divisional matchups, and those don’t feature many high-powered offenses. There might not be many flashy names in this defense but there aren’t many glaring holes either. That talent group plus Macdonald’s play-calling could see them vastly outperform this draft slot.

Chicago Bears

• FantasyPros ADP: D/ST16, OVR291

Chicago brought in longtime New Orleans Saints head coach and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen to run the defense under first-year head coach Ben Johnson. Allen’s defenses were always reliable in New Orleans; the Saints were a top-15 scoring defense from 2017 to 2023 with Allen at the helm. They dropped off in 2024 as he was fired mid-season.

The Bears play in one of the toughest divisions in football, but both the Vikings and Lions have questions on offense entering 2025 due to a first-year quarterback and new coordinator, respectively. Outside of divisional games, Chicago will face the AFC North and NFC East as well as the Browns, 49ers and Raiders. It wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to see the Bears finish as a top-12 D/ST with that schedule.