You’ve probably been there. It’s a Tuesday morning, you’re staring at the waiver wire or a trade offer, and your gut is telling you one thing while the "expert" consensus tells you another. Honestly, fantasy football isn't about following a script anymore. The 2025 season proved that the old guard is changing faster than we thought.
If you drafted based on 2023 or 2024 name recognition, you likely got burned. The top fantasy players by position in 2025 weren't just the guys with the biggest contracts; they were the ones in systems that finally realized how to use them.
The Quarterback Revolution: Beyond Just Rushing
For years, the "cheat code" was simple: draft a guy who runs. While that still helps, 2025 showed us that elite passing efficiency is making a massive comeback in the scoring columns.
Josh Allen remained the king, finishing as the overall QB1 again. He’s basically a glitch in the system. With nearly 400 passing yards and four total touchdowns in single games throughout the season, his floor is higher than most players' ceilings. But the real story was Trevor Lawrence. Under Liam Coen's new offensive scheme in Jacksonville, Lawrence skyrocketed to the QB4 spot. He posted a career-high 84.3 PFF passing grade by attacking the middle of the field instead of being forced into those stale perimeter concepts we saw in previous years.
Then you have the rookies and "sophomores" who broke the scale. Drake Maye in New England and Caleb Williams in Chicago both finished inside the top 10. If you waited on a QB and grabbed one of them late, you basically stole a playoff spot.
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- Josh Allen (BUF): The undisputed Tier 1.
- Trevor Lawrence (JAX): The breakout star of 2025 who is now a locked-in top-5 pick for 2026.
- Drake Maye (NE): Proved that a bad roster doesn't matter if the talent is generational.
- Jalen Hurts (PHI): Still the goal-line vulture we love, but the passing volume is a bit shaky.
Running Backs: The Workhorse Isn't Dead, It Just Looks Different
Everyone said the bell-cow back was extinct. They were wrong. They just forgot that a bell-cow now has to catch 60 passes to stay relevant.
Christian McCaffrey (CMC) somehow defied the age cliff at 29, leading all RBs in total points with over 400. He had 413 total touches. That is a terrifying number for 2026 owners, but in 2025, he was the only reason some people stayed competitive. Behind him, the youth movement took over. Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs both finished as top-three backs. Robinson finally got the red-zone usage we’ve been screaming for since he was drafted.
The biggest surprise? De’Von Achane in Miami. Even with the Dolphins' offense looking completely dysfunctional at times, Achane was a top-5 producer. He’s a "boom-or-bust" player who just happened to "boom" almost every single week he was healthy.
2025 Top RB Finishes (PPR)
- Christian McCaffrey (SF): 25.3 points per game. Just absurd.
- Bijan Robinson (ATL): Finally used like the superstar he is.
- Jahmyr Gibbs (DET): The lightning to David Montgomery's fading thunder.
- Jonathan Taylor (IND): Reminded everyone why he was a 1.01 pick a few years ago.
- De’Von Achane (MIA): Proof that efficiency beats volume every time.
Wide Receivers: The Year of the "New Big Three"
If you’re still drafting receivers based on who was good in 2021, you're losing. The hierarchy has shifted.
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Puka Nacua wasn't a fluke. He finished 2025 as the WR1, averaging over 23 PPR points per game. He is the engine of that Rams offense now. But the real "I told you so" moment belongs to Jaxon Smith-Njigba. JSN had a historic season in Seattle, racking up 1,793 receiving yards. He led the league in yards and proved that he’s the clear successor to the elite WR tier.
Ja’Marr Chase stayed consistent as the WR3, but the gap between him and the field is shrinking. We also saw Amon-Ra St. Brown continue to be the most reliable floor play in the game. He almost hit the 300-point mark again.
"JSN's 359.9 total points were the second-most fantasy points ever scored in a season by any Seahawks player, trailing only Shaun Alexander's MVP year." — Seattle Seahawks Team Report
It’s also worth noting who fell off. Justin Jefferson struggled with inconsistent QB play in Minnesota, and CeeDee Lamb saw his ceiling capped a bit by the emergence of George Pickens in Dallas. Yeah, Pickens in Dallas—that trade changed the landscape of the NFC East and fantasy rosters alike.
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Tight Ends: A Top-Heavy Mess
Tight end is still a headache, but at least we have a new king. Trey McBride was the TE1 in 2025, and it wasn't particularly close. He averaged 18.9 PPR points per game, which is basically WR1 production from a TE slot.
George Kittle and the rookie Brock Bowers followed him, but the old guard—Travis Kelce and Mark Andrews—finally started to show their age. Kelce is still a "startable" asset, but he’s no longer the game-wrecker who wins you leagues single-handedly.
Tight End Tiers
- The Elite: Trey McBride (ARI).
- The Reliable: George Kittle (SF), Brock Bowers (LV), Sam LaPorta (DET).
- The "Streamers": Juwan Johnson (NO), Dalton Kincaid (BUF).
Why These Top Fantasy Players by Position Matter for 2026
Drafting for the next season isn't about looking at the total points from last year. It’s about looking at the why.
For example, Trevor Lawrence didn't just get lucky; the Jaguars changed their entire passing philosophy to suit him. Jaxon Smith-Njigba didn't just catch more balls; he became the primary read over DK Metcalf. These are structural changes that carry over.
When you look at the top fantasy players by position, notice the common thread: Target Share and Offensive Environment. Next Steps for Your 2026 Draft Prep:
- Evaluate Coaching Changes: Look at where Liam Coen or similar offensive minds end up. System matters more than raw talent in 70% of cases.
- Age Matters Again: CMC's 413 touches are a massive red flag. Look at Ashton Jeanty (Raiders) or Chase Brown (Bengals) as high-upside younger alternatives who could leap into the top 5.
- Ignore the "Name" Value: If a veteran like Davante Adams moves to a new team (like the Rams), don't assume he's still a WR1. Youth and volume are the current currency of winning leagues.
- Monitor the Rookie QB Landing Spots: If a rookie like Fernando Mendoza lands in a spot with elite weapons (like the Raiders or Giants), they could be the 2026 version of Drake Maye.
The 2025 season was a wake-up call. The players who dominated weren't necessarily the ones with the most hype in August, but the ones who were positioned to succeed in modern, middle-of-the-field passing attacks. Keep your eyes on the volume, not just the highlights.