In today's Fantasy Life Newsletter, presented by The Rundown AI:

Where should Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy go in 2025 fantasy drafts?

It’s a question I’ve been thinking about today after he exploded in the Super Bowl for 2 TDs and 157 yards—the most by a rookie in NFL history.

His performance was naturally overshadowed by the Eagles upset victory, but it will not be forgotten by fantasy players.

Since Week 15, Worthy has had one game with less than 16 fantasy points.

He’s the fastest player in the league, one of the youngest players in the league (still only 21 years old), and remains tethered to Patrick Mahomes.

To answer the opening question—I’m not sure there is a price I’d balk at.

He’s currently the WR20 in early 2025 fantasy drafts with an early fourth-round ADP (38.9)—a price that will surely rise over the coming days.

The biggest wrinkle in forecasting an omega bullish outlook for him is the return of Rashee Rice, but I think that might be a fake sharp concern.

With Travis Kelce teetering on the verge of irrelevance (don’t @ me Swifties), there is plenty of room for both Rice and Worthy to play big roles in this offense.

For reference, Ladd McConkey is currently going in the late-second of drafts. I wouldn’t laugh at anyone who chases Worthy as high up as the early third.

Regardless, the price of the brick is going up.

Learn AI in 5 Minutes a Day

This is the easiest way for a busy person wanting to learn AI in as little time as possible:

Sign up for The Rundown AI newsletter

They send you 5-minute email updates on the latest AI news and how to use it

You learn how to become 2x more productive by leveraging AI

Sign up to start learning.

Is Cam Ward The Answer To The Giants’ Problems?

The offseason, at long last, has arrived. In Thor Nystrom’s first post-Super Bowl 2025 NFL mock draft – our first with the Round 1 order set in stone – we’re going to play things straight: no trades.

We’re also going to make a pair of situational assumptions in advance: QB Sam Darnold heads to the Raiders in free agency, and Kirk Cousins, via a post-June 1 release, ultimately finds himself reunited with Kevin Stefanski in Cleveland.

With that said, let's have some fun and highlight some of the standout picks:

3. New York Giants (3-14) – Cam Ward | QB | Miami

The Giants need to come out of this draft with either Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward. That might ultimately involve a trade-up. In this scenario, we’re not projecting trades, and Ward falls into the Giants’ laps.

That would be a coup for a franchise that has floundered amid quarterback issues since 2019, when the Giants transitioned from Eli Manning to Daniel Jones.

Ward has an incredible rags-to-riches story that the Big Apple media would eat up. Here’s a snippet from my Cam Ward scouting report:

“Ward’s got a high-voltage right arm, and there isn’t a throw in this world that he doesn’t think he can make. Ward’s game is a freewheeling, shoot-em-up display of aggression and creativity. … He has an elastic, twitchy arm, shooting the pill out from unorthodox sidearm slots. … Ward hates to check down, and he doesn’t like to throw the ball away. He will keep hunting until the bitter end. He generates explosive plays this way. But it’s also where you see wanton recklessness.”

6. Las Vegas Raiders (4-13) – Tetairoa McMillan | WR | Arizona

Remember, we’ve solved the Raiders’ quarterback need via the mock signing of Sam Darnold (Russell Wilson – and a reunion with HC Pete Carroll – has been another rumored veteran quarterback of interest for Las Vegas).

Whatever the Raiders do at QB, they’ll need to acquire another impact pass-catcher to pair with stud TE Brock Bowers. McMillan would be ideal. A made-in-a-factory NFL alpha WR1, McMillan is a 6’5/210-pound pterodactyl with a bloated catch radius and ludicrous ball skills. Think: Drake London.

10. Chicago Bears (5-12) - Will Campbell | OT | LSU

There are two skill players that I think would make some sense for Bears HC Ben Johnson’s offense: Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty has elements of both Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery to his game, and Missouri WR Luther Burden might offer some intrigue as a high-volume slot who does damage in the intermediate area.

But with D’Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson back next year, and receiver not exactly a problem area, we have the Bears plugging a bigger hole with this pick. Johnson knows firsthand the power of a colossus offensive line, and the Bears have a lot of work to do in that regard.

With Will Campbell, the Bears get to work improving a maligned offensive line. QB Caleb Williams’ game requires an offensive line that can hold up – and hold up for longer than is typical – in pass-pro. Campbell was LSU’s starting LT for the past three seasons. He has the game to kick inside if needed, giving Chicago options.

FULL ANALYSIS OF PICKS 1 THROUGH 32

RELATED CONTENT:

What’s Next For These Free Agents?

The Super Bowl is done, meaning it's time to focus on real-life responsibilities like "friends" and "family" while "making sound financial decisions" for our future or whatever.

Just kidding–let's dive into free agency, baby!

Ian Hartitz outlined 10 of the most important free agents, specifically regarding fantasy football, including both a fun, and not-so-fun landing spot.

And with the recent news that the New York Jets are expected to move on from Aaron Rodgers at QB … this free agent may be of the utmost importance …

Vikings QB Sam Darnold

Fun landing spot: Jets

Annoying landing spot: Saints

Darnold managed to put forward quite the comeback szn in 2024, even if the last two games were a little f*cked up.

Darnold among 31 QBs with 300-plus dropbacks in 2024:

  • EPA per dropback: +0.127 (No. 14)
  • Completion percentage over expected: +3.9% (No. 7)
  • Yards per attempt: 7.9 (No. 6)
  • Passer rating: 102.5 (No. 6)
  • PFF pass grade: 80.3 (No. 9)

Only 28 in June, it'd make sense if Darnold fetches something in the ballpark of guys like Derek Carr ($37.5M per year), Baker Mayfield ($33.3M), and Geno Smith ($25M), even if life without Kevin O'Connell and the Vikings' stud playmakers is far from guaranteed to continue returning these suddenly great results.

Ultimately, a return to the Jets and the chance to throw the ball to Garrett Wilson and (maybe) Davante Adams would combine some level of nostalgia (the bad kind) with the potential for legit solid pass-game production. Meanwhile, a trip to the Bayou would be dicey considering the potential for the Saints to part ways with Chris Olave in lieu of forking over a nine-figure contract.

Of course, a shorter contract to return to Minnesota continues to make a lot of sense for both parties. QBs fresh off throwing for 4,319 yards and 35 TDs while winning 14 games don't hit the open market very often, and locking down Darnold for at least another two years would give the Vikings plenty of security should J.J. McCarthy fail to live up to his first-round hype and/or struggle to return from multiple knee surgeries.

WHO WILL WIN THE TEE HIGGINS SWEEPSTAKES?

The latest fantasy nuggets, silliness, and NFL gossip from our merry band of football nerds:

🐬 Will Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle bounce back in 2025? Here’s to hoping!

😂 How far would one go to keep Jayden Daniels on the Commanders? Far.

🚗 The hidden meaning behind Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl car. Interesting read.

👀 ICYMI: Odds for Super Bowl 60 are live … and there’s some longshot value to consider.

🐭 Jalen Hurts is already at Disney World. Enjoy it, dude.

🏇 Eagles fans celebrating in style. Better than climbing street lights!

🤔 Does Mahomes have a beef with Perine? Hmmm.