logo
Xavier Worthy fantasy football preview 2025: Stats, season outlook, predictions

Xavier Worthy fantasy football preview 2025: Stats, season outlook, predictions

NBC Sportsa day ago
Rotoworld Staff,
Xavier Worthy 2025 Fantasy Preview
2024: The Chiefs pulled the plug on the speedy Worthy as a strictly downfield threat late last season, using him almost exclusively as a short-area catch-and-gun guy. It worked well: Worthy racked up 394 yards on 38 receptions over the season's final seven games before exploding for 157 yards and two touchdowns in KC's Super Bowl loss to the Eagles. Worthy showed he can be a multidimensional threat in Andy Reid's offensive system. He benefited from the absence of Rashee Rice, who went down with a season-ending injury in Week 4.
What's changed: Rashee Rice's status is up in the air as he faces a potential suspension that could be as little as two games and as much as six games. It's also unclear when the suspension might take effect. The Chiefs selected WR Jaylen Royals in the fourth round of the 2025 draft.
Outlook: Worthy likely won't retain his hearty target share with the return of Rice, who was dominant before his Week 4 knee injury. Still, Worthy should be fine as a WR2/3 in 12-team leagues who has as much weekly upside as any wideout outside the elite group. The Chiefs offense should remain one of the NFL's most pass heavy units, creating enough volume for Worthy even if Rice returns to his 2024 dominance.
Get personalized fantasy football insights based on your league settings with FantasyLife+. Your league is unique, your advice should be too. Head to fantasylife.com and use code ROTO20 for 20% off.
**Projections from Spotlight Sports Group
Go to: All players | QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

2025-26 NFL betting, odds: 3 betting trends to know for every NFC team
2025-26 NFL betting, odds: 3 betting trends to know for every NFC team

Yahoo

time32 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

2025-26 NFL betting, odds: 3 betting trends to know for every NFC team

History suggests the Green Bay Packers are a mortal lock to win and cover their first game at Lambeau field — despite their recent struggles against the opponent (a division rival). At the same time, think twice before wagering on the New York Giants in Week 1 (or, for that matter, in either of their games against the Dallas Cowboys). And when it comes to season win totals, there's a strong 'buy' sign on one franchise with the lowest of expectations … and a 'sell' sign on another franchise that happens to be a Super Bowl contender. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] These are just a handful of the 48 NFL betting trend gems we dug up for all 16 NFC teams (three for each squad). Week 1 point-spread history, division-rivalry tendencies, recent ATS moneymakers (and money-burners), win-total and other futures trends — we got you covered … in an effort to help you cover. NFC East Dallas Cowboys • It's been exactly three decades since Dallas won its last Super Bowl (or even appeared in an NFC championship game). The Cowboys' odds of winning Super Bowl LX? As high as 50-1 — their longest preseason price since 2014, when they were 75-1. • After three straight 12-win campaigns, Dallas slipped to 7-10 last season. The franchise hasn't finished with fewer than eight wins in back-to-back seasons since 2001-02 (it went 5-11 both years). The Cowboys' 2025 consensus win total: 7.5. • Dallas is 1-5 SU and ATS in its last six trips to division rival Philadelphia. The lone victory was the 2021 season finale, when the Eagles rested their starters. The NFL season kicks off Sept. 4, when the Cowboys visit Philly as a consensus 7-point underdog. New York Giants • New York has stayed under its win total 10 times in the last 12 seasons. The Giants enter 2025 projected for 5.5 victories — a number they've exceeded only three times in the last eight years. • The Giants have lost 15 of 16 games to NFC East rival Dallas since the start of the 2017 season (4-12 ATS). Additionally, they've dropped 18 of 22 to Philadelphia since 2014 (11-11 ATS). • Going back to 2011, New York is 2-12 SU and 3-11 ATS in season openers. The Giants kick off the 2025 campaign as consensus 6.5-point underdogs at NFC East foe Washington. Philadelphia Eagles • Including their run to Super Bowl LIX victory, the 2024 Eagles went 18-3 SU and 14-7 ATS. After losing the home opener to Atlanta in Week 2, they won 10 consecutive home games (6-4 ATS). • Over the past three seasons, Philadelphia is 29-4 prior to December (21-11-1 ATS). The breakdown: 13-2 at home (9-5-1 ATS); 16-2 in road/neutral site contests (12-6 ATS). • The Eagles have gotten off to fast starts in the past 17 years, going 14-3 in Week 1 dating to 2008 (11-6 ATS). This includes an ongoing four-game season-opening winning streak (3-1 ATS). Washington Commanders • Washington's preseason odds to win Super Bowl LX are as short as 18-1. It's the franchise's lowest title price since it was 16-1 entering the 2006 season. • The Commanders nearly doubled their 2024 win-total expectation of 6.5, finishing 12-5. Washington's win total this year: 9.5. The last time the franchise won more than eight games in consecutive seasons? You have to go back to 1989-91, when it posted double-digit wins each year. • Since Week 10 of the 2023 season, the over is 19-9-1 in Commanders games (including playoffs). The over also has cashed in 11 of the last 15 games played at home. NFC North Chicago Bears • In 2018, Chicago went 12-4 and won the NFC North. It's the only time in the last dozen years the Bears finished with a winning record, recorded more than eight victories and went over their win total. Their projected victory total in 2025: 8.5. • Chicago closed out last season with a 24-22 upset of Green Bay as a 10-point road underdog. That ended an 11-game losing skid versus the Packers (1-10 ATS) and an eight-game slide at Lambeau Field (1-7 ATS). Even with the win, Chicago is 6-28 SU and 9-25 ATS against Green Bay since 2008. • Dating to the start of the 2020 campaign, the Bears are 7-23 versus NFC North rivals (10-19-1 ATS). That includes a 2-13 mark at home (3-11-1 ATS). Detroit Lions • Detroit has finished 12-5 ATS each of the last three seasons. Moreover, going back to Week 10 of the 2021 campaign, the Lions have covered the point spread in 43 of their last 60 regular-season contests — an NFL-best 71.7% success rate. • From 2019-21, the Lions were favored in just seven games, going 3-3-1 SU and 2-5 ATS. Since then, Detroit is 29-7 SU and 25-11 ATS when laying points. • The Lions are projected for 10.5 victories this season. They have exceeded their win total each of the last three years after going 15-6 to the under from 2001-21. However, since 1989, Detroit has never topped its win total in four consecutive seasons. Not only that, but the 95-year-old franchise has never posted double-digit victories in three straight seasons. Green Bay Packers • Green Bay has cleared its win-total projection five times in the last six years (after falling short in six of the previous seven). The 2025 Packers are slated for 9.5 victories. • Green Bay has followed up a five-game winning streak against Detroit by losing six of the last seven meetings (2-5 ATS). The Packers and Lions square off in Week 1 at Lambeau Field, where Green Bay is a slim 1.5-point home favorite. • The Packers are 17-1 SU and 14-4 ATS in home openers since 2007, including an ongoing 11-game winning streak. Over this span, they're 6-0 SU and 5-1 ATS when the first home game is against an NFC North rival (3-0 SU and ATS versus Detroit). Minnesota Vikings • Minnesota played in four Super Bowls from 1970-77, losing each time, and has not made it to the big game since. The Vikings have consensus odds of 11-1 to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LX and 22-1 to win it all. • The 2024 Vikings finished 11-5-1 ATS, the fourth-best mark in the NFL. They have turned a point-spread profit 10 times in the last 13 seasons, going 118-88-3 ATS (57.3%). • Week 1 of the 2025 season concludes when Minnesota visits Chicago on Monday Night Football. The Vikings, who are 1.5-point road favorites, have won and covered five straight games at Soldier Field — part of an 8-2 SU/6-3-1 ATS run against the Bears since 2020. NFC South Atlanta Falcons • Atlanta has posted seven consecutive losing seasons, clearing its win total just once. The 2025 Falcons are projected for 7.5 or 8.5 victories, depending on the sportsbook. • Not surprisingly based on their win total, the Falcons are not expected to end their seven-year playoff drought, with postseason odds ranging from +137 to +155. Last time Atlanta missed the playoffs eight straight times: 1983-90. • The Falcons have dropped six of their last seven season openers (2-5 ATS). They're consensus 1.5-point home underdogs against Tampa Bay in Week 1. Carolina Panthers • In 2015, Carolina had an NFL-best 15-1 record and reached Super Bowl 50. In nine seasons since, the Panthers have had just one winning season, one playoff appearance and have only twice topped their win total. This year, Carolina is projected for 6.5 victories, and its playoff odds range from +230 to +280. • The Panthers have been favored in just 15 of 84 games since the start of the 2020 campaign. Their record in that role: 3-12 SU and ATS. • The over cashed in 13 of Carolina's 17 games last season, tying Baltimore for the NFL's best over record. Each of the Panthers' final seven home games in 2024 hurdled the total. New Orleans Saints • New Orleans' 5-12 record last year was the franchise's worst since the 2005 squad went 3-13. Those are the only two instances this century in which the Saints failed to win at least seven games. Their consensus 2025 win total: 5.5. • The last time New Orleans won fewer than six games in back-to-back full seasons: 1980 (1-15) and 1981 (4-12). Also, the Saints haven't endured a five-year playoff drought since 2001-05. This year, they're a sizable underdog (+650 to +850) underdog to make the postseason. Only Cleveland has longer odds. • The Saints at least have gotten off to fast starts in recent years, winning six consecutive season openers (3-3 ATS). That streak aside, New Orleans is a consensus 5.5-point home underdog against Arizona in Week 1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers • Tampa Bay is a strong favorite to win its fifth consecutive NFC South crown, with odds as short as -110. Interestingly, the Bucs captured a total of six division titles in their first 45 years of existence (never once going back-to-back). • The Bucs have cleared their win total five times in the last six years. They're projected for 9.5 victories in 2025. • Tampa has won five straight meetings against division rival Carolina, and 11 of the last 13 (9-3 ATS). It is also 5-1 SU (4-2 ATS) in the last six contests with New Orleans. NFC West Arizona Cardinals • Arizona has just one playoff appearance in the last nine years. Yet its postseason odds entering the 2025 campaign are as low as +110. • With Kyler Murray under center, the Cardinals are 13-19 ATS as a favorite but 32-17-2 ATS (65.3%) as an underdog. • Arizona has covered the Week 1 point spread five times in the last six years. However, it went 2-3-1 SU in those contests, losing the last three in a row — which is noteworthy, considering the Cardinals open as 5.5-point favorites at New Orleans. Los Angeles Rams • In eight years since Sean McVay took over as head coach, Los Angeles has posted double-digit wins and hurdled its preseason win total six times. Prior to that, the franchise had posted 13 consecutive non-winning seasons and fallen short of its win total 10 times. This year, L.A. is pegged for 9.5 victories. • Going back to 2019, Los Angeles is 30-11-1 ATS in December and January (playoffs included). • Since returning to L.A. from St. Louis in 2016, the Rams are 27-11 against NFC West rivals Arizona and Seattle in the regular season and playoffs (26-11-1 ATS). However, they're 7-12 SU and ATS versus San Francisco — despite winning the last three in a row and covering the last four. San Francisco 49ers • It's been boom or bust for the 49ers in eight years under head coach Kyle Shanahan. They advanced at least as far as the NFC title game (including two Super Bowl appearances) in half of those seasons but finished under .500 in the other half. This year, San Francisco is the consensus third choice to win the NFC (+750 to +950) and a +165 underdog to miss the postseason. • The 49ers went 5-0 in Super Bowls from 1981-94, but are 0-3 since. They enter 2025 as high as 20-1 to win Super Bowl LX— their longest preseason title odds since being 40-1 in 2019. • From Week 12 to the end of the regular season, the over is 15-6 in 49ers games the past three years. However, the under is 6-2-1 in San Francisco's last nine postseason contests (since 2021). Seattle Seahawks • Seattle, which went 10-7 in 2024, is 5-1-1 to the over on its win total since 2018. The Seahawks have registered at least nine victories in 12 of the last 13 seasons. This year's projection: 7.5 or 8.5 victories, depending on the sportsbook. • Sam Darnold signed with Seattle during the offseason after leading Minnesota to a 14-3 record in 2024 (11-5-1 ATS). Prior to 2024, Darnold was 21-35 SU and 21-34-1 ATS as an NFL starting quarterback. • Seattle has won seven straight games against NFC West foe Arizona (6-1 ATS). Conversely, it has lost five of six to San Francisco (2-4 ATS). Prior to the 2022 season, the Seahawks had been on a 16-3 tear against the 49ers (13-5-1 ATS).

ESPN Makes Final Decision On The Colin Kaepernick Series
ESPN Makes Final Decision On The Colin Kaepernick Series

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

ESPN Makes Final Decision On The Colin Kaepernick Series

ESPN Makes Final Decision On The Colin Kaepernick Series originally appeared on The Spun. ESPN has made a final decision on the Colin Kaepernick series heading into the 2025 NFL regular season. Kaepernick, who last played in the NFL in 2016, began kneeling for the national anthem that season. He spoke out against police brutality and treatment of African Americans. Kaepernick, playing for the San Francisco 49ers at the time, would never play in the National Football League again. The former NFL quarterback, who led the 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance against the Baltimore Ravens in 2013, has been the subject of a Spike Lee documentary series. ESPN was reportedly set to air it. However, the Worldwide Leader in Sports has since finalized a different decision. According to a report from Reuters, ESPN will no longer be airing the documentary series, citing creative differences. 'ESPN, Colin Kaepernick and Spike Lee have collectively decided to no longer proceed with this project as a result of certain creative differences,' ESPN said in a statement issued to on Saturday. Lee, meanwhile, had a simple response. 'It's not coming out,' Lee said. 'That's all I can say.' He added: 'I signed a nondisclosure [agreement]. I can't talk about it.' Kaepernick remains focused on playing again, somehow Kaepernick, 37, is not going to play in the National Football League again, barring a miracle. But the former University of Nevada quarterback is continuing to hold out hope. He's called out coaches, front offices, owners and more. He remains committed to playing again. 'We're still training, still pushing,' Kaepernick told Sky Sports when asked if he still wants to play in the NFL in 2024. 'So hopefully. We've just got to get one of these team owners to open up.' He continued. 'I mean, it's something I've trained my whole life for,' Kaepernick said. 'So to be able to step back on the field would be a major moment, a major accomplishment for me. Also, I think it's something that I could bring a lot to a team and help them win a championship.' ESPN Makes Final Decision On The Colin Kaepernick Series first appeared on The Spun on Aug 17, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Aug 17, 2025, where it first appeared.

Who is new Texans TE Harrison Bryant? Houston acquires pass-catcher in John Metchie trade
Who is new Texans TE Harrison Bryant? Houston acquires pass-catcher in John Metchie trade

USA Today

time2 hours ago

  • USA Today

Who is new Texans TE Harrison Bryant? Houston acquires pass-catcher in John Metchie trade

Time is a flat circle: The #Eagles and #Texans each reacquired their own 2026 draft picks, exchanged in the C.J. Gardner-Johnson trade, as part of today's deal that sends WR John Metchie III to Philadelphia and TE Harrison Bryant to Houston. John Metchie III is off to the Philadelphia Eagles following three years with the Houston Texans, but who is headed to NRG Stadium in his place? According to multiple reports, the Texans are sending Metchie to the defending Super Bowl champions in exchange for tight end Harrison Bryant and a 2026 fifth-round pick. The Eagles will also receive a 2026 sixth-round pick, which initially was sent over to Houston in the C.J. Gardner-Johnson deal earlier this offseason. So, who is Bryant? A former John Mackey Award-winning tight end at Florida Atlantic, Bryant signed a one-year deal this offseason to back up Dallas Goedert. He was expected to be the No. 3 tight end, but the Eagles A former fourth-round pick by the Cleveland Browns, Bryant spent four seasons in the AFC North before signing a one-year contract with the Las Vegas Raiders last season as a backup to Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer. Bryant had nine catches for 86 yards last season in Las Vegas. For his career, Bryant has totaled 98 career receptions for 877 yards and 10 touchdowns. He's expected to compete for the No. 3 tight end role, which should be the same for him in Houston now with Brevin Jordan out for the season with a lower-body injury. A 2022 second-round pick, Metchie caught 24 passes for 254 yards and one touchdown during 13 regular-season games with the Texans in 2024. He also suited up for both of Houston's playoff games, securing six of 10 targets for 63 yards. This preseason, Metchie caught five passes for 45 yards and added another 23 yards on a kickoff return in Houston's 20-10 preseason loss to the Vikings in Week 1. He reunites with Pro Bowl wide receiver DeVonta Smith, his counterpart at Alabama during the Crimson Tide's 2020 national championship-winning team. The Texans will wrap up the preseason on the road next Saturday at Ford Field against the Detroit Lions. They will trim the roster down to 53 following Saturday's preseason finale ahead of Week 1's showdown against the Los Angeles Rams.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store