As NFL teams get ready to open training camps and prepare for the 2025 season, fantasy football draft season can’t be too far away.
As a refresher course in what’s transpired over the offseason and a preview of what might be in store for each team, USA TODAY Sports is conducting a virtual tour through each division to get a sense of the most important issue or question facing every team from a fantasy standpoint.
Whether it’s a new arrival or departure, an important position battle, a player under the gun or a potential breakout, we have the fantasy insights to help shape your draft strategy.
Today, we take a closer look at the NFC North.
Detroit Lions (15-2 last season)
Will the offense look any different under new offensive coordinator John Morton?
With fantasy stalwarts Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta, the Lions led the NFL in scoring in 2024. They were so good they got OC Ben Johnson a head coaching job in the offseason (more on that in a moment).
Gibbs is a consensus top-5 overall fantasy pick anyway, but he could be even more valuable this season as a receiver. ‘I’m being split out like way more than I was the past two years,’ Gibbs recently told Detroit TV station WXYZ. ‘That’s good. That’s going to be fun. I’ve been waiting on that.’
Putting Gibbs out wide would allow the Lions to get Montgomery on the field more frequently – and further open up the field for St. Brown, LaPorta and wideout Jameson Williams.
Top players (Fantasy Pros ADP)
- Jahmyr Gibbs (RB2, overall: 5)
- Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR6, overall: 8)
- Sam LaPorta (TE4, overall: 57)
- Jameson Williams (WR31, overall: 61)
- David Montgomery (RB21, overall: 62)
- Jared Goff (QB14, overall: 97)
Minnesota Vikings (14-3)
Does who’s playing quarterback really matter?
With the departure of Pro Bowler Sam Darnold, the Vikings offense is now in the hands of first-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
McCarthy will need to prove he can run the offense after missing all of last season with a knee injury, but star wide receiver Justin Jefferson has shown he can put up elite numbers regardless of whether it’s Kirk Cousins, Josh Dobbs, Nick Mullens or Darnold under center.
The biggest leap in production could come from tight end T.J. Hockenson, who spent the first eight weeks of last season on the sidelines with McCarthy while recovering from a torn ACL. They’ll have a full training camp together to get on the same page. Aaron Jones also returns as the lead running back.
Top players (Fantasy Pros ADP)
- Justin Jefferson (WR3, overall: 4)
- Aaron Jones (RB24, overall: 68)
- T.J. Hockenson (TE5, overall: 69)
- Jordan Addison (WR36, overall: 78)
- J.J. McCarthy (QB20)
Green Bay Packers (11-5)
Will a No. 1 wide receiver eventually emerge?
In 2023, his first season as the Packers’ starting quarterback, Jordan Love threw for 4,159 yards and 32 touchdowns – finishing as the QB5 for the season. However, in 2024 those numbers dropped to 3,389 and 25 as the receiving corps went through a rash of injuries and underproduction.
Christian Watson may be the most talented of the group, but he’s coming off a torn ACL in January and may not be at full strength early in the season. Jayden Reed provides an added threat as a rusher, but he suffered a dislocated shoulder in the playoffs. There’s also Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks and newcomer Mecole Hardman. Added to the mix in 2025: first-round draft pick Matthew Golden and third-rounder Savion Williams. That’s an awful lot of mouths to feed, so someone almost has to go hungry.
Top players (Fantasy Pros ADP)
- Josh Jacobs (RB10, overall: 30)
- Tucker Kraft (TE10, overall: 103)
- Jayden Reed (WR46)
- Jordan Love (QB17)
Chicago Bears (5-12)
Can Caleb Williams make a second-year leap?
Ben Johnson takes over as head coach, looking to bring his success in Detroit to the division-rival Bears. His first task is getting last year’s No. 1 overall draft pick, QB Caleb Williams, on track. The front office tried hard to give the rookie as many weapons as possible but the results were underwhelming as the Bears ranked last in the NFL in total yards per game. Meanwhile, Williams was sacked a league-high 68 times and finished as the QB16.
After spending the ninth overall pick last season on WR Rome Odunze, the Bears focused on offense again at the top of this year’s draft, taking Michigan tight end Colston Loveland at No. 10 overall. Veteran RB D’Andre Swift and WR D.J. Moore are still around as well, so experience – and perhaps the best teacher in Johnson – could be the recipe for unlocking Williams’ potential. The addition of All-Pro guard Joe Thuney to a revamped offensive line should also help.
Top players (Fantasy Pros ADP)
- D.J. Moore (WR20, overall: 41)
- D’Andre Swift (RB22, overall: 65)
- Rome Odunze (WR37, overall: 80)
- Caleb Williams (QB12, overall: 94)
