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These are my early ranks and I will update them later in the week. Make sure you check the injury report on Sunday for players that have missed practice. Keep in mind, these are PPR rankings, and don't forget to set your lineup for Thursday Night Football. If you have any questions feel free to hit me up on Twitter. Be sure to check out my show MoneyLine with Jerry Bo on ESPN 97.5FM. We're on every Sunday from 10-noon, and we'll talk a lot of fantasy football and NFL gambling getting you ready for kickoff every Sunday.
QB
1 Patrick Mahomes
2 Lamar Jackson
3 Deshaun Watson
4 Russell Wilson
5 Carson Wentz
6 Matt Ryan
7 Tom Brady
8 Jared Goff
9 Dak Prescott
10 Baker Mayfield
11 Kyler Murray
12 Aaron Rodgers
13 Jameis Winston
14 Philip Rivers
15 Jacoby Brissett
16 Andy Dalton
17 Jimmy Garoppolo
18 Daniel Jones
19 Kirk Cousins
20 Kyle Allen
RB
1 Christian McCaffrey
2 Alvin Kamara
3 Ezekiel Elliott
4 Dalvin Cook
5 David Johnson
6 Nick Chubb
7 Le'Veon Bell
8 James Conner
9 Mark Ingram
10 Leonard Fournette
11 Derrick Henry
12 Austin Ekeler
13 Joe Mixon
14 Devonta Freeman
15 Todd Gurley
16 Chris Carson
17 LeSean McCoy
18 Aaron Jones
19 Melvin Gordon
20 David Montgomery
21 Wayne Gallman
22 Josh Jacobs
23 James White
24 Phillip Lindsay
25 Darrel Williams
26 Jordan Howard
27 Chris Thompson
28 Jaylen Samuels
29 Royce Freeman
30 Matt Breida
31 Sony Michel
32 Carlos Hyde
33 Tarik Cohen
34 Raheem Mostert
35 Miles Sanders
36 Tarik Cohen
1 Julio Jones
2 Keenan Allen
3 Cooper Kupp
4 DeAndre Hopkins
5 Michael Thomas
6 Chris Godwin
7 Odell Beckham
8 Mike Evans
9 Robert Woods
10 Adam Thielen
11 Larry Fitzgerald
12 Tyler Lockett
13 Julian Edelman
14 Brandin Cooks
15 Tyler Boyd
16 Josh Gordon
17 Sammy Watkins
18 Amari Cooper
19 Allen Robinson
20 Emmanuel Sanders
21 Stefon Diggs
22 JuJu Smith-Schuster
23 Marquise Brown
24 Alshon Jeffery
25 Sterling Shepard
26 Calvin Ridley
27 Courtland Sutton
28 D.J. Chark
29 Will Fuller
30 Demarcus Robinson
31 John Brown
32 Auden Tate
33 D.J. Moore
34 Phillip Dorsett
35 Marquez Valdes-Scantling
36 Jarvis Landry
37 Mecole Hardman
38 Curtis Samuel
39 Robbie Anderson
40 Tyrell Williams
TE
1 Travis Kelce
2 George Kittle
3 Zach Ertz
4 Evan Engram
5 Austin Hooper
6 Mark Andrews
7 Darren Waller
8 Will Dissly
9 Delanie Walker
10 Greg Olsen
11 Jimmy Graham
12 Tyler Eifert
13 Jason Witten
14 Eric Ebron
15 O.J. Howard
Defense
1 Patriots
2 Bears
3 Eagles
4 Titans
5 Vikings
6 Bills
7 Panthers
8 Chargers
9 Saints
10 49ers
11 Steelers
12 Texans
13 Jaguars
14 Chiefs
15 Bengals
Kicker
1 Justin Tucker
2 Greg Zuerlein
3 Will Lutz
4 Harrison Butker
5 Joey Slye
6 Robbie Gould
7 Jake Elliott
8 Ka'imi Fairbairn
9 Zane Gonzalez
10 Brett Maher
11 Jason Myers
12 Mason Crosby
13 Adam Vinatieri
14 Matt Bryant
15 Josh Lambo
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A month into the 2025 season, the Houston Astros have emerged as one of MLB’s most confounding teams. Their offense ranks near the bottom of nearly every key category, yet they remain competitive thanks to a pitching staff that has quietly become one of the most formidable in baseball.
Despite winning back-to-back games just once this season, Houston’s pitching has kept them afloat. The Astros boast a top-10 team ERA, rank seventh in WHIP, and sit top-eight in opponent batting average—a testament to both their rotation depth and bullpen resilience. It’s a group that has consistently given them a chance to win, even when the bats have failed to show up.
Josh Hader has been the bullpen anchor. After a rocky 2024 campaign, the closer has reinvented himself, leaning more heavily on his slider and becoming less predictable. The result has been electric: a veteran who’s adapting and thriving under pressure.
Reinforcements are also on the horizon. Kaleb Ort and Forrest Whitley are expected to bolster a bullpen that’s been great but occasionally spotty—Taylor Scott’s 5.63 ERA stands out as a weak link. Lance McCullers Jr. missed his last rehab outing due to illness but is expected back soon, possibly pairing with Ryan Gusto in a piggyback setup that could stretch games and preserve bullpen arms.
And the timing couldn’t be better, because the Astros' offense remains stuck in neutral. With an offense ranked 26th in OPS, 27th in slugging, dead last in doubles, and just 24th in runs scored, it's clear the Astros have a major issue producing consistent offense. For all their talent, they are a minus-two in run differential and have looked out of sync at the plate.
One bright spot has been rookie Cam Smith. The right fielder has displayed remarkable poise, plate discipline, and a polished approach rarely seen in rookies. It’s fair to ask why Smith, with only five Double-A games under his belt before this season, is showing more patience than veterans like Jose Altuve. Altuve, among others, has been chasing too many pitches outside the zone and hardly walking—a troubling trend across the lineup.
Before the season began, the Astros made it a point to improve their pitch selection and plate discipline. So far, that stated goal hasn’t materialized. Many of the players who are showing solid discipline—like Isaac Paredes or Christian Walker—were already doing that on other teams before joining Houston. It raises the question: are the Astros’ hitting coaches being held accountable?
The offensive woes are hard to ignore. Catcher Yainer Diaz currently owns the second-worst OPS in baseball, while Walker ranks 15th from the bottom. Even a star like Yordan Alvarez has yet to find his groove. The hope is that Diaz and Walker will follow Alvarez's lead and trend upward with time.
With so many offensive questions and few clear answers, a trade for a left-handed bat—whether in the outfield or second base—would be ideal. But with the front office laser-focused on staying below the tax threshold, don’t count on it.
For now, Houston's path forward depends on whether the bats can catch up to the arms. Until they do, the Astros will remain a team that looks good on paper but still can’t string wins together in reality.
We have so much more to get to. Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday!
*ChatGPT assisted.
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