These Dynasty Players Will be replaced in the 2025 NFL Draft (NFC North)

By Calvin PriceFebruary 1, 2025
These Dynasty Players Will be replaced in the 2025 NFL Draft (NFC North)

In this series, I examine which fantasy-relevant 2025 dynasty rookies will be good fits on each NFL team, and this week, I’m looking at the teams in the NFC North. In this series, I examine which fantasy-relevant 2025 dynasty rookies will be good fits on each NFL team.

 

 

 

 

Detroit Lions

 

Quarterback - (1/10)

 

Jared Goff had a disastrous playoff performance in the Lions loss to the Commanders this season, but there’s little doubt the Lions plan to continue building with Goff at quarterback. Without a top quarterback in the league, the Lions will need exceptional play on both sides of the field to finally make their way to a Super Bowl.

 

Running Back - (1/10)

 

Jahmyr Gibbs has solidified himself as one of the premier running backs in the NFL. David Montgomery missed time this season with an injury, but when healthy, he was his normal productive self. There’s no need to add a running back here, but the Lions may need to make some financially-motivated decisions at the position.

 

Montgomery has increasing cap hits over the next 3 seasons, and if Gibbs’ play continues to demand a significant snap share, then the Lions may see Montgomery as an expensive luxury. Adding a rookie rusher to eventually replace Montgomery at a fraction of the cost could be on the table.

 

 

Wide Receiver - (2/10)

 

Amon-Ra St. Brown is one of the best receivers in the NFL. Jameson Williams broke out as a big play receiver this past season. That’s two starters set for the foreseeable future, but there’s still room for a big-bodied receiver opposite Williams while St. Brown patrols the slot. Tim Patrick filled into that role well, but the team will likely search elsewhere for a permanent solution.

 

Tight End - (0/10)

 

Sam LaPorta may have taken a step back in his 2nd NFL season, but it was more to do with the team not needing to depend on him than any regression in play. The Lions are set at tight end.

 

Best Fit – Jayden Higgins/Tahj Brooks

(Wide Receiver/Running Back – Round 3) 

 

I want to give two options here because I think both could fill a role very well for the Lions. There’s also the possibility that Higgins won’t make it to the 3rd round if he tests well at the combine, whereas Brooks should be available in the 3rd round of a deep running back draft. I don’t see the Lions spending high capital on a skill position, with most starting positions already well addressed.

 

 

Higgins would address the need for a big-bodied receiver opposite Williams. His lack of elite athleticism will be less of a problem with team’s worried about Williams big play threat while also paying special attention to St. Brown. Higgins can use his big frame and effective route running to find open spaces against defenses focused on bigger play threats. Higgins was recently highlighted as a riser at the Senior Bowl.

 

I think Montgomery is a good comparison for what Brooks could be if he translates well at the NFL level. A big back that can be given volume between the tackles but has enough burst to make plays in the 2nd level. Montgomery is still under contract for 3 seasons, but with increasing cap hits and minimal guarantees after next season, the Lions could look to save money at the RB2 spot after next year to focus money elsewhere.

 

Minnesota Vikings

 

Quarterback - (0/10)

 

The Vikings will likely move to JJ McCarthy as their starter next season. It’s entirely possible that McCarthy would have won the job if a knee injury didn’t prematurely end his rookie season. The silver-lining of the injury is that McCarthy now has had plenty of time to familiarize himself with Kevin O’Connell’s offense and will have plenty of reps to become more comfortable ahead of next season.

 

Running Back - (10/10)

 

With Aaron Jones, a free agent, the Vikings are left with only Ty Chandler under contract. It’s possible that the Vikings choose to bring back Jones, but with the veteran now 30 years old and a deep incoming class of rookie running backs, I don’t think it’s likely.

 

Any rookie rusher that finds their way to Minnesota this offseason will have immense fantasy value, given coach O’Connell’s prolific offensive scheme.

 

 

Wide Receiver - (2/10)

 

Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison make up a great 1-2 punch at wide receiver. Jalen Nailor also showed off some big play ability this season as well. There’s no urgent need at wide receiver for the Vikings, but with Nailor being a free agent after this season and Addison’s proclivity for putting himself in poor off-field situations legally, additional depth wouldn’t be the worst idea.

 

Tight End - (1/10)

 

TJ Hockenson looked just like his old self over the back half of last season once returning from injury. Hockenson should continue to be a well-above-average option at tight end for the next few years.

 

Best Fit – TreVeyon Henderson

(Running Back – Round 2)

 

The Vikings have a dangerous group of pass catchers and that gives their running backs a lot of room to operate on passing plays. TreVeyon Henderson is among the best pass-catching backs in this class. Henderson’s explosiveness would greatly complement an offense that can spread defenses out with its complement of dangerous pass catchers.

 

While it’s likely that the Vikings will look to address their secondary in the 1st round, and potentially again on Day two, adding Henderson would ensure that their new quarterback has a full complement of weapons surrounding him from day one.

 

 

Green Bay Packers

 

Quarterback - (0/10)

 

Jordan Love showed some struggles in his 2nd season as the starter for the Packers. Injuries likely played a part, as did inconsistent wide receiver play. Love will need to rebound to be considered among the top young quarterback in the league again, but his position on the Packers is safe.

 

Running Back - (1/10)

 

Josh Jacobs had a great season as the top back in Green Bay. Rookie Marshawn Lloyd struggled to stay healthy, but it’s likely that he will mix in heavily next season as a complement to Jacobs. If the two of them are healthy, I don’t see much need at the position for the Packers.

 

Wide Receiver - (4/10)

 

Going into the season, many believed the Packers had unmatched depth at the receiver position. Christian Watson seemed to finally be over his persistent hamstring injuries, only to suffer a season-ending ACL tear on January 5th. Clean ACL tear recoveries often take at least 9 months, but given there is reportedly additional damage and given Watson’s injury history, it wouldn’t be surprising if he misses most or even all of next season.

 

Dontayvion Wicks’ drop issues continued throughout the season and should make the team skeptical of giving him a key starting role heading into next season. Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed had relatively good seasons, but Reed is restricted mainly to the slot, and Doubs continues to struggle with consistency.

 

While they have a number of good, not great, receivers on the roster, eventually, they will need a true number one.

 

 

Tight End - (0/10)

 

Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave make up one of the best young tight end duos in the league. There’s little need to add to that group.

 

Best Fit – Elic Ayomanor

(Wide Receiver – Round 2)

 

Ayomanor likely has the highest ceiling of any receiver that could be available on Day two of the NFL Draft. Ayomanor has the size-speed combination to make plays at all levels of the field and has shown a number of highlight catches on big plays down the field.

 

Ayomanor only has two seasons of college experience and did so on a pretty bad passing team at Stanford. Ayomanor may not be ready to step into a big role on day 1 in the NFL, but the Packers have the luxury of giving him time to develop into the dominant X-receiver that they seek. 

 

 

Chicago Bears

 

Quarterback - (0/10)

 

The Bears first season with Caleb Williams was a trainwreck, but much of that wasn’t the fault of the rookie passer. One of the main reasons the Bears managed to land Ben Johnson as their next head coach is likely Williams’ potential at the most important position in sports. Williams has a long leash in Chicago.

 

Running Back - (4/10)

 

D’Andre Swift continues to be exactly what everyone has grown to expect from him. An explosive back that will provide little to no production most of the time, with occasional stints of greatness sprinkled throughout the season. Swift finished nine games under 3.5 yards per carry. 

 

Roschon Johnson wasn’t given many opportunities this past season, but he didn’t take advantage of the few he did receive. With a new offensive-minded head coach in Chicago, I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Bears make a big splash on a playmaking running back this offseason.

 

Wide Receiver - (2/10)

 

Rome Odunze’s rookie season was overshadowed by some historic rookie performances by pass catchers around the league, but he did have a quietly good season that showed plenty of promise. DJ Moore at times, seemed caught up in the very poor locker room dynamic of the faltering Bears, but his talent is undeniable. The Bears could look to add some depth at the position if they don’t plan to retain Keenan Allen, but it’s certainly not a top priority for the team.

 

 

Tight End - (1/10)

 

Cole Kmet continues to be one of the more frustrating fantasy tight ends. Occasional sparks of brilliance make you think he’ll finally become a consistent part of the offense, only for the game plan to shift entirely away from him for weeks at a time. Maybe under a better play-caller, Kmet will find more consistency.

 

Best Fit – Ashton Jeanty

(Running Back – Round 1)

 

The most likely outcome is that the Bears address both the offensive and defensive line early and often in the draft. That being said, there are options on both lines in free agency, and better play calling could significantly improve the look of the offensive line with only moderate personnel changes.

 

 

If the Bears don’t feel compelled to spend their first-round selection in the trenches, Ben Johnson should be extremely tempted to add a potential superstar at running back in Ashton Jeanty. Jeanty is coming off a historic college season and will enter the NFL as possibly the most exciting of the 2025 dynasty rookies.

 

Ben Johnson may see his old boss’ controversial decision to take Jahmyr Gibbs in the 1st round a couple of years ago as something that can be repeated with his first selection as head coach of the Bears. If Jeanty lives up to the ability he showed in college, it’ll be hard to argue against the pick, even if the offensive line only manages to improve marginally because of it.