Chris Godwin’s 2025 fantasy bounce-back outlook is drawing significant attention as the NFC South prepares for a highly competitive season. Godwin was enjoying a career-best campaign before an ankle injury sidelined him midseason in 2024, but with improved health and a revamped receiving core, expectations are that he could regain elite fantasy status. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ offense, featuring returning talents like Mike Evans and rookie Emeka Egbuka, sets the stage for an intriguing year both for the team and fantasy managers tracking these key players.

Godwin’s 2024 performance prior to injury was impressive, averaging 19.7 PPR points per game, on pace for career highs across receptions, yards, and touchdowns. With Godwin competing for the slot receiver position against first-round rookie Egbuka, maintaining health and opportunity will be critical. Draft experts suggest targeting Godwin in Round 5, emphasizing that while his upside remains strong, there are risk factors due to his recovery and increased competition for targets.

Buccaneers’ Backfield and Receiving Corps Showcasing Depth and Potential

The Buccaneers’ running back situation highlights Bucky Irving, who made an impactful rookie season in 2024 by averaging 14.4 PPR points per game and finishing with seven out of nine late-season games scoring over 16 points. His strong finish, including playoff performances, places him firmly in the top-10 upside category, making him an early Round 2 draft target across fantasy platforms. Alongside Irving, Rachaad White provides additional value. Despite facing competition, White has consistently delivered at least 50 receptions annually for three seasons and posted career highs in yards per carry and touchdowns last year, warranting a mid-round draft choice.

Mike Evans remains a reliable fantasy asset with impressive career longevity, securing his 11th consecutive 1,000-yard season and six seasons of double-digit touchdowns. At 32, Evans continues to be a steady No. 2 option in Tampa Bay’s wide receiving corps, especially given the crowded unit that now includes both Godwin and Egbuka. Draft guidance places Evans in Round 4 as a mid-tier fantasy receiver, highlighting his consistent production but recognizing the evolving offensive dynamic.

Quarterback Baker Mayfield also enters the 2025 season with notable fantasy relevance. After posting career highs in passing yards, touchdowns, and rushing production in 2024, Mayfield’s upgraded offense—with Godwin back and the addition of Egbuka—raises his fantasy profile nearer to elite QB status, though he remains behind top-tier quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes. He is likely to be drafted shortly after the leading six quarterbacks, offering fantasy owners a viable late-round option.

Atlanta Falcons’ Offensive Weapons Primed for Fantasy Growth

The Falcons are emerging as a formidable presence in the NFC South fantasy landscape, buoyed by quarterback Michael Penix Jr.’s encouraging performances in 2024. Penix started three games and helped the Falcons average 32 points per contest during that span, with a standout Week 18 performance earning nearly 29 fantasy points. Supported by weapons such as Drake London, Darnell Mooney, Kyle Pitts, and rookie Bijan Robinson, Penix offers the potential to be a consistent fantasy quarterback, though questions remain around his long-term consistency.

Bijan Robinson’s involvement surged late in the 2024 season, escalating from 17.2 to 23.9 average touches per game over his final 11 contests. Robinson’s all-around production, including over 60 receptions and nearly 1,900 total yards, placed him just behind elite running backs like Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry. His late-season fantasy scoring of 22.5 PPR points per game surpassed Barkley, making him a top overall pick in the 2025 drafts.

Wide receiver Drake London recorded a career year with 100 receptions, hauling in over 1,270 yards and scoring nine touchdowns on 158 targets. His target dominance and ability to produce big games underpin his potential as a top-five fantasy receiver and recommend him as a strong Round 2 pick. Meanwhile, Darnell Mooney offers valuable depth. He caught 64 passes for nearly 1,000 yards with a handful of touchdowns and showed flashes of high upside, making him a viable late-round draft choice or reliable waiver-wire target in three-receiver leagues.

In contrast, Kyle Pitts showed a marked decline in production during the latter half of 2024, dropping from a strong start to just one double-digit scoring game over the final nine contests. This trend has tempered expectations about Pitts as a premier fantasy tight end, relegating him to a late-round gamble. If he recaptures his early season form, he could be a fantasy asset, but most managers may consider moving on quickly if struggles continue.

Panthers’ Young Talent and Offensive Evolution

Panthers quarterback Bryce Young has demonstrated late-season fantasy flashes, ending 2024 with three straight games of at least 20.9 fantasy points, including two monster outings above 31 points. Despite early-season struggles and a brief benching, Young holds sleeper appeal for 2025, especially with new and existing receiving targets like first-round rookie Tetairoa McMillan, Xavier Legette, and veterans such as Adam Thielen. However, fantasy managers are advised to wait until Young proves consistency before committing draft capital, suggesting a waiver-wire pickup approach in one-quarterback leagues.

Running back Chuba Hubbard’s 2024 campaign featured 250 carries, nearly 1,200 rushing yards, and 10 touchdowns, alongside modest receiving work. He repeatedly scored fantasy-relevant points, but his workload may face pressure from new Carolina backs Rico Dowdle and Trevor Etienne, injecting uncertainty into his 2025 outlook. Thus, Hubbard remains a mid-round target with caution for possible reduced usage.

As a receiving option, high-upside rookie Tetairoa McMillan offers strong potential to lead the Panthers’ wide receiver group, with collegiate production including 26 touchdowns over three seasons. McMillan could become the primary receiver ahead of Legette and Thielen, making him a high-end No. 3 fantasy receiver, recommended as a Round 6 pick. Conversely, Xavier Legette struggled to deliver consistent fantasy returns, warranting only late-round consideration or waiver-list monitoring thanks to the competition around him and his rookie year performance.

Veteran Adam Thielen, despite turning 35 in 2025, showed strong chemistry with Young upon his return from injury last season, scoring at least 15.3 points in more than half of his final appearances. While McMillan’s arrival will likely impact Thielen’s target share, his veteran savvy and health could keep him relevant in deeper leagues as a late-round option.

Saints’ Key Players Facing Uncertainty Amid Roster Shifts

New Orleans Saints’ running back Alvin Kamara holds steady as a dependable fantasy asset, boasting consistent reception numbers and exceeding 1,300 total yards in nearly every season. At 30, despite a potentially unstable quarterback situation following Derek Carr’s retirement, Kamara remains a highly valuable PPR choice, projected as a No. 2 running back and worthy of an early Round 4 selection.

Wide receiver Chris Olave’s limited 2024 season due to multiple concussions has tempered expectations. While his per-game fantasy production remained solid in prior years, the combination of health concerns and uncertainty at quarterback with Spencer Rattler and Tyler Shough diminishes confidence in his 2025 breakout potential. Fantasy managers should view Olave as a late-round pick or mid-season waiver option rather than an early-round asset.

Rashid Shaheed’s early 2024 performances showcased impressive productivity, outperforming Olave over part of the season before a knee injury sidelined him in Week 7. While Shaheed’s health remains a question, his sleeper potential persists if the Saints’ quarterback play is at least adequate. The team’s acquisition of Brandin Cooks adds competition for playing time, but Shaheed remains a stash option for fantasy owners willing to take a risk on upside from the deep bench.

Quarterback Spencer Rattler’s rookie year saw mixed results: six starts with a 57% completion rate, just over 1,300 yards, four touchdowns, and five interceptions, along with modest rushing contributions. Rattler’s battle with Tyler Shough for the starting QB role leaves both with limited fantasy appeal in one-quarterback leagues. The starting quarterback’s identity will be crucial to future Saints fantasy value, especially for Superflex and two-quarterback formats, where either could serve as a reserve option.

Tight end Juwan Johnson concluded 2024 with several games scoring double-digit PPR points after a solid finish in 2023. While his potential to be a standout fantasy tight end exists, it remains uncertain until he starts the season strong. For now, Johnson remains a year-round waiver-wire candidate rather than a draft priority.

Outlook: The NFC South’s Emerging Fantasy Landscape in 2025

As fantasy managers prepare their drafts, the NFC South offers a landscape filled with high-risk, high-reward choices. Chris Godwin’s potential to bounce back in 2025 could provide a significant asset to the Buccaneers’ offense if he recaptures his pre-injury form, though competition and health are key considerations. Across the division, rookies like Bijan Robinson and Tetairoa McMillan, alongside established performers such as Mike Evans and Alvin Kamara, balance uncertainty with upside.

The Falcons have showcased explosive late-season performances from Michael Penix Jr. and Bijan Robinson that set a bullish tone for 2025, while the Panthers’ Bryce Young and Adam Thielen combination demands close monitoring. New Orleans’ status quo at quarterback and key injuries raise doubts but also offer sleepers like Rashid Shaheed and Juwan Johnson opportunities to emerge.

Overall, fantasy teams in this division reflect a blend of dynamic rookies, recovering stars, and veterans battling competition. The unfolding training camps and preseason evaluations will be critical in determining roles, health statuses, and opportunity levels, ultimately shaping the fantasy outcomes for the 2025 season.