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Week 17 came with big performances, but several key veterans stood out and delivered when Fantasy managers needed them most. As we close out the 2024 season, let’s take a look at several key veteran heroes from Week 17, their 2024 seasons, and their fantasy prospects in 2025.
Baker Mayfield, quarterback, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Heading into Week 17, Mayfield was a top-10 quarterback, averaging over 20 fantasy points per game, and Mayfield turned in his best performance of the season with over 350 passing yards and five touchdowns in fantasy championships. Mayfield’s consistency throughout the season was the truly remarkable nature of his season. Mayfield has an impressive 12 top-10 finishes. By comparison, Josh Allen has had 11 top-10 finishes this season.
Mayfield often doesn’t get the credit he deserves and punctuated this fantasy season with one of the most impressive quarterback performances of the year. Yes, it was against the Carolina Panthers. However, we should note that the performance was the best any quarterback has had against the Panthers this season and he did it with another top-10 performance from Bucky Irving. Mayfield really put the Bucs on his back and delivered in Week 17.
pulse control: What should we expect from Mayfield in 2025?
There are a lot of things working in Mayfield’s favor in 2025. The emergence of rookie Jalen McMillan reduces the potential loss of Chris Godwin in free agency, although it’s worth noting that it’s entirely possible the Bucs could retain Godwin. The entire Bucs backfield remains under contract through 2025. The only potential change could be offensive coordinator Liam Coen entering the coaching carousel with a host of teams seeking young, offensive-minded talent.
Mayfield should move up in ADP but still be very profitable. As flashier young names move up the board (Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye with a presumed new WR1, and even Bo Nix), Mayfield is set to be a solid value pick in 2025 with continued top-five overall upside.
Derrick Henry, RB, Baltimore Ravens
Henry entered Week 17 on a four-game cold streak. While his efficiency was good (he had over 100 yards in multiple games), he had gone without a touchdown since Week 11. Week 17 featured the return of Henry’s dominance, finishing as the overall RB2 (pending scheduled games stellar), with 27 carries. for 147 yards, and finally got the elusive touchdown.
Henry’s season as a whole has been quite remarkable. Henry has averaged a whopping 5.8 yards per carry, a career-high, with over 1,700 yards and 16 total touchdowns, displaying a beautiful combination of a solid floor and an overall RB1 ceiling.
pulse control: Is Henry a Round 1 pick in 2025 fantasy drafts?
Unlike Mayfield, who the industry should have a generally accepted opinion on, Henry will likely be one of the most debated veterans this offseason. Although Henry will return to the same offense, as the Ravens essentially have all of his pieces under contract and will likely have no coaching changes, the reason for the debate is the same problem that Fantasy managers have faced for several years: When will he finally get old? ? take control?
This question has been one of the most polarizing in fantasy football, with half falling into the “faded old backs” camp and the other half falling into the “he’s built differently” camp. Coming into this week, Henry was the overall RB2 in points per game average, averaging 18.3 fantasy points in half PPR. It’s hard to argue with that level of production. Enrique showed zero signs of approaching a cliff and deserves a Round 1 pick.
Adam Thielen, WR, Carolina Panthers
Speaking of trying to predict a cliff, few players defied age this week more than Thielen, turning in a top-10 performance at 34 years old. Thielen had five catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns in Week 17. Thielen’s season included a seven-game stretch on IR, but when he returned, he immediately reclaimed his role as Bryce Young’s favorite target and turned in multiple top-10 performances. first, not by chance. against Tampa Bay.
Thielen is under contract in 2025 and is a reasonably priced asset on a young team with no cap issues. He’ll likely still be a key piece of the Panthers’ receiving corps in 2025, but his role is the big question.
pulse control: Should we expect fantasy relevance from Thielen in 2025?
The Panthers should have a top-10 pick, and while they have plenty of holes to fill, they’ll likely add a top receiver or turn to free agency to try to find a true WR1 for Young. Assuming there is an additional receiver in addition to the continued development of Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker, Thielen’s role within the offense will be unreliable and age will make him an overall risk to survive the season. That said, those factors will add a significant ADP discount. Consider Thielen a late-round target depending on the level of depth the Panthers add to the receiving corps.
Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs
After weeks of frustration and wildly disappointing performances, Kelce finally had a bounce-back week and finished as the overall TE2 heading into primetime games. Fortunately for fantasy managers, despite Kelce’s poor season, the tight end position has been poor enough that Kelce remains a must-start, so fantasy managers could still reap the benefits of the game. peak of Week 17.
Entering the week, Kelce was the overall TE8, averaging 8.6 fantasy points per game, an indictment of the overall lack of production at the position. Kelce is another veteran facing conversations about “did he fall?” and about retirement, particularly after such a decorated Hall of Fame career and a Quickly develop media personality.
pulse control: How to value Kelce in 2025?
Kelce spent most of the season operating as a target in the Chiefs’ offense. However, there are several telltale signs that Kelce is likely about to suffer a sharp drop in production. In Weeks 1-3, Rashee Rice was the clear and dominant force among the Chiefs’ pass catchers. Kelce’s bulking up came after Rice’s injury. Additionally, over the past few weeks, rookie Xavier Worthy has taken a leap with three consecutive top-20 performances. It’s also possible the Chiefs will try to retain Hollywood Brown, who saw limited use due to injury.
I’m less concerned about the emergence of Noah Gray throwing touchdowns and more concerned about Kansas City’s clear path toward a well-rounded receiving corps ultimately limiting any upside Kelce had through pure volume. Kelce will likely fall outside the top five in ADP at his position next season and instead be a potential stable pick, but the days of Kelce being the highest-volume tight end have come and gone.