- D.J. Moore and Caleb Williams goal to rebound from a irritating 2024 season: Moore struggled to construct on his promising debut in Chicago, and whereas a bounce-back is feasible, it received’t come simple with elevated goal competitors getting into the combo in 2025.
- Travis Hunter enters his rookie season with sky-high expectations: Drafted as a fantasy WR2, the two-way standout might want to make a direct impression to satisfy his ADP, and his dynamic faculty manufacturing suggests he’s greater than succesful.
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This fantasy soccer article collection breaks down the hardest draft-day choices going through fantasy managers, utilizing Underdog’s common draft place (ADP) as a information. Each installment compares equally ranked gamers on the identical place, utilizing key stats from earlier seasons and contextual elements — together with workforce state of affairs — to determine the higher choose.
Today’s matchup options Chicago Bears receiver D.J. Moore and Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Travis Hunter, as we consider which participant provides higher worth in the midst of the fourth spherical of fantasy drafts.
While Moore enters the season with an NFL function already in place, Hunter has but to play knowledgeable snap, so all of his knowledge on this comparability, together with three-year metrics, comes from his faculty profession at Colorado. Only Moore’s NFL statistics are used on this evaluation.
More from this collection:
Amon-Ra St. Brown vs. Malik Nabers | Nico Collins vs Brian Thomas Jr. | A.J. Brown vs. Drake London
Garrett Wilson vs. Marvin Harrison Jr. | Tyreek Hill vs. Terry McLaurin
Jaxon Smith-Njigba vs. Rashee Rice | Xavier Worthy vs. Tetairoa McMillan
D.J. Moore vs. Travis Hunter
D.J. MOORE (WR23) vs. TRAVIS HUNTER (WR24)
Moore’s first yr in Chicago in 2023 was the most efficient of his profession, culminating in his first WR1 fantasy end. However, he wasn’t capable of replicate that success in 2024. Despite seeing a slight uptick in targets, Moore completed because the WR19, struggling to search out constant chemistry with rookie quarterback Caleb Williams of their first season collectively.
Travis Hunter enters the NFL as probably the most distinctive prospects in latest reminiscence, anticipated to play each extensive receiver and cornerback, simply as he did on the collegiate stage. Drafted second total, Hunter joins Liam Coen’s offense with sky-high expectations. He’ll look to make a direct impression and push for fantasy WR2 manufacturing as a rookie.
INVOLVEMENT IN THE OFFENSE
Interestingly, whereas Moore led the Bears in targets in 2024, solely 50% of these seems got here on Caleb Williams’ first learn — a mirrored image of the crowded and aggressive nature of Chicago’s receiving corps, which included Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze. Moore trailed Allen in goal price (21.4%) final season, and though Allen is now not on the roster, a number of sturdy target-earners are becoming a member of the fold in 2025, additional complicating the trail to constant quantity.
As for Hunter, his offensive function will probably hinge on how the workforce chooses to handle his workload throughout either side of the ball. While he’s anticipated to play extensive receiver primarily, it’s completely potential he received’t see a full-time route share corresponding to somebody like Brian Thomas Jr., particularly if the teaching workers plans to deploy him on protection as effectively. In that case, Hunter would probably require extra schemed alternatives to stay fantasy-relevant — a practical state of affairs given his dynamic ability set, however one which provides uncertainty to his weekly ground.
PRODUCTION AND PERFORMANCE
Moore’s 2024 marketing campaign marked a profession low in yards per route run, regardless of seeing the second-highest goal complete of his profession. His receiving grade additionally dipped to the bottom mark of his skilled tenure, elevating issues, however these numbers could show to be an outlier relatively than a development. A bounce-back in 2025 will hinge on higher chemistry with Caleb Williams and the way Moore adjusts to a reshaped receiver room. The arrival of offensive coordinator Ben Johnson brings optimism, as his artistic, environment friendly scheme might put Moore in a extra favorable offensive surroundings than final season.
As for Hunter, he showcased uncommon two-way dominance in faculty, excelling as each a receiver and cornerback. He ranked fifth within the FBS with 1,258 receiving yards whereas additionally incomes a 90.3 protection grade, a top-five mark amongst all cornerbacks in 2024. Translating that success to the NFL is uncharted territory, particularly for a participant anticipated to contribute closely on either side of the ball. Still, that hasn’t tempered expectations for the No. 2 total choose, who enters his rookie season with the highlight firmly on him.
HIGH-VALUE TARGET INVOLVEMENT
Moore remained the Bears’ go-to choice within the pink zone in 2024, main the workforce in each complete targets (20) and goal price in that space. He ranked top-10 amongst extensive receivers in red-zone targets and top-12 in red-zone goal price. However, he transformed simply two of these alternatives into touchdowns — the fewest amongst all extensive receivers with a minimum of 15 red-zone targets final season. If Moore maintains that stage of involvement in 2025, optimistic landing regression ought to be anticipated.
Brian Thomas Jr. led the Jaguars in pink zone utilization as a rookie, scoring eight touchdowns, probably the most by a first-year extensive receiver within the pink zone since Odell Beckham Jr. in 2014. Jacksonville’s offense didn’t generate many pink zone journeys total (twenty fifth in pink zone performs), however with key upgrades getting into 2025, there’s optimism that extra alternatives will likely be obtainable, not only for Thomas but additionally for a possible red-zone contributor like Travis Hunter.
TEAM PASSING/QUARTERBACK SITUATION
Both Chicago and Jacksonville will enter the 2025 season with new teaching staffs and renewed optimism on offense. For the Bears, the mixture of Ben Johnson taking on as head coach, main upgrades alongside the offensive line and the addition of elite receiving expertise ought to place Caleb Williams for a major Year 2 leap. D.J. Moore, already probably the most established weapon within the passing sport, stands to be one of many greatest beneficiaries of that enchancment.
In Jacksonville, Trevor Lawrence will look to bounce again after being restricted to simply 10 video games in 2024, the fewest of his profession. New head coach Liam Coen arrives after coordinating a Tampa Bay offense that ranked within the prime 5 in each total offensive grade and passing grade final season. If Coen can replicate even a part of that success in Jacksonville — the Jaguars completed twenty fourth and twenty second in those self same classes in 2024 — the passing sport, and Lawrence particularly, might be in for a considerable rebound in 2025.
POTENTIAL 2025 TARGET COMPETITION
While Moore now not has to compete with Keenan Allen, his goal share is way from safe. Rome Odunze is predicted to take a giant step ahead in Year 2, and the additions of top-10 choose Colston Loveland and early second-rounder Luther Burden III have made this receiver room much more aggressive than it was a yr in the past. Moore ought to nonetheless lead the workforce in receiving, however his slice of the pie could also be noticeably smaller in 2025.
In Jacksonville, Brian Thomas Jr. represents important goal competitors for Travis Hunter and is projected to be the highest fantasy choice from the Jaguars in 2025. However, with Liam Coen calling performs and a wholesome Trevor Lawrence again beneath middle, there ought to be loads of passing quantity to help a number of productive receivers, very like Mike Evans and Chris Godwin coexisted beneath Coen (and others) in Tampa Bay.
D.J. Moore vs. Travis Hunter: Target Maps (2024)
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While the ultimate determination is yours, don’t head into your draft blind. Check out PFF’s newest fantasy soccer rankings to see precisely the place D.J. Moore, Travis Hunter and all of your 2025 targets stack up.