Los Angeles Rams veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford was named the 2025 NFL Most Valuable Player on Thursday night for the first time in his 17th season in the league. Stafford beat out New England Patriots second-year QB Drake Maye for the award by just one vote. The 37-year-old also made the Pro Bowl in 2025 for only the third time in his career after one of his best all-around seasons. Stafford completed 65% of his 597 pass attempts for a league-high 4,707 passing yards, a league-high 46 touchdown passes, and only eight interceptions in 17 regular-season starts. In three playoff games, he added 936 passing yards, six touchdowns, and one interception. There was some doubt as to whether Stafford would return for an 18th NFL season following the Rams' loss to the Seahawks in the NFC Championship, but the former Georgia Bulldog announced on Thursday night that he will be returning. With weapons galore in L.A. on offense, Stafford will be a clear QB1 fantasy target going into next season.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba was named the 2025 NFL Offensive Player of the Year on Thursday evening, per Adam Schefter of ESPN. Smith-Njigba broke out as the best receiver in the NFL in his third year in the NFL with no DK Metcalf around in Seattle. The 23-year-old former 20th overall pick in 2023 out of Ohio State immediately clicked with quarterback Sam Darnold and caught 119 passes for a league-leading 1,793 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns on 163 targets over 17 regular-season games. JSN added 13 catches on 16 targets for 172 yards and two more trips to paydirt in the playoffs to lead Seattle to Super Bowl LX this Sunday against the New England Patriots. It would be a surprise if Smith-Njigba doesn't have a big game this weekend to cap off a phenomenal year. He will be one of the first receivers off the board in fantasy football drafts this fall.

Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger was named the 2025 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year on Thursday night, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Schwesinger was a tackling machine in his first year in the league in 2025 after the Browns took him in the second round out of UCLA. The 22-year-old managed to win the award despite missing the season finale due to an ankle injury. In 16 games played, Schwesinger tallied 156 tackles (67 solo), 2.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, nine QB hits, two interceptions, and three pass breakups. He quickly put himself on the map in IDP fantasy leagues and should be a popular target in those formats in 2026. Schwesinger's ankle injury shouldn't prevent him from being ready for Week 1 of the regular season this fall. Cleveland's defense was one of the strongest units in the NFL this year, with pass-rusher Myles Garrett setting the single-season sack record as well.

Chicago Bears offensive guard Joe Thuney was named the 2025 Protector of the Year on Thursday night, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. It's the first award of its kind. Thuney made an immediate impact for Chicago after the team acquired him in March of last year from the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for a fourth-round pick in this year's NFL Draft. The 33-year-old veteran then signed a two-year, $35 million contract with the Bears in May. The biggest surprise may have been the fact that a left guard, and not a left tackle, won the inaugural Protector of the Year award. Thuney played a key role in helping the Bears win the NFC North division while also helping the team advance to the Divisional Round of the postseason in quarterback Caleb Williams' second year in the league. The Bears' offensive line allowed the third-fewest sacks (24) in the NFL in 2025.