Data-Backed Fantasy Football Picks for the AFC North:

Welcome back to another episode of the Heater Dynasty Podcast! This week, Eric takes fantasy football managers on a tour of the AFC North—one of the most intriguing divisions heading into the 2025 season. From superstar quarterbacks to late-round sleepers, this episode is packed with data-backed fantasy football picks, projections, and insider strategy. Eric also walks listeners through his custom Google Sheets template for player projections, which is available on Patreon, Etsy, and linked across his social media accounts.

Here’s a recap of the division and fantasy insights you can’t afford to miss:

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🟣 Baltimore Ravens: The Run-First Juggernaut

• Super Bowl Dark Horse: Eric boldly claims the Ravens could be this year’s Super Bowl champs.
• Lamar Jackson (QB4): Projected for 34 TDs, 8 INTs. A consistent top-tier option with QB1 upside.
• Derrick Henry (RB5): Somehow still dominant. The projection model is bullish despite his age.
• Zay Flowers (WR26): Solid but unspectacular—won’t win you a league, but could be serviceable depending on draft value.
• Rashod Bateman (WR47): Quietly efficient. A late-round target with WR3/Flex upside.
• Mark Andrews (TE8): Aging and splitting time with Isaiah Likely. Caution advised in redraft formats.

💡 Takeaway: Lamar and Henry are elite. Avoid overpaying for Flowers or Andrews. Bateman offers late value.

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🟠 Cincinnati Bengals: Pass-Happy with Explosive Upside

• Joe Burrow (QB5): A full 17-game season could push him back into MVP conversations. Projected for 38 TDs.
• Chase Brown (RB10): Set to be the workhorse. A top-12 RB season is in play.
• Jamar Chase (WR1): Enough said. Projected for 12 TDs, and still may be conservative.
• Tee Higgins (WR23): Health remains the only question. If he plays all 17, he’s a reliable WR2.
• Jermaine Burton: Dynasty watchlist candidate. Could be a sneaky waiver pickup early in the year.

💡 Takeaway: Stack Burrow with Chase where possible. Brown is a value riser, and Higgins remains boom-or-bust due to injury history.

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🟤 Cleveland Browns: Mystery, Mayhem, and Maybe a Breakout

• Quarterback Carousel: Joe Flacco may start, but expect to see Kenny Pickett, Shadur Sanders, and possibly more.
• Quinshon Judkins (RB21): Rookie to watch. Projected for a solid workload but limited ceiling due to offense.
• Jerome Ford (RB54): A depth piece only.
• Jerry Jeudy (WR19): Could be a steal if Flacco starts. WR1 ceiling, WR2 floor.
• Cedric Tillman (WR45): Breakout alert. Great value in later rounds.
• David Njoku (TE11): Draftable but not dependable. Streaming likely needed.

💡 Takeaway: Target Jeudy and Tillman late. Avoid the QB room entirely. Judkins is worth a mid-round shot.

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🟡 Pittsburgh Steelers: Rodgers In, Fantasy Relevance TBD

• Aaron Rodgers (QB26): Yes, he’s a Steeler now. But no, Eric doesn’t expect much fantasy output.
• Jalen Warren & Kaleb Johnson: A potential RBBC. Warren may start, but Johnson (RB12 in projections) could win the job and be a surprise league-winner.
• DK Metcalf (WR13): Rodgers’ favorite target. Expect volume and red-zone looks.
• Calvin Austin & Robert Woods: DFS-only dart throws.
• Pat Freiermuth & Jonnu Smith: A tight end tandem that cannibalizes each other’s value. Avoid for now.

💡 Takeaway: Draft Johnson late and stash. Metcalf is the only surefire fantasy piece in this offense. Fade Rodgers and the tight ends.

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🔧 The Tool Behind the Takes

Eric’s Google Sheets projection tool is a fantasy manager’s dream—dynamically updated with team depth charts, realistic carry splits, and stat regression built in. It’s available for purchase via Instagram, Patreon, and Etsy.

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👀 What’s Next?

Eric teases next week’s breakdown of the NFC North, promising more projections, more insights, and more ways to dominate your fantasy league.

Follow along on:

• TikTok: @HeaterDynastyPodcast
• Instagram: @HeaterDynastyPodcast
• Website: HeaterDynasty.com

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Final Word: The AFC North has stars at every level—but it’s also filled with landmines. This episode helps you navigate through them and make your own data-backed fantasy football picks. Draft smart, trust the process, and use the tools Eric’s created to build your best lineup yet.