I wouldn’t advise doing this if you actually want to win your league.
The NFL season kicks off in less than two weeks, which means we’re right in the middle of fantasy football drafts. Roughly 30 million people a year play in at least one league a year. With my own draft rapidly approaching, I wondered: what would an all-Tar Heel fantasy football team composed of players currently in the NFL look like?
After some deliberation, here’s what I came up with:
QB: Drake Maye
Maye started on the bench last year but quickly captured the starting job that usually goes along with
being a first-round pick. While he had a few of the expected rookie mistakes, he flashed some of the skills that made him a standout at UNC. For fantasy football purposes, his willingness to continue to run will be an asset to anyone who drafts him.
RB1: Omarion Hampton
Hampton has yet to play a snap in the NFL, but he’s potentially worth taking as your RB1 even if we weren’t drafting only former Tar Heels. After a season that saw him gain over 2,000 total yards for the Heels, Hampton pretty much landed in the perfect spot for a young running back. Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh is known for leaning on his running game and has built one of the best lines in the NFL for Hampton to run behind. In addition, one of Hampton’s main competitors for touches, Najee Harris, may be out for a bit with an eye injury.
RB2: Javonte Williams
Williams was drafted in 2021 by the Broncos but never truly claimed the mantle of unquestioned starter. This year, he finds himself with a new opportunity as a Dallas Cowboy. His usage is unclear, but the opportunity is there with Rico Dowdle moving on to the Carolina Panthers. Dallas’s offense tends to score a lot of points, so Williams could get a lot of goal line action if he can secure touches in a crowded backfield.
WR1: Josh Downs
Downs put up solid numbers in his sophomore season despite inconsistent QB play. Downs has now collected 140 receptions in his first two NFL seasons, a Colts record. His 2025 numbers will partially depend on who starts at QB in a given week; Week 1 starter Daniel Jones tends to be more of a short yardage passer that would rely heavily on Downs out of the slot.
WR2: Dyami Brown
Brown spent the first four years of his NFL career with the Washington Commanders. His last season was his best one; he caught 30 passes for 308 yards and one touchdown. This year, Brown will suit up for the Jacksonville Jaguars and should serve as their third receiver. With the exception of Jayden Daniels’s excellent rookie season, he’s had pretty inconsistent play from his quarterback; catching balls from Trevor Lawrence should help.
TE: Bryson Nesbit
Last year, UNC had no tight ends playing in the NFL; the last Carolina alumnus to see action was Eric Ebron in 2021. Nesbit didn’t make the initial 53-man roster for the Vikings, but he caught a few balls in preseason games and has more of a shot at catching on with his current team than fellow 2025 undrafted rookie John Copenhaver.
FLEX: Mack Hollins
Hollins has carved out a solid NFL career for himself as a vocal locker room leader and barefoot aficionado. Last year with the Bills, he caught 31 passes for 378 yards and set a career high with five receiving touchdowns. He signed with the Patriots for the 2025 as a veteran leader to help both second-year QB Drake Maye and the Pats’ young wide receiver room take the next step forward. He should get some decent playing time as the third or fourth wide receiver in an offense that will probably have to throw a lot.
So, there is your all-Tar Heel fantasy football team. I doubt you’ll win your league championship with this team, but you should safely claim the mantle of UNC superfan if you manage to snag all these guys.
