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PrintFantasy Football Draft Guide: 12-Team PPR Draft Strategy
Draft Strategy: Tips & Tricks
Discover 7 expert-level drafting tips.
3 fatal drafting mistakes you must avoid.
Round-by-Round Draft Guide
Top targets & alternate picks for each round.
Based on the latest rankings & ADP data.
Advanced Draft Strategy
7 key strategies for tailored player rankings.
Live-draft sync strategizes while you draft.
Draft Strategy: Tips & Tricks
7 Expert-Level Drafting Tips
1. Use Unique Rankings To Give Yourself an Edge
Many of your competitors will be drafting off of the same rankings (think: ESPN or Yahoo). Tough to get an edge that way. Put in the work. Stay up-to-date on the news. And don’t be afraid to break away from the herd when it comes to your rankings. It’s an easy way to out-draft your competition.
2. Weaponize ADP To Outsmart Your Competition
ADP is like having your opponent’s playbook. Whether subconsciously or not, ADP has a huge influence on draft behavior. Drafters rarely stray too far from it. Knowing which players your opponents are likely – and unlikely – to draft next can give you a big strategic advantage. (Hint: Use our ADP Market Index to help.)
3. Catch League-Winning Breakout Candidates
Leagues are won by nailing one or two breakout late-round picks. Think Jayden Daniels or Brian Thomas Jr. last year. When you’re on the clock and deciding between two or more players, always ask yourself: “Which of these guys is more likely to be the league-winning, had-to-have player?” Then take that guy.
4. Learn to Predict Your Opponents’ Picks
Drafting is part science (rankings, ADP, positional value) and part art. No two drafts will play out same. It’s your job to recognize the flow of your draft and react accordingly. It’s especially important to track positional needs. For example, if teams near you have selected a bunch of WRs but few RBs, you can assume they’ll be targeting RBs soon. Get out ahead of them and snag a RB with your next pick.
5. Discover the Next Bucky Irving
Let your league mates waste later-round picks on handcuffing their own RBs. You can get the jump on them by targeting RBs behind fragile starters. That was Irving, Tyrone Tracy, and Rico Dowdle this time last year. And we’re eyeing some intriguing new candidates for 2025.
6. Draft Immobile QBs in 2025 (Wait … What?!)
Running QBs are fantasy gold. Problem is, that’s no longer a secret. In many cases, the pendulum has swung too far toward those guys. And that’s turned some less-mobile QBs into values. Justin Herbert and Dak Prescott pop as undervalued QBs in 2025 drafts – despite their lack of rushing yards.
7. Chase opportunity at RB… and talent at WR
Fantasy scoring at RB is closely tied to playing time and touches. Target RBs who project to get the rock a lot. WR is a more talent-driven position. Targets are earned, not given. That’s why advanced metrics like targets per route and yards per route run should be key factors in your WR rankings.
3 Fatal Draft Mistakes
1. Don't Match Your Rankings To Last Year’s Stats (Consider What's Changed)
Overweighing last year's fantasy finishes could cost you on draft day. Too much changes from year to year. That includes coaching staffs, offensive schemes, rookies, free agents, etc. That’s why it’s crucial that you live in the present – and weigh all the offseason changes when creating your 2025 player rankings.
2. Don’t Be Stubborn About Your Pre-Draft Plan
Instead, be flexible. You might go in with a Zero-RB strategy. But if enough teams grab WRs by the second round – a workhorse RB might fall into your lap. That’s when it’s time to scoop up the player who will best help your team win … not reach for a position because it was part of your pre-draft plan.
3. Don’t Pass Up Player Value to Chase Positional ‘Need’
NFL teams that try to fill “needs” (instead of adopting the “best player available” model) most often crap out on their draft picks. Same holds true for you. Reaching for a “need” player most often blows your chances at winning. And remember: Drafting the best player available gives you valuable trade chips down the road.
Advanced Draft Strategy
7 Key Strategies for Tailored Player Rankings
The most advanced fantasy football draft strategy for any format, and any league, is a “Value Based Draft Strategy.” It can take different forms, and be based on any number of draft-value indicators.
Draft Sharks' value-based draft strategy actually has 17 Draft Value Indicators. Here are 7 crucial ones you can use in your draft:
1. Master Cross Positional Value
Which positions are most valuable in your league? Maybe QBs in a superflex. How do RBs stack up vs. WRs in PPR leagues? Understanding values across positions involves using a specific algorithm to analyze player values. It weighs various factors like scoring rules, starting-lineup requirements, ADP, and league settings.
2. Track Positional Scarcity on the Fly
This one is super important but also super hard. To measure positional scarcity, you need to track each pick – and see how it impacts the player pool. If there are seven QBs taken by the fifth round, that position becomes scarce. And QBs suddenly increase in value in your draft.
3. Prioritize Players With Greater Upside
You’re in the 11th round and torn between three players with roughly the same draft value. You need to highlight the player with the highest fantasy ceiling. Then make sure he doesn't slip by you in the heat of the draft. It might sound simple, but it’s mission-critical to identify these breakout players and pull the trigger when the time is right.
4. Look Out for “Bust” Red Flags
You probably know the red flags of a potential bust. But are you factoring them into your value of each player? Age, declining production, bad offensive line, competition for touches, a new offensive scheme that de-emphasizes a player’s role. Don’t blow your draft capital on a player who is screaming “bust!”
5. Use a Scientific Injury Risk Assessment
You know the scenario… You spend a second-round pick on a stud WR – and in Week 2, he suffers a soft-tissue injury and misses the next four weeks. Brutal. Injuries aren’t 100% predictable. But you can get reliable scientific data to avoid the biggest potential injury risk players.
6. Always Use Correlated ADP
This one is huge. Using ADP (Average Draft Position) is the ultimate measure to find value. The problem is this: If you use a redraft PPR ADP to prepare for your non-PPR Dynasty league, you’re doing yourself more harm than good. Find reliable ADP that is correlated to your specific rules and format.
7. Avoid Bye-Week Conflicts
You’d think this one would be so easy. But you know the truth. You’re in the heat of your draft, you’re on the clock, and bang … you double-up on the same bye week at a crucial position. You’re now forced to fix that mistake at some point in your draft – or later in your season.
Key Insight: There are a lot of factors that go into drafting for true player value. It’s not just about using “position tiers” or employing a “Zero” or “Hero” RB strategy. It’s about using a mix of scientific metrics and educated guesses in predicting player production. And how you and your opponents behave during critical times in your draft.
How To Execute This Strategy: You’ve got a lot to focus on if you want to execute these draft strategies in real-time – amid the chaos of your draft. In fact, it’s humanly impossible for anyone to implement every key strategy… AND work out every algorithm essential to a winning draft.
The real solution is to get real-time help from an AI “Draft War Room.”
Discover the Live-Draft Sync That Strategizes While You Draft
If what you’ve read so far makes sense, here’s a draft tool you need to learn more about.
It’s actually TWO tools that pair together so you can dominate your draft with one super tool!
A live-draft sync super-powered by the “Draft War Room” (DWR)
This super draft tool automatically re-ranks players on your draft board in real-time. Those dynamic player values are based on a variety of factors, including positional scarcity, team needs, injury risk, breakout potential, and bust risk. In fact, there are 17 draft-value indicators it calculates in real-time to come up with your player suggestions.
How It Works: You're just three clicks away from your league and draft being live-synced. From there, you’re on the road to draft domination. And it works across multiple platforms (ESPN, Yahoo, CBS, Underdog, and Sleeper, to name a few). For multiple league formats (dynasty, rookie, keeper, best ball, auction, superflex – and, of course, redraft).
What It Means For You: You get dynamic player values customized to your league. Simply. And in real-time. When it's your turn to pick, the Draft War Room offers instant player suggestions tailored to everything happening in your draft. You’ll be unburdened from the pressure of being "on the clock." While at the same time getting specific player suggestions that are scientifically based and strategically sound.
Key Insights: No one who’s serious about winning their draft can use 2015 technology in the competitive environment of 2025. It’s really that simple. We know too much about the science behind successful drafting to keep basing decisions on “gut” and “educated guesses.” Yes, sometimes we roll with those two things. But we need to have a lot more (technology) at our disposal to be consistent fantasy football champions.
How to Execute This Strategy: Make sure you pick a “live-draft sync” over a simple “league sync.” A league sync doesn't work during your draft to adjust player values in real-time. To learn more about the live-sync option, check out this page explaining our live-sync tool.
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Fantasy Football Draft Guide: Winning Picks in Every Round
Fantasy drafts demand precision. Every pick means weighing scoring rules, positional value, team needs, ADP trends, upside, and injury risk ... all under the pressure of the clock. Miss the mark, and your season can skid off course before it even begins.
And let’s be real: There’s nothing worse than watching your early-round picks flop while your buddy snags the breakout players who carry him to a title. That hurts!
Your solution: A round-by-round draft strategy guide to maximize value with every pick.
This 12-team PPR draft strategy guide highlights top targets and fallback options for every pick of your draft.
We’ve baked in our 3D Values alongside the latest ADP to help you zero in on the best choices each round.
Consider this your game plan heading into your draft.
No fantasy football draft goes exactly as planned, of course. You’ll likely need to adjust your strategy throughout the draft to maximize value.
That’s where the dynamic fantasy football cheat sheet on your Draft War Room comes into play, instantly analyzing 17 value indicators each time you’re on the clock to help you make the best pick.
Combine the Draft War Room with this round-by-round game plan and you’ll be armed with the ultimate fantasy football draft guide.
Note: This strategy guide assumes a 16-round draft and starting lineup of 1 QB, 2 RBs, 2 WRs, 1 TE, 1 Flex, 1 K and 1 DST. The Draft War Room will help you adjust your strategy if your league settings are different.
Fantasy Football Draft Strategy for Pick 1, 2, or 3
Round 1
Top target: Ja’Marr Chase
Chase is the clear No. 1 player in our 2025 fantasy football rankings.
He racked up 1,708 yards and 17 TDs last season, scoring 86 more PPR points than any other WR. He’s back in the same offense with the same QB in 2025. And he’s just hitting his prime at age 25.
Chase boasts a very attractive combination of safety and upside.
Next best: Bijan Robinson
Robinson is coming off a RB4 PPR finish and was even better over the second half of the season, ranking second in expected points per game and third in actual points.
Just hitting his peak at 23 years old, Robinson is as good a bet as anyone to lead RBs in fantasy points this season.
Other options:
- CeeDee Lamb
Rounds 2 & 3
Top targets: Jonathan Taylor & A.J. Brown
Taylor missed three games last season. But in the other 14, he averaged 21.6 carries and 102 rushing yards per game. Those marks ranked first and third league-wide.
Indianapolis’ QB situation adds some risk to Taylor’s 2025 outlook. But Daniel Jones getting the Week 1 nod helps Taylor's outlook. His target and TD projections gets boosts with Jones vs. Anthony Richardson.
Brown is coming off a WR12 finish in PPR points per game, despite the Eagles attempting 29 fewer passes than any other team.
He drew a huge 31.4% target share in his 13 games, while setting career highs in yards per route and Pro Football Focus receiving grade.
The Eagles will likely throw at least a little -- and maybe a lot -- more in 2025. That could vault Brown back into the top-8 fantasy WRs.
Next best: Tee Higgins & Chase Brown
The big four-year deal he signed this offseason keeps Higgins tied to one of the game’s best QBs and one of its pass-heaviest offenses.
That environment helped Higgins rank fifth among WRs in PPR points per game last year. It was his third top-12 finish among the last four seasons.
Yeah, the injuries can be annoying. But Higgins is a good bet for WR1-level production again in 2025. That’s nice to land in the second or third round.
Brown got workhorse usage over the second half of last season, averaging 18.9 carries and 5.5 targets over his final eight games. He ranked fourth among RBs in PPR points during that stretch.
We're not projecting Brown to get quite that much work in 2025. But he should remain the clear lead back after the Bengals failed to add legitimate competition this offseason.
Other options:
- Bucky Irving
- Ladd McConkey
- Trey McBride
The Draft War Room is the most powerful drafting tool in fantasy football.
Rounds 4 & 5
Top targets: Mike Evans & James Conner
Evans saw a role change in 2024, with a career-low 11.6-yard average target depth leading to a career-low 13.6 yards per catch. But he set personal bests with a 67.3% catch rate and 2.41 yards per route.
The result in fantasy football was a WR11 finish in PPR points per game – his seventh straight top-16 finish. He's a good bet for another WR2-caliber season in 2025.
Conner continues to be underrated by fantasy drafters.
He's turned in back-to-back top-15 finishes in PPR points per game but is once again being drafted outside the top 20 at his position.
Next best: Tetairoa McMillan & TreVeyon Henderson
McMillan boasts a strong prospect profile and has a good chance to immediately emerge as Carolina’s top target. If QB Bryce Young keeps playing like he did over the second half of last season, McMillan will be a good bet for WR2-level production.
Henderson has looked electric this preseason, averaging 7.6 yards per carry and scoring a 100-yard kickoff return TD.
He probably won't get huge rushing volume out of the gate. But the passing-game role should be significant, giving him exciting PPR upside.
Other options:
- David Montgomery
- Terry McLaurin
- Marvin Harrison Jr.
- D.J. Moore
Rounds 6 & 7
Top targets: Jaylen Waddle & Tony Pollard
Waddle's volume and efficiency tanked in what was a weird 2024 season from Miami's passing game. That looks like an outlier, though, when you compare it to the rest of Waddle's career profile:
- Sixth overall pick of the 2021 draft
- Caught 104 balls as a rookie
- Finished WR13 in year 2
- Finished WR22 in year 3
The 26-year-old is a strong bounce-back bet at this cost.
RB Tyjae Spears went down with a high-ankle sprain in the preseason opener and will miss at least the first four games of the season. If five games without Spears last year, Pollard averaged:
- 22.0 carries
- 92.8 rushing yards
- 3.6 targets
- 2.2 catches
- 12.6 receiving yards
- 0.2 TDs
Pollard's 13.9 PPR points per game in those five outings would have ranked 21st among RBs on the season.
Next best: George Pickens & Isiah Pacheco
Pickens goes from the run-heavy Steelers to the pass-heavy Cowboys. And his downfield game will be a great fit with QB Dak Prescott, who has ranked top-7 in Pro Football Focus deep passing grade in three of the last four seasons.
TIP
Pickens is one of our 6 league-winners to target in drafts.
Pacheco's 2024 season was derailed by a broken leg in September. He was operating as a workhorse before that injury, though, and the Chiefs did not make any significant additions to the backfield this offseason.
A healthy Pacheco remains a good bet to lead his backfield. Remember that he finished 14th among RBs in PPR points per game in 2023.
Other options:
- Aaron Jones
- Zay Flowers
- Calvin Ridley
- Travis Hunter
- Chris Olave
- Ricky Pearsall
Rounds 8 & 9
Top targets: Justin Fields & David Njoku
This is a good turn to take your QB1 and/or TE1.
It's not always pretty, but Fields has consistently produced as a QB1 with upside thanks to his high-end rushing production. His 50.2 rushing yards per game rank second among QBs over the last four seasons, behind only Lamar Jackson.
TIP
For more on Fields, check out 2025 Undervalued Players.
Njoku averaged 9.9 targets and scored as the TE6 across nine healthy games last season. That followed TE6 and TE9 finishes the previous two years.
He'll remain a big part of Cleveland's passing game in 2025 and is a good bet for top-10 production.
Next best: Emeka Egbuka & Jordan Mason
Ebguka has been buzzing since the moment he was drafted, drawing praise from coaches, teammates, and beat writers. He was primed to play a big role out of the gate regardless. But injuries to WRs Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan guarantee a busy start.
Egbuka could come out of the gates hot and never look back.
Mason has been a rankings riser this summer. Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell called his backfield a "1A-1B" situation with Aaron Jones and Mason. And Minnesota might lean on the run a bit more this season under first-year starting QB J.J. McCarthy.
Other options
- Travis Etienne
- J.K. Dobbins
- Jakobi Meyers
- Jordan Addison
- Matthew Golden
- Tyler Warren
Rounds 10 & 11
Top targets: Austin Ekeler & Keon Coleman
Ekeler finished 32nd among RBs in PPR points per game last year. He'll remain Washington's primary pass-catching back in 2025 and could add more rushing work with Brian Robinson now in San Francisco.
Consider teammate Jacory Croskey-Merritt if you're looking for pure upside at this spot. But Ekeler is a safer bet for PPR value.
Coleman wasn't much of a fantasy asset last year but did some exciting things for his 2025 outlook. He was used deep downfield, was productive after the catch, and drew a lot of targets near the end zone.
Now heading into year two with plenty of opportunity in a high-scoring Bills offense, Coleman is a legit breakout candidate.
Next best: Josh Downs & Jacory Croskey-Merritt
Downs was awesome in per-route metrics last season but was held back by QB Anthony Richardson. In games with QB Joe Flacco, he ranked 17th among WRs in PPR points per game.
Downs should get better QB play this season from Daniel Jones, who was named the starter on August 19.
Croskey-Merritt was a huge August riser, going from afterthought to potential lead ball carrier for the Commanders after Brian Robinson was traded to the 49ers.
Croskey-Merritt doesn't project to do much in the passing game, which hurts his PPR upside. But if he can capture 12-15 carries per game, plus goal-line work, he could flirt with RB2 production.
Other options:
- Caleb Williams
- Tank Bigsby
- Jaydon Blue
- Michael Pittman
- Darnell Mooney
- Dalton Kincaid
- Tucker Kraft
- Jake Ferguson
Rounds 12 & 13
Top target: Rashid Shaheed & Bhayshul Tuten
Shaheed drew a 23.3% target share and averaged 2.04 yards per route before a season-ending knee injury in Week 6 last year. Those were both top-30 marks among WRs.
He's back to 100% now and remains locked in as New Orleans’ No. 2 WR. The Saints project for a significant spike in play volume under new HC Kellen Moore.
Tuten might open the season as Jacksonville's No. 3 RB. But don't be surprised if he works his way into a significant role -- and maybe the lead job -- throughout the year.
Tuten was hand-picked by the Jaguars' new regime and is an explosive player, clocking a 4.32-second 40 time at 206 pounds.
Next best: Drake Maye & Jayden Higgins
Target Maye here if you're still looking for your QB1 (or want a high-upside QB2). He ranked 15th among QBs in fantasy points per game last year -- as a rookie with one of the league's worst supporting casts. Maye got pass-catching and offensive line upgrades this offseason, giving him breakout potential.
TIP
Prioritizing high-upside players in the later rounds is 1 of 7 key tenets of our fantasy football draft strategy.
Higgins might not open the season in a full-time role. But it shouldn't take him long to work into that position. That gives the talented rookie a path to significant fantasy value if Houston's passing game bounces back. The 2023 Texans produced a pair of top-12 WRs in PPR points per game in Collins and Tank Dell.
Other options:
- Trevor Lawrence
- Jerome Ford
- Dylan Sampson
- Ray Davis
- Tyler Allgeier
- Trey Benson
- Keenan Allen
- Christian Kirk
- Marvin Mims
- Dallas Goedert
Rounds 14, 15 & 16
Top targets: High-upside bench stash, K & DST
Target a player with big upside in Round 14. You can sort by projected ceiling in your Draft War Room to find players with difference-making upside.
Some names to consider:
- Ollie Gordon
- Rico Dowdle
- Chris Rodriguez
- Brashard Smith
- Marquise Brown
- Cedric Tillman
- Luther Burden
- Troy Franklin
- Kyle Williams
- Chig Okonkwo
Use your final two picks on a kicker and DST. Target a kicker on a strong offense. We recommend working the waiver wire and playing matchups at DST throughout the season.
Here are three DSTs with favorable early-season schedules:
- Broncos (vs. TEN, at IND)
- Steelers (at NYJ, vs. SEA, at NE)
- 49ers (at SEA, at NO)
Fantasy Football Draft Strategy for Pick 4, 5, or 6
Round 1
Top target: CeeDee Lamb
Assuming Bijan Robinson doesn't make it to you here, Lamb is the pick.
He and his QB dealt with injuries last year. But Lamb was sitting sixth among WRs in PPR points per game in eight outings with Dak Prescott after leading the position in points per game in 2023.
Lamb will continue to see a ton of targets this season in what projects as a pass-leaning offense under HC Brian Schottenheimer.
Next best: Christian McCaffrey
Feel free to play it safer here with WR Justin Jefferson. But if McCaffrey stays healthy, he could prove to be the most valuable player in fantasy football this year.
He played 88% of the snaps and averaged 14.3 carries and 5.3 targets across his three full games last year. That was in line with his 2023 usage: 80% snaps, 17.0 carries per game, and 5.2 targets per game. McCaffrey, of course, finished RB1 by a wide margin in 2023.
He still has that type of ceiling this year, making him worth the risk here. McCaffrey has been a full participant in San Francisco's offseason program and training camp.
Other options:
- Justin Jefferson
- Jahmyr Gibbs
Round 2
Top target: Jonathan Taylor
The forgotten elite RB.
Taylor missed three games last season. But in the other 14, he averaged 21.6 carries and 102 rushing yards per game. Those marks ranked first and third league-wide.
Indianapolis’ QB situation adds some risk to Taylor’s 2025 outlook. But Daniel Jones getting the Week 1 nod helps Taylor's outlook. His target and TD projections gets boosts with Jones vs. Anthony Richardson.
Next best: Drake London
London is coming off a WR4 finish in total PPR points and could be even better in 2025. He’s still on the ascent at 24, and QB Michael Penix Jr. might prove to be a significant upgrade over last year’s version of Kirk Cousins.
Other options:
- A.J. Brown
- Chase Brown
Round 3
Top Target: Tee Higgins
The big four-year deal he signed this offseason keeps Higgins tied to one of the game’s best QBs and one of its pass-heaviest offenses.
That environment helped Higgins rank fifth among WRs in PPR points per game last year. It was his third top-12 finish among the last four seasons.
Yeah, the injuries can be annoying. But Higgins is a good bet for WR1-level production again in 2025. That’s nice to land in the third round.
Next Best: Trey McBride
McBride finished third among TEs in PPR points per game last year -- despite scoring just two TDs. He led the position in:
- Targets per game
- Target share
- Catches per game
With better TD luck, McBride could lead TEs in fantasy points this season.
Other options:
- Jayden Daniels
- Alvin Kamara
- Kyren Williams
- Ken Walker
- Ladd McConkey
- Tyreek Hill
Round 4
Top target: Mike Evans
Evans saw a role change in 2024, with a career-low 11.6-yard average target depth leading to a career-low 13.6 yards per catch. But he set personal bests with a 67.3% catch rate and 2.41 yards per route.
The result in fantasy football was a WR11 finish in PPR points per game – his seventh straight top-16 finish. He's a good bet for another WR2-caliber season in 2025.
Next best: James Conner
Conner continues to be underrated by fantasy drafters.
He's turned in back-to-back top-15 finishes in PPR points per game but is once again being drafted outside the top 20 at his position.
Other options:
- Chuba Hubbard
- TreVeyon Henderson
- Davante Adams
3D Values identify exactly what a player is worth in YOUR league.
Round 5
Top target: Tetairoa McMillan
McMillan boasts a strong prospect profile and has a good chance to immediately emerge as Carolina’s top target. If QB Bryce Young keeps playing like he did over the second half of last season, McMillan will be a good bet for WR2-level production.
Next best: Xavier Worthy
Worthy closed his rookie season strongly, averaging 75.4 total yards and 0.7 TDs over his final 10 games (including playoffs).
He's a good bet to take a step forward in year two and gets a boost with WR Rashee Rice likely facing a lengthy suspension.
Other options:
- David Montgomery
- DeVonta Smith
- Courtland Sutton
Round 6
Top target: Tony Pollard
RB Tyjae Spears went down with a high-ankle sprain in the preseason opener and will miss at least the first four games of the season. If five games without Spears last year, Pollard averaged:
- 22.0 carries
- 92.8 rushing yards
- 3.6 targets
- 2.2 catches
- 12.6 receiving yards
- 0.2 TDs
Pollard's 13.9 PPR points per game in those five outings would have ranked 21st among RBs on the season.
Next best: George Pickens
Pickens goes from the run-heavy Steelers to the pass-heavy Cowboys. And his downfield game will be a great fit with QB Dak Prescott, who has ranked top-7 in Pro Football Focus deep passing grade in three of the last four seasons.
Other options:
- Isiah Pacheco
- Aaron Jones
- Travis Hunter
- Zay Flowers
- Calvin Ridley
TIP
Put this draft strategy to the test with the FREE Mock Draft Simulator.
Round 7
Top target: Jaylen Waddle
Waddle's volume and efficiency tanked in what was a weird 2024 season from Miami's passing game. That looks like an outlier, though, when you compare it to the rest of Waddle's career profile:
- Sixth overall pick of the 2021 draft
- Caught 104 balls as a rookie
- Finished WR13 in year 2
- Finished WR22 in year 3
The 26-year-old is a strong bounce-back bet at this cost.
Next best: Chris Olave
Olave certainly comes with risk, namely his concussion history and the Saints' QB situation.
But he's simply too talented a player to pass on at this point of fantasy drafts. Olave has topped a 23.5% target share and 2.05 yards per route in each of the last three seasons. Only four other WRs can say that: Justin Jefferson, A.J. Brown, CeeDee Lamb, and Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Other options:
- Jaylen Warren
- Tyrone Tracy
- Ricky Pearsall
- Deebo Samuel
- Rome Odunze
Round 8
Top target: David Njoku
Njoku averaged 9.9 targets and scored as the TE6 across nine healthy games last season. That followed TE6 and TE9 finishes the previous two years.
He'll remain a big part of Cleveland's passing game in 2025 and is a good bet for top-10 production.
Next best: Emeka Egbuka
Ebguka has been buzzing since the moment he was drafted, drawing praise from coaches, teammates, and beat writers. He was primed to play a big role out of the gate regardless. But injuries to WRs Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan guarantee a busy start.
Egbuka could come out of the gates hot and never look back.
Other options:
- Travis Etienne
- Jakobi Meyers
- Jordan Addison
Round 9
Top target: Justin Fields
It's not always pretty, but Fields has consistently produced as a QB1 with upside thanks to his high-end rushing production. His 50.2 rushing yards per game rank second among QBs over the last four seasons, behind only Lamar Jackson.
Next best: Jordan Mason
Mason has been a rankings riser this summer. Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell called his backfield a "1A-1B" situation with Aaron Jones and Mason. And Minnesota might lean on the run a bit more this season under first-year starting QB J.J. McCarthy.
Other options:
- J.K. Dobbins
- Zach Charbonnet
- Khalil Shakir
- Jauan Jennings
- Matthew Golden
- Tyler Warren
Round 10
Top target: Keon Coleman
Coleman wasn't much of a fantasy asset last year but did some exciting things for his 2025 outlook. He was used deep downfield, was productive after the catch, and drew a lot of targets near the end zone.
Now heading into year two with plenty of opportunity in a high-scoring Bills offense, Coleman is a legit breakout candidate.
TIP
Coleman made our list of top 2025 fantasy football sleepers.
Next best: Josh Downs
Downs was awesome in per-route metrics last season but was held back by QB Anthony Richardson. In games with QB Joe Flacco, he ranked 17th among WRs in PPR points per game.
Downs should get better QB play this season from Daniel Jones, who was named the starter on August 19.
Other options:
- Caleb Williams
- Tank Bigsby
- Michael Pittman
- Tucker Kraft
Round 11
Top target: Austin Ekeler
Ekeler finished 32nd among RBs in PPR points per game last year. He'll remain Washington's primary pass-catching back in 2025 and could add more rushing work with Brian Robinson now in San Francisco.
Next best: Jacory Croskey-Merritt
Ekeler has a safer PPR floor, but his rookie teammate has a higher ceiling.
Croskey-Merritt was a huge August riser, going from afterthought to potential lead ball carrier for the Commanders after Brian Robinson was traded to the 49ers.
Croskey-Merritt doesn't project to do much in the passing game, which hurts his PPR upside. But if he can capture 12-15 carries per game, plus goal-line work, he could flirt with RB2 production.
Other options:
- Jaydon Blue
- Darnell Mooney
- Dalton Kincaid
- Jake Ferguson
Round 12
Top target: Jayden Higgins
Higgins might not open the season in a full-time role. But it shouldn't take him long to work into that position. That gives the talented rookie a path to significant fantasy value if Houston's passing game bounces back. The 2023 Texans produced a pair of top-12 WRs in PPR points per game in Collins and Tank Dell.
Next best: Drake Maye
Target Maye here if you're still looking for your QB1 (or want a high-upside QB2). He ranked 15th among QBs in fantasy points per game last year -- as a rookie with one of the league's worst supporting casts. Maye got pass-catching and offensive line upgrades this offseason, giving him breakout potential.
Other options:
- Jerome Ford
- Trey Benson
- Keenan Allen
- Dallas Goedert
Round 13
Top target: Bhayshul Tuten
Tuten might open the season as Jacksonville's No. 3 RB. But don't be surprised if he works his way into a significant role -- and maybe the lead job -- throughout the year.
Tuten was hand-picked by the Jaguars' new regime and is an explosive player, clocking a 4.32-second 40 time at 206 pounds.
Next best: Rashid Shaheed
Shaheed drew a 23.3% target share and averaged 2.04 yards per route before a season-ending knee injury in Week 6 last year. Those were both top-30 marks among WRs.
He's back to 100% now and remains locked in as New Orleans’ No. 2 WR. The Saints project for a significant spike in play volume under new HC Kellen Moore.
Other options:
- Trevor Lawrence
- Dylan Sampson
- Ray Davis
- Tyler Allgeier
- Christian Kirk
- Marvin Mims
Rounds 14, 15 & 16
Top targets: High-upside bench stash, K & DST
Target a player with big upside in Round 14. You can sort by projected ceiling in your Draft War Room to find players with difference-making upside.
Some names to consider:
- Ollie Gordon
- Rico Dowdle
- Chris Rodriguez
- Brashard Smith
- Marquise Brown
- Cedric Tillman
- Luther Burden
- Troy Franklin
- Kyle Williams
- Chig Okonkwo
Use your final two picks on a kicker and DST. Target a kicker on a strong offense. We recommend working the waiver wire and playing matchups at DST throughout the season.
Here are three DSTs with favorable early-season schedules:
- Broncos (vs. TEN, at IND)
- Steelers (at NYJ, vs. SEA, at NE)
- 49ers (at SEA, at NO)
Fantasy Football Draft Strategy for Pick 7, 8, or 9
Round 1
Top target: Christian McCaffrey
McCaffrey is certainly not the most comfortable pick. There are safer first-round bets than a 29-year-old RB coming off a four-game season. But none has more upside.
McCaffrey played 88% of the snaps and averaged 14.3 carries and 5.3 targets across his three full games last year. That was in line with his 2023 usage: 80% snaps, 17.0 carries per game, and 5.2 targets per game. McCaffrey, of course, finished RB1 by a wide margin in 2023.
He still has that type of ceiling this year, making him worth the risk here. McCaffrey has been a full participant in San Francisco's offseason program and training camp.
Next best: Puka Nacua
Swapping Cooper Kupp for Davante Adams toughens Nacua’s target competition a bit. But he has room to fall after averaging 10.9 targets on a massive 35.6% share in nine full games last year. Nacua ranked second among WRs in PPR points per game over that stretch.
The biggest risk here is QB Matt Stafford's back issue. But he returned to practice in late August, putting him on track to play Week 1. If he doesn't, QB Jimmy Garoppolo is one of the better backups in the league.
Other options:
- Malik Nabers
- Ashton Jeanty
- Nico Collins
Round 2
Top target: Brian Thomas Jr.
Thomas' ADP has fallen lately, so you might find him available here.
Rookie Travis Hunter adds target competition, but there's room for both to eat in what should be a much-improved offense under new HC Liam Coen.
Thomas is coming off a sensational rookie season that saw him rank third league-wide with 1,282 receiving yards. Even more impressive: He became just the sixth rookie WR over the last five seasons to top 2.3 yards per route. The other five? Puka Nacua, Justin Jefferson, Ja'Marr Chase, Chris Olave, and Ladd McConkey.
Next best: Jonathan Taylor
We don’t recommend starting RB-RB in a PPR draft. But if you went WR in Round 1, Taylor is a nice option here.
He missed three games last season. But in the other 14, he averaged 21.6 carries and 102 rushing yards. Those marks ranked first and third league-wide.
Indianapolis’ QB situation adds some risk to Taylor’s 2025 outlook. But Daniel Jones getting the Week 1 nod helps Taylor's outlook. His target and TD projections gets boosts with Jones vs. Anthony Richardson.
Other options:
- A.J. Brown
- Drake London
- Chase Brown
Round 3
Top Target: Tee Higgins
The big four-year deal he signed this offseason keeps Higgins tied to one of the game’s best QBs and one of its pass-heaviest offenses.
That environment helped Higgins rank fifth among WRs in PPR points per game last year. It was his third top-12 finish among the last four seasons.
Yeah, the injuries can be annoying. But Higgins is a good bet for WR1-level production again in 2025. That’s nice to land in the third round.
Next Best: Tyreek Hill
Hill is coming off a disappointing 2024 campaign. There are some red flags in terms of his age (31) and 2024 metrics. But it’s worth remembering that he played through a wrist injury all year that required offseason surgery.
We don’t expect Hill to return to truly elite levels, but the risk/reward equation feels right in the third round, especially after Miami traded TE Jonnu Smith to Pittsburgh.
Other options:
- Jayden Daniels
- Alvin Kamara
- Omarion Hampton
3D projections factor in ceiling and floor to give you a complete look at every player's fantasy value.
Round 4
Top target: Jalen Hurts
Hurts is on sale this year coming off a 2024 that was only relatively disappointing. He still finished fifth among QBs in fantasy points per game, after back-to-back QB2 finishes.
Hurts set career highs in multiple passing metrics last year, despite WR A.J. Brown, WR Devonta Smith, and TE Dallas Goedert all missing multiple games. And he remains easily the best bet for rushing TDs at the position.
Next best: Ken Walker
Walker has been climbing our RB rankings all summer amidst buzz about his role in new OC Klint Kubiak's offense. Seattle is expected to lean more on the run this season, with Walker as a focal point.
Even in last year's pass-heavy offense, Walker finished 12th among RBs in PPR points per game.
Other options:
- James Conner
- Mike Evans
- Davante Adams
- George Kittle
Round 5
Top target: Tetairoa McMillan
McMillan boasts a strong prospect profile and has a good chance to immediately emerge as Carolina’s top target. If QB Bryce Young keeps playing like he did over the second half of last season, McMillan will be a good bet for WR2-level production.
Next best: Xavier Worthy
Worthy closed his rookie season strongly, averaging 75.4 total yards and 0.7 TDs over his final 10 games (including playoffs).
He's a good bet to take a step forward in year two and gets a boost with WR Rashee Rice likely facing a lengthy suspension.
Other options:
- David Montgomery
- DeVonta Smith
- Courtland Sutton
Round 6
Top target: Tony Pollard
RB Tyjae Spears went down with a high-ankle sprain in the preseason opener and will miss at least the first four games of the season. If five games without Spears last year, Pollard averaged:
- 22.0 carries
- 92.8 rushing yards
- 3.6 targets
- 2.2 catches
- 12.6 receiving yards
- 0.2 TDs
Pollard's 13.9 PPR points per game in those five outings would have ranked 21st among RBs on the season.
Next best: George Pickens
Pickens goes from the run-heavy Steelers to the pass-heavy Cowboys. And his downfield game will be a great fit with QB Dak Prescott, who has ranked top-7 in Pro Football Focus deep passing grade in three of the last four seasons.
Other options:
- Isiah Pacheco
- Aaron Jones
- Travis Hunter
- Zay Flowers
- Calvin Ridley
Round 7
Top target: Jaylen Waddle
Waddle's volume and efficiency tanked in what was a weird 2024 season from Miami's passing game. That looks like an outlier, though, when you compare it to the rest of Waddle's career profile:
- Sixth overall pick of the 2021 draft
- Caught 104 balls as a rookie
- Finished WR13 in year 2
- Finished WR22 in year 3
The 26-year-old is a strong bounce-back bet at this cost.
Next best: Chris Olave
Olave certainly comes with risk, namely his concussion history and the Saints' QB situation.
But he's simply too talented a player to pass on at this point of fantasy drafts. Olave has topped a 23.5% target share and 2.05 yards per route in each of the last three seasons. Only four other WRs can say that: Justin Jefferson, A.J. Brown, CeeDee Lamb, and Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Other options:
- Jaylen Warren
- Tyrone Tracy
- Ricky Pearsall
- Deebo Samuel
- Rome Odunze
Round 8
Top target: David Njoku
Njoku averaged 9.9 targets and scored as the TE6 across nine healthy games last season. That followed TE6 and TE9 finishes the previous two years.
He'll remain a big part of Cleveland's passing game in 2025 and is a good bet for top-10 production.
Next best: Emeka Egbuka
Ebguka has been buzzing since the moment he was drafted, drawing praise from coaches, teammates, and beat writers. He was primed to play a big role out of the gate regardless. But injuries to WRs Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan guarantee a busy start.
Egbuka could come out of the gates hot and never look back.
Other options:
- Travis Etienne
- Jakobi Meyers
- Jordan Addison
Round 9
Top target: Justin Fields
It's not always pretty, but Fields has consistently produced as a QB1 with upside thanks to his high-end rushing production. His 50.2 rushing yards per game rank second among QBs over the last four seasons, behind only Lamar Jackson.
Next best: Jordan Mason
Mason has been a rankings riser this summer. Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell called his backfield a "1A-1B" situation with Aaron Jones and Mason. And Minnesota might lean on the run a bit more this season under first-year starting QB J.J. McCarthy.
Other options:
- J.K. Dobbins
- Zach Charbonnet
- Khalil Shakir
- Jauan Jennings
- Matthew Golden
- Tyler Warren
Round 10
Top target: Keon Coleman
Coleman wasn't much of a fantasy asset last year but did some exciting things for his 2025 outlook. He was used deep downfield, was productive after the catch, and drew a lot of targets near the end zone.
Now heading into year two with plenty of opportunity in a high-scoring Bills offense, Coleman is a legit breakout candidate.
TIP
Coleman made our list of top 2025 fantasy football sleepers.
Next best: Josh Downs
Downs was awesome in per-route metrics last season but was held back by QB Anthony Richardson. In games with QB Joe Flacco, he ranked 17th among WRs in PPR points per game.
Downs should get better QB play this season from Daniel Jones, who was named the starter on August 19.
Other options:
- Caleb Williams
- Tank Bigsby
- Michael Pittman
- Tucker Kraft
Round 11
Top target: Austin Ekeler
Ekeler finished 32nd among RBs in PPR points per game last year. He'll remain Washington's primary pass-catching back in 2025 and could add more rushing work with Brian Robinson now in San Francisco.
Next best: Jacory Croskey-Merritt
Ekeler has a safer PPR floor, but his rookie teammate has a higher ceiling.
Croskey-Merritt was a huge August riser, going from afterthought to potential lead ball carrier for the Commanders after Brian Robinson was traded to the 49ers.
Croskey-Merritt doesn't project to do much in the passing game, which hurts his PPR upside. But if he can capture 12-15 carries per game, plus goal-line work, he could flirt with RB2 production.
Other options:
- Jaydon Blue
- Darnell Mooney
- Dalton Kincaid
- Jake Ferguson
Round 12
Top target: Jayden Higgins
Higgins might not open the season in a full-time role. But it shouldn't take him long to work into that position. That gives the talented rookie a path to significant fantasy value if Houston's passing game bounces back. The 2023 Texans produced a pair of top-12 WRs in PPR points per game in Collins and Tank Dell.
Next best: Drake Maye
Target Maye here if you're still looking for your QB1 (or want a high-upside QB2). He ranked 15th among QBs in fantasy points per game last year -- as a rookie with one of the league's worst supporting casts. Maye got pass-catching and offensive line upgrades this offseason, giving him breakout potential.
Other options:
- Jerome Ford
- Trey Benson
- Keenan Allen
- Dallas Goedert
Round 13
Top target: Bhayshul Tuten
Tuten might open the season as Jacksonville's No. 3 RB. But don't be surprised if he works his way into a significant role -- and maybe the lead job -- throughout the year.
Tuten was hand-picked by the Jaguars' new regime and is an explosive player, clocking a 4.32-second 40 time at 206 pounds.
Next best: Rashid Shaheed
Shaheed drew a 23.3% target share and averaged 2.04 yards per route before a season-ending knee injury in Week 6 last year. Those were both top-30 marks among WRs.
He's back to 100% now and remains locked in as New Orleans’ No. 2 WR. The Saints project for a significant spike in play volume under new HC Kellen Moore.
Other options:
- Trevor Lawrence
- Dylan Sampson
- Ray Davis
- Tyler Allgeier
- Christian Kirk
- Marvin Mims
TIP
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Rounds 14, 15 & 16
Top targets: High-upside bench stash, K & DST
Target a player with big upside in Round 14. You can sort by projected ceiling in your Draft War Room to find players with difference-making upside.
Some names to consider:
- Ollie Gordon
- Rico Dowdle
- Chris Rodriguez
- Brashard Smith
- Marquise Brown
- Cedric Tillman
- Luther Burden
- Troy Franklin
- Kyle Williams
- Chig Okonkwo
Use your final two picks on a kicker and DST. Target a kicker on a strong offense. We recommend working the waiver wire and playing matchups at DST throughout the season.
Here are three DSTs with favorable early-season schedules:
- Broncos (vs. TEN, at IND)
- Steelers (at NYJ, vs. SEA, at NE)
- 49ers (at SEA, at NO)
Fantasy Football Draft Strategy for Pick 10, 11, or 12
Rounds 1 & 2
Top targets: Puka Nacua & Malik Nabers
Nacua's ADP has fallen a few spots with QB Matt Stafford's back trouble. That certainly adds some risk to Nacua's profile. But Stafford appears on track to play Week 1. And Jimmy Garoppolo is one of the better backup QBs in the league.
Nacua is a smash here if Stafford has a healthy season. Swapping Cooper Kupp for Davante Adams toughens the target competition a bit. But Nacua has room to fall after averaging 10.9 targets on a massive 35.6% share in nine full games last year. Nacua ranked second among WRs in PPR points per game over that stretch.
Nabers just scored the seventh most PPR points per game by a rookie WR in NFL history.
He finished top two among WRs last year in targets, target share, and first-read target share. He faces virtually identical competition this season and should get better QB play, whether it's from Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, or Jaxson Dart.
Next best: Nico Collins & Ashton Jeanty
Collins scored as a top-12 WR in PPR points per game across 10 full outings last year, despite a mid-season hamstring injury.
He ranked second in Pro Football Focus receiving grade and third in yards per route among 84 qualifying WRs.
This is a bonafide superstar well worth a pick at the 1-2 turn.
Draft capital makes Jeanty a strong bet for big volume this season. Four of the last six RBs to go top-10 in the NFL Draft averaged 19+ touches per game as rookies. Jeanty will also be helped by OC Chip Kelly's historically fast-paced and run-leaning attack.
He's also really good at football, racking up 4,655 total yards and 49 TDs over his final two college seasons.
Nico Collins is one of just four WRs to average 2.5+ yards per route in both 2023 and 2024.
Other options:
- De'Von Achane
- Brian Thomas Jr.
Rounds 3 & 4
Top targets: Jalen Hurts & Alvin Kamara
Hurts is on sale this year coming off a 2024 that was only relatively disappointing. He still finished fifth among QBs in fantasy points per game, after back-to-back QB2 finishes.
Hurts set career highs in multiple passing metrics last year, despite WR A.J. Brown, WR Devonta Smith, and TE Dallas Goedert all missing multiple games. And he remains easily the best bet for rushing TDs at the position.
Kamara led all RBs in expected PPR points per game and ranked fifth in actual PPR points per game last year.
There are valid concerns about his age and supporting cast this season. But those are more than baked into this price tag. Kamara could take a significant hit in production and still pay off here.
Next best: Ken Walker & Mike Evans
Walker has been climbing our RB rankings all summer amidst buzz about his role in new OC Klint Kubiak's offense. Seattle is expected to lean more on the run this season, with Walker as a focal point.
Even in last year's pass-heavy offense, Walker finished 12th among RBs in PPR points per game.
Evans saw a role change in 2024, with a career-low 11.6-yard average target depth leading to a career-low 13.6 yards per catch. But he set personal bests with a 67.3% catch rate and 2.41 yards per route.
The result in fantasy football was a WR11 finish in PPR points per game -- his seventh straight top-16 finish. He's a good bet for another WR2-caliber season in 2025.
Other options:
- Omarion Hampton
- James Conner
- Davante Adams
- George Kittle
Rounds 5 & 6
Top targets: Tetairoa McMillan & Jaylen Waddle
This is a good turn to target WRs, especially if you have only one through four rounds.
McMillan boasts a strong prospect profile and has a good chance to immediately emerge as Carolina’s top target. If QB Bryce Young keeps playing like he did over the second half of last season, McMillan will be a good bet for WR2-level production.
Waddle's volume and efficiency tanked in what was a weird 2024 season from Miami's passing game. That looks like an outlier, though, when you compare it to the rest of Waddle's career profile:
- Sixth overall pick of the 2021 draft
- Caught 104 balls as a rookie
- Finished WR13 in year 2
- Finished WR22 in year 3
The 26-year-old is a strong bounce-back bet at this cost.
Next best: David Montgomery & Tony Pollard
Consider one of these guys if you're still looking for your RB2.
We're projecting Montgomery to cede more work to Jahmyr Gibbs this year than last -- but he remains a nice value at the 5-6 turn after finishing 16th among RBs in PPR points per game last year.
Plus, Montgomery has the added value of top-10 fantasy upside if Gibbs misses time this season.
RB Tyjae Spears went down with a high-ankle sprain in the preseason opener and will miss at least the first four games of the season. If five games without Spears last year, Pollard averaged:
- 22.0 carries
- 92.8 rushing yards
- 3.6 targets
- 2.2 catches
- 12.6 receiving yards
- 0.2 TDs
Pollard's 13.9 PPR points per game in those five outings would have ranked 21st among RBs on the season.
Other options:
- Isiah Pacheco
- Aaron Jones
- R.J. Harvey
- DeVonta Smith
- George Pickens
- Zay Flowers
- Jameson Williams
Rounds 7 & 8
Top targets: Chris Olave & David Njoku
Olave certainly comes with risk, namely his concussion history and the Saints' QB situation.
But he's simply too talented a player to pass on at this point of fantasy drafts. Olave has topped a 23.5% target share and 2.05 yards per route in each of the last three seasons. Only four other WRs can say that: Justin Jefferson, A.J. Brown, CeeDee Lamb, and Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Njoku averaged 9.9 targets and scored as the TE6 across nine healthy games last season. That followed TE6 and TE9 finishes the previous two years.
He'll remain a big part of Cleveland's passing game in 2025 and is a good bet for top-10 production.
Next best: Ricky Pearsall & Deebo Samuel
WR Brandon Aiyuk won't be ready for the start of the season after last October's multi-ligament knee injury. WR Jauan Jennings has missed most of August with a calf injury.
That leaves Pearsall as the likely No. 1 WR in an always-efficient 49ers passing game. His ceiling extends into the top-20 at the position.
Blame the pneumonia for Samuel's disappointing 2024 season. He was as efficient as ever before getting sick and now lands in an ascending Commanders offense. Samuel's after-catch ability is a good fit in OC Kliff Kingsbury's offense.
Other options:
- Jaylen Warren
- Tyrone Tracy
- Jordan Mason
- Rome Odunze
- Emeka Egbuka
- Jordan Addison
- Matthew Golden
Rounds 9 & 10
Top targets: Justin Fields & Josh Downs
It's not always pretty, but Fields has consistently produced as a QB1 with upside thanks to his high-end rushing production. His 50.2 rushing yards per game rank second among QBs over the last four seasons, behind only Lamar Jackson.
Prioritize Fields here if you're still looking for your QB1.
Justin Fields' 377-point ceiling projection ranks fifth highest among QBs.
Downs was awesome in per-route metrics last season but was held back by QB Anthony Richardson. In games with QB Joe Flacco, he ranked 17th among WRs in PPR points per game.
Downs should get better QB play this season from Daniel Jones, who was named the starter on August 19.
Next best: Keon Coleman & Austin Ekeler
Coleman wasn't much of a fantasy asset last year but did some exciting things for his 2025 outlook. He was used deep downfield, was productive after the catch, and drew a lot of targets near the end zone.
Now heading into year two with plenty of opportunity in a high-scoring Bills offense, Coleman is a legit breakout candidate.
Ekeler finished 32nd among RBs in PPR points per game last year. He'll remain Washington's primary pass-catching back in 2025 and could add more rushing work with Brian Robinson now in San Francisco.
Consider teammate Jacory Croskey-Merritt if you're looking for pure upside at this spot. But Ekeler is a safer bet for PPR value.
Other options:
- Caleb Williams
- Jacory Croskey-Merritt
- Rhamondre Stevenson
- Tank Bigsby
- Jayden Reed
- Michael Pittman
Rounds 11 & 12
Top targets: Bhayshul Tuten & Rashid Shaheed
Tuten might open the season as Jacksonville's No. 3 RB. But don't be surprised if he works his way into a significant role -- and maybe the lead job -- throughout the year.
Tuten was hand-picked by the Jaguars' new regime and is an explosive player, clocking a 4.32-second 40 time at 206 pounds.
Shaheed drew a 23.3% target share and averaged 2.04 yards per route before a season-ending knee injury in Week 6 last year. Those were both top-30 marks among WRs.
He's back to 100% now and remains locked in as New Orleans’ No. 2 WR. The Saints project for a significant spike in play volume under new HC Kellen Moore.
TIP
Shaheed made our list of top 2025 fantasy football sleepers.
Next best: Jacory Croskey-Merritt & Jayden Higgins
Croskey-Merritt was a huge August riser, going from afterthought to potential lead ball carrier for the Commanders after Brian Robinson was traded to the 49ers.
Croskey-Merritt doesn't project to do much in the passing game, which hurts his PPR upside. But if he can capture 12-15 carries per game, plus goal-line work, he could flirt with RB2 production.
Higgins is a virtual lock to open the season in an every-down role as the outside WR opposite Nico Collins. That gives the talented rookie a path to significant fantasy value if Houston's passing game bounces back. The 2023 Texans produced a pair of top-12 WRs in PPR points per game in Collins and Tank Dell.
Other options:
- Drake Maye
- Jaydon Blue
- Jerome Ford
- Trey Benson
- Keenan Allen
- Darnell Mooney
- Dalton Kincaid
- Jake Ferguson
Rounds 13 & 14
Top targets: Dylan Sampson & Trevor Lawrence
RB Quinshon Judkins remains unsigned and away from the team, despite his domestic violence charges being dropped. It's unclear when he'll make his debut.
That leaves Cleveland's backfield to Sampson and Jerome Ford to open the season. They split first-team work in the preseason finale -- a bullish sign for the rookie.
Target Lawrence here if you're still looking for your QB1 (or want a high-upside QB2). He was a big offseason winner, getting a coaching upgrade in Liam Coen and another explosive weapon in Travis Hunter. Lawrence can add value with his legs, too, giving him top-12 fantasy upside.
Next best: Cedric Tillman & Ray Davis
Tillman was uber productive over a four-game stretch as a full-time player for the Browns last year, averaging:
- 10.0 targets
- 6.0 catches
- 75.5 yards
- 0.8 TDs
He's in line for a full-time role in 2025, making him one of the best deep sleepers at WR.
There's a chance Davis earns additional work behind James Cook this season and becomes a RB3 or flex option. But, at minimum, he's a high-end handcuff in a strong offense. Davis racked up 152 total yards on 23 touches when Cook missed Week 6 last year.
Other options:
- Tyler Allgeier
- Ollie Gordon
- Rico Dowdle
- Marquise Brown
- Christian Kirk
- Marvin Mims
- Luther Burden
- Dallas Goedert
Rounds 15 & 16
Use your final two picks on a kicker and DST. Target a kicker on a strong offense. We recommend working the waiver wire and playing matchups at DST throughout the season.
Here are three DSTs with favorable early-season schedules:
- Broncos (vs. TEN, at IND)
- Steelers (at NYJ, vs. SEA, at NE)
- 49ers (at SEA, at NO)
The Ultimate Fantasy Football Draft Strategy: A Customized, Dynamic Cheat Sheet
Having round-by-round strategy heading into your draft is important.
But fantasy football drafts are unpredictable. You need to be nimble. You need to adjust on the fly to capture the most value.
You need a customized, dynamic cheat sheet.
The Draft War Room takes our award-winning player projections and tailors them to your league’s scoring and lineup settings, delivering a precise set of rankings just for you.
Then it recalibrates throughout your draft based on 17 value indicators to make sure you’re making the absolute best pick each time you’re on the clock.
FIRE UP YOUR DRAFT WAR ROOM NOW!
Frequently Asked Questions About Draft Strategy
Who is the number one fantasy pick in 2025?
Ja'Marr Chase is the number one pick in 2025 fantasy drafts. He scored 86 more PPR points than any other WR last year and returns to a similar situation this season.
What position should I draft first in PPR league?
The position you should draft first in a PPR league is likely a WR. The scoring system gives a big boost to players who catch a lot of passes. That said, RBs Bijan Robinson, Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey, and Jahmyr Gibbs are also worth picks in Round 1.
What is the best position order to draft in fantasy football?
Our research found that the best draft position in 2025 depends on your scoring system. You want to pick 5th or 6th in PPR leagues, 1st in half-PPR, and at the end of Round 1 in non-PPR.
How many WR and RB should I draft?
You should typically draft 5, 6 or 7 RBs and WRs in traditional formats with a 16-round draft. Of course, that can change depending on your scoring rules and starting lineup requirements.
What round to draft a QB in fantasy football?
Try to be one of the first or last teams to take a QB in your draft. Elite QBs like Lamar Jackson and Jayden Daniels are worth their price. But you can also find strong values late, such as Justin Fields, Dak Prescott, Drake Maye, and Trevor Lawrence.
When should I draft a kicker or defense in fantasy?
You should commonly draft a kicker or defense in the very late rounds in fantasy. Sometimes it might even be a good idea to pick up kickers and defenses on the waiver wire and stream them.
Draft Strategy: Tips & Tricks
7 Expert-Level Drafting Tips
1. Use Unique Rankings To Give Yourself an Edge
Many of your competitors will be drafting off of the same rankings (think: ESPN or Yahoo). Tough to get an edge that way. Put in the work. Stay up-to-date on the news. And don’t be afraid to break away from the herd when it comes to your rankings. It’s an easy way to out-draft your competition.
2. Weaponize ADP To Outsmart Your Competition
ADP is like having your opponent’s playbook. Whether subconsciously or not, ADP has a huge influence on draft behavior. Drafters rarely stray too far from it. Knowing which players your opponents are likely – and unlikely – to draft next can give you a big strategic advantage. (Hint: Use our ADP Market Index to help.)
3. Catch League-Winning Breakout Candidates
Leagues are won by nailing one or two breakout late-round picks. Think Jayden Daniels or Brian Thomas Jr. last year. When you’re on the clock and deciding between two or more players, always ask yourself: “Which of these guys is more likely to be the league-winning, had-to-have player?” Then take that guy.
4. Learn to Predict Your Opponents’ Picks
Drafting is part science (rankings, ADP, positional value) and part art. No two drafts will play out same. It’s your job to recognize the flow of your draft and react accordingly. It’s especially important to track positional needs. For example, if teams near you have selected a bunch of WRs but few RBs, you can assume they’ll be targeting RBs soon. Get out ahead of them and snag a RB with your next pick.
5. Discover the Next Bucky Irving
Let your league mates waste later-round picks on handcuffing their own RBs. You can get the jump on them by targeting RBs behind fragile starters. That was Irving, Tyrone Tracy, and Rico Dowdle this time last year. And we’re eyeing some intriguing new candidates for 2025.
6. Draft Immobile QBs in 2025 (Wait … What?!)
Running QBs are fantasy gold. Problem is, that’s no longer a secret. In many cases, the pendulum has swung too far toward those guys. And that’s turned some less-mobile QBs into values. Justin Herbert and Dak Prescott pop as undervalued QBs in 2025 drafts – despite their lack of rushing yards.
7. Chase opportunity at RB… and talent at WR
Fantasy scoring at RB is closely tied to playing time and touches. Target RBs who project to get the rock a lot. WR is a more talent-driven position. Targets are earned, not given. That’s why advanced metrics like targets per route and yards per route run should be key factors in your WR rankings.
3 Fatal Draft Mistakes
1. Don't Match Your Rankings To Last Year’s Stats (Consider What's Changed)
Overweighing last year's fantasy finishes could cost you on draft day. Too much changes from year to year. That includes coaching staffs, offensive schemes, rookies, free agents, etc. That’s why it’s crucial that you live in the present – and weigh all the offseason changes when creating your 2025 player rankings.
2. Don’t Be Stubborn About Your Pre-Draft Plan
Instead, be flexible. You might go in with a Zero-RB strategy. But if enough teams grab WRs by the second round – a workhorse RB might fall into your lap. That’s when it’s time to scoop up the player who will best help your team win … not reach for a position because it was part of your pre-draft plan.
3. Don’t Pass Up Player Value to Chase Positional ‘Need’
NFL teams that try to fill “needs” (instead of adopting the “best player available” model) most often crap out on their draft picks. Same holds true for you. Reaching for a “need” player most often blows your chances at winning. And remember: Drafting the best player available gives you valuable trade chips down the road.
Advanced Draft Strategy
7 Key Strategies for Tailored Player Rankings
The most advanced fantasy football draft strategy for any format, and any league, is a “Value Based Draft Strategy.” It can take different forms, and be based on any number of draft-value indicators.
Draft Sharks' value-based draft strategy actually has 17 Draft Value Indicators. Here are 7 crucial ones you can use in your draft:
1. Master Cross Positional Value
Which positions are most valuable in your league? Maybe QBs in a superflex. How do RBs stack up vs. WRs in PPR leagues? Understanding values across positions involves using a specific algorithm to analyze player values. It weighs various factors like scoring rules, starting-lineup requirements, ADP, and league settings.
2. Track Positional Scarcity on the Fly
This one is super important but also super hard. To measure positional scarcity, you need to track each pick – and see how it impacts the player pool. If there are seven QBs taken by the fifth round, that position becomes scarce. And QBs suddenly increase in value in your draft.
3. Prioritize Players With Greater Upside
You’re in the 11th round and torn between three players with roughly the same draft value. You need to highlight the player with the highest fantasy ceiling. Then make sure he doesn't slip by you in the heat of the draft. It might sound simple, but it’s mission-critical to identify these breakout players and pull the trigger when the time is right.
4. Look Out for “Bust” Red Flags
You probably know the red flags of a potential bust. But are you factoring them into your value of each player? Age, declining production, bad offensive line, competition for touches, a new offensive scheme that de-emphasizes a player’s role. Don’t blow your draft capital on a player who is screaming “bust!”
5. Use a Scientific Injury Risk Assessment
You know the scenario… You spend a second-round pick on a stud WR – and in Week 2, he suffers a soft-tissue injury and misses the next four weeks. Brutal. Injuries aren’t 100% predictable. But you can get reliable scientific data to avoid the biggest potential injury risk players.
6. Always Use Correlated ADP
This one is huge. Using ADP (Average Draft Position) is the ultimate measure to find value. The problem is this: If you use a redraft PPR ADP to prepare for your non-PPR Dynasty league, you’re doing yourself more harm than good. Find reliable ADP that is correlated to your specific rules and format.
7. Avoid Bye-Week Conflicts
You’d think this one would be so easy. But you know the truth. You’re in the heat of your draft, you’re on the clock, and bang … you double-up on the same bye week at a crucial position. You’re now forced to fix that mistake at some point in your draft – or later in your season.
Key Insight: There are a lot of factors that go into drafting for true player value. It’s not just about using “position tiers” or employing a “Zero” or “Hero” RB strategy. It’s about using a mix of scientific metrics and educated guesses in predicting player production. And how you and your opponents behave during critical times in your draft.
How To Execute This Strategy: You’ve got a lot to focus on if you want to execute these draft strategies in real-time – amid the chaos of your draft. In fact, it’s humanly impossible for anyone to implement every key strategy… AND work out every algorithm essential to a winning draft.
The real solution is to get real-time help from an AI “Draft War Room.”
Discover the Live-Draft Sync That Strategizes While You Draft
If what you’ve read so far makes sense, here’s a draft tool you need to learn more about.
It’s actually TWO tools that pair together so you can dominate your draft with one super tool!
A live-draft sync super-powered by the “Draft War Room” (DWR)
This super draft tool automatically re-ranks players on your draft board in real-time. Those dynamic player values are based on a variety of factors, including positional scarcity, team needs, injury risk, breakout potential, and bust risk. In fact, there are 17 draft-value indicators it calculates in real-time to come up with your player suggestions.
How It Works: You're just three clicks away from your league and draft being live-synced. From there, you’re on the road to draft domination. And it works across multiple platforms (ESPN, Yahoo, CBS, Underdog, and Sleeper, to name a few). For multiple league formats (dynasty, rookie, keeper, best ball, auction, superflex – and, of course, redraft).
What It Means For You: You get dynamic player values customized to your league. Simply. And in real-time. When it's your turn to pick, the Draft War Room offers instant player suggestions tailored to everything happening in your draft. You’ll be unburdened from the pressure of being "on the clock." While at the same time getting specific player suggestions that are scientifically based and strategically sound.
Key Insights: No one who’s serious about winning their draft can use 2015 technology in the competitive environment of 2025. It’s really that simple. We know too much about the science behind successful drafting to keep basing decisions on “gut” and “educated guesses.” Yes, sometimes we roll with those two things. But we need to have a lot more (technology) at our disposal to be consistent fantasy football champions.
How to Execute This Strategy: Make sure you pick a “live-draft sync” over a simple “league sync.” A league sync doesn't work during your draft to adjust player values in real-time. To learn more about the live-sync option, check out this page explaining our live-sync tool.
