- There is a tier gap after Jonathan Taylor: Taylor is the seventh best player in our PPR rankings, and the seventh player by ADP on ESPN, Yahoo! and Sleeper.
- Draft running backs early: A clear tier break emerges after the top group of running backs, making it important to secure two early. Roughly 12 or 13 of the first 22 picks should be running backs, with Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane standing out as a prime target in the early second round.
- Practice with PFF's Mock Draft Simulator: Run your own reps with your exact league settings, then put this round-by-round plan into action before draft day.
Round 1, Picks 7-9: Draft a running back or wide receiver
The top three running backs in Jahmyr Gibbs, Bijan Robinson and Christian McCaffrey, and the top three wide receivers in Puka Nacua, Ja'Marr Chase and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, are likely off the board by this pick. If one of them happens to fall to you, don't hesitate to take him.
If the first six picks go according to ADP, then Jonathan Taylor is your top option. He is the seventh player in our rankings and the seventh player by ADP across platforms. There is much less consensus at the eighth spot. Justin Jefferson is the top remaining player in our rankings, while James Cook III leads by ADP on ESPN, CeeDee Lamb on Yahoo! and Amon-Ra St. Brown on Sleeper.
If you're picking eighth or ninth, Jefferson is the one to take, and you will be able to pivot strategies in the next few rounds regardless.
Top Target: Jonathan Taylor
Taylor was one of fantasy's most productive backs through the first 12 weeks of 2025, averaging 25.7 PPR points per game before fading to 13.3 over the final third as his boom-or-bust rushing style cooled off. His 71.4 PFF grade across the past two seasons sits below the other backs drafted this early, but Taylor stays a top-five option because the Colts have again declined to invest behind him, leaving him with one of the league's heaviest workloads. The risks are a long injury history and an uncertain quarterback picture with Daniel Jones coming back from injury. Taylor is a deserving first-round pick, just not a sure thing.
Possible Targets: Justin Jefferson, Amon-Ra St. Brown, CeeDee Lamb, De'Von Achane, James Cook III
Round 2, Picks 16-18: Draft a wide receiver or running back
A running back is the right call in most second-round situations, regardless of who you took in the first round. A few teams have shown a firm commitment to a single running back in a strong offense, leading to significant consistency among the top running backs over the past two seasons.
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