- A wide receiver is the best pick in Round 1: The NFL is stacked with elite young wideouts, and Ja'Marr Chase enters 2025 as the favorite to repeat as fantasy’s WR1.
- Draft a tight end early: While grabbing both a quarterback and tight end is tough to justify this year, locking in one of the elite options at tight end can give your roster a significant edge.
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Estimated Reading Time: 18 minutes
This perfect draft strategy for 12-team, single-quarterback, redraft PPR leagues is built on a consensus of average draft positions (ADPs) from ESPN, Sleeper and Yahoo. It’s your round-by-round blueprint for building a championship roster.
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Last updated: Monday, August 18
Round 1, Picks 1-12: Draft a running back or wide receiver
The objective in Round 1 is to draft the best available running back or wide receiver. Ideally, that’s Ja’Marr Chase, but if he’s already off the board, pivot to an elite running back, like Bijan Robinson or Jahmyr Gibbs, or the next-best wide receivers. It’s too early to consider a quarterback or tight end at this point. Later rounds offer plenty of flexibility to adjust your approach based on what position you address here.
Top Target: Ja'Marr Chase
Chase led all wide receivers in fantasy points and fantasy points per game last season. He’s consistently graded as a top-10 wide receiver, with his fantasy performance elevated by his environment. The Bengals made no changes to the coaching staff impacting Chase, the quarterback room, the wide receiver room or the tight end room. This puts Chase in one of the most pass-friendly environments in the NFL, catching passes from the best passer. While we should expect regression from anyone who finishes first in fantasy points, the lack of changes in Cincinnati should help minimize the regression.
Possible Targets: Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, Puka Nacua, Nico Collins, Brian Thomas Jr.
Round 2, Picks 13-24: Draft a wide receiver, Bucky Irving or Trey McBride
The strategy in Round 2 is similar to Round 1 and depends largely on draft position. For those picking early in the round, the goal will be to pick the best available player who fell out of Round 1. That will often be a wide receiver like Nico Collins or Brian Thomas Jr. For those in the middle parts of the round, wide receiver is typically the best option, including Drake London and A.J. Brown. Bucky Irving is worth considering in the middle parts of the round, notably if you drafted a wide receiver in Round 1. However, you can still work around a wide receiver-wide receiver start.
Trey McBride is the man to target if you’re picking late in the second round. Throughout the offseason, I generally advocated for a quarterback or a tight end early. However, the ADP for the best sleeper options has gotten earlier, while that hasn’t been the case for the best sleeper quarterbacks. It is also easier to predict which week a quarterback might play well based on the opponent compared to a tight end, making it easier to have two quarterbacks compared to tight end. That means tight end is the better option to target earlier. For those picking at the end of the second round, McBride is the best selection in the second or third round, but it’s better to pick in the second so no one snipes your pick.
Top Target: Drake London
Brian Thomas Jr. had a strong start to his rookie season and ended it among the league’s best fantasy receivers. In his final seven games, he gained at least 13 PPR points each week and averaged 21.5 points, third behind only Ja’Marr Chase and Puka Nacua. He played at least 84% of his team’s offensive snaps in all but one of those games. The team added Travis Hunter in the draft, and he will see a decent target rate, but typically, two great wide receivers can co-exist as long as there isn’t much more competition for targets. Thomas led all wide receivers in yards per route run out of the slot with 3.12, and new offensive coordinator Liam Coen has found a lot of success with his slot receivers in the past. An increased role in the slot could lead Thomas to remain among the top wide receivers in fantasy football.
Possible Targets: Brian Thomas Jr., Bucky Irving, A.J. Brown, Trey McBride, Tee Higgins
Round 3, Picks 25-36: Draft a running back, wide receiver or George Kittle
As mentioned above, the goal is to pick a tight end early. For anyone who didn’t draft Trey McBride last round, then McBride is the option on the off-chance he’s still available, and if not, then it’s Kittle. The gap between Kittle and all of the other tight ends is much larger than the gap at other positions.
If you picked a tight end in the previous round, or none of the top three tight ends are available, then it’s best to pick the best available player. There is a combination of running backs and wide receivers available here, so it can partially depend on what you picked in the first two rounds. If you missed out on a tight end altogether, I would also understand a pivot to quarterback here.
Top Target: George Kittle
George Kittle has arguably been the best tight end in the NFL during his career. His run blocking has been the best, and his numbers are better than Travis Kelce on a per-play basis. However, the 49ers‘ run-first philosophy mixed with Kittle’s injury history has left Kittle running fewer routes than other elite tight ends. He’s made up for it in recent seasons with Brock Purdy, whose ability to find Kittle down the field led to more big plays from Kittle than any other tight end in recent seasons. This makes him a clear top-three fantasy tight end, but his age, mixed with a chance his average depth of target decreasing, makes him the clear third option between him, Brock Bowers and Trey McBride.
Possible Targets: Tee Higgins, Kyren Williams, Garrett Wilson, Kenneth Walker III, Marvin Harrison Jr.
Round 4, Picks 37-48: Draft a running back or wide receiver
At this point in the draft, the top quarterbacks and tight ends are off the board. It is generally good to wait several rounds for either position because the gap between the players available now and the players available in several rounds is relatively small compared to those gaps at running back and wide receiver.
Past iterations of this article focused just on running back for this pick because of how difficult it could be to find two running backs you would be happy with in your fantasy starting lineup. However, R.J. Harvey’s preseason usage suggests he can be an RB2 for fantasy football, and it’s become clearer that players like D’Andre Swift, Jaylen Warren and Isiah Pacheco should be the clear leaders in their team’s backfields, making those kinds of players fine backup options if you miss out on Harvey.
By the end of this round, I would suggest having at least one running back, one wide receiver and one tight end. The top suggestions haven’t picked a running back yet, so I’m picking a running back here. However, if you already have one player at each position, then go with whichever running back or wide receiver is ranked the highest.
Top Target: Kenneth Walker III
Kenneth Walker III has graded among the best running backs in the league, including a 91.3 rushing grade last season. His 0.42 avoided tackles per attempt last season were the most in PFF’s 19 years of statistics for all running backs with at least 50 carries. The next-most with any player with at least 150 carries in a season was 0.31, which is a tie that includes 2014 Marshawn Lynch and 2020 Nick Chubb. New offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak will have an offense that plays to Walker’s strengths with his zone scheme and will prioritize getting him the football more than last season. However, he’s missed 10 games over the previous three seasons due to injury, and his play was negatively affected in several more while playing through injury. If he can stay healthy, he will have his best fantasy season yet, but staying healthy is a big if.
Possible Targets: Garrett Wilson, Marvin Harrison Jr., Omarion Hampton, R.J. Harvey, Travis Hunter
Round 5, Picks 49-60: Draft a running back or wide receiver
R.J. Harvey and Travis Hunter were two of the biggest winners of the NFL draft for fantasy purposes, and their ADP was always a little low relative to their potential. The first week of the preseason showed their teams have big plans for these two players, and they remain two of the biggest steals of the draft. The goal with these next two picks is to pick those two players.
Harvey’s ADP is earlier on Yahoo! and Sleeper, while Hunter’s ADP is earlier on ESPN, which should play into your decision. There are also other excellent wide receiver options to pivot to, like Jameson Williams and Tetairoa McMillan, while there is a larger gap between Harvey and the other running backs. This leads to Harvey being the first pick here, but it’s worth considering Hunter first, particularly on ESPN.
Top Target: R.J. Harvey
Harvey was arguably the biggest winner in the draft at running back because he landed on a team where his skill set could lead to fantasy stardom. Denver Broncos running backs have caught 214 passes over the past two years, which is more than any other team, and Harvey is projected to be the Broncos' primary receiving back. A top-ten season is within the realm of possibility if he dominates the passing down role and also averages at least eight carries per game. However, the Broncos' backfield could remain volatile despite the addition of Harvey.
Possible Targets: Travis Hunter, Jameson Williams, Tetairoa McMillan, D'Andre Swift, DeVonta Smith
Round 6, Picks 61-72: Draft a wide receiver or R.J. Harvey
As mentioned above, this is the time to take either a high-upside young wide receiver option or R.J. Harvey.
Top Target: Travis Hunter
Harvey was arguably the biggest winner in the draft at running back because he landed on a team where his skill set could lead to fantasy stardom. Denver Broncos running backs have caught 214 passes over the past two years, which is more than any other team, and Harvey is projected to be the Broncos' primary receiving back. A top-ten season is within the realm of possibility if he dominates the passing down role and also averages at least eight carries per game. However, the Broncos' backfield could remain volatile despite the addition of Harvey.
Possible Targets: R.J. Harvey, Jameson Williams, Tetairoa McMillan, Chris Olave, Jaylen Waddle
Round 7, Picks 73-84: Draft a wide receiver
This is a range where wide receivers remain the strength of the draft. Running backs like Tony Pollard and Tyrone Tracy Jr. are often selected here, but both are expected to share their respective backfields with Tyjae Spears and Cam Skattebo — players who can be targeted in later rounds.
With so many running backs fighting for starting jobs or locked in committees, it’s wise to wait and find value later. Instead, use this round to build on your wide receiver depth by targeting players with proven NFL production who carry some risk due to injury history.
Top Target: Chris Olave
Olave has the talent to be a top-15 fantasy wide receiver. He scored the 16th-most fantasy points in 2023, and his PFF receiving grade has been at least 82.0 each season. The Saints added Kellen Moore as their head coach, and his slot receivers have been a consistent value in fantasy football. Olave is the wide receiver best suited to line up in the slot. However, Olave has five documented concussions. This makes him both more likely than the typical player to suffer another concussion and more likely to miss significant time if he suffers another one. After Derek Carr’s retirement, the Saints are stuck between three young and unproven quarterback options, which is also working against Olave.
Possible Targets: Rome Odunze, Ricky Pearsall, Deebo Samuel, Jakobi Meyers, Jauan Jennings
Round 8, Picks 85-96: Draft a wide receiver or Jordan Mason
While a lot of the strength at this point of the draft is at wide receiver, this team already has four wide receivers compared to two running backs. Jordan Mason is enough of a must-draft player that if you’re not picking him here, you’ll want him in the next round. Picking Mason here allows you to pick a top-10 quarterback in the next round, while picking a wide receiver here means picking Mason in the next round and waiting even longer for a quarterback. Because of that, we’ll lean Mason with this pick.
Top Target: Jordan Mason
Jordan Mason quickly went from undrafted rookie to the top backup running back for the 49ers, despite the team consistently spending mid-to-late round draft picks on running backs. An injury to Christian McCaffrey allowed Mason to be a starter to begin the 2024 season, and he was sixth in fantasy points per game over five weeks before he started dealing with injuries. Mason was traded to the Minnesota Vikings, where Aaron Jones Sr. is the main running back. The two will likely be in a committee that includes Mason receiving significant work in rushing situations, while Jones gets more in passing situations. Jones is over 30 years old and has dealt with multiple injuries over the last two seasons. While Mason might not score enough weekly to start in fantasy in normal situations, if Jones is dealing with an injury or is showing more signs of age, we could see Jones as a weekly player to start.
Possible Targets: Ricky Pearsall, Deebo Samuel, Jakobi Meyers, Jauan Jennings, Stefon Diggs
Round 9, Picks 97-108: Draft a quarterback or running back
As mentioned last round, this is the first time to seriously consider a quarterback. Waiting even longer is also an option, but after achieving a stacked wide receiver mixed with an elite tight end, we can spend most of the rest of the draft on quarterbacks and running backs.
Top Target: Justin Fields
Justin Fields has been a fantasy starter anytime he’s been an NFL starter, typically scoring at least 19 PPR points per game. He’s achieved this by being among the elite rushing quarterbacks in the game despite not always being the most effective passer. He joins the New York Jets, where his salary is large enough that he’s unlikely to get benched this season. He has an offensive coordinator who hasn’t typically run with his quarterback very often, but that will change this season. Fields will have a chance to be among the league’s top fantasy quarterbacks if the Jets can successfully utilize the tush push.
Possible Targets: Jordan Mason, J.J. McCarthy, Jacory Croskey-Merritt,, Rhamondre Stevenson, Javonte Williams
Round 10, Picks 109-120: Draft a running back, tight end, wide receiver
If you missed out on a tight end in the first three rounds, this is the time to start considering them. You could have potentially looked in the eighth or ninth round, had you selected a quarterback instead of a tight end in the first three rounds. If you have your tight end, then this is another spot to go with a running back or wide receiver. There is a little bit more depth at wide receiver around this spot, but if you’re following my top targets each round, then running back is the right position to pick. Regardless, this is a round to help balance out your roster because there are several different options.
Top Target: Rhamondre Stevenson
Rhamondre Stevenson has spent the last four seasons with the Patriots and has been an every-down lead back with a capable veteran backup most of the time. His quality of play is very dependent on the offensive line, and the line had the worst team run-blocking grade last season. He reunites with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who was his offensive coordinator in his first season. In 17 of McDaniels' 18 seasons, the running back who leads his team in rushing attempts is not the same one who leads his backfield in third-down snaps. The Patriots spent the 38th overall pick on TreVeyon Henderson, who was arguably the best receiving back in this draft class. That means Stevenson will likely lose most of his passing-down work. He should still receive double-digit carries most weeks, and the Patriots made multiple changes to the offensive line, which should help his production.
Possible Targets: Dalton Kincaid, Colston Loveland, Darnell Mooney, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Marvin Mims Jr.
Round 11, Picks 121-132: Draft a running back, quarterback or Marvin Mims Jr.
This is a point to pick the best available player. ADPs vary widely once you get to this range, so it’s essential to get your guys, even if it’s a little early relative to ADP. J.J. McCarthy is going off the board in some platforms here, while the best running backs and wide receivers available tend to have lower ADPs. This leads me to pick McCarthy, but if you want to wait even longer for a quarterback, or a second quarterback, then it is OK to keep waiting. If you don’t pick a quarterback here, the strength at this point of the draft is at running back.
Top Target: J.J. McCarthy
J.J. McCarthy, after being selected by the Minnesota Vikings with the 10th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, is poised to be their starting quarterback for the 2025 season following a missed rookie year due to injury. Despite the risks associated with first-year starting quarterbacks with limited rushing upside, McCarthy benefits from an excellent offensive system led by Kevin O’Connell. The Vikings' quarterbacks have been consistent top-10 fantasy options in recent seasons, even when Kirk Cousins was injured. The Vikings also have a strong supporting cast featuring Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson, all of whom put McCarthy in a prime position for fantasy success and make him a must-start in superflex leagues and a valuable backup in single-quarterback leagues.
Possible Targets: Trevor Lawrence, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Marvin Mims Jr., Braelon Allen, Jaydon Blue
Round 12, Picks 133-144: Draft a quarterback or wide receiver
After avoiding wide receivers in the last four rounds, this is the time to consider adding a fifth. Rather than targeting a safe WR3 option, the priority should be on a high-upside player with top-24 potential if everything falls into place. Marvin Mims and other slot receivers fit that description perfectly. It’s also acceptable to draft a quarterback here if needed, though the same options should still be available in the next round.
Top Target: Marvin Mims Jr.
Marvin Mims Jr. enters the 2025 season as a late-round fantasy football dart throw with intriguing potential. After a quiet start to his career with the Denver Broncos, Mims showed flashes late last season, particularly during a seven-game stretch where he was 23rd in PPR points per game with 15.5. He posted an elite 89.7 receiving grade during those seven games, finishing with a target on 30.4% of his routes, which led to 4.25 yards per route run. After being a deep threat earlier in his career, his average depth of target fell to 4.2 yards. His role expanded significantly in the playoffs, highlighted by a 69% snap rate. While the Broncos' wide receiver room has become more crowded, no one has the same size and speed as Mims in their offense. Mims' fantasy value hinges on his early-season snap rate – if he sees the field, he could be a solid fantasy starter, but otherwise, he’s a player you can drop early.
Possible Targets: Trevor Lawrence, Michael Penix Jr., Christian Kirk, DeMario Douglas, Wan'Dale Robinson
Round 13, Picks 145-156: Draft a quarterback or running back
If this team has waited at quarterback and still needs a second one, now is the time to act. It’s important to have two quarterbacks so you can start whichever one has the best matchup each week. If the team has already secured a second quarterback or drafted one early, the best value at this stage shifts to the running back position.
Top Target: Jacory Croskey-Merritt
Jacory Croskey-Merritt has consistently improved as a running back from his time at Alabama State to New Mexico, where he significantly improved in both the run and passing game, averaging a first down on 37.2% of his runs and breaking long runs at a ridiculously high rate. After a brief stint at Arizona, he impressed at the Shrine Bowl with 97 yards on 11 carries and two touchdowns. He further cemented his potential at the combine, finishing in the 80th percentile or better in the 40-yard dash, 10-yard split, vertical jump and broad jump. Selected by the Washington Commanders, he quickly moved up the depth chart in the preseason, even playing ahead of Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez Jr., suggesting he could be the primary early-down back, especially with trade rumors swirling around Brian Robinson Jr. While his role is likely to be primarily as an early-down runner in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense, his talent makes him worthy of being one of the top 32 running backs drafted, though you may not have to draft him that high.
Possible Targets: Trevor Lawrence, Braelon Allen, Michael Penix Jr., Kyle Monangai, Tyler Allgeier
Round 14–18: Fill Depth
Use any additional picks to draft a kicker and team defense if required. Otherwise, stock up on running backs and wide receivers.
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