- Pick the best remaining player: There have been a clear top-five players by ADP, and ideally, Jahmyr Gibbs is the one who falls.
- Take several of the top rookies: Those with the fifth overall pick are uniquely suited to take most of the early first-round rookies from the fourth through the sixth round.
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Estimated reading time: 13 minutes
This perfect draft strategy for 12-team, single quarterback, redraft, PPR fantasy football leagues uses a consensus of current average draft positions (ADPs) from ESPN, Sleeper and Yahoo! to deliver a round-by-round guide for managers picking fifth overall. To find more information about any player mentioned in this article, click on the player's name to find their fantasy football player profile.
Last updated: Thursday, August 14
Round 1, Pick 5: Draft a running back
Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, Bijan Robinson, Saquon Barkley and Jahmyr Gibbs are the clear top five players by ADP, but there is significantly less consensus on who should be the sixth pick. Typically, Gibbs is the player among the five to fall, making him the top option. He ranks third in my rankings, ahead of Jefferson and Barkley, so picking him here would be a steal. If Gibbs is picked earlier and someone else falls, it’s fine to select the other top-five option.
Top Target: Jahmyr Gibbs
Gibbs was the 12th overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft and is one of just three running backs selected with a top-20 pick in the last seven drafts. His playing time has been limited the past two seasons as he splits time with David Montgomery. He’s managed to be an elite fantasy option with the most fantasy points per carry over the last two seasons of any running back. When Montgomery was injured late last season, he showed he could be the best running back in fantasy football if given enough opportunity. The Lions have a new offensive coordinator and new running back coach, which could lead to an increase in chances for Gibbs, pushing him closer to the top of the fantasy draft board.
Possible Targets: Christian McCaffrey, Ashton Jeanty, Bucky Irving, De'Von Achane, Derrick Henry
Round 2, Pick 20: Draft a wide receiver
An argument could be made for any position at this pick. A quarterback could work, but it’s a little early and Jalen Hurts should be available in the next round. It’s similarly early for Trey McBride, and George Kittle is available in the next round. This leaves the top available running back in Bucky Irving, or the top available wide receiver in Drake London. I lean toward London here because a running back was selected in the first round, but if Justin Jefferson fell to the fifth pick, then I’d pivot to Irving here.
Top Target: Drake London
Drake London was the eighth overall pick in the 2022 draft, but failed to be a regular fantasy football starter in his first two years due to limited quarterback play, Arthur Smith’s run-first offense, and a rotation at wide receiver. In 2024, the Falcons were still a run-first team thanks to Bijan Robinson, but he was on the field more often, the quarterback play was much better, and he played in the slot more often. London was playing like a top-three fantasy wide receiver in three games with Michael Penix Jr. last season, but Penix was also throwing to London at an unsustainable rate. Penix’s quality of play will determine if London can finish among the top 10 fantasy wide receivers.
Possible Targets: Tee Higgins, Garrett Wilson, Ladd McConkey, Marvin Harrison Jr., Terry McLaurin
Round 3, Pick 29: Draft a tight end
It is generally helpful to select a tight end early or a quarterback early. This allows you only to pick one player at those positions and place them in your lineup each week. That gives you more roster flexibility to add additional high upside options at running back and wide receiver, increasing your odds of selecting this year’s breakout star. We can be more confident in the late-round quarterbacks this season relative to the tight ends, and it can also be easier to select which quarterback to start each week based on matchups. While a tight end could have been an option in Round 2, the gap between those tight ends and Kittle is small, so it made sense to wait for Kittle 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: T.J. Hockenson, Sam LaPorta, David Njoku, Tucker Kraft, Dalton Kincaid
Round 4, Pick 44: Draft a running back
This team is off to a balanced start with one running back, one wide receiver and one tight end. The next several rounds will be between running back and wide receiver. The top available wide receivers should also be available in Round 5, but that is unlikely to be the case with Omarion Hampton, making him the best pick in this round.
Top Target: Omarion Hampton
Hampton should be viewed as one of the top rookie running backs from the last few seasons and a lead running back on a run-heavy team. He averaged at least eight carries of 5 or more yards per game in the previous two seasons. However, the presence of Najee Harris and the lack of receiving potential will likely prevent Hampton from being an immediate top-10 fantasy running back. He will likely be a fantasy starter early on in his rookie season. The more the Chargers change their offense to fit Hampton in terms of more zone runs and more running back targets, the better his fantasy value will be.
Possible Targets: RJ Harvey, D'Andre Swift, James Conner, Chuba Hubbard, Aaron Jones Sr.
Round 5, Pick 53: Draft a wide receiver
This has become the Travis Hunter round. In the first week of the preseason, he played all but one snap with the starters and took half of his snaps from the slot, which has led to excellent fantasy value in Liam Coen’s offenses. Chris Godwin and Cooper Kupp were both among the top wide receivers in fantasy points per game when lined up out of the slot. This has been an excellent range for wide receivers all summer, as the top-20 running backs are gone, and now there are only backs who are part of committees or fighting for a job. Even if Hunter is no longer available, wide receiver is the right pick.
Top Target: Travis Hunter
The sky is the limit for Hunter, a truly unique athlete. He is arguably the best wide receiver and best cornerback in the 2025 draft class. That uniqueness makes it difficult to project how much he can help a fantasy manager at the wide receiver position. Fantasy-relevant wide receivers are consistently playing a minimum of 75% of offensive snaps, and there is a chance Hunter falls below that threshold. His role on offense could be restricted in a way that makes Hunter unstartable, but Hunter could also become the top wide receiver in the NFL and fantasy. He is arguably the most risky player to pick in fantasy drafts, offering both significant risk and reward.
Possible Targets: Jameson Williams, Tetairoa McMillan, DeVonta Smith, Xavier Worthy, Chris Olave
Round 6, Pick 68: Draft a wide receiver
This team needs a third wide receiver, and luckily, there are still plenty of big-name wide receivers available. Everyone suggested here is either the clear top wide receiver on their team, or could be by the end of the season.
Top Target: Tetairoa McMillan
McMillan is a prototypical X receiver and one of the best X receivers coming out of college in a long time. His 89.5 receiving grade is the fifth-best among Power-Five receivers 6-foot-2 or taller in the last decade. The only receiver with more receiving yards during that time is CeeDee Lamb. He was selected eighth overall by the Carolina Panthers, and could be their top target earner as a rookie. He joins Dave Canales’ offense, who has a history of his X receivers reaching double-digit touchdowns in both his only season with Mike Evans and D.K. Metcalf twice. He is the safest rookie wide receiver option in both redraft and dynasty leagues.
Possible Targets: Chris Olave, Jaylen Waddle, Rome Odunze, Calvin Ridley, Stefon Diggs
Round 7, Pick 77: Draft a running back
The next several picks are about adding depth at running back and wide receiver. The top eight quarterbacks by ADP are long gone, and the only quarterback with an ADP in the seventh or eighth round worth considering is Brock Purdy. This is too early for him to be a value, and he is unlikely to be available in the eighth round. The wait at the position will continue for a few more rounds, while you can pick the best available player. While running back is listed here, if your draft has gone particularly running back or wide receiver-heavy early, it’s fine to pivot to whoever is the best value relative to their tier.
Top Target: Jaylen Warren
Jaylen Warren has been a borderline fantasy starter when healthy for the past two seasons and is projected to continue in that role for the 2025 season. His fantasy upside is increased by the possibility of maintaining a significant role over new competition, Kaleb Johnson, primarily in the passing game and potentially in the run game. However, there's also the risk that he could lose playing time if Johnson outperforms the previous competition, Najee Harris. This leaves Warren's fantasy value somewhat volatile and dependent on how the competition plays out.
Possible Targets: Jordan Mason, Tyrone Tracy Jr., Brian Robinson Jr., Rhamondre Stevenson, Javonte Williams
Round 8, Pick 92: Draft a wide receiver
After focusing on running back in the first round as well as depth at running back last round, it’s time to pivot back to wide receiver and increase depth at that position.
Top Target: Jauan Jennings
Jennings spent his first three seasons as a slot-only wide receiver on an offense that doesn’t use three-receiver sets as often as most teams. He seemed destined for the third spot on the depth chart after the team added Ricky Pearsall in the first round of the 2024 draft. Instead, he had the opportunity to take over for Deebo Samuel for one game in Week 3, and he caught 11 passes for 175 yards and three touchdowns. He took over for Brandon Aiyuk for the second half of last season and averaged 14.1 PPR points per game during that time. The 49ers moved on from Samuel, which should give Jennings a permanent spot in the 49ers' starting offense. His fantasy value has a wide range of outcomes, depending on Aiyuk’s health, Pearsall’s ability to improve, and whether Jennings can continue building off what he accomplished last season.
Possible Targets: Ricky Pearsall, Matthew Golden, Emeka Egbuka, Darnell Mooney, Khalil Shakir
Round 9, Pick 101: Draft a running back
The strength in the ninth round is at running back, as this is the last time to add a running back who has a decent chance of leading their team in carries. A lot of the running backs selected so far have been high-risk, high-reward options, so it makes sense to have multiple backups in case one of the players doesn’t end up working out.
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: Rhamondre Stevenson, Javonte Williams, Tank Bigsby, Dylan Sampson, Jaydon Blue
Round 10, Pick 116: Draft a wide receiver
This team has focused a lot on running back with recent picks, so it makes sense to turn back toward wide receiver. All of the clear top wide receivers on teams are gone, but there are plenty of wide receivers who are expected to receive a lot of targets this season. These players might not turn into weekly fantasy starters, but they can plug into your fantasy starting lineup if the matchup is right, or if bye weeks or injuries strike your starters.
Top Target: Darnell Mooney
Darnell Mooney had a strong start to his career with the Chicago Bears for a fifth-round pick, but then Chicago moved him to the slot, which didn’t end up working out. The Atlanta Falcons signed him in free agency prior to the 2024 season, moving him back to the outside, which caused him to be a frustrating WR3 option for fantasy teams. He had seven games with 80 or more receiving yards, and his career-high five touchdowns occurred during those seven games. However, he was held to three receptions for less than 40 yards in six of his games. Michael Penix Jr. has taken over as the Falcons' starting quarterback, and his quality of play will determine Mooney’s fantasy value. In a small sample, Penix has thrown deep at a high rate with high deep accuracy, which could lead to a huge season by Mooney, but if Penix regresses, then Mooney will be a fantasy backup.
Possible Targets: Josh Downs, Marvin Mims Jr., Michael Pittman Jr., Christian Kirk, DeMario Douglas
Round 11, Pick 125: Draft a quarterback
The wait to pick a quarterback ends here. Typically, 15 quarterbacks are off the board, which is fine because there are multiple players available who have the upside to be top-10 players. The gap between QB6 and QB22 in terms of projected fantasy value is relatively small compared to past seasons, indicating the depth at the quarterback position and the coaches who have been able to elevate quarterbacks in their offenses. The 11th-13th rounds are typically a time for a lot of teams that waited for quarterbacks to pick their starter, so now is the time to pick the first of two players.
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, C.J. Stroud, Michael Penix Jr., Drake Maye, Bryce Young
Round 12, Pick 140: Draft a running back
After picking several high-risk running backs, it’s better to add another running back than another wide receiver at this point, as your wide receivers should be safer in comparison.
Top Target: Dylan Sampson
Sampson was well-rounded, regardless of the situation against SEC opponents. Our draft guide notes several positive aspects, including his balance, footwork, vision and explosiveness. The big downside of Sampson is his size. At the combine, he measured 5-foot-8 and weighed 200 pounds. Dion Lewis is the only running back with over 2,000 snaps at that size in the past decade. His cleanest path to playing time with the Cleveland Browns could be as a receiver. He had the highest receiving grade of the Browns running backs and highest yards per route run, albeit both were in college compared to numbers in the pros. The biggest concern for all of the Browns' running backs is the offensive line.
Possible Targets: Jerome Ford, Braelon Allen, Bhayshul Tuten, Roschon Johnson, Jacory Croskey-Merritt
Round 13, Pick 149: Draft a quarterback
The wait for a second quarterback ends here. This range has a wide range of options, from veterans who have finished as top-10 quarterbacks in the past, to up-and-coming quarterbacks and Trevor Lawrence, who should follow in Baker Mayfield’s career path thanks to Liam Coen and the Travis Hunter addition.
Top Target: Trevor Lawrence
Trevor Lawrence has been a somewhat inconsistent fantasy quarterback for the Jaguars over his four seasons, experiencing a peak in 2022 with 25 passing and five rushing touchdowns, but seeing his value fluctuate due to varying play quality and injuries. While he boasts a high big-time throw rate, averaging 1.8 per game over the last two seasons, he also struggles with a high turnover-worthy throw rate. Entering the 2025 season under new head coach Liam Coen, there's optimism for improvement, drawing comparisons to Baker Mayfield‘s success in Coen's system, potentially boosting Lawrence's fantasy output. Brian Thomas Jr.’s emergence, as well as the Travis Hunter addition, adds to the reason for optimism. Lawrence is a high-upside second option in both single quarterback and superflex leagues.
Possible Targets: Michael Penix Jr., Bryce Young, Tua Tagovailoa, Geno Smith, Matthew Stafford
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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