Perfect 10-team 2025 fantasy football draft strategy, round by round 4.0

Estimated reading time: 18 minutes

This perfect draft strategy for 10-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 11

Round 1, Picks 1-10: Draft a running back or wide receiver

The first round is generally too early to target a quarterback or tight end. One of the best-case scenarios is landing Bijan Robinson or Jahmyr Gibbs as your RB1. There are eight to 10 elite wide receivers in fantasy this year, and you’ll probably be able to grab one in the second round. It’s much harder to secure a top-tier running back if you wait. That said, if Robinson and Gibbs are off the board, it’s perfectly reasonable to pivot and take the best available wide receiver.

Top Target: Bijan Robinson

Bijan Robinson was a rare top-10 NFL draft pick at running back, leading to hefty expectations. He began meeting those expectations over the second half of 2024, consistently playing over 70% of the Falcons’ offensive snaps and running at least 17 times in all but one game. This led to 22.4 fantasy points per game over the last nine weeks. He didn’t see as many 15-plus-yard carries as other great running backs, even though he’s got the talent and speed to have those runs. It’s possible some positive regression could greatly help his fantasy production this season. He lost Drew Dalman at center and still has an elite backup in Tyler Allgeier, so there is also some room to lose fantasy value.

Possible Targets: Ja’Marr Chase, Jahmyr Gibbs, Puka Nacua, Nico Collins, Brian Thomas Jr.

Round 2, Picks 11-20: Draft a wide receiver

As mentioned above, the second round is full of great wide receiver options, including several players who could finish first overall in fantasy points for wide receivers. At one point, a running back was worth considering in this range if that running back was Christian McCaffrey, but his ADP has creeped earlier and earlier over the last two months, making it unlikely McCaffrey will be available for any pick in this range.

Top Target: Nico Collins

Collins was a third-round pick who broke out in 2023. He’s posted back-to-back seasons with PFF receiving grades in the 90s. Last season, he averaged 19 fantasy points per game when removing the games he was either injured, returning from injury, or Week 18 when the Texans had already secured their playoff spot. This would have been good for third-best among wide receivers. If anything, he will have less competition for targets this season without Tank Dell or Stefon Diggs. The major problem for Collins has been injuries, as he’s missed at least two and an average of four games per season.

Possible Targets: Brian Thomas Jr., Malik Nabers, Drake London, A.J. Brown, Tee Higgins

Round 3, Picks 21-30: Draft a running back or quarterback

Earlier versions of this article advocated for drafting both a quarterback and a tight end in the first four rounds so both positions could be an area of strength. Part of that strategy involved being able to draft at least one or two running backs in the fifth and sixth rounds that you would be comfortable starting each week. However, it’s become harder to find two running backs, even in 10-team leagues. Joe Mixon’s injury and Quinshon Judkins‘ legal situation removed two running backs who seemed to be feature backs a month ago. Running backs like James Cook and Omarion Hampton are still second running back options in this format, but Cook’s holdout and the injury to Rashawn Slater have somewhat lowered the value of those backs. This makes it more important to draft a second running back early, leaving you with the option of an early quarterback or an early tight end. There is more flexibility in drafting a quarterback early, so we lean quarterback here.

Top Target: Jayden Daniels

Jayden Daniels averaged 23.7 fantasy points per game last season in games he both started and finished, which ranked third-best among all quarterbacks. Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson were the two quarterbacks ahead of him, but they both set career lows in rushing attempts per game. Those rates typically decline with age. The Commanders gave Daniels significant upgrades with Deebo Samuel Sr. at wide receiver and Laremy Tunsil at left tackle. Those moves could be enough to move Daniels to the top of the quarterback ranks by the end of the season.

Possible Targets: Chase Brown, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Kenneth Walker III, Jalen Hurts

Round 4, Picks 31-40: Draft a wide receiver, running back or Jalen Hurts

The goal after the first five rounds is to end up with a quarterback, two running backs and two wide receivers. This is the last chance to add one of the top four quarterbacks, so your priority should be drafting Jalen Hurts if you passed on a quarterback last round. Similarly, if you drafted two wide receivers in the first two rounds, followed by a quarterback, then this should be a running back. Otherwise, it’s perfectly fine to pick someone who fell or your favorite running back or wide receiver before picking the best available player at the other position in the next round.

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: Jalen Hurts, Omarion Hampton, Marvin Harrison Jr., Alvin Kamara, Terry McLaurin     

Round 5, Picks 41-50: Draft a wide receiver or running back

As mentioned last round, the goal after this pick is to have two running backs, two wide receivers and a quarterback, so use this pick to balance out your team.

Top Target: Marvin Harrison Jr. 

Harrison’s first season was full of big expectations, which he didn’t fully live up to. He was the fourth overall pick in the draft, making him the earliest a wide receiver was selected in a decade, but he only exceeded 65 receiving yards in three games. Luckily, his target rate was high, and his target competition remains limited. He received the 19th-most targets, and the top of the Cardinals’ running back, wide receiver and tight end depth chart are identical to last season. He should finish among the top-20 wide receivers in targets again, and he needs to improve his chemistry with Kyler Murray so his fantasy value can also be among the top-20 wide receivers. His 45 uncatchable targets last season led the league, and some regression to the mean should lead to more completions for more fantasy points.

Possible Targets: Kenneth Walker III, Omarion Hampton, Rashee Rice, Travis Hunter, D.J. Moore   

Round 6, Picks 51-60: Draft a running back or wide receiver

This is the perfect time to take a risk on a player with a lot of upside. Even if this team hasn’t picked a quarterback or tight end yet, it’s best to wait at those positions. This means it’s time to pick another running back or a wide receiver. If this team only has one running back so far, it’s best to add another, but the best players available in this round will likely still be available in the seventh round. The strength at this point of the draft is at wide receiver, so that is the preferred position at this 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, R.J. Harvey, D’Andre Swift

Round 7, Picks 61-70: Draft a running back or wide receiver

In the past, this was a clear time to pick another wide receiver, as there were two top-10 picks from the NFL draft on the board. However, after drafting three wide receivers compared to two running backs, a running back is at least a possibility. R.J. Harvey’s ADP has fallen later in drafts, making him available and a value at this point. Similarly, it’s becoming more clear that D’Andre Swift could have a lot of upside, making him an option at this pick. Harvey’s usage in the Broncos’ first preseason game made the difference for this pick to be a running back instead of a wide receiver. Harvey played all but one snap with the first team offense on first and second downs, while J.K. Dobbins was restricted to being a third-down back.

Top Target: RJ 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-10 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: Tetairoa McMillan, D’Andre Swift, Chris Olave, Jaylen Waddle, Aaron Jones Sr.

Round 8, Picks 71-80: Draft a wide receiver

This is a similar range where wide receivers are the draft’s strength. Running backs like Tony Pollard and Tyrone Tracy Jr. are drafted in this range, but they will be sharing their respective backfields with Tyjae Spears and Cam Skattebo, both of whom are available a few rounds later. Because there are so many running backs fighting for a starting job or in a committee, you can find some options in later rounds, while building on wide receivers who have proven NFL success but are more risky due to past injury history.

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, Rome Odunze, Stefon Diggs, Deebo Samuel, Jakobi Meyers

Round 9, Picks 81-90: Draft a running back or wide receiver

The goal of this pick is to help balance out your running backs and wide receivers, as there are players at both positions who could be considered a value here. This team already has three running backs, making wide receiver the better option, but any team with only two running backs should add a third here.

Top Target: Stefon Diggs

Stefon Diggs has a decade of experience in the NFL, and most of that time has been spent as a top-20 fantasy wide receiver. He is the New England Patriots‘ new top receiver, although he missed half of last season after suffering an ACL tear, which could cost him the start of the 2025 campaign. Even when Diggs is ready to play again, he might not be the same player. He will turn 32 years old before the end of the season, an age at which wide receivers tend to decline, even ignoring the injury. Diggs should be able to gain some chemistry with Drake Maye, who has been very accurate on shorter passes, which pairs well with Diggs’ low average depth of target in recent seasons. Diggs has top-20 fantasy potential, but he could also be a non-factor due to the injury.

Possible Targets: Deebo Samuel, Jakobi Meyers, Jauan Jennings, Jordan Mason, Jaylen Warren

Round 10, Picks 91-100: Draft a tight end, wide receiver or Jordan Mason

After waiting several rounds for a tight end, this is the first time to seriously consider one because this will be the last time to pick Tucker Kraft, who is the first of a few high-upside, late-round tight ends, which includes Dalton Kincaid, Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren. It’s best to select two of the four tight ends to maximize your odds of having top-five fantasy value without spending top-five draft capital. If you want to aim for two of the other tight ends, then it’s fine to wait an additional round and go for a wide receiver or Jordan Mason.

Top Target: Tucker Kraft

Tucker Kraft was the Packers‘ clear top tight end in 2024. He was excellent with the ball in his hands, leading the league in yards after the catch per catch and avoided tackle rate. However, his target rate was among the lowest for a starting tight end. This resulted in Kraft not averaging enough points to be a consistent fantasy starter, but he also wasn’t too far behind the top 12. The Packers’ coaches have made it a point to talk about wanting to get him the ball more often. If they follow through, it will make Kraft a top-12 option at the position.

Possible Targets: Jordan Mason, Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall, Matthew Golden, Dalton Kincaid

Round 11, Picks 101-110: Draft a running back, tight end or Emeka Egbuka

If you passed on Kraft last round, then it makes sense to pick a tight end here. If you’re looking for a second tight end, it’s OK to wait one more round. The strength of the draft at this point is at running back. This team has also selected five running backs in the first eight rounds, so this team also needs a running back more than a wide receiver. However, if this team is more balanced at this point, then Emeka Egbuka is the wide receiver to consider.

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: Dalton Kincaid, Colston Loveland, Rhamondre Stevenson, Javonte Williams, Emeka Egbuka

Round 12, Picks 111-120: Draft a tight end or wide receiver

This roster is well-rounded, with a solid starting lineup and multiple backup running backs and wide receivers. Assuming you waited at tight end, it makes sense to pick a second one. There is a large tier drop at tight end after those available in this round, making this the right time to add a second option. If you don’t need a tight end, the strength at this point of the draft is at wide receiver.

Top Target: Dalton Kincaid

Dalton Kincaid showed real promise as a rookie, averaging 14 PPR points per game during a strong midseason stretch and posting two 80-plus-yard performances to close out the regular season. However, his sophomore campaign was largely forgettable. He scored just two touchdowns, failed to surpass 55 receiving yards in any game, and averaged only 21 routes per contest. He also dealt with the third-most uncatchable targets among tight ends.

Injuries hampered Kincaid for much of 2024, likely impacting both his usage and chemistry with quarterback Josh Allen. While the Bills are expected to play from ahead often in 2025 — potentially limiting passing volume — and still have Dawson Knox on the roster, Kincaid remains a strong candidate for a bounce-back season.

Possible Targets: Emeka Egbuka, Darnell Mooney, Josh Downs, Marvin Mims Jr., Dallas Goedert

Round 13, Picks 121-130: Draft a running back

This team should be very balanced through 12 rounds, with an elite quarterback, two tight ends, four running backs and five wide receivers. Because this team has a bigger strength at wide receiver than running back, it makes sense to add another running back who could eventually earn his team’s starting job.

Top Target: Tank Bigsby

Tank Bigsby was involved in too many turnovers as a rookie for him to get many opportunities. In his second season, he had stretches of the season where he was a borderline fantasy starter when Travis Etienne Jr. was either injured or inefficient. The Jaguars spent a fourth-round pick on Bhayshul Tuten, which further complicates the Jaguars’ backfield. Bigsby’s lack of impact in the passing game is a major detriment to his fantasy value. Ideally, he will continue to be the Jaguars’ goal-line back, and Jacksonville will play better under Liam Coen at head coach, leading to more touchdowns. He will need to see double-digit carries, and ideally average at least one reception per game in order to have fantasy value.

Possible Targets: Dylan Sampson, Jaydon Blue, Jerome Ford, Bhayshul Tuten, Braelon Allen

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.