- 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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This perfect draft strategy for 12-team redraft fantasy football leagues with one quarterback and PPR scoring uses a consensus of current average draft positions from ESPN, Sleeper and Yahoo! to deliver a general round-by-round guide for managers.
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Last updated: Monday, Aug. 25
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, such as 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 which 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 has 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 keep Chase as an elite asset.
Possible Targets: Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, Puka Nacua, Nico Collins, Brian Thomas Jr.
Round 2, Picks 13-24: Draft a wide receiver, running back or Trey McBride
The strategy in Round 2 is similar to Round 1, although it largely depends on draft position. For those picking early in the round, the goal will be to draft 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, a 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 ADPs for the best sleeper tight ends have risen, whereas 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.
That means tight end is the better option to target earlier. McBride is the best choice at the end of the second round or in the third round, but it’s better to grab him in the second so that no one steals him away.
Top Target: Bucky Irving
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made Irving a fourth-round pick in 2024, and in his first year, he finished fourth among running backs in PFF overall grade, posting elite marks as both a rusher and receiver. He started the season playing just over 30% of the Buccaneers‘ offensive snaps and ended playing around 70% of their snaps. He was among the top running backs at the end of the season.
Most of Irving’s situation is the same this season, except for a change in offensive coordinator. There is a chance the backfield could go back toward a committee approach, but there is also a chance Irving will become even more of an every-down back.
Possible Targets: Brian Thomas Jr., Drake London, Trey McBride, Chase Brown, Kyren Williams
Round 3, Picks 25-36: Draft a quarterback, tight end or wide receiver
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. If not, look at George 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 solid 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: Trey McBride
McBride became the Cardinals‘ primary tight end in the middle of the 2023 season, and he’s been an elite fantasy option at the position ever since. He averaged at least 15 PPR points in both seasons once he became the starter. McBride led the league in both receptions per game (6.9) and receptions per route (0.21) last season. His yards per game (71.6) and targets per game (8.7) figures were both second best.
The Cardinals kept the coaching staff and players on the offense essentially the same as last season, making it easier to expect more of the same from McBride. If anything, we can expect a few more touchdowns after his low total last season.
Possible Targets: Tee Higgins, Jayden Daniels, George Kittle, Garrett Wilson, Jalen Hurts
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 the gaps at running back and wide receiver. By the end of this round, I would suggest having at least one running back, one wide receiver and one tight end.
If you already have one running back and one wide receiver, I would lean toward adding a second running back. There will be several wide receivers available in the next few rounds, but not as many running backs.
Top Target: Omarion Hampton
Hampton should be viewed as one of the top rookie running backs from the past 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 in his rookie season.
The more the Chargers change their offense to fit Hampton — with more zone runs and more running back targets — the better his fantasy value.
Possible Targets: Marvin Harrison Jr., Kenneth Walker III, Travis Hunter, D.J. Moore, Jameson Williams
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 ADPs were always a little low relative to their potential. The first week of the preseason showed that their teams have big plans for them, and they remain two of the biggest steals of the draft. The goal with these next two picks is to pick them.
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, such as Jameson Williams and Tetairoa McMillan, while there is a larger gap between Harvey and the other running backs. So, Harvey is the first pick here, but it’s worth considering Hunter, too, particularly on ESPN.
This could potentially be your team’s third running back, which is OK. There are several backfields where there seem to be at least three running backs involved, and if you draft them, they could end up as starters.
On the other hand, the value at wide receiver from the sixth to the 10th rounds is very strong. There are multiple options of high-upside WR1s and WR2s who are guaranteed significant playing time when healthy, and they all have top-20 potential as long as they stay on the field. You’ll have a chance to draft several of these players, so even if one doesn’t work out, there are plenty of options.
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-10 season is within the realm of possibilities if he dominates the passing-down role and also averages at least eight carries per game. However, the Broncos’ backfield could remain volatile.
Possible Targets: Travis Hunter, Jameson Williams, Tetairoa McMillan, Rashee Rice, D’Andre Swift
Round 6, Picks 61-72: Draft a wide receiver
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
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 will fall below that threshold. His role on offense could be restricted in a way that makes him unstartable, but he 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, Chris Olave, Jaylen Waddle, Emeka Egbuka
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 drafted 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 finished at 82.0 or better each season. New Saints head coach Kellen Moore’s slot receivers have been a consistent value in fantasy football. Olave is the wide receiver best suited to line up in the slot. However, he 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, unproven quarterback options, which is also working against Olave.
Possible Targets: Emeka Egbuka, Rome Odunze, Ricky Pearsall, Deebo Samuel, Jakobi Meyers
Round 8, Picks 85-96: Draft a wide receiver
This is a round to take yet another wide receiver. Young receivers like Emeka Egbuka, Ricky Pearsall and Matthew Golden are on teams with multiple injuries at the position, giving them opportunities to see significant playing time early on — and potentially become the top options on their team.
While their ADPs have slowly but surely changed, they likely haven’t moved fast enough to catch up to the players’ true value. It may be harder to get some of these wide receivers in more competitive leagues.
Top Target: Emeka Egbuka
Egbuka was a very talented receiver out of Ohio State, but he was consistently the second wide receiver in the team’s offense. He averaged 2.75 yards per route run against zone defenses over the past three seasons, which places him above the 95th percentile among FBS receivers.
With the Buccaneers, Egbuka will be the second or third option in the short term. Jalen McMillan is expected to miss the first half of the season due to a preseason injury, and there is a chance Chris Godwin will miss the start of the season. That will give Egbuka an immediate opportunity to succeed.
Possible Targets: Ricky Pearsall, Deebo Samuel, Josh Downs, Matthew Golden, Jauan Jennings
Round 9, Picks 97-108: Draft a running back or wide receiver
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 three 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.
Drafting Mason allows you to pick a top-10 quarterback in the next round, whereas selecting 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
Mason quickly went from an undrafted rookie to the 49ers‘ top backup running back, 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 ranked 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 past two seasons.
Mason might not score enough weekly to start in fantasy in normal situations, but if Jones is dealing with an injury or showing more signs of age, Mason could become a weekly player to start.
Possible Targets: Emeka Egbuka, Josh Downs, Jauan Jennings, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Michael Pittman Jr.
Round 10, Picks 109-120: Draft a running back or wide receiver
This round, it’s fine to consider a running back or wide receiver, depending on where you deem your roster to be weak. Considering this team focused on drafting running backs early, it’s fine to continue taking shots at wide receiver. In particular, the Indianapolis Colts‘ wide receivers stand out. Daniel Jones is strong at short-field accuracy, while Anthony Richardson Sr. is better at deep passes. Both Josh Downs and Michael Pittman Jr. have relatively low average depths of target, so they should both benefit from the Colts‘ recent starting quarterback announcement.
Top Target: Josh Downs
Downs is the rare wide receiver who plays in the slot only in three-receiver sets and has been fantasy relevant, thanks to a high target share and the Colts’ high 11-personnel rate. Downs has had long stretches over his first two seasons where he’s been a consistent fantasy starter, but injuries have made his quality of play take a turn for the worse.
Daniel Jones could enhance Downs’ fantasy value even further. However, the Tyler Warren addition may lead to a notable decrease in target share for Downs, depending on how quickly the rookie earns a receiving role in the offense. Downs’ multiple injuries over the first two seasons could also make it more likely that he will miss time. He should be drafted as a fantasy backup due to his upside to be a fantasy starter if things are going right.
Possible Targets: Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Michael Pittman Jr., Zach Charbonnet, Darnell Mooney, Marvin Mims Jr.
Round 11, Picks 121-132: Draft a wide receiver or quarterback
The quarterback wait 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, due to the depth at the position and coaches who have been able to elevate passers. 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 target the first of two players.
Top Target: J.J. McCarthy
McCarthy, after being selected by the Minnesota Vikings with the 10th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, is poised to be the team’s 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: Darnell Mooney, Marvin Mims Jr., Trevor Lawrence, Jordan Love, Michael Penix Jr.
Round 12, Picks 133-144: Draft a running back
Jacory Croskey-Merritt is the top player with this pick. His ADP is currently much later than this on most sites, but he is also potentially getting drafted earlier than this in many drafts. Even if Croskey-Merritt isn’t available, it would be good to add another running back. Luckily, the concerns around Chris Rodriguez and Austin Ekeler should help keep Croskey-Merritt’s ADP low.
Top Target: Jacory Croskey-Merritt
Croskey-Merritt consistently improved as a running back from his time at Alabama State to New Mexico, both in the run and passing games. He averaged a first down on 37.2% of his runs and broke 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 NFL Scouting 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. And now, Brian Robinson Jr. is out of the picture after being traded to the 49ers.
While Croskey-Merritt’s 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 early.
Possible Targets: Braelon Allen, Dylan Sampson, Tyjae Spears, Bhayshul Tuten, Kyle Monangai
Round 13, Picks 145-156: Draft a quarterback or running back
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 Baker Mayfield’s career path, thanks to Liam Coen and the Travis Hunter addition.
Top Target: Trevor Lawrence
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 past two seasons, Lawrence 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. Brian Thomas Jr.’s emergence and Travis Hunter‘s addition are more reasons for optimism. Lawrence is a high-upside second option in both single-quarterback and superflex leagues.
Possible Targets: Braelon Allen, Michael Penix Jr., Dylan Sampson, Bhayshul Tuten, Kyle Monangai
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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