Every year, we at ESPN Fantasy endeavor to assist together with your fantasy football draft prep, together with sleepers lists and cheat sheets. On this column, you’re going to get the perfect of each worlds, as ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter affords his private checklist of early-, mid- and late-round targets in 2025 fantasy leagues.
Beneath are some gamers who could possibly be fantasy standouts this season and outperform their present common draft place (ADP). If given a selection at sure junctures within the draft, or in tiebreaker conditions, these are gamers who will obtain robust consideration.
For context, I’m in a 12-team league, wherein a few of these gamers is not going to have to be drafted, and a 16-team league, wherein a few of them is perhaps extra beneficial. As at all times, take into account the scale of your league and your scoring system in any participant analysis, however I imagine the gamers under maintain robust worth relative to their ADPs and are poised to have productive seasons.
I hope this checklist is useful. Good luck this season!
Quarterback
Simply because the NFL has elite quarterbacks, so does fantasy. Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow have racked up enormous numbers for his or her groups and fantasy managers, however there’s loads of depth this yr, and high quality quarterbacks will be present in later rounds, in case you select to attend on the place.
Early rounds
Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens: Coach John Harbaugh believes Jackson is without doubt one of the greatest passers — sure, passers — in NFL historical past. However Jackson’s working makes him the most effective fantasy quarterbacks in historical past.
Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills: Prior to now yr, Allen has received an MVP, gotten married and restructured his contract as he seems to be to duplicate — and even enhance upon — his unimaginable 2024 season.
Center rounds
Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: From the time he turned up in Tampa, Mayfield has exceeded expectations whereas the Buccaneers have assembled potent offensive choices.
Bo Nix, Denver Broncos: Nix is a greater twin menace than individuals understand, and might rack up fantasy factors together with his legs as a lot as his arm.
Late rounds
Drake Maye, New England Patriots: A much bigger model of Bo Nix, within the junior mildew of Josh Allen, Maye can rating factors within the air or on the bottom.
Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons: In his temporary stint on the finish of final season, Penix proved he belongs. He’s the Falcons’ quarterback of the longer term and shall be a fantasy fixture.
Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars: Below new coach Liam Coen, Lawrence has been put able to realize his potential.
Operating again
A case will be made to draft both Bijan Robinson or Jahmyr Gibbs with the No. 1 choose this season. Coming off a deep working again draft in April, this crop of working backs has been elevated by quite a few rookies who’ve an opportunity to make significant fantasy contributions this season.
Early rounds
Bijan Robinson, Falcons: He can be my No. 1 choose this yr.
Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions: Gibbs would possibly simply be essentially the most dynamic offensive participant within the NFL, to not point out a landing machine.
Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals: On a workforce that could possibly be concerned in high-scoring affairs, Brown can catch as successfully as he runs.
Bucky Irving, Buccaneers: Irving emerged in his rookie yr and seized management of the Buccaneers’ No. 1 working again spot.
Center rounds
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Subject Yates explains why Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco is probably going being undervalued in drafts.
Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers: Few coaches like to run the soccer as a lot as Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman, and Hampton is anticipated to be the lead again.
TreVeyon Henderson, Patriots: Demonstrated pace, elusiveness and big-play capability this preseason and shall be used along side Rhamondre Stevenson.
RJ Harvey, Broncos: Rookie working backs typically are introduced alongside slowly in Sean Payton’s offense, however because the season progresses, so ought to Harvey.
Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs: An harm derailed a robust begin to his 2024 season. Pacheco is wholesome this yr.
Late rounds
Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Washington Commanders: There was an inordinate quantity of hype surrounding this seventh-round choose.
Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson, Cleveland Browns: Cleveland wants, and is anticipated to have, one in every of its rookie working backs to be an element.
Trey Benson, Arizona Cardinals: It is time for final yr’s third-round draft choose to indicate he has a spot in Arizona’s offense.
Jaydon Blue, Dallas Cowboys: Blue has elite elusiveness and is anticipated to be a third-down issue.
Bhayshul Tuten, Jaguars: The rookie will seemingly contribute early and be constant this season. He has an excessive amount of pace to not.
Will Shipley, Philadelphia Eagles: Shipley is stable insurance coverage for managers who roster working again Saquon Barkley.
Extensive receiver
With the NFL’s reliance on the passing recreation, so many receivers have been developed that this could possibly be the deepest group of wideouts in fantasy historical past. Catching contributors can be found in any respect ranges of the draft, however particularly up excessive.
Early rounds
Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals: There isn’t a contract drama this yr, and the connection he has with Burrow is subsequent degree.
Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions: Goal machine who’s as robust and reliable as they arrive.
Nico Collins, Houston Texans: When wholesome, he has the power to be one of many high fantasy receivers.
Malik Nabers, New York Giants: Has a lingering toe difficulty and, had been it not for that, his expertise is on par with any receiver within the league.
Center rounds
Marvin Harrison Jr., Cardinals: He is not going to be drafted as excessive as final yr, however he seemingly will produce extra this yr.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks: Confirmed how productive he could possibly be throughout his rookie season and may proceed to shine.
DeVonta Smith, Eagles: A.J. Brown will get plenty of consideration in Philadelphia, however Smith nonetheless will get plenty of targets.
Jameson Williams, Lions: Headed right into a contract yr, Williams has the motivation to associate with the expertise.
Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears: He has already constructed a rapport with QB Caleb Williams that can join them for years.
Ricky Pearsall, San Francisco 49ers: There have been so many accidents to 49ers wideouts that somebody has to provide for them. Pearsall can.
Later rounds
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Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings: A 3-game suspension dings his worth, however as soon as he returns, he’s anticipated to be a drive.
Matthew Golden, Green Bay Packers: Like Pearsall, accidents have impacted the Packers’ broad receivers. Somebody has to provide, and their first-round choose is pretty much as good a guess as any.
Emeka Egbuka, Buccaneers: The workforce has been happy and impressed with how its first-round choose has appeared in camp.
Keon Coleman, Payments: Coleman has appeared good throughout coaching camp, like he is able to make a second-year soar.
Marvin Mims Jr., Broncos: He started to emerge final season and it ought to proceed this season.
DeMario Douglas, Patriots: New England wants its receivers to step up, and Douglas did at camp.
Dyami Brown, Jaguars: Observe the cash. The Jaguars paid him about $10 million per yr as a free agent.
Jaylin Noel, Texans: With Tank Dell out indefinitely, Houston wants the kind of huge performs that Noel can present.
Troy Franklin, Broncos: The Broncos have plenty of broad receivers, however Franklin — who performed with Nix in school — is able to making performs.
Tight finish
It is a top-heavy place, with Brock Bowers, Trey McBride and George Kittle being the headliners. As soon as it will get previous them, there’s uncertainty and a few danger.
Early rounds
Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders: Final yr’s first-round choose appeared like a star in his rookie season in Vegas.
Trey McBride, Cardinals: There have been instances final season when he performed like a child Gronk.
Center rounds
Sam LaPorta, Lions: Flashed celebrity potential as a rookie in 2023, when the Lions featured him.
Evan Engram, Broncos: Sean Payton has been ready for an efficient pass-catching tight finish, and now he has one.
Jake Ferguson, Cowboys: Coming off an harm, Ferguson is poised to renew his manufacturing in Dallas’ offense.
Later rounds
Isaiah Likely, Ravens: He could possibly be the No. 1 tight finish on many groups. Issues are harder in Baltimore with Mark Andrews round, however the Ravens know the way gifted Possible is.
Theo Johnson, Giants: Johnson was an element as his rookie season progressed and ought to be even higher this season.
Ja’Tavion Sanders, Carolina Panthers: He flashed throughout his rookie season as effectively, and has an opportunity to take a significant soar in 12 months 2.
AJ Barner, Seahawks: Seattle wants a good finish to step up, and Barner is perhaps as much as the duty.
