Fantasy Football 2025: How To Draft The Perfect Roster

Forbes

08-08-2025

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 05: Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles reacts prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field on November 05, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by) Getty Images
The 2025 fantasy football season is officially here. We're now in August, which means it's time to get serious about your research.
Lucky for you, this article will provide you with a comprehensive guide on how to draft the perfect roster. That way, you can beat your friends and hold bragging rights for your league.
Below, we'll be discussing how to approach each position, the best draft strategy for 2025, and how you should attack certain ranges of your draft. With that being said, let's dive into it.
The quarterback position in 2025 fantasy football is fairly deep this year. In tier one, you have four players this year.
Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Jayden Daniels, and Jalen Hurts. After that, according to FantasyPros ADP, you have three talented pocket passers.
Joe Burrow, Patrick Mahomes, and Baker Mayfield. Both have the ability to throw for a ton of yards this year, but their limited rushing upside holds them back.
After that, Bo Nix (QB8) and Kyler Murray (QB9) are the last quarterbacks that I would target in the top 10. Holding off from drafting Jared Goff at QB10 in order to draft a late-round quarterback is a great idea this year.
Overall, due to the depth of the position, it's best to hold off and grab your quarterback later. Here are two articles that outline how you can do so. Forbes 3 Late Round QBs To Draft In Your Fantasy Football League By Steve Bradshaw Forbes How To Use The Late Round QB Strategy In 2025 Fantasy Football By Steve Bradshaw
With a historically good rookie running back class, the position this year is a gold mine. Adding a ton of high upside players to a group that had a strong 2024 season makes for a deep position group.
In PPR leagues, Bijan Robinson, Saquon Barkley, and Jahmyr Gibbs are the big three, and that's the order of their ADP. For the first time in quite some time, you're getting a discount on Christian McCaffrey.
McCaffrey has league-winning upside and should absolutely be drafted at cost this year. We've seen McCaffrey cross the 24 PPG mark four times, most recently in 2023. The reward is worth the risk
From there, the RB5-10 is Derrick Henry, Ashton Jeanty, De'Von Achane, Josh Jacobs, Jonathan Taylor, and Bucky Irving. While most of these players are fine, none of them are great values.
That changes at RB12, where you have Chase Brown. From week 3-18, Brown had 17.6 PPG, which was the 7th best mark in fantasy football.
With the Cincinnati Bengals not focused on depth at the running back position, it seems like Brown should receive similar volume with increased efficiency now that he's going into year three.
Breece Hall (RB14), Alvin Kamara (RB15), and Chuba Hubbard (RB16) are all solid RB2 pickups this year, and they're going at a very fair price. The best way to approach your RB2 spot this year is by targeting a rookie running back.
You can find the best rookie running backs to target below. Forbes Draft These 4 Rookie RBs In 2025 Fantasy Football By Steve Bradshaw
From there, you'll have a number of good late-round sleepers at running back this year for your bench. You can find the top three below. Forbes 3 Late Round Running Backs To Draft In 2025 Fantasy Football By Steve Bradshaw
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 26: Malik Nabers #1 of the New York Giants celebrates after a play during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium on September 26, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by) Getty Images
At wide receiver this year, there are values to be had, but there are also quite a few landmines. The top two wide receivers you can draft are Ja'Marr Chase (WR1) and CeeDee Lamb (WR3).
From there, you can feel extremely confident drafting these wide receivers in the top 10. Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR4), Puka Nacua (WR5), Malik Nabers (WR6), Nico Collins (WR7), and Drake London.
This means that Justin Jefferson (WR2), Brian Thomas Jr (WR8), and A.J. Brown (WR9) are all players to avoid at cost. The middle rounds are where you have to be careful in selecting your WR2/WR3.
At WR2, Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR14), Marvin Harrison Jr (WR19), and Rashee Rice (WR21) are all fantastic values. Keep in mind that with Rice, he may miss part of the year due to suspension. You'll want to draft players who are safer later in the draft if he's on your team.
For the WR3 spot, Tetairoa McMillan (WR30) is easily the best value in 2025 fantasy football. Jaylen Waddle (WR32), Jerry Jeudy (WR33), and Chris Godwin (WR34) are good picks as well.
Watch out for players like Zay Flowers (WR26), Jameson Williams (WR27 and George Pickens (WR29). Even though the wide receiver position doesn't have nearly as many sleepers, there are still a few rookies that are worth a bench stash. You can find that below. Forbes 3 Rookie WRs To Draft In Your Fantasy Football League By Steve Bradshaw
Just like most years, the tight end position is extremely weak.
Brock Bowers and Trey McBride are the clear top guys, with George Kittle just behind. From there, the best players to target in the first 12 tight ends are as follows.
T.J. Hockenson (TE5), Evan Engram (TE8), and David Njoku (TE9). The top rookie tight ends are not a great pick this year in Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland.
Both have clear target competition, and with Warren, there are quite a few questions at quarterback. Loveland has Caleb Williams, who has questions himself, but that Chicago Bears skill group is one of the deepest in the entire NFL.
With that being said, there's one massive sleeper at tight end this year who is also a rookie. Elijah Arroyo, at 28, is a fantastic pick now that the Seattle Seahawks traded away Noah Fant.
Arroyo is a very talented player who has a ton of opportunity with the Seahawks. Outside of Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the number two target could go to anyone. While Cooper Kupp is the frontrunner, he's already 32 years old. You can learn more about Arroyo as a prospect below. Forbes 2025 Dynasty Rookie Rankings: Elijah Arroyo By Steve Bradshaw
In selecting your defense, you should stream each week. Also, you'll stream in a kicker most weeks. With that said, the only piece of advice you need is to draft a kicker before your defense.
Here are three targets for each position. Forbes Draft These Kickers In 2025 Fantasy Football By Steve Bradshaw Forbes Draft These 3 Defenses in 2025 Fantasy Football By Steve Bradshaw
Your strategy will change drastically depending on your draft pick, but here's a basic guideline to follow. Typically, you'll want to walk out of the first three rounds with at least one running back and one to two wide receivers.
This year, it makes sense to draft either Bowers or McBride if you have just one flex spot. The reason is that Mike Evans (ADP: 42), Harrison Jr (ADP: 43), Omarion Hampton (ADP: 44), Chuba Hubbard (ADP: 45), and Rashee Rice (ADP: 48) are available in round four.
FOXBOROUGH, MA - JULY 23: New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson (32) walks out to the New England Patriots Training Camp on July 23, 2025, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA. (Photo by Summer Lamont/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
In round four, draft one of the players above, depending on what your team looks like. If you only have one running back, prioritize Hampton or Hubbard. That's what your ideal start should look like.
Then TreVeyon Henderson with an ADP of 59 and Tetairoa McMillan, who has an ADP of 69, are your best options. McMillan is a player you shouldn't leave your draft without.
Do not target quarterback in these rounds unless you get a tier one player falling. You'll want to attack tight end if T.J. Hockenson (ADP: 61), Evan Engram (ADP: 83), or David Njoku (ADP:86). Typically, drafting a mid-round tight end isn't a great idea, but it's a good move this year.
Rounds nine and on are all about drafting for value. Attack rookies and other players who are ranked too low for one reason or another. Earlier, we mentioned a few late-round quarterbacks to draft, and in round nine and on is where you can attack the position.
The articles provided above will have sleepers for these late-round picks. With that being said, you're now ready to jump into your 2025 fantasy football draft. Best of luck and happy drafting!