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John's fantasy football draft targets and potential league-winners for standard leagues in 2025. His top standard (non-PPR) players to draft for 2025.
Over the years, standard fantasy football leagues, which don't award players any additional points for receptions, have waned in popularity. But they were the original way in which scoring was handled. It makes sense, too -- receptions aren't inherently more valuable in the NFL.
While some fantasy managers might think so, they're just not. A team gaining a certain amount of yards on a play is always of equivalent value in terms of advancing the ball to score. The only real difference is whether the clock stops and if anyone gets hurt on the play.
Neither of those is factored into scoring in any fantasy football formats on any given play, though. Standard leagues can be brutal and unforgiving, and highly dependent on things like touchdown luck, but that's some fantasy managers' cup of tea. This one's for you guys!
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:- 2025 fantasy football rankings (redraft)
- Dynasty fantasy football rankings
- 2025 NFL rookie fantasy football rankings
- Best ball fantasy football rankings
- Quarterback fantasy football rankings
- Running back fantasy football rankings
- Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
- Tight end fantasy football rankings
Target: Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers
The most obvious player you should be trying to get at all costs is McCaffrey. Though his 2024 season was an ugly, injury-riddled campaign, he's still an elite player, will be playing in one of the best offenses for an RB1 to be in for fantasy football, and is a monster touchdown producer when healthy.
In addition, if you manage to take his backup RB, Isaac Guerendo, later in the draft, you have a guarantee that you'll have a player putting up RB1 numbers nearly every week. Guerendo was highly injury-prone, though, so you might even want to draft his backup, Jordan James, even later in the draft.
Fuck it, 19 minutes of Christian McCaffrey highlights from the 2023 season for the timeline pic.twitter.com/fYj2ZecRiO
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) November 8, 2024
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan's offensive system is simply remarkable for player production. His RB1 role is league-winning every season. We saw Guerendo and Jordan Mason easily put up RB1 numbers when they got enough snaps in that role last season.
And McCaffrey is no stranger to missing most of the games in a season, only to bounce back next year and easily smash his way to RB1 overall production in fantasy football. He just turned 29 years old on June 7, so he should have plenty of gas left in the tank.
Most yards per touch since 2023
[RBs, min. 250 touches]1. Bucky Irving - 5.96
2. Jahmyr Gibbs - 5.93
3. Christian McCaffrey - 5.87
...
42. Javonte Williams - 4.09
43. Ezekiel Elliott - 3.89
44/last. Kareem Hunt - 3.75— Fantasy Points Data (@FantasyPtsData) May 28, 2025
McCaffrey's astounding talent demands a massive role -- and that's what he's gotten throughout his career. And Shanahan has made it known that he intends to get CMC the ball "as much as possible" in the 2025 season. Which works out fantastically as long as he can stay healthy.
CMC also has quite a bit less wear and tear on his body, considering how many games he's missed in his career. And last season, he had just 65 total touches, so he's likely very fresh. Letting him fall out of the first round of standard fantasy football league drafts would be a crime. Make sure to get him there if you can.
Target: Derrick Henry, RB, Baltimore Ravens
Generally, running backs with workhorse roles on good offenses with talented rosters are the players you want to pick up. Henry, despite finishing as the RB2 overall in 2024 in standard scoring leagues, is currently being drafted at the end of the first round, around pick 12 in terms of ADP.
This doesn't make much sense. While he is 31 years old, he didn't show any signs of slowing down last season. Some players are so unbelievably gifted that they buck the trend of age cliffs and continue producing well into their 30s. And with elite rushing QB Lamar Jackson under center for the Ravens, Henry is set up very well for more success this season.
Rushes of 10+ yards in 2024 Per NFL pro:
1. 🦅Saquon Barkley - 46
2. 👑Derrick Henry - 45
3. 🦁Jahmyr Gibbs - 41
4. ⚡️Lamar Jackson - 37
5. 🏜️James Conner - 34 pic.twitter.com/Q3Kr49Ipuk— SleeperRavens (@SleeperRavenss) June 23, 2025
It would, of course, be easy to put Philadelphia Eagles RB Saquon Barkley on this list, but he's already being drafted in the top-2 picks pretty much universally in standard leagues. Henry is highly undervalued. He averaged an obscene 5.91 yards per carry on 325 rush attempts last season.
He seemed like a lock for a touchdown run most weeks, logging one or more rushing scores in 10 of his first 11 games. The King finished the season with 18 total touchdowns and 2,114 yards from scrimmage, second only to Barkley. And his ADP is over half a round lower than Detroit Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs.
Just a reminder that in 2024…
DERRICK HENRY had (amongst all RBs):
❌ The MOST Miss Tackles Forced
🥇 The MOST 1st downs
💪 The SECOND MOST yards after contact
💨 The SECOND MOST breakaway runs (15+ yds)
At THIRTY years old!
LONG LIVE THE KING 👑pic.twitter.com/5oeQNwfbA8
— Matt FF Dynasty 🏈 (@MattFFDynasty) June 23, 2025
Despite Jackson throwing for a career-high 41 passing touchdowns last season, Henry is the engine of this offense, and the combination of he and Jackson will continue to terrorize defenses until the wheels fall off. So, if you're drafting past the midway point in the first round, you can't go wrong taking the King.
I still can't believe people are drafting Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty over Henry. Long live the King.
Target: Rashee Rice, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
While he won't have the benefit of his receptions racking up points for him, Rice's ability to gain yards after the catch and consistently beat coverages makes him a massive value at his ADP (WR20) in standard leagues. He's the Chiefs' WR1 and is reportedly fully healthy heading into 2025.
He scored 10.3, 13.5, and 17.1 standard fantasy points in his three healthy games in 2024. He was the undisputed target king for the Chiefs -- tight end Travis Kelce appears to have fallen off, which makes sense, given his age. And even with a bit more target competition, Rice will still be the guy.
Rashee Rice in pretty, pretty, pretty good company pic.twitter.com/Cf4vhUY6aV
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) June 23, 2025
In standard leagues, efficiency is key. Players who can make the most out of the plays in which they get the ball are crucial because yards and touchdowns are the only things that matter. Rice is a monster after the catch, and is heavily schemed up plays that give him space to work. You should draft him.
Sleeper: RJ Harvey, RB, Denver Broncos
There's little doubt now that Harvey will have a massive role, likely that of Sean Payton's "Joker" in 2025. He's a do-it-all back who's great both as a rusher and a pass-catcher, and his film over the past two seasons is truly fantastic. He's an elite athlete who's the best back on his team.
Sure, the Broncos signed RB J.K. Dobbins in June, but who cares? Dobbins wasn't wanted by any other team for months, and Denver needed a solid pass-protecting running back. This will allow Payton to nearly completely phase out Jaleel McLaughlin and Audric Estime, two backs who were just awful in 2024.
Career Explosive Run rates from 2025 RBs
RJ Harvey: 21%
Jarquez Hunter: 18.9%
Cam Skattebo/Bhayshul Tuten: 18%
Marcus Yarns: 17.9%
Damien Martinez: 17.8% pic.twitter.com/oHfAbvtUlI— Football Insights 📊 (@fball_insights) February 20, 2025
Explosive plays are massively important in standard leagues. One long touchdown run can often win fantasy managers their matchup in any given week. That's what Harvey excels at, and he'll be given plenty of chances to rack up huge plays.
I've been a huge fan of Harvey since February, calling him a league-winner in multiple articles even before the 2025 NFL Draft. I stand by my claims. Harvey's currently the RB20, but should finish as an RB1 in 2025, so you should draft him.
Sleeper: Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
In standard leagues, one of the most important things you can do is accurately predict which players will take over their backfields as their teams' RB1s. After a thorough film review of all the Jaguars running backs, I've concluded that Tuten will literally (and figuratively) run away with Jacksonville's RB1 role.
Tuten is already one of the most explosive backs in the league. He ran a 4.32-second 40-yard dash at the 2025 NFL Combine, besting even Gibbs, the Lions RB1. Tuten is also massively underrated as a pass-protector and tackle-breaker. His elusiveness and power don't get enough credit.
Bhayshul Tuten doesn't get enough credit for his stiff arms. They're filthy pic.twitter.com/LT7SWkVVIW
— JohnJohn Analysis (@JohnJohnalytics) June 22, 2025
And last season, we saw Liam Coen, now the head coach of the Jags and the former offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, draw up elite run-blocking schemes that helped rookie RB Bucky Irving become a literal league-winner down the stretch after being massively overlooked before the season.
best blocking rep of all time? people are sayin pic.twitter.com/thcEV6eSGe
— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) May 26, 2025
Yes, the Bucs had a very good offensive line. But digging into the tape, you find endless reps where guys were just all in the right place at the right time to throw their blocks. There is plenty of talk of Tuten's fumbling issues being the death knell to his fantasy production.
That hasn't stopped Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams from having a workhorse role two years in a row. And on teams with good run-blocking schemes, the best player to give the ball to is generally the fastest one and the most elusive one. Tuten is likely to be both.
Bhayshul Tuten is elusive all around but was notably productive up the middle at VT pic.twitter.com/Urax9F1lfV
— Football Insights 📊 (@fball_insights) May 14, 2025
Tuten is this year's Bucky Irving, in my opinion. It helps that his head coach was Buck's offensive coordinator last season. I thought that made things kind of obvious, but here we are. Tuten is a must-draft.
Sleeper: Jordan Mason, RB, Minnesota Vikings
This one isn't super complicated. Aaron Jones, the Vikings' clear RB1 and workhorse back last season, was absolutely horrible in short-yardage situations and at the goal line. We're talking potentially-worst-in-the-league levels of bad.
Aaron Jones in 2025:
-Inside the 10-yard line: 0.3 yards per carry
-Inside the 5-yard line: -0.2 yards per carryJones was awful in these short yardage situations. Mason should have at least 8 rush TDs in 2025.
Stay away from Jones in fantasy in 2025.https://t.co/k1hYDOY9Y2 pic.twitter.com/0Q4RzA6nNG
— JohnJohn Analysis (@JohnJohnalytics) April 6, 2025
Mason, meanwhile, was great in both of these areas with the 49ers. And it's not like San Francisco had a much better offensive line -- it was plagued by injuries last year. The Vikings coaching staff has already indicated that Mason was brought in to take over the role Jones was bad in last season.
Could @Vikings Jordan Mason finish with more rushing yards than Aaron Jones? pic.twitter.com/M6v9w7EYNX
— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) May 22, 2025
Receptions are worthless in standard. Touchdowns are not. Add in Jones' history of constantly getting injured, and Mason is a huge value as a potential lead back on a good offense that should see a lot of trips to the red zone in 2025.
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