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RotoBaller's fantasy football draft targets and must-have picks. Top draft targets and values from RotoBaller's staff. Read the expert redraft analysis and draft advice.
Early fantasy football drafts are already taking place. Whether you're drafting now or waiting until the last second, it's never too early to identify top draft values and targets to crush your league in 2025. Today, let's dive into our staff's top must-have players at running back, wide receiver, quarterback, and tight end.
In this article, you will see picks from RotoBaller analysts and experts Matt Donnelly, Adam Koffler, Dave Ventresca, and Kacey Kasem. Each analysis provides three of their favorite picks covering each position with data-backed analysis and draft advice.
Without wasting any more time, let's get into it!
Editor's Note: Explore RotoBaller’s Dynasty Fantasy Football hub for year-round dynasty rankings, trade tips, rookie analysis, and long-term player outlooks. Dominate your league with our sleepers, stash targets, and dynasty draft advice. Click here for Dynasty rankings and strategy.
Fantasy Football Running Back Draft Targets (Matt Donnelly)
James Conner, Arizona Cardinals
James Conner is the most criminally underrated back in the history of fantasy football. The Cardinals' workhorse has posted back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns while averaging 4.3 yards per carry or more in four of the last five seasons. In the one season in which he failed to hit 4.3 yards per carry, Conner finished with 18 total touchdowns and was the RB5 that season despite missing two contests.
Last season, Conner ran the ball on 236 occasions and accounted for 54.1% of the Cardinals' rushing attempt share, playing on 60.4% of the total snaps. Conner was also relied upon in the passing game, running 237 routes on 578 dropbacks and targeted 52 times, resulting in a 10.2% target share.
James Conner In For Another Big Workload
Cardinals HC Jonathan Gannon said RB James Conner is "getting himself ready to carry the load for us." pic.twitter.com/Vggd8qLZo9
— Draft Sharks (@DraftSharks) May 30, 2025
With opportunity often comes production. Conner's opportunities led him to finish the 2024 season as the RB11, posting 253.8 fantasy points while averaging 15.9 fantasy points per game (equal to that of Chase Brown). With a current ADP of RB21, you are getting RB1 production in the sixth round. Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon recently said that Conner is "getting himself ready to carry the load for us." With Conner's track record, that's more than enough to get excited about.
Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans
Titans head coach Brian Callahan wants to increase Tyjae Spears' involvement in the Titans' backfield this upcoming season and acknowledged that Tony Pollard "carried the ball a lot" last season. The "coach speak" here shouldn't scare away fantasy managers as the risk is already baked into Pollard's ADP of RB25 (seventh round).
Tennessee has arguably one of the most improved rosters in the NFL entering the 2025 campaign, with a new franchise signal caller in Cam Ward lining up under center and reliable veterans on the outside in Calvin Ridley and Tyler Lockett. While Ward's mobility will benefit Pollard and the run game, so too will the additions of Dan Moore Jr. and Kevin Zeitler to the offensive line. Again, great news for Pollard, who has run for 1,000 yards or more in three consecutive seasons. Tennessee isn't ignoring what Pollard has done in the past, and even if backfield touches are more evenly distributed, those additions will lead to higher efficiency.
Last season, Pollard averaged 67 yards per game on the ground and added 15 more yards per contest through the passing game. While the expectation is that his overall snap share (68.9%) and rushing attempt share (61.9%) will likely go down, Pollard's touchdown rate will likely increase, considering he hit pay dirt on just five occasions. Pollard's 11.2% target share is a game-changer in itself, as the Titans' back was the ninth-most targeted back last season.
Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks
Coming off the board just ahead of Hubbard in the fifth round is Kenneth Walker of the Seattle Seahawks. Walker is currently being slept on after missing six contests last season due to injury. However, when Walker was in the lineup, he was a difference maker, averaging 15.1 fantasy points per game.
Walker could produce thanks to the opportunities presented when he was healthy. With a 64.1% snap percentage, a 62.5% rushing attempt share, and a 12.7% target share, Walker ranked inside the top 12 in all those categories, leading to a 21.5% team fantasy point expected share.
Fantasy Points Data points out that of the 45 qualifying backs last season, Walker also led all backs in missed tackles forced per attempt while also finishing 10th in yards after contact per attempt. In the passing game, he was just as impressive, finishing third in first downs per route run, sixth in receiving yards per game, and sixth in targets per route run, proving to be an integral and invaluable piece of this offense.
The NFL, and even fantasy football, is a what have you done for me lately business. However, let us look back on what Walker was doing through the first nine weeks of the 2025 season. His 19.1 fantasy points per game over that stretch was the fifth-most, trailing only Henry, Barkley, Alvin Kamara, and Joe Mixon. Over that period, 264 of Walker's rushing yards (66.3%) came after contact. He found his way into the endzone on six occasions.
With DK Metcalf and Lockett relocated this offseason, there are 182 vacated targets. It's safe to assume that a majority of those will find their way to Cooper Kupp. Still, considering the volume and Kupp's recent injury history, there is a case to be made that Walker will become even more involved in this Seahawks passing game under Sam Darnold's leadership.
Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Draft Targets (Adam Koffler)
Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs
"Rice Rice Baby." Yeah, it's corny, but that's the first thing that came to mind when writing this article, so let's roll with it. That's also what you'll be saying when the Chiefs' top wideout gives you 20 FPPG consistently.
Rice has been an incredibly efficient NFL receiver. After bursting onto the scene in the second half of his rookie season, Rice was on track for a monster sophomore campaign before tearing his LCL in Week 4. In Weeks 1-3 last season, Rice paced the Chiefs with a 41.2% first-read target share, a 36% target rate, and an astounding 3.6 yards per route run.
It's hard to project a three-game sample size across a full season, but Rice was entering into elite territory at the ripe age of 25. Watch him cook.
Below are Kansas City's pass attempts and passing yards per game each season since Patrick Mahomes took over as the starting quarterback in 2018:
- 2018 - 34.2 pass attempts, 303.2 passing yards
- 2019 - 36.2 pass attempts, 282.8 passing yards
- 2020 - 39.7 pass attempts, 301.9 passing yards
- 2021 - 39.9 pass attempts, 288.5 passing yards
- 2022 - 37.9 pass attempts, 288.9 passing yards
- 2023 - 37.3 pass attempts, 248.6 passing yards
- 2024 - 34.2 pass attempts, 220.8 passing yards
As you can see, the Chiefs want to throw the football. 2024 looks very much like the anomaly here with Rice out for most of the season and Travis Kelce showing his age for the first time in his illustrious career.
That leads us back to Rice, who appears fully healthy this offseason. Last season, he essentially rendered Kelce irrelevant while on the field together. In those three games, Rice averaged 21.6 FPPG on just a 79% snap share last season. Imagine what he could do with a 90% snap share. Sure, Xavier Worthy will gobble up some targets, but Rice is the alpha in the room. He's the Chiefs' new "Travis Kelce."
His opportunity share, projected volume, and crazy efficiency should lead to a very fruitful third NFL season in Kansas City.
Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers
No, Jennings is NOT the next Travis Fulgham (a one-hit wonder for a few games back in 2020).
Many wide receivers get thrust into larger roles every season, and many fail to live up to expectations. Not Jennings. He did the exact opposite. He thrived with his opportunity last season with Brandon Aiyuk and Christian McCaffrey out for most of the season.
In 15 games, Jennings posted a higher yards per route run (2.47) than Chase, Lamb, and Malik Nabers. His elite efficiency led to 14 FPPG, just 0.1 FPPG less than Jameson Williams.
Brock to Jauan x3
📺: #SFvsLAR on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/pDoPgFXuim— NFL (@NFL) September 22, 2024
Per Fantasy Points Data, his 29.2% first-read target share sat between Brian Thomas Jr. and Ladd McConkey, two guys with massive expectations in 2025.
Similarly to Nico Collins, it took Jennings a few years to burst onto the scene and truly "break out." Now is not the time to turn your back on this guy, not after seeing what his opportunity looked like alongside George Kittle and Ricky Pearsall last season.
Looks like Jennings is the guy without Aiyuk in the mix. There's also no guarantee Aiyuk is even ready for the start of the 2025 season after tearing his ACL and MCL in Week 7 last season.
Even when he does return, data suggests Aiyuk will need approximately six live games to ramp up to his pre-injury target share.
With Deebo Samuel gone, Ricky Pearsall dealing with a lingering hamstring issue, and Aiyuk recovering from a torn ACL and MCL, Jennings is the clear-cut WR1 in San Francisco to start the 2025 season.
He's a must-have wide receiver for the 2025 fantasy football season.
Jakobi Meyers, Las Vegas Raiders
Meyers might have had the quietest 1,000-yard season of all time in 2024. Despite playing in just 15 games, he notched career highs in receptions (87), yards (1,027), and targets (129).
From Weeks 1 to 3 last season, playing alongside Davante Adams, Meyers produced 12.5 fppg with 1.45 yards per route run and an 18.2% first-read target share.
From Week 4 on, after Adams was dealt to the Jets, Meyers put up 15 fppg with 1.96 yards per route run and a 32.7% first-read target share. Per Fantasy Points Data, that first-read target share ranked eighth among all wide receivers and was higher than teammate Brock Bowers (29.7%).
This season, Meyers and the rest of the pass-catchers get some serious upgrades. Geno Smith takes over for the combination of Gardner Minshew II and Aidan O'Connell, Pete Carroll takes over for Antonio Pierce as head coach, and Chip Kelly takes over Luke Getsy as offensive coordinator.
Kelly turned now Steelers' QB Will Howard into a stud last season at Ohio State. He threw for 4,010 yards and 35 touchdowns while completing 73% of his passes.
Last season, Meyers had a catchable target rate of 75.2%. Meanwhile, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and DK Metcalf had catchable target rates of 83.5% and 79.6%, respectively, catching passes from Smith.
The Raiders added Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton Jr. in the 2025 NFL Draft, but they didn't make a splash at the position in free agency. That's a major vote of confidence in Meyers, who should be a target hog in the offense alongside Bowers.
He's the cheapest guy you must-have on your fantasy football teams in 2025.
Fantasy Football Quarterback Draft Targets (Dave Ventresca)
Drake Maye, New England Patriots
Maye didn’t take over as the team’s starting quarterback until Week 6 last year, but he showed a lot of potential throughout the season. What’s most intriguing about Maye’s profile is the rushing upside he showed as a rookie. Maye ran for 421 rushing yards in just 13 games.
If we project that over a full 17-game season, Maye was on pace for over 550 rushing yards. That kind of rushing production can put Maye in QB1 territory.
New England has done its best to upgrade Maye's weapons this offseason. The team signed Stefon Diggs to a three-year, $69 million contract and drafted running back TreVeyon Henderson in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. New England also selected underrated rookie wide receiver Kyle Williams in the third round of the NFL Draft.
DRAKE MAYE! Rhamondre Stevenson! @PATRIOTS TIE IT UP! pic.twitter.com/ThCEJxhA0b
— NFL (@NFL) November 3, 2024
These moves should elevate Maye's passing production in 2025. Despite the new toys, this offense still has a way to go in terms of elite playmakers. But the 2025 group is certainly better compared to what Maye worked with in 2024.
Ultimately, Maye finishing as a fantasy QB1 will come down to his rushing usage. If we see the same rushing output from 2024 combined with an increase in designed runs, then that might be good enough for the sophomore signal-caller to sneak into QB1 territory.
J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings
McCarthy missed his entire rookie year in 2024 after tearing his meniscus in training camp.
Following McCarthy’s injury, Sam Darnold became Minnesota’s de facto QB1 and had an incredible 2024. He threw for a career-high 4,319 yards and 35 passing touchdowns but came crashing down to earth in the season’s final two games.
Minnesota subsequently decided not to re-sign Darnold, allowing him to walk into free agency. McCarthy had to survive a brief scare that future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers would join Minnesota. However, that storm has passed, and the Vikings have confirmed they are committed to McCarthy for the 2025 season.
McCarthy is a bit of a wild card in drafts since he missed his entire rookie year. However, he is still a quarterback with top-10 draft capital tied to a strong offensive coach and surrounded by an abundance of talent. It's hard to find a better situation for a first-time starting quarterback.
Yes, we don't know McCarthy's true floor, and he could hurt your team if he's truly awful. But he might also have a higher ceiling than some people think. Head coach Kevin O'Connell worked wonders for Darnold's career last year. It shouldn't be that surprising if McCarthy has similar production.
Gamers should feel confident rolling the dice on McCarthy later in drafts. He's an ideal target to pair with some of the other names on this list.
Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
Four years into his NFL career, Lawrence has failed to meet the massive expectations that were immediately placed upon him. At the time of the 2021 NFL Draft, Lawrence was hailed as a generational talent and a can’t-miss prospect. Despite all this hype, Lawrence has yet to throw more than 25 passing touchdowns in a season, and his best fantasy season was a QB8 finish in 2022.
While he’s been a disappointment thus far, it’s worth noting that Lawrence has continued to flash moments of brilliance during his career. Consistency has just been the main issue.
LAWRENCE TO ENGRAM TO TIE IT 🫨
📺: #GBvsJAX on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/SkD10lJb7d— NFL (@NFL) October 27, 2024
Jacksonville has hired former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen as its next head coach. Coen helped guide Baker Mayfield to a career year in 2024. Mayfield threw for a career-high 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns.
It will be exciting to see what Lawrence can do in Coen’s system. The team also added wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter in the 2025 NFL Draft. His presence gives Lawrence another elite weapon to go along with sophomore receiver Brian Thomas Jr.
Lawrence is one of the better late-round quarterback targets this year thanks to his vastly improved situation. He has disappointed relative to expectations, but he still may possess untapped potential. Coen is probably the best play-caller Lawrence has had during his career, so there’s a decent chance we could see a career year in 2025.
Fantasy Football Tight End Draft Targets (Kasey Kasem)
Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles
Before we get started, know that Dallas Goedert is a huge "if he stays healthy" guy. What happens if he does? You'll get a high-end TE1 just sitting there at a TE2 price. Unfortunately, the 30-year-old missed seven contests in 2024 due to hamstring and knee injuries.
Dallas Goedert's 170-yard performance is the most ever by a TE in a single game in @Eagles history 🦅 pic.twitter.com/EgyA8SEKYw
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 22, 2024
He managed to catch only 42 balls for 496 yards and two scores across 10 regular-season matches. In the 2024 season, Goedert posted his lowest TD count since his rookie season and fewest catches since 2020. His playoff performance gave us a look at classic Goedert -- 17 receptions for 215 yards and a touchdown across four games.
The Eagles' offense leans hard on the run game, centered around QB Jalen Hurts and RB Saquon Barkley. Between Hurts' goal-line rushes and Barkley's powerful runs, the duo accounted for 27 rushing scores. The "tush push" won't be going away this season, so they'll continue to steal red-zone opportunities from the TE.
Due to the electricity of the offense, Goedert should see his numbers improve with a full season of health. He is entering his eighth season in the NFL and has only spent one season fully healthy (his rookie year). The South Dakota State product is still one of the best all-around tight ends in the game, making the most of his steady hands and savvy route running.
In the games he did play last season, Goedert showed that he still possesses top TE traits. The veteran averaged 10.4 PPR fantasy points per contest, good enough for TE10 in average PPR fantasy points per game.
Philadelphia reworked his deal to keep him around, which is worth noting. If he can stay upright and the positive touchdown regression hits, Goedert could easily become a TE1 in 2025 -- just make sure to have a backup plan in your back pocket in case the injury bug bites again.
Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys
In 2023, Jake Ferguson hit the fantasy radar. He earned a Pro Bowl selection after hauling in 71 passes for 761 yards and five scores. Fast forward to 2024, and fantasy managers were wondering why they drafted him as their TE1.
2024 was a season dealing with injuries, a shaky quarterback situation, and, most surprisingly, zero touchdowns. That's right -- despite drawing 86 targets and bringing in 59 catches for 494 yards across 14 games, Ferguson never found the end zone.
Looking at the context matters in this situation. Ferguson suffered an MCL sprain in the first week of the season, and a concussion in Week 11 limited his effectiveness. Additionally, Dak Prescott missed the final nine games of the season due to a hamstring injury, and the offense never looked right.
When Prescott is healthy, he tosses touchdowns -- 36 in 2023, 37 in 2021, and 30 in 2019. He's also hurled for over 4,000 yards in each of the seasons he's had 30 or more touchdowns. Ferguson has already demonstrated he can be one of Prescott's favorite weapons. If the QB stays upright for the entire season, the Wisconsin standout has a realistic shot at TE1 numbers.
Looking on to the 2025 season, Ferguson sees himself as the likely No. 3 option in the passing game. He'll be behind both stud WR CeeDee Lamb and new Cowboy George Pickens. Having these two wideouts could be advantageous for Ferguson, with Pickens opening up space over the middle.
Ferguson isn't always the splashiest tight end, but he still sees significant volume. His 86 targets in 2024 put him in the same ballpark as Cade Otton, Schultz, and even Sam LaPorta. If he maintains or increases his targets and his touchdown return, the big man will sneakily rise back into the TE1 tier.
Mason Taylor, New York Jets
Rookie alert! Yes, I know it is extremely rare that a rookie has a breakout season in Year 1. Still, Mason Taylor was presented with a golden opportunity as the Jets picked him in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. With Tyler Conklin heading to the Chargers in free agency, the starting TE job in New York is available.
Taylor seems like the front-runner to claim that spot. He was a three-year starter at LSU and competed with athletes like Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. early on. When they moved on to the NFL, Taylor put up some of the best numbers of his college career. He snagged 55 passes for 546 yards and two scores in his final season at LSU.
The 21-year-old enters a situation with limited competition at tight end. Jeremy Ruckert has mainly been utilized in run blocking since joining the league. Additionally, Stone Smartt was signed in the offseason and serves more as a depth piece than a genuine threat.
Taylor has the draft pedigree and skill set to handle the TE1 role for the team. It is also helpful that the new offensive coordinator, Tanner Engstrand, comes over from Detroit. Engstrand assisted with both T.J. Hockenson and LaPorta in his time with the Lions, a good sign for the Jets' young TE. Engstrand's presence and resume should help mold Taylor into an NFL-caliber tight end.
The Jets traded for Justin Fields as they were in dire need of a starting QB. His passing game needs refinement, but Fields has shown the willingness to throw the deep ball and produce big plays.
The rookie TE will need to build chemistry with Fields generally quickly to establish himself as a safety blanket. There is a clear path to playing time with a TE-friendly OC calling plays. Taylor's name is one to have on your radar if you're searching for a cheap TE1 option.
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