It’s mock draft season, and it’s time for fantasy players to start deciding how to construct their fantasy rankings. Of course, players can just abide by their given platform’s rankings, but this is never the most effective way to go. It is important to be prepared for your drafts and properly rank players.
The first round of drafts is the most important round when forming fantasy teams. Players’ first pick sets the tone for the rest of their draft, but they must select the right guy. This is how I believe the first round of fantasy drafts should go in a 12-team, full PPR format for the 2025 fantasy football season.
1.01: Ja'Marr Chase
(WR, Cincinnati Bengals)
There is no doubt in my mind that Ja'Marr Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals should be the 1.01 in fantasy drafts this year. Chase has consistently proven himself to be one of the best receivers in the league, as he and Joe Burrow have established themselves as arguably the most lethal QB-WR duo in the NFL.
Last year, Chase led all receivers in fantasy points by a wide margin, as the next closest was Justin Jefferson, a whopping 61.5 points away. Chase is a clear alpha fantasy receiver, and there are no signs of him slowing down. His four-year, $161 million contract emphasizes this clearly.
Lastly, Chase dominated in 2025, winning the Triple Crown. Averaging just under 10 targets per game, Chase led the league in receiving yards with 1,708 and touchdowns with 17.
These explosive numbers should give fantasy managers no reason to select someone other than Chase with the first overall pick. I fully expect Chase to dominate in 2025, and he and Burrow will continue their reign with the Cincinnati Bengals.
1.02: Saquon Barkley
(RB, Philadelphia Eagles)
The Philadelphia Eagles’ addition of Saquon Barkley in 2024 led to a season that fantasy players will never forget. Barkley established himself as a bell-cow running back, leading the NFL in rushing attempts with 345. The volume is there, and more opportunity leads to more fantasy points.
Along with this, Barkley came knocking on the door for the single-season rushing yard record. Barkley’s eye-opening 2,005 yards, accompanied by his 15 total touchdowns, solidified him as a top fantasy running back in 2024.
And the situation only got better. Kenneth Gainwell stole some touches from Barkley last year, but his departure from Philadelphia opens up the door for Barkley to do even more in 2025.
I would not be surprised if Barkely sees around the same amount of touches, but the receiving game for him has the potential to drastically increase. Barkley is a safe pick at the 1.02 with both a high floor and ceiling.
1.03: Bijan Robinson
(RB, Atlanta Falcons)
I am all in on the Atlanta Falcons’ offense in 2025, and Bijan Robinson is at the helm. People may be skeptical of drafting him due to the quarterback change from Kirk Cousins to Michael Penix, but the statistics say otherwise.
When Penix took over in week 16, Robinson ended the season averaging 22.3 carries, 118 yards, and two touchdowns per game. Robinson clearly felt comfortable with Penix taking over, and there is no doubt in my mind he will dominate in 2025.
If Penix turns out to be a great quarterback, Robinson is going to have an incredible season. He maximizes his touches to the fullest extent, and he has his RB1 role set in stone in Atlanta. I feel comfortable drafting Robinson with his elite volume and athletic ability.
1.04: CeeDee Lamb
(WR, Dallas Cowboys)
This is where the draft will get interesting. I am sure some of you reading are thinking to yourself, “CeeDee Lamb over Justin Jefferson? Is this guy crazy?” Yes, this may seem crazy for now, but I am fully convinced Lamb will have a dominant 2025 season.
For starters, Lamb is hungry to win. The potential for the Dallas Cowboys is laid out perfectly for them, and after a disappointing 2024 season, the organization has taken strides to make the team better.
Trading for George Pickens may seem like a knock on Lamb’s fantasy value, but in reality, this will only open up the field for Lamb to work. Last year, the entire opposing defense had their eyes on Lamb, and with Dak Prescott injured, it was not hard to take the Cowboys’ biggest offensive threat away.
It seems like people forget the season Lamb had when Prescott was fully healthy in 2023. Lamb’s season was historical, putting up the third-best PPR season of all time for a receiver since… well, ever.
Putting up 135 receptions, 1,749 yards, and 14 total touchdowns, Lamb was a mere 36.3 points behind Cooper Kupp’s 2021 season and missed the mark by only two points per game.
My final statement: In 2024, the Cowboys gave up the second-most points to opposing offenses. When defenses give up more points, offenses are forced to score more to stay in the game. Players that are on a team with a strong offense and a weak defense are as good as it gets, and that is the exact situation Lamb finds himself in.
With Prescott back to full strength, Lamb is in for another incredible season. His elite talent, accompanied by the high-powered Dallas offense, gives Lamb WR1 upside, and I am not missing the chance to draft him.
1.05: Jahmyr Gibbs
(RB, Detroit Lions)
Jahmyr Gibbs is by far one of the most explosive running backs I have ever watched in the NFL. His ability to accelerate and burst through gaps is an elite talent, something that does not come easily to most running backs. Gibbs helps lead the charge in the Detroit Lions’ juggernaut offense.
There are very few concerns for me regarding Gibbs. The talent is there, he is an explosive athlete, and he has a clear role in Detroit’s passing game. Gibbs had the third-most receiving yards among running backs in 2024 with 517, only trailing Alvin Kamara and De’Von Achane.
Gibbs checks nearly every box; however, the one he doesn’t quite check is an important one – volume. David Montgomery stands in the way of Gibbs' true RB1 takeover. Last year, Gibbs only managed to average around 1.5 more carries per game, and this includes the three games Montgomery missed. However, recent reports have stated that Gibbs will see an uptick in his volume next year.
If this ends up happening, Gibbs is going to feast next year. He finished as the overall RB1 in fantasy last year, so imagine what he could do with even more volume. I am drafting Gibbs in 2025, confident in his athletic ability and excited about his potential volume increase.
1.06: Justin Jefferson
(WR, Minnesota Vikings)
Don’t get me wrong, I am fully aware that Justin Jefferson is the best receiver in the league. He is an elite talent, and if I were ranking receivers based on skill, he would be the clear number one.
However, he has a couple of unchecked boxes for fantasy purposes, which led me to rank him slightly lower than on other platforms. The most obvious grey area I find myself stuck in is the new quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings, J.J. McCarthy. There is quite a bit of uncertainty as to how McCarthy will perform.
What should be taken into account, though, is how Justin Jefferson has not necessarily ever had a problem with who is throwing him the ball. In 2023, when the Vikings were plagued by injuries, Jefferson still managed to get to 1,000 yards despite missing seven games and having to play with Jaren Hall, Josh Dobbs, and Nick Mullins to close out the season.
Lastly, as of right now, McCarthy’s passing touchdown line for the entire season is 25.5. This mark is higher than Matthew Stafford’s, Josh Allen's, Justin Herbert's, and Lamar Jackson's.
Regardless of how you interpret this, Jefferson should have no problem getting acclimated to the quarterback switch. If McCarthy projects out to how people think he will, Jefferson could have another monster season. I am drafting Jefferson comfortably, especially considering his safe floor.
1.07: Amon-Ra St. Brown
(WR, Detroit Lions)
Out of everyone on this list, Amon-Ra St. Brown might have the safest floor. The stud receiver is coming off back-to-back top-three fantasy finishes, and there have been no major changes to this Detroit Lions’ offense besides the departure of offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.
Johnson's exit from Detroit may potentially hinder the Lions’ offense in 2025, but I am not overly worried about it. I firmly believe that head coach Dan Campbell knows exactly how this offense needs to operate to be successful, and he most definitely learned from Johnson. St. Brown is going to continue to play as the primary target in the slot.
The one potential threat to St. Brown, though, will be more present this year. Campbell has high hopes for Jameson Williams, the number two guy in Detroit.
If Williams' volume increases in 2025, there are two possible outcomes. The hopeful outcome is that the offense will be even better than last year, and both St. Brown and Williams will be able to thrive.
However, if the offense regresses slightly or remains the same, St. Brown may not be able to put up the stellar numbers he achieved last year.
The choice is yours, but I am confident in St. Brown’s floor in 2025. He has proven over the last two years that he is a PPR machine, and he will continue to be Jared Goff’s go-to target. I am drafting St. Brown with full confidence in his high floor and WR1 upside.
1.08: Puka Nacua
(WR, Los Angeles Rams)
When the Los Angeles Rams’ offense is fully healthy, they are extremely dangerous. Puka Nacua and Matthew Stafford have established themselves as a top QB-WR duo in the league. And now with the addition of future Hall-of-Famer Davante Adams, this offense has the chance to take an even bigger step.
In 2024, Nacua dealt with some serious injuries, especially at the start of the season. Playing in only 11 games, though, Nacua was still able to put up great numbers. He ended the season with 79 receptions for 990 yards, an 18-game pace of 129 receptions and 1,620 yards. If he and Stafford can stay healthy, Nacua is in for a big season.
Similarly to Lamb and Pickens, I fully believe that the addition of Adams will only help Nacua. Adams has proven that he is a receiver that you cannot just ignore, ultimately giving Nacua more of a chance to find space to work. These 1A and 1B receivers have the chance to be special this year.
The last point I want to make about Nacua is that he had only three receiving touchdowns last year. Some may look at this as a bad thing, thinking that he may not be able to get open in the endzone.
How I view it, though, is that there is a strong chance that Nacua will have a touchdown-progressive season in 2025. He is without a doubt one of the top guys in the league, and I view him knocking on the door of double-digit touchdowns this year.
1.09: Malik Nabers
(WR, New York Giants)
Malik Nabers is coming off a phenomenal rookie year with the New York Giants. In 15 games, the alpha receiver tallied 1,204 yards from 109 receptions, both excellent marks for a rookie.
The most intriguing stat from Nabers’ year, though, is the number of targets he had. Nabers had the second-most targets in the NFL, only five behind Ja’Marr Chase, the fantasy WR1 last year. The volume for Nabers to do extreme damage is there, and I am all in on him.
Another great thing for Nabers is that he had arguably the worst quarterback play in 2024, catching passes from Daniel Jones, Drew Lock, Tommy DeVito, and Tim Boyle. The fact that Nabers was able to put up those stats with this horrible quarterback room is extremely impressive.
Now, with the additions of Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, and Jaxson Dart, I fully expect this Giants’ offense to take a huge leap in 2024. No matter who the starting quarterback is in week one, they will be exponentially better than what we saw in New York last year.
With the lack of receiving competition and an upgrade at the quarterback position, I am confident Nabers is going to have a great year in 2025. New York’s offense is going to flip a switch, and Nabers is going to lead this team to offensive success.
1.10: Christian McCaffrey
(RB, San Francisco 49ers)
With a bit of a receiver run before this pick, it is time for the next running back to go off the board. Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers is the most polarizing yet opportunistic player in fantasy drafts this year, and it is for very good reasons.
People are scared to take a shot on McCaffrey this year due to his massive regression in 2024. The superstar only appeared in four games last year, and he did not manage to find the endzone once. Frustrated CMC managers told themselves that they would never draft him again.
This concern is understandable, as McCaffrey’s extended injury history is quite eye-opening. However, McCaffrey was dealing with injuries going into the 2024 season, and after the 49ers were off to a slow start, it felt like McCaffrey’s return was a little rushed. Because of this, he ended up getting reinjured.
It must be acknowledged, though, that when McCaffrey is 100% healthy, he has clear RB1 upside. This being said, I am confident that CMC will be going into the 2025 season at full strength and will be back to his normal self.
The last time McCaffrey was fully healthy in San Francisco, he tallied 391.3 fantasy points, second to none, winning the RB1 award by over 100 points. And it seems like he is back to himself.
The upside is undeniable, and his situation only got better. Deebo Samuel and Jordan Mason both left the 49ers this offseason, so there are even more carries and targets for McCaffrey to obtain.
Plus, the 49ers' trading Mason emphasizes their trust in McCaffrey’s health for 2025. It will be super hard for me to pass on McCaffrey at the 1.10, and if I know I can get him later than this, I will do it every single time.
1.11: Nico Collins
(WR, Houston Texans)
With Tank Dell most likely sitting out the 2025 season due to injury, Nico Collins has a phenomenal fantasy situation with the Houston Texans in 2025. Collins is a proven star, and with C.J. Stroud coming off a down year, this offense is in for a big year.
Collins dealt with some injuries in 2024, yet he still managed to put up great numbers. In the 12 games he played, he averaged 17.55 fantasy points per game, putting him on pace for 315.9 total fantasy points. This mark would have led Collins to finish as the WR4, only trailing Justin Jefferson and Amon-Ra St. Brown by less than two points each, both of whom have already been mentioned.
Along with this, Stroud had a very underwhelming year. If he can manage to get back on par with his rookie season, Collins is going to be a fantasy monster. He is the clear alpha in Houston, and his connection with Stroud is undeniable.
My only real issue with Collins is the fact that the Texans drafted two wide receivers in the 2025 draft. Iowa State receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel will undoubtedly have a role in this offense, as the Texans spent day two draft capital on them. To make matters worse, the Texans traded for Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Christian Kirk.
It might seem like Stroud will not be able to support all of these receivers in 2025 for them to have fantasy relevance, but I am not worried about Collins. Houston knows that Collins is their guy, and they are going to do everything they can to get the ball in his hands. Picking Collins at the 1.11 feels like a discount, but his situation makes this draft position logical.
1.12: Ashton Jeanty
(RB, Las Vegas Raiders)
And finally, to wrap up the first round, I have rookie running back Ashton Jeanty of the Las Vegas Raiders. There is no way fantasy managers can undervalue Jeanty this year, and his situation in Vegas is phenomenal. Before even watching him take a snap, I am confident Jeanty is going to have a massive role in 2025.
For starters, the Raiders’ running back room, besides Jeanty, is pitiful. As of now, the order of the depth chart goes Raheem Mostert, Sincere McCormick, and Zamir White. Mostert may steal a couple of carries from Jeanty, but besides that, I sense Jeanty having a possible 300+ carry season.
And what Jeanty does with his carries is flat-out psychotic. In 2024 for Boise State, Jeanty had a ridiculous 2,601 yards and 30 total touchdowns on 374 carries. There is no denying Jeanty’s skill in the backfield, and his 2024 season proves he can be a bellcow for the Raiders.
The situation for Jeanty in the fantasy world is fantastic, and I do not doubt in my mind he is going to get loads of touches. It would not surprise me if he ends up leading the NFL in carries. At 1.12, it is nearly impossible to pass on this stud, and there is true RB1 upside lying around in Vegas.