My Favorite Fantasy Picks In 2025
Chew shares his favorite fantasy draft picks across 20 rounds for the 2025 season.
For those playing dynasty, there are no days off from fantasy football. But for those who play redraft, now is the time to lock in to be ready for drafts closer to Week 1. Draft strategies can vary based on personal preference, draft position, and the overall flow of the draft. So independent of draft strategy, I am picking my favorite player from each round of a 20-round fantasy draft. And with that, I have a one-sentence blurb as to why I like them at the stated ADP. Let me know in the comments who your favorites are!
*The ADP was sourced from Sleeper via DraftSharks under the following format: 1-QB, PPR, 12-Team.
ROUNDS 1-5
ROUND 1 (Picks 1-12)
CEEDEE LAMB (ADP: 7)
A healthy Dak Prescott and an improved WR-2 (George Pickens) gives Lamb the opportunity for another season of 100+ receptions and close to, if not above, 10 touchdowns.
ROUND 2 (Picks 13-24)
CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY (ADP: 14)
I will continue to beat the drum that CMC is poised for another season as THE RB-1 on a high-scoring 49ers offense with one of the easiest schedules.
ROUND 3 (Picks 25-36)
KYREN WILLIAMS (ADP: 28)
Williams earned every bit of that contract after finishing as a top-10 running back in fantasy points per game in the last two seasons, and there is no threat of him losing that role.
ROUND 4 (Picks 37-48)
JALEN HURTS (ADP: 39)
The tush push is alive and well, so despite the presence of Saquon Barkley I am expecting the offense to strike a more equal balance of rushing/passing.
ROUND 5 (Picks 49-60)
JAMES CONNER (ADP: 52)
I know he is old for a running back, but Conner is a do-it-all back who has yet to finish outside of the top-15 in points per game since 2020.
ROUNDS 6-10
ROUND 6 (Picks 61-72)
TETAIROA MCMILLAN (ADP: 63)
Yes, I am a Panthers fan, but McMillan is the de facto number one target who has fantasy upside both after the catch and in the red zone.
ROUND 7 (Picks 73-84)
JAKOBI MEYERS (ADP: 82)
Seemingly one of the least appealing WR-1’s, but Meyers should garner 100+ targets and have touchdown upside with the Deep Ball Don, Geno Smith.
ROUND 8 (Picks 85-96)
EVAN ENGRAM (ADP: 88)
Sean Payton gets his uber-athletic and versatile weapon in Engram to open up the passing game for his second-year quarterback (Bo Nix).
ROUND 9 (Picks 97-108)
EMEKA EGBUKA (ADP: 108)
The stars are aligning for Egbuka to at least have a strong first half of the season while Chris Godwin is healing up, with the former receiving nothing but glowing reviews throughout training camp.
ROUND 10 (Picks 109-120)
TUCKER KRAFT (ADP: 117)
Without a clear-cut WR-1, look for Kraft to further his connection with Jordan Love as he comes off a sophomore season where he had consecutive weeks as THE TE-1.
ROUNDS 11-15
ROUND 11 (Picks 121-132)
DAK PRESCOTT (ADP: 121)
If you waited on quarterback, this is still a great value with Prescott protected by a retooled offensive line and the best set of pass catchers he has had in years.
ROUND 12 (Picks 133-144)
DRAKE MAYE (ADP: 140)
The second-year quarterback now has even better protection and more weapons, so his four top-12 fantasy finishes in 2024 could be on the rise in 2025.
ROUND 13 (Picks 145-156)
ZACH ERTZ (ADP: 150)
He surprised us last year with an ascending offense in the nation’s capital, and as Terry McLaurin sorts out his contract and Deebo Samuel settles in, look for Jayden Daniels and Ertz to pick up where they left off last season.
ROUND 14 (Picks 157-168)
RAY DAVIS (ADP: 167)
Even if the Bills settle the contract dispute with James Cook, which I expect they will, Davis showed some juice last season as a capable backup who can step in when necessary.
ROUND 15 (Picks 169-180)
RICO DOWDLE (ADP: 174)
Fresh off an above-average season in Dallas, Dowdle joins a Panthers team that emphasizes establishing the ground game and is not afraid to share the duties.
ROUNDS 16-20
ROUND 16 (Picks 181-192)
BRYCE YOUNG (ADP: 192)
Young showed in the latter half of 2024 that he is capable of playing an efficient brand of football and pepper in some rushing upside to retain some fantasy viability.
ROUND 17 (Picks 193 -204)
JOSHUA PALMER (ADP: 200)
Outside of Khalil Shakir it is anyone’s guess as to who will catch Josh Allen’s eye, and Palmer is the perfect dart through this late in the draft to have flex appeal.
ROUND 18 (Picks 205-216)
GENO SMITH (ADP: 211)
Say what you will about Smith, but he IS a viable quarterback for fantasy, and getting that in round 18 will always be worth the investment.
ROUND 19 (Picks 217-228)
BRASHARD SMITH (ADP: 223)
I am a staunch defender of Isiah Pacheco and expect him to bounce back, but this Chiefs offense has a fever and the only prescription is more Brashard Smith.
ROUND 20 (Picks 229-240)
MILES SANDERS (ADP: 236)
It has been tough sledding for Sanders since leaving Philadelphia, but the state of the Cowboys’ backfield leaves the door open for him to fill a flex spot for a handful of weeks.
So you made it this far, and hopefully you enjoyed it (that’s what she said). If you wouldn’t mind sharing this in your group message with your fellow fantasy football degenerates, I would greatly appreciate it!