How the First Round of Every Fantasy Football Draft Should Go in 2025

As the NFL season approaches and fantasy football drafts start to kick off, the question of who to select remains prominent. There are multiple strategies for building a successful squad, but what players a fantasy owner selects in the first round of their drafts can determine the fate of their entire season. The rising stars and breakout candidates circulate the internet even more than the bona fide, consistent stars. Here is a full guide of how every first round of fantasy football drafts should go in 2025, starting with two players who have done nothing but produce throughout their young NFL careers.

Pick One: Justin Jefferson, WR, Vikings

The worry last year with Justin Jefferson was what quarterback would be throwing him the ball. It is the same question this year, as it looks like second-year QB JJ McCarthy will get the starting nod, but has zero NFL experience after missing his entire rookie season with a meniscus tear. If anything was learned about the two-time first-team All-Pro, it does not seem to matter who his signal caller is; he is just going to keep producing. Jefferson has averaged 19.4 fantasy points per game throughout his career, which is phenomenal. He also has cracked over 14 yards per reception in every year of his career, meaning he will get a lot of targets down the field, ultimately leading to big plays and more points.

Pick Two: Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Bengals

Ja’Marr Chase is a prototype number one fantasy wideout. He lines up everywhere, makes plays after the catch, and is the number one option on a team that scores a lot of points. The reason he takes a backseat to Jefferson is because of how poor the Bengals' offensive line is, which affects Joe Burrow and how much time he has to throw the ball, as well as Chase, because it means less down the field targets. With that being said, the former LSU Tiger is a safe bet for a top-five fantasy finish mainly because of how involved he is with this offense. He finished as the number one wideout in every fantasy format last season, as he averaged just under 24 points per contest. 

Pick Three: Bijan Robinson, RB, Falcons

Bijan Robinson erupted through the second half of last season, scoring over 20 fantasy points in eight of his last nine games. This jump in production could be because Atlanta finally figured out how to use him. However, it was also around the time Michael Penix Jr. became the starter for the Falcons. Penix Jr. loves to throw the deep ball, so defenses expect that. This opens up space underneath for Robinson, whether it is on screens, draws, or short routes out of the backfield. Robinson is another player who averaged over 20 fantasy points per game in 2024 and looks to build upon his strong end to the season in 2025.

Pick Four: CeeDee Lamb, WR, Cowboys

Adding George Pickens is only going to help CeeDee Lamb, as it opens up space over the middle where Lamb is most effective. Lamb has had over 150 targets in each of his last three seasons, something so underrated when people are searching for what wideouts to draft. The ex-Sooner is also very good at staying on the field, as he has played 15-plus games in every season of his young career. With a healthy Dak Prescott and a great field-stretcher in Pickens, Lamb could be in store for another top-three fantasy finish. 

Pick Five: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Lions

This is the pick that will win leagues. Jahmyr Gibbs is one of the more dynamic players in all of football, as he tallied nearly 2,000 all-purpose yards in 2025 and has had 52 receptions out of the backfield in both of his first two years in the NFL. Gibbs had 250 carries last year, and even though this could have been a product of David Montgomery missing time, he was so effective that the Lions will almost have to give him that volume again. Gibbs can take any carry or reception to the house. His dazzling speed and slippery running style are extremely devastating for defenses, which just leads to more points for his fantasy owners. His upside is sky-high, and even with David Montgomery fully healthy, expect a possible first overall fantasy finish for the former Alabama superstar. This backfield is the best in the NFL, so they are going to run the ball a ton, too.

Pick Six: Saquon Barkley, RB, Eagles

At first glance, this may seem low for Saquon Barkley. The reason for this is that he simply cannot replicate his 2024 season because if he maintains the same volume he did last season, it will hurt his body in terms of injury. The Eagles went out and signed AJ Dillon, who has taken over red-zone duties in the past. Dillon was detrimental to Aaron Jones’ fantasy value when the two were in Green Bay, and it could be the same in Philadelphia. There is no doubt that Barkley can finish as the number one running back, but Eagles Head Coach Nick Sirianni is a smart, schematic guy who will surely understand that he cannot give the former number two overall pick the same workload as last season.

Pick Seven: Puka Nacua, WR, Rams

When Puka Nacua is on the field, he is one of the most reliable targets in the NFL. He is also a picture-perfect fit in the Rams’ offense as he offers great run blocking, phenomenal understanding of play action, and provides sure hands over the middle. The reason he is lower than players like Lamb and Chase is because of his injury history, and he has no other wideout on his squad helping him get open. Yes, Matthew Stafford is going to find a way to get him the ball, but having a solid second wide receiver is crucial for fantasy success, hence the Lamb and Pickens optimism, and Rashee Rice and Travis Kelce combo that has been so lethal over the past two seasons. 

Pick Eight: Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Lions

Amon-Ra St. Brown is one of the most consistent fantasy receivers, and it is mostly because he plays in the slot. It works because the Lions use their outside receivers so well, ultimately opening up a ton of space over the middle and outside the numbers where St. Brown does most of his damage. He is also the primary red-zone weapon for a team that scores a lot of points. The one worry is the lack of big-play ability, as Detroit uses Jameson Williams and Tim Patrick down the field more than St. Brown. The Lions also took Arkansas standout Isaac TeSlaa in the draft, so there is always the possibility that Jared Goff spreads the ball out more than he did last year. The former Trojan is a surefire top-five fantasy receiver, and he is going to give managers the same thing week in and week out. If the strategy of an owner’s squad is to build around players who will flat-out produce, St. Brown is a must-have. The reason he is at eight is because Detroit lost their offensive coordinator, Ben Johnson, this offseason, so play-calling duties will be different, and that could scare some fantasy owners away, even though it should not.

Pick Nine: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Raiders

Ashton Jeanty might have the most upside out of any running back in the entire NFL, fantasy-wise. Still, new Raiders head coach Pete Carroll has a history of orchestrating a running back by committee scheme, so Jeanty’s true fantasy value is in limbo. The thing with Jeanty is that it does not matter how many carries or opportunities he gets; no matter what, the guy is going to produce. The Raiders do not have the steadiest offensive line, but with a 34-year-old Geno Smith at the helm, the team will have to rely heavily on the run game. There is no clear number two behind Jeanty, as former Georgia standout Zamir White has disappointed over the past two years; so there is optimism behind Jeanty and how he could take the most of the load in Vegas. 

Pick 10: Derrick Henry, RB, Ravens

Last year, Derrick Henry was viewed as a second-round fantasy selection; the value he provided for managers as a second-rounder was unmatched. He finished the 2024 season averaging just under 20 fantasy points per contest, much in part to his extremely large workload. He carried the ball 325 times last year and was second only to Saquon Barkley in total rushing yards. The consistency he has offered throughout his career is quite frankly unreal, as he has only missed more than two games in a season once throughout his entire career. This run-heavy offense in Baltimore is also perfect for Henry. He serves as an early down, short-yardage, and red-zone back. He is another guy who is going to produce week in and week out, something so overlooked when people draft running backs.

Pick 11: A.J. Brown, WR, Eagles

A.J. Brown is a top-tier receiver in the league. He is physical and arguably the best deep-threat wideout across the NFL. The only reason he is at pick 11 here on this list is because of how often the Eagles run the ball. Brown also has to battle with three other great fantasy options in Dallas Goedert, DeVonta Smith, and, of course, Saquon Barkley. With that being said, he can explode in any given week, something that many fantasy owners value even more than consistency. In conclusion, the monster-sized Brown is a home-run hitter, a player who can give a squad 25+ fantasy points in any game, but also a guy who will have weeks where he is kept quiet. Another important thing to note is how tough the Eagles' schedule is. They face some of the top cornerbacks in the first five weeks of the season in Pat Surtain II, Trevon Diggs, DaRon Bland, and Jamel Dean.

Pick 12: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Jaguars

133 targets and a healthy Trevor Lawrence have fantasy managers drooling over Brian Thomas Jr. The former LSU standout will also have a new partner-in-crime to open up more space for him in rookie Travis Hunter. Not only is Thomas Jr. a player who can give a fantasy team over 25 points in any given matchup, but he also excels at stretching the field. He is an elite deep-threat with his blazing speed and amazing understanding of zone coverage. He was one of the most effective wideouts against zone in the NFL last year, mainly because he lines up on the outside and in the slot, which makes defending him at the line so difficult. His six-foot-four frame is also devastating for defenses to press him simply because of how lanky and quick he is in short spaces. This might seem high, but his potential and big-play ability both scream WR1.