Three Must-Have Fantasy Football Players for 2025
It’s finally fantasy football draft season, and we are less than two weeks away from NFL Opening Night. When fantasy football comes to mind, you want players who are going to help you win your league. Every year, there are stars to help your team win. Last year, it was Saquon Barkley or Ja’Marr Chase. Here are three players who will do just that this season.
Brock Bowers
In Brock Bowers' rookie season, he tallied 112 receptions for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns, which is the most receptions made by any rookie, including a receiver and tight end. This was even more impressive because it was all done with bottom-tier quarterbacks such as Aidan O’Connell, Desmond Ridder, and Gardner Minshew Jr. At a Private Pro Day, Bowers ran a 4.53 40-yard dash, which is as fast as some elite wide receivers. In the 2025 offseason, the Raiders made an upgrade to their staff by hiring a new and established head coach, Pete Carroll, who is a proven Super Bowl-winning head coach in the NFL. On top of hiring a new head coach, they also acquired a new quarterback, Geno Smith, from the Seahawks, which is a big upgrade, to say the least. This means that Bowers gets a veteran quarterback who knows how to get him the ball and a coach who will scheme for him. Bowers will easily surpass his average draft position and is the clear number one option in Vegas, which is rare for a tight end. The Raiders really upgraded their skilled players, adding a star running back, Ashton Jeanty, and veteran Amari Cooper, so most defenses won’t be able to focus primarily on stopping Bowers. Draft Bowers, and you will get number one wide receiver production from your tight end, and if that happens, you will be in the fantasy playoffs come January.
Marvin Harrison Jr.
The Cardinals drafted Marvin Harrison Jr with the fourth pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and the organization had high expectations. Harrison Jr. is listed at six-foot-three, 220 pounds, and is a freak of nature. Before entering the NFL, his game-play was compared to star players like Larry Fitzgerald or A.J. Green. Most people viewed Harrison Jr’s rookie season as a disappointment because his stats didn’t match his expectations coming out of college. In the 2025 offseason, Harrison Jr put on a lot of muscle, going from 209 pounds to 220 pounds, which will help him with press coverage and staying balanced when he runs his routes to the middle of the field. Additionally, it will help him physically because he knows he’s not going to get hurt from getting big hits. With another year under his belt, he gained an understanding of the Arizona Cardinals' offense and was able to start forming a connection with Kyler Murray. This gave the Cardinals fans and players hope that Harrison Jr will make a comeback this season and take a step up from his previous season. For a player who is being drafted in the fourth or fifth round, he has the legitimate upside to be a top-five fantasy receiver and could help you win it all.
Tee Higgins
When you think of the Cincinnati Bengals, Ja’Marr Chase and Joe Burrow immediately come to your mind. However, Tee Higgins is an elite wide receiver who needs more attention. He has superb route running, length, physicality, and can win one-on-one contested catches versus most defensive backs in the NFL. In the 2025 offseason, the Bengals paid Higgins a four-year contract worth $115 million, and Burrow was a strong advocate for how Higgins needed to get paid. With most defenses primarily focused on Chase, that allows Higgins to have single coverage, which will ultimately lead him to make game-changing plays, especially in the red zone. In 2024, the Bengals' defense was ranked near the bottom, and that looks to be the case this year, which means that Higgins and the Bengals offense will always be forced to score. If Higgins stays healthy, he will get ten touchdowns or more, making him a big target for most fantasy managers.
As the opening night kickoff between the Cowboys and Eagles is less than two weeks away, it is imperative to find players who will help you win your league. You should take the leap of faith and draft Harrison Jr or take a proven guy like Bowers or Higgins, which will all help you win your league. All three players have proven that they can put up fantasy points last season. It is fair to say that they could do it again and help managers win their league.
