• Ja’Marr Chase is the top option at 1.01: Chase was the clear top wide receiver last season and enough stayed the same for the Cincinnati Bengals that we can expect minimal regression.
• Add a quarterback and tight end early: By finding multiple elite players at both positions, it’s easier to stand out while also stockpiling running backs and wide receivers in the later rounds.
• Subscribe to PFF+: It’s quick and easy. You’ll unlock industry-leading rankings, unlimited Fantasy Mock Draft Simulator use, Live Draft Assistant and weekly our Start/Sit Optimizer. It’s time to win.

Estimated reading time: 18 minutes

This perfect draft strategy for 10-team, single-quarterback, redraft PPR leagues is built on a consensus of average draft positions (ADPs) from ESPN, Sleeper and Yahoo. It’s your round-by-round blueprint for building a championship roster.

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Last updated: Sunday, August 31

Round 1, Picks 1-10: Draft a running back or wide receiver

The objective in Round 1 is to draft the best available running back or wide receiver. Ideally, that’s Ja’Marr Chase, but if he’s already off the board, pivot to an elite running back, such as Bijan Robinson or Jahmyr Gibbs, or the next-best wide receivers. It’s too early to consider a quarterback or tight end at this point. Later rounds offer plenty of flexibility to adjust your approach based on which position you address here.

Top Target: Ja’Marr Chase

Chase led all wide receivers in fantasy points and fantasy points per game last season. He’s consistently graded as a top-10 wide receiver, with his fantasy performance elevated by his environment. The Bengals made no changes to the coaching staff impacting Chase, the quarterback room, the wide receiver room or the tight end room. This puts Chase in one of the most pass-friendly environments in the NFL, catching passes from the best passer. While we should expect regression from anyone who finishes first in fantasy points, the lack of changes in Cincinnati should help minimize the regression.

Possible Targets: Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, Puka Nacua, Nico Collins, Brian Thomas Jr.

Round 2, Picks 11-20: Draft a wide receiver or running back

It’s still too early to consider a tight end or quarterback with so many good running backs and wide receivers on the board. It would be good to have at least one running back in the first two rounds. In the next two rounds, we’ll turn to other positions, and it could be challenging to end up with two running backs you’re happy with if you pass on them in the first four rounds. 

Because there are several values at both running back and wide receiver throughout the rest of the draft, it could make sense to begin with a balanced draft of one running back and one wide receiver. Ashton Jeanty and Brian Thomas Jr. are great options for those picking early in the round, and Drake London and Bucky Irving are great for those picking later.

For those picking at the very end of the second round, it could make sense to pick a quarterback or tight end here, and then pivot to a running back or wide receiver in Round 4, as there might not be great options at quarterback and tight end at the end of Round 4.

Top Target: Ashton Jeanty

Jeanty finished his time at Boise State with a 99.9 career rushing grade while averaging over 200 yards per game in his rookie season. He is one of the top three running back prospects of the past decade. He landed with the Las Vegas Raiders with the 6th overall pick in the draft, on the team that most needed a running back. Jeanty will be one of the few running backs in the NFL in a feature role. He proved in 2023 that he could be an elite receiving back with 3.2 yards per route run. The Raiders have limited receiving options, and Chip Kelly’s offenses have often featured running backs in the passing game. The only thing holding him back from the top few fantasy running backs is the offensive line. The top three projected running backs all play behind top-five run-blocking lines, while the Raiders’ line is merely average.

Possible Targets: Brian Thomas Jr., Drake London, Bucky Irving, De’Von Achane, Chase Brown

Round 3, Picks 21-30: Draft a quarterback, running back or tight end

In 10-team leagues, it can be easier to end up with both a quarterback and a tight end that you’re happy with, while still ending up with a well-rounded lineup. However, all of the top quarterbacks and tight ends will be gone by late in the fourth round, so in order to get players at both positions, you need to start picking them now. George Kittle has a later ADP than the top four quarterbacks, so I lean quarterback first, followed by tight end. If you’re against picking quarterbacks and tight ends early, the strength at this point of the draft is more running back than wide receiver.

Top Target: Jayden Daniels

Jayden Daniels averaged 23.7 fantasy points per game last season in games he both started and finished, which ranked third-best among all quarterbacks. Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson were the two quarterbacks ahead of him, but they both set career lows in rushing attempts per game. Those rates typically decline with age. The Commanders gave Daniels significant upgrades with Deebo Samuel Sr. at wide receiver and Laremy Tunsil at left tackle. Those moves could be enough to move Daniels to the top of the quarterback ranks by the end of the season.

Possible Targets: Trey McBride, Kyren Williams, George Kittle, Jalen Hurts, Omarion Hampton

Round 4, Picks 31-40: Draft a wide receiver or George Kittle

As mentioned above, this is a great time to pick a tight end if Kittle is still available. If not, then wide receivers are the strength at this point in the draft. For the rest of this article, we’ll assume you have a quarterback and a tight end at this point. Because you’ll have these two players in your starting lineup the whole season outside of bye weeks, there isn’t much need to draft backups, unless you’re in a league with deep benches. That allows you to stock up at running back and wide receiver in hopes of hitting on the next great sleeper.

If you missed out on players in either position, then it’s best to wait several rounds. At quarterback, you can wait until most teams have picked their backup, and then pick two players. Similarly, at tight end, it’s fine to wait until nearly every team has its starting tight end, and then pick two.

Top Target: George Kittle

George Kittle has arguably been the best tight end in the NFL during his career. His run blocking has been the best, and his numbers are better than Travis Kelce on a per-play basis. However, the 49ers‘ run-first philosophy mixed with Kittle’s injury history has left Kittle running fewer routes than other elite tight ends. He’s made up for it in recent seasons with Brock Purdy, whose ability to find Kittle down the field led to more big plays from Kittle than any other tight end in recent seasons. This makes him a clear top-three fantasy tight end, but his age, mixed with a chance his average depth of target decreasing, makes him the clear third option between him, Brock Bowers and Trey McBride.

Round 5, Picks 41-50: Draft a running back or wide receiver

The rest of this draft will be about picking running backs and wide receivers. In most rounds, there will be players at either position who are acceptable options. In this case, I strongly recommend running backs, because the top wide receivers available now will also be available in the next round or two, but that isn’t the case for the top running backs.

Top Target: Kenneth Walker III

Kenneth Walker III has graded among the best running backs in the league, including a 91.3 rushing grade last season. His 0.42 avoided tackles per attempt last season were the most in PFF’s 19 years of statistics for all running backs with at least 50 carries. The next-most with any player with at least 150 carries in a season was 0.31, which is a tie that includes 2014 Marshawn Lynch and 2020 Nick Chubb. New offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak will have an offense that plays to Walker’s strengths with his zone scheme and will prioritize getting him the football more than last season. However, he’s missed 10 games over the previous three seasons due to injury, and his play was negatively affected in several more while playing through injury. If he can stay healthy, he will have his best fantasy season yet, but staying healthy is a big if.

Possible Targets: Travis Hunter, Alvin Kamara, Tetairoa McMillan, Rashee Rice, Jameson Williams

Round 6, Picks 51-60: Draft a running back or wide receiver

While this team already has two running backs, it’s fine to consider a third running back here. There are only so many running backs who are expected to be their team’s lead rusher in an average or better offense. Some teams might only end up with one of these running backs, so having three would give your team a strong advantage. There are several good wide receivers over the next several rounds to build depth at that position. However, if you want a more balanced team, it’s okay to pick the best available wide receiver here.

Top Target: R.J. Harvey

The sky is the limit for Hunter, a truly unique athlete. He is arguably the best wide receiver and best cornerback in the 2025 draft class. That uniqueness makes it difficult to project how much he can help a fantasy manager at the wide receiver position. Fantasy-relevant wide receivers are consistently playing a minimum of 75% of offensive snaps, and there is a chance Hunter falls below that threshold. His role on offense could be restricted in a way that makes Hunter unstartable, but Hunter could also become the top wide receiver in the NFL and fantasy. He is arguably the most risky player to pick in fantasy drafts, offering both significant risk and reward.

Possible Targets: Travis Hunter, Tetairoa McMillan, Rashee Rice, Jameson Williams, D’Andre Swift

Round 7, Picks 61-70: Draft a wide receiver

This team needs wide receivers after only drafting one in the first five rounds. To round out the starting lineup, it makes sense to pick two wide receivers in these rounds.

Top Target: Travis Hunter

The sky is the limit for Hunter, a truly unique athlete. He is arguably the best wide receiver and best cornerback in the 2025 draft class. That uniqueness makes it difficult to project how much he can help a fantasy manager at the wide receiver position. Fantasy-relevant wide receivers are consistently playing a minimum of 75% of offensive snaps, and there is a chance Hunter falls below that threshold. His role on offense could be restricted in a way that makes Hunter unstartable, but Hunter could also become the top wide receiver in the NFL and fantasy. He is arguably the most risky player to pick in fantasy drafts, offering both significant risk and reward.

Possible Targets: Tetairoa McMillan, Jameson Williams, Chris Olave, Jaylen Waddle, Emeka Egbuka

Round 8, Picks 71-80: Draft a wide receiver or Jordan Mason

As mentioned above, it makes sense to pick wide receivers here. Luckily, several options are either the top wide receiver on their team or young number two options who have shown significant potential.

Top Target: Chris Olave

Olave has the talent to be a top-15 fantasy wide receiver. He scored the 16th-most fantasy points in 2023, and his PFF receiving grade has been at least 82.0 each season. The Saints added Kellen Moore as their head coach, and his slot receivers have been a consistent value in fantasy football. Olave is the wide receiver best suited to line up in the slot. However, Olave has five documented concussions. This makes him both more likely than the typical player to suffer another concussion and more likely to miss significant time if he suffers another one. After Derek Carr’s retirement, the Saints are stuck between three young and unproven quarterback options, which is also working against Olave.

Possible Targets: Emeka Egbuka, Rome Odunze, Ricky Pearsall, Jordan Mason, Deebo Samuel

Round 9, Picks 81-90: Draft a running back or wide receiver

While this team has more of a need at wide receiver than at running back, I’m okay picking a running back here, just to ensure you can add Jordan Mason. Otherwise, the best wide receivers available are fine here.

Top Target: Jordan Mason

Jordan Mason quickly went from undrafted rookie to the top backup running back for the 49ers, despite the team consistently spending mid-to-late round draft picks on running backs. An injury to Christian McCaffrey allowed Mason to be a starter to begin the 2024 season, and he was sixth in fantasy points per game over five weeks before he started dealing with injuries. Mason was traded to the Minnesota Vikings, where Aaron Jones Sr. is the main running back. The two will likely be in a committee that includes Mason receiving significant work in rushing situations while Jones gets more in passing situations. Jones is over 30 years old and has dealt with multiple injuries over the last two seasons. While Mason might not score enough weekly to start in fantasy in normal situations, if Jones is dealing with an injury or is showing more signs of age, we could see Jones as a weekly player to start.

Possible Targets: Emeka Egbuka, Ricky Pearsall, Deebo Samuel, Jaylen Warren, Josh Downs

Round 10, Picks 91-100: Draft a wide receiver

The best players available here are at wide receiver, and wide receiver is the biggest need for this team. It’s important to have a strong understanding of who you are drafting with, so you know when you might need to select someone like Emeka Egbuka. His consensus ADP would typically make him an 11th-round pick, but if you’re drafting with people who are in touch with all of the recent NFL news, you might need to select him a round or two earlier.

Top Target: Emeka Egbuka

Egbuka was a very talented receiver out of Ohio State, but he was consistently the second wide receiver in Ohio State’s offense. He averaged 2.75 yards per route run against zone defenses over the last three seasons, which places him over the 95th percentile among FBS receivers. With the Buccaneers, he will be the second or third option in the short term. Jalen McMillan is expected to miss the first half of the season due to a preseason injury, while there is a chance Chris Godwin will miss the start of the season. That will give Egbuka an immediate opportunity to succeed.

Possible Targets: Ricky Pearsall, Deebo Samuel, Josh Downs, Matthew Golden, Jauan Jennings

Round 11, Picks 101-110: Draft a running back or wide receiver

There will be plenty of running back and wide receiver options available at each of these next three picks. Since this team still has more of a need at wide receiver than running back, I lean toward wide receiver here.

Top Target: Josh Downs

Josh Downs is the rare wide receiver who only plays in the slot in three-receiver sets and has been fantasy relevant, thanks to a high target share and the Colts’ high 11-personnel rate. Downs has had long stretches over his first two seasons where he’s been a consistent fantasy starter, but injuries have made his quality of play take a turn for the worse. If Daniel Jones wins the Colts’ quarterback job, Downs has a chance to push his fantasy value even further. However, the Tyler Warren addition could mean a notable decrease in target share for Downs, just depending on how quickly Warren earns a receiving role in the offense. Downs’ multiple injuries over the first two seasons could also make it more likely that Downs misses time. Downs should be drafted as a fantasy backup due to his upside to be a fantasy starter if things are going right.

Round 12, Picks 111-120: Draft a running back or wide receiver

Jacory Croskey-Merritt fits in the same category as Emeka Egbuka, where his ADP will vary greatly depending on how well prepared your leaguemates are, but Croskey-Merritt fits even larger extremes. His consensus ADP suggests you could pick him a few rounds after this, but in leagues where people are up to date with NFL news, you might need to pick him a few rounds earlier than this. Late in the ninth round is the earliest I would consider him in a 10-team league. Picking him in the 12th round here is a hedge between drafters who haven’t kept up with news and those who have.

Top Target: Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Jacory Croskey-Merritt has consistently improved as a running back from his time at Alabama State to New Mexico, where he significantly improved in both the run and passing game, averaging a first down on 37.2% of his runs and breaking long runs at a ridiculously high rate. After a brief stint at Arizona, he impressed at the Shrine Bowl with 97 yards on 11 carries and two touchdowns. He further cemented his potential at the combine, finishing in the 80th percentile or better in the 40-yard dash, 10-yard split, vertical jump and broad jump. Selected by the Washington Commanders, he quickly moved up the depth chart in the preseason, even playing ahead of Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez Jr., suggesting he could be the primary early-down back, especially with trade rumors swirling around Brian Robinson Jr. While his role is likely to be primarily as an early-down runner in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense, his talent makes him worthy of being one of the top 32 running backs drafted, though you may not have to draft him that high.

Possible Targets: Josh Downs, Michael Pittman Jr., Zach Charbonnet, Darnell Mooney, Marvin Mims Jr.

Round 13, Picks 121-130: Draft a wide receiver or running back

This team still has more of a need at wide receiver than running back after being balanced in terms of player count at this point, but with more early running backs than wide receivers.

Top Target: Darnell Mooney

Darnell Mooney had a strong start to his career with the Chicago Bears for a fifth-round pick, but then Chicago moved him to the slot, which didn’t end up working out. The Atlanta Falcons signed him in free agency prior to the 2024 season, moving him back to the outside, which caused him to be a frustrating WR3 option for fantasy teams. He had seven games with 80 or more receiving yards, and his career-high five touchdowns occurred during those seven games. However, he was held to three receptions for less than 40 yards in six of his games. Michael Penix Jr. has taken over as the Falcons’ starting quarterback, and his quality of play will determine Mooney’s fantasy value. In a small sample, Penix has thrown deep at a high rate with high deep accuracy, which could lead to a huge season by Mooney, but if Penix regresses, then Mooney will be a fantasy backup.

Possible Targets: Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Marvin Mims Jr., Tank Bigsby, Braelon Allen, Nick Chubb

Round 14–18: Fill Depth

Use any additional picks to draft a kicker and team defense if required; otherwise, stock up on running backs and wide receivers.