- Puka Nacua had a record-setting 2024: His 37.1% target rate last season was the best PFF has ever seen from a wide receiver across 19 years of data.
- Start with two wide receivers: After Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs are off the board, the strength of the draft is at wide receiver from Picks 6-15.
- Subscribe to PFF+: Get access to player grades, PFF Premium Stats, fantasy football rankings, all of the PFF fantasy draft research tools and more!
Estimated reading time: 13 minutes

This perfect draft strategy for 10-team, single quarterback, redraft, PPR fantasy football leagues uses a consensus of current average draft positions (ADPs) from ESPN, Sleeper and Yahoo! to deliver a round-by-round guide for managers picking seventh overall. To find more information about any player mentioned in this article, click on the player’s name to find their fantasy football player profile.
Last updated: Thursday, August 21
Round 1, Pick 7: Draft a wide receiver
Anyone picking from the middle of the first round to the end is either picking their top available wide receiver or a running back like Christian McCaffrey, Ashton Jeanty or Derrick Henry. There are six wide receivers ranked third to eighth, and seemingly no two analysts have the receivers in the same order. All of them could end up as the top overall wide receiver if everything goes well, but all of them are going through some changes with some combination of new play-callers, new quarterbacks and new competition for targets. It’s best to pick the best wide receiver available.
Top Target: Puka Nacua
Nacua averaged 0.216 receptions per route and 0.3 targets per route over the last two seasons, which both rank the best among wide receivers. His target rate of 37.1% last season was the highest among all wide receivers with at least 75 routes run in the last 19 years. His 3.56 yards per route run ranks third best, behind Steve Smith in 2008 and Tyreek Hill in 2023. It’s been difficult for both Nacua and Cooper Kupp to have fantasy value in the same game over the past two seasons, with one wide receiver often shining, while the other struggles to hit 50 yards. This could be even more of a problem with Davante Adams on the roster replacing Kupp.

Possible Targets: Nico Collins, Brian Thomas Jr., Malik Nabers, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Drake London
Round 2, Pick 14: Draft a wide receiver
Ten wide receivers have a strong case to finish among the top three at the position, speaking to the strength of the position. During the first half of the second round, there should be a few of those options still available. It’s possible to end up with a great team starting with two wide receivers, so it makes sense to continue adding the best wide receivers available.
Top Target: Brian Thomas Jr.
Brian Thomas Jr. had a strong start to his rookie season and ended it among the league’s best fantasy receivers. In his final seven games, he gained at least 13 PPR points each week and averaged 21.5 points, third behind only Ja’Marr Chase and Puka Nacua. He played at least 84% of his team’s offensive snaps in all but one of those games. The team added Travis Hunter in the draft, and he will see a decent target rate, but typically, two great wide receivers can co-exist as long as there isn’t much more competition for targets. Thomas led all wide receivers in yards per route run out of the slot with 3.12, and new offensive coordinator Liam Coen has found a lot of success with his slot receivers in the past. An increased role in the slot could lead Thomas to remain among the top wide receivers in fantasy football.
Possible Targets: Drake London, A.J. Brown, Tee Higgins, Garrett Wilson, Ladd McConkey
Round 3, Pick 27: Draft a running back
After starting with back-to-back wide receivers, it’s time to pivot to a running back. At this point, Trey McBride is likely off the board, and it’s too early for George Kittle. While a quarterback is an option, I’d rather take advantage of Chase Brown’s ADP being noticeably lower than it should be. However, if you want to look at a strategy that involves picking a quarterback here, you can check out the perfect 10-team draft for the eighth pick.
Top Target: Chase Brown
Brown emerged as the Bengals’ starting running back early in the 2024 season, and once Zack Moss landed on injured reserve, Brown was a top-three fantasy running back. His rise corresponded with the Bengals’ playoff push, where the offense was scoring at least 24 points per game. Brown followed Joe Mixon as the clear early down running back who rarely played on passing downs. He was in a pass-first offense but was able to score and receive plenty of opportunities because the offense was doing well. There should be a little regression in the offense this season, but the bigger concern is if Moss or sixth-round rookie Tahj Brooks can simply outplay Brooks, leading to a change in the starting lineup.

Possible Targets: Kenneth Walker III, Omarion Hampton, R.J. Harvey, James Cook, Alvin Kamara
Round 4, Pick 34: Draft a tight end
It is generally helpful to add at least one tight end or quarterback early. Most other pick numbers have a tight end or quarterback in the third round, but this pick did not because of multiple players being valued at their typical ADP, and this is the pick where those players are typically picked. However, this round is the time to make up for that with a tight end.
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.
Possible Targets: T.J. Hockenson, Sam LaPorta, David Njoku, Tucker Kraft, Dalton Kincaid
Round 5, Pick 47: Draft a quarterback
In 12-team leagues, if you miss out on the top four quarterbacks, it makes sense to continue waiting for late-round options. In 10-team leagues, Mahomes can be a value because a lot of the best options available in this range will also be available in the next round. That makes it easier to take a chance on Mahomes here, even if the gap between him and guys available in the next few rounds is small.
Top Target: Patrick Mahomes
Patrick Mahomes is a three-time Super Bowl champion and three-time MVP. His fantasy production was elite, but in the last two seasons, his stats have fallen back to Earth. The Chiefs have only done as much as they need to win without blowing teams out. Additionally, their best receiver, Travis Kelce, is on the downswing of his career, and the wide receiver room hasn’t worked as well as planned in either season. Despite this, he’s had a high floor and has stayed healthy, leaving him among the top-12 fantasy quarterbacks. The wide receiver room on paper is the best it’s been since Tyreek Hill was on the team. If they can stay healthy, Mahomes should bounce back compared to the last two years.
Possible Targets: Baker Mayfield, Brock Purdy, Justin Fields, J.J. McCarthy, Trevor Lawrence
Round 6, Pick 54: Draft a running back
R.J. Harvey and Travis Hunter were two of the biggest winners of the NFL draft for fantasy purposes, and their ADP was always a little low relative to their potential. The first week of the preseason showed their teams have big plans for these two players, and they remain two of the biggest steals of the draft. The goal with these next two picks is to pick those two players.
Harvey’s ADP is earlier on Yahoo! and Sleeper, while Hunter’s ADP is earlier on ESPN, which should play into your decision. There are also other excellent wide receiver options to pivot to, like Jameson Williams and Tetairoa McMillan, while there is a larger gap between Harvey and the other running backs. This leads to Harvey being the first pick here, but it’s worth considering Hunter first, particularly on ESPN.
Top Target: R.J. Harvey
Harvey was arguably the biggest winner in the draft at running back because he landed on a team where his skill set could lead to fantasy stardom. Denver Broncos running backs have caught 214 passes over the past two years, which is more than any other team, and Harvey is projected to be the Broncos’ primary receiving back. A top-ten season is within the realm of possibility if he dominates the passing down role and also averages at least eight carries per game. However, the Broncos’ backfield could remain volatile despite the addition of Harvey.
Possible Targets: Jordan Mason, Jaylen Warren, Aaron Jones Sr., Tony Pollard, Tyrone Tracy Jr.
Round 7, Pick 67: Draft a wide receiver
As mentioned above, this is the time to take either a high-upside young wide receiver option or R.J. Harvey.
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: Jameson Williams, Tetairoa McMillan, DeVonta Smith, Chris Olave, Jaylen Waddle
Round 8, Pick 74: Draft a wide receiver
The strength of this point of the draft is at wide receiver, as all of the clear-cut top running backs are no longer on the board, and every other running back is either fighting for the starting job, in a committee, or there is some uncertainty around their usage. On the other hand, the wide receivers available in this range are obvious starters, with either experience of being a fantasy starter or risky starters who haven’t proven themselves in the NFL yet, but have the upside to be top-10 players.
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, Deebo Samuel, Jakobi Meyers
Round 9, Pick 87: Draft a wide receiver
As mentioned above, wide receiver is the strength of the draft, and you can never have too many wide receivers. Egbuka is the player listed here, but there is a chance his ADP will change dramatically with the news that McMillan will miss the first half of the season. If he’s no longer available, move on to the next best wide receiver.
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, Jauan Jennings, Darnell Mooney, Khalil Shakir, Josh Downs
Round 10, Pick 94: Draft a running back
After focusing on wide receivers in multiple rounds, it’s time to turn back to the running back position. You can ideally draft three backs who are in committees with high upside, and the first comes at this pick.
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: Jaylen Warren, Tyrone Tracy Jr., Quinshon Judkins, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Rhamondre Stevenson
Round 11, Pick 107: Draft a running back
There are only a few running backs left who are expected to lead their team in carries, so it makes sense to add yet another running back before these players are no longer available.
Top Target: Rhamondre Stevenson
Rhamondre Stevenson has spent the last four seasons with the Patriots and has been an every-down lead back with a capable veteran backup most of the time. His quality of play is very dependent on the offensive line, and the line had the worst team run-blocking grade last season. He reunites with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who was his offensive coordinator in his first season. In 17 of McDaniels’ 18 seasons, the running back who leads his team in rushing attempts is not the same one who leads his backfield in third-down snaps. The Patriots spent the 38th overall pick on TreVeyon Henderson, who was arguably the best receiving back in this draft class. That means Stevenson will likely lose most of his passing-down work. He should still receive double-digit carries most weeks, and the Patriots made multiple changes to the offensive line, which should help his production.
Possible Targets: Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Javonte Williams, Tank Bigsby, Braelon Allen, Jaydon Blue
Round 12, Pick 114: Draft a wide receiver
This team is very balanced at this point, and the goal should be to keep on adding running backs and wide receivers. There is a clear tier gap after the first few top wide receivers from this round are no longer available, making wide receiver the position to target first.
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: Josh Downs, Marvin Mims Jr., Michael Pittman Jr., Christian Kirk, Keon Coleman
Round 13, Pick 127: Draft a running back
Croskey-Merritt is the top player with this pick. His ADP is currently much later than this on most sites, but he is also potentially getting drafted earlier than this in a lot of drafts, just depending on how up-to-date your leaguemates are with NFL news. Even if Croskey-Merritt isn’t available, it would be good to add another running back.
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: Tank Bigsby, Braelon Allen, Jaydon Blue, Nick Chubb, Tyjae Spears
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.
This news was originally published on this post .
Be the first to leave a comment