The 10 Most Must-Have Players in Fantasy Football This Year

Every fantasy manager has them every year: "Must-have" players.

Sometimes, it's a name fantasy managers believe is a sure-fire breakout in the season to come. For others, it’s a figure close to their hearts because he plays for their favorite team or because he helped win a fantasy manager a championship at some point.

For this analyst, “must-have” players are about one thing: value.

Having a successful fantasy draft is all about selecting players who have real potential to outperform their draft slot. The more potential, the better the value.

What, you want certainty in fantasy football? Yeah, we all do. Too bad there isn't any.

Whether these players stay "must-have" or not could change—if ADPs change significantly over the summer, "must-have" could become "sure, why not?” or even "sigh, no."

Right now, though, given where these players are being drafted, each and every one of these fantasy assets has a sizable chance to pay off in a big way.

And all should be high on your draft-day target list.

Caleb Williams, QB, Chicago Bears

AP Photo/Matt Ludtke

ADP: QB11, 86th Overall

After being drafted first overall last year, Caleb Williams' rookie season in Chicago was...uneven. He threw for just over 3,500 yards and 20 touchdowns, finishing 16th at the position in fantasy points.

However, the Bears' primary focus in the offseason was getting better around the quarterback, whether it was adding passing-game weapons, bolstering the offensive line or hiring one of the NFL's best offensive minds in Ben Johnson.

The Chicago head coach told reporters recently that he has been impressed by both Williams' acclimation to a new offense and his ability to improvise when a play doesn't go according to plan:

"There's always a throw or two every single day. The movement stuff outside of the pocket, it's what we thought coming into town here, the ability to create. Sometimes you get wrapped up … being in the perfect play all the time … and really with him, it doesn't matter so much what the play call is. If it's the perfect play, then it's great, it's there. If it's not, then he's able to find a way to make it work."

Last year, the 23-year-old eclipsed 300 passing yards four times. Eleven of his 20 touchdown passes came over the final seven games of the season—a timeframe over which he threw just one interception.

From Week 11 on last year, the 2024 No. 1 overall pick was a top-10 fantasy quarterback. Now, with a year of experience under his belt, better weapons with the addition of tight end Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III, a better offensive line and Johnson's play-calling, all the ingredients are there for a Year 2 breakout.

If you believe in Williams' talent, he could be a massive bargain for fantasy managers at quarterback.

Justin Fields, QB, New York Jets

AP Photo/Noah K. Murray

ADP: QB15, 105th Overall

Maybe the third time will be the charm for Justin Fields.

After three up-and-down years with the Chicago Bears and a six-game stint as the starting quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers last year, the 26-year-old finds himself as Aaron Rodgers' replacement as the starting QB for the New York Jets.

New York offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand told reporters that Fields has dedicated himself to making sure he takes advantage of what may well be his last chance to be a starting quarterback in the NFL:

"I would say that this guy is just a workaholic. He comes in early, he's here late, and he's trying to digest everything and download all the information and do things the right way. He's trying to do things that we're asking, and I think he's just really put the next foot forward every day, just trying to stack days, and it's been really good."

Granted, Fields' passing numbers to date haven't been especially impressive; he has never thrown for 2,600 yards or had 20 touchdown passes in a season. And the passing-game weapons in New York outside wideout Garrett Wilson aren't great.

But the 2021 first-rounder surpassed 1,100 rushing yards in 2022 for the Bears, a season in which he finished as a top-10 fantasy quarterback. And while the Steelers pulled the plug on him six games in last year, he was sixth in fantasy points among signal-callers over that span.

Fields' skills as a runner are a huge boost to his fantasy prospects. And if he can combine that with even so-so passing numbers, he has the potential to be the biggest bargain at the position in fantasy in 2025.

Chase Brown, RB, Cincinnati Bengals

AP Photo/Kareem Elgazzar

ADP: RB11, 28th Overall

Chase Young of the Cincinnati Bengals was one of fantasy football’s more surprising breakouts in 2024.

A fifth-round pick back in 2023, the 26-year-old exploded once he became the Bengals' featured back. From Week 8 on, there wasn't a single game in which he failed to record double-digit PPR points. Over that span, he was sixth at the position in fantasy points.

Cincinnati now has a new blocking scheme under new offensive line coach Scott Peters. And Brown believes he can sail past last year's 1,350 total yards:

"It's exactly how I ran it at Illinois. It will be awesome. We're going to be a more downhill team this year. Eliminate some negative plays. Keep ahead of the chains. That's what matters in this league. Staying ahead of schedule. It's extremely important and I think it's going to help us a lot. Being more downhill lowers the possibility of a negative yardage play. That's kind of our mindset as a run unit this year. Those quick hitters can be big plays when you make guys miss."

The Bengals didn't add any real competition for touches this year for Brown, so he should see a robust workload. He averaged 4.3 yards per carry last year and topped 50 receptions. And the team's loaded passing attack makes it nearly impossible for opponents to stack the line of scrimmage in an effort to stuff the run.

For fantasy managers who want to hammer wide receiver early and/or use a "Hero RB" strategy on draft day, Brown is an ideal target.

Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

ADP: RB19, 58th Overall

On a scale of one to 10, the fantasy excitement level surrounding the New Orleans Saints offense is about negative-six.

The near-certainty that the Saints are going to be bad has impacted the ADP of a number of players in the Big Easy, including running back Alvin Kamara.

New Saints head coach Kellen Moore told reporters the 29-year-old is going to be one of the cornerstones of the team's offense this year:

"Alvin's obviously one of the premier players in our league, his ability to run the football and play in the pass game. And so, we want to utilize every aspect of that. He's going to be a really big-time, impactful runner, running the football first and foremost. And then obviously the pass game, his ability to create matchups is going to be a huge advantage for us. What's really fun being around Alvin is his mental capacity is really high. He understands football at a really, really high level. He's played so much game. I really enjoy and I look forward to more and more of those conversations as we go through this, of teaming up on this thing."

The Saints struggled mightily on offense for much of the 2024 season, but that didn't stop Kamara from setting a career high in rushing yards or catching 68 passes. He also finished ninth in PPR points among running backs and fifth in fantasy points per game.

Getting that sort of upside for the cost of a mid-range RB2 is how fantasy leagues are won.

Tony Pollard, RB, Tennessee Titans

AP Photo/George Walker IV

ADP: RB27, 81st Overall

For better or worse, fantasy managers like sizzle. They like excitement. They like the hot new thing. What they don't like is boring, even if the yawns come with steady fantasy production.

Last year, Tony Pollard of the Tennessee Titans eclipsed 1,000 yards on the ground for the third straight season. He also caught 41 passes and surpassed 1,300 total yards—numbers that were good for an RB22 finish in fantasy points.

That may not inspire much in the way of cartwheels, but Kevin Tompkins of Fantasy Pros believes it does represent an opportunity for value:

"We weren't sure of how Tony Pollard would integrate into the Tennessee Titans' offense with a lot of moving parts and a brand-new head coach in Brian Callahan, but Pollard was a solid success in 2024 as fantasy's RB21 in PPR. Pollard was a workhorse with his second-consecutive 250-carry season and third-straight 1,000-yard season in 2024. More importantly, Pollard held Tyjae Spears at bay with not just rushing work but also receiving work. Pollard predictably bested Spears in carries (260 to 84). Pollard also had Spears' number in target volume, seeing 55 targets to Spears' 33. In terms of efficiency, Pollard's success rate of 35% was 33rd out of 41 qualified running backs with at least 113 total carries. However, Pollard's yards after contact per attempt (YACo/Att) was 13th among 41 qualified backs."

Is Pollard exciting? Not really. But given Spears can't stay on the field, he should be in for another solid workload.

If rookie quarterback Cam Ward can give the Titans offense a boost, Pollard could also see a bump in touchdowns after scoring just five in 2024.

His 2024 numbers are closer to his fantasy floor than his ceiling, making him one of the more attractive "RB Dead Zone" targets of 2025.

Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Arizona Cardinals

AP Photo/Rick Scuteri

ADP: WR15, 27th Overall

To hear some fantasy managers tell it, Marvin Harrison Jr. of the Arizona Cardinals was a total disaster last year.

No, the 2024 No. 4 overall pick didn't take the NFL by storm like Malik Nabers of the New York Giants, but 62 catches for 885 yards and eight scores (which tied a franchise record for scoring grabs by a rookie) wasn't exactly cat food, either.

Where many fantasy managers saw disappointment in Harrison's debut season, Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray told Arizona Sports' Cardinals Corner he sees something to build on:

"For him to have eight touchdowns and feel like he didn't even scratch the surface, that's saying something.

"Obviously, me and him have to be better and we will be better. But I loved where he was mentally at the end of the season.

"Being more open, being more comfortable with the guys in the locker room, being more comfortable with me, being more comfortable just to speak his mind within the receiving room with (quarterbacks coach Israel Woolfork and passing game coordinator Drew Terrell)."

Murray also told Arizona Sports' Wolf & Luke:

"I understand him in the sense of he's got this name, and he wants to just come in and prove himself. People say he's not talkative. Well, they would have said I wasn't talkative my rookie year, either, because all I wanted to do was come in and show guys I'm worth where they picked me and who I am.

"So, I understand that part of his personality. But as he gets more comfortable, he's going to continue to grow. I truly believe that."

Harrison bulked up in the offseason and spent a chunk of time working on his rapport with Murray. And it wasn't that long ago that many considered the Ohio State product the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2024 draft class.

Harrison was overvalued as a rookie. But if he comes close to realizing his immense potential in 2025, he's undervalued at this price point.

Deebo Samuel Sr., WR, Washington Commanders

AP Photo/Nick Wass

ADP: WR39, 69th Overall

Washington Commanders wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. has had a rough year. His 2024 season was a mess, and he was traded to Washington in the offseason.

Fantasy managers convinced that the 29-year-old is washed have mocked him online for being out of shape.

However, Marc Ross of NFL.com believes those who are ready to relegate Samuel to the scrap heap are jumping the gun:

"Despite his declining production over the last couple seasons in San Francisco, Samuel has been one of the most productive wide receivers since 2021, ranking ninth in scrimmage yards, tied for fifth in scrimmage TDs (35) and first in rush yards (958) and rush TDs (17) among wideouts. Yet, for as good as he was with the 49ers, an argument could be made that the seventh-year veteran is entering the best situation of his career after being traded to Washington this offseason. The change of scenery puts Samuel in an offense that is led by an MVP-caliber quarterback in Jayden Daniels. Also, he'll pair with a true No. 1 receiver in Terry McLaurin to form a dangerous tandem in Kliff Kingsbury's passing attack."

Before contracting pneumonia during the 2024 season, Samuel was averaging 10.5 yards per target and 2.19 yards per route—numbers that would have ranked among the top-20 wideouts over the course of the entire season.

In other words, Samuel wasn't as bad as some thought, he just got sick. Now healthy, he's on a mission to show he has something left in the tank while playing for an offensive coordinator in Kliff Kingsbury who will scheme ways to get him the ball in space.

Jakobi Meyers, WR, Las Vegas Raiders

AP Photo/David Becker

ADP: WR40, 73rd Overall

In his second season with the Las Vegas Raiders last year, Jakobi Meyers set career highs in targets (129), catches (87) and receiving yards (1,027). He finished the year as a top-25 wideout in both PPR points and fantasy points per game.

The 28-year-old is now playing for a new head coach in Pete Carroll, a new offensive coordinator in Chip Kelly and with a new quarterback in Geno Smith.

Kelly told reporters he has been impressed by how well Meyers has adjusted to all the new faces and a new role playing predominantly in the slot:

"Anything thrown in his direction, he seems to somehow come down (with). He's got a really good understanding of coverage and schemes, where he knows how to get himself open at the appropriate time. And that's part of it. Being a receiver is you have to be where you're supposed to be when you're supposed to be there with separation and catch a football and he can do all four of those things."

Yes, star tight end Brock Bowers is the No. 1 option in the Vegas passing attack, and the team added a Day 2 receiver in Jack Bech. But Meyers is still easily the most proven wide receiver on the roster, and Smith targeted his slot receiver, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, early and often in Seattle last season.

This isn't to say Meyers will crack the top 10 in 2025 like Smith-Njigba did a year ago. But barely ranking the NC State product inside the top 40 is another example of fantasy managers needlessly fading a player who doesn't come replete with a lot of bells and whistles.

Evan Engram, TE, Denver Broncos

AP Photo/David Zalubowski

ADP: TE7, 105th Overall

Evan Engram has a new team in 2025 and a new role—instead of catching passes and scoring touchdowns, he has been tasked with terrorizing the citizens of Gotham City and battling the Dark Knight every chance he gets.

OK, that was a terrible joke, but it's why the Denver Broncos brought in the 30-year-old: to serve as the team’s Joker, a jack-of-all-trades type who lines up all over the formation.

However, Engram told reporters he’s embracing the role, even if he might prefer a different moniker:

"I like to call myself a cleaner. A guy that's going to come in every single day and do what he's asked at the highest level possible. A guy that's going to embrace adversity, embrace challenges, but also bring a great amount of energy and leadership even in those times of adversity and humbleness in times of success. I want to earn everything that's going to come my way, and hopefully, God willing, I can stay healthy and stay on the field and do what I do best, which is make plays with the football."

The two-time Pro Bowler has shown he can produce at a high level for fantasy managers; two years ago, he caught 114 passes with the Jacksonville Jaguars and led all AFC tight ends in fantasy points. The Broncos aren't exactly overflowing with proven passing-game weapons behind wide receiver Courtland Sutton, either.

Engram could easily crack the top five at fantasy's most volatile position this year—for the modest cost of a ninth-round pick.

Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons

AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.

ADP: TE18, 160th Overall

This is going to be a tough one for many fantasy managers to swallow.

Spending yet another pick on Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts is a bit like Charlie Brown barreling toward a football. He knows Lucy is going to pull it away at the last moment, yet he tries anyway.

Falcons head coach Raheem Morris told reporters that while he's well aware Pitts hasn't met expectations, he still believes the fifth-year veteran can be the player Atlanta expected when it drafted him fourth overall in 2021:

"He's a big-time mismatch, a big-time matchup problem. When you get a chance to get him one of those matches, you can absolutely exploit those things. He's one of those guys that goes out on third down, was actually able to move the chains, creating that threat for you in that mismatch situation."

Morris added:

"It's just a matter of going out there and doing it. He has all those things, all those opportunities and they'll present themselves again. I’ve got a lot of belief in him. A lot of that comes with belief.

"A lot of that comes with us as an organization really focusing on some of the details and getting them some of the stuff that we can get them done."

We have seen what Pitts is capable of—he topped 1,000 yards as a rookie and finished that year sixth in PPR points among tight ends. Even if it is unlikely he can recapture those past glories, he's no more than a late-round dart throw at this point.

And there aren't many tight ends with his upside available that late.

Gary Davenport is a two-time Fantasy Sports Writers Association Football Writer of the Year. Follow Gary on X at @IDPGodfather.