Fantasy Football 2025 Mock Draft Analysis and Ideal Selection Strategy Cheat Sheet

NFL teams just had to trim their rosters down to their regular-season form.

Fantasy football managers will soon make similar decisions about which players they want to carry into the 2025 campaign.

Granted, the methodology is different, but these folks will have to follow the same guideline of assembling the best possible roster. To help make that happen, we'll lay out the first three rounds of a simulated mock and analyze their results before finishing with our cheat sheet-style positional rankings.

3-Round, 12-Team PPR Mock Draft

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Round 1

1. Ja'Marr Chase, WR, CIN
2. Bijan Robinson, RB, ATL
3. CeeDee Lamb, WR, DAL
4. Justin Jefferson, WR, MIN
5. Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, DET
6. Saquon Barkley, RB, PHI
7. Malik Nabers, WR, NYG
8. Drake London, WR, ATL
9. Puka Nacua, WR, LAR
10. Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, DET
11. Ashton Jeanty, RB, LV
12. Derrick Henry, RB, BAL

Round 2

1. Nico Collins, WR, HOU
2. Christian McCaffrey, RB, SF
3. Brian Thomas Jr., WR, JAX
4. De'Von Achane, RB, MIA
5. A.J. Brown, WR, PHI
6. Brock Bowers, TE, LV
7. Josh Jacobs, RB, GB
8. Ladd McConkey, WR, LAC
9. Tyreek Hill, WR, MIA
10. Trey McBride, TE, ARI
11. Bucky Irving, RB, TB
12. Chase Brown, RB, CIN

Round 3

1. Jonathan Taylor, RB, IND
2. Josh Allen, QB, BUF
3. Mike Evans, WR, TB
4. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, SEA
5. Tee Higgins, WR, CIN
6. Lamar Jackson, QB, BAL
7. Davante Adams, WR, LAR
8. Kyren Williams, RB, LAR
9. Garrett Wilson, WR, NYJ
10. Jayden Daniels, QB, WAS
11. Joe Burrow, QB, CIN
12. Breece Hall, RB, NYJ

Mock Draft Analysis

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Since a simulated mock removes the human element, you're unlikely to find jaw-dropping picks in them. That's how this played out, as there were a few mild surprises, but nothing that would remotely qualify as stunning.

As far as deviations from the norm go, Jahmyr Gibbs going above Saquon Barkley qualifies as a mild upset, although the latter's ridiculous workload last season (482 touches including the playoffs) has clearly spooked the fantasy community. That said, the Eagles leaned heavily on Barkley because he was objectively awesome, and if he's awesome again, fantasy managers will wonder why they let him slip past the top few picks.

While it probably makes sense to value receivers in a PPR format, spending the eighth overall pick on Drake London is a reach. It's also part of the reason why Christian McCaffrey fell to the second round, which could be the steal of the century if he manages to stay upright.

Moving away from backs and receivers, two tight ends went in the second round (Brock Bowers and Trey McBride), but none went in the third. The fourth and fifth rounds featured just one tight end each George Kittle (38) and Sam LaPorta (60). So, if you're planning on taking a top-shelf tight end, you probably need to grab Bowers or McBride in the second round or make sure you get Kittle or LaPorta by the fifth.

Finally, quarterbacks went untouched in the first two rounds, but the third round saw four come off the board with Josh Allen (26), Lamar Jackson (30), Jayden Daniels (34) and Joe Burrow (35). Many fantasy analysts—us included—would advise you to wait longer to address this position, but if you want one of the aforementioned four or even Jalen Hurts (44), you should plan on taking them by the third round at the latest.

Cheat Sheet Position Rankings

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Quarterback

1. Josh Allen, BUF
2. Lamar Jackson, BAL
3. Jalen Hurts, PHI
4. Jayden Daniels, WAS
5. Patrick Mahomes, KC
6. Joe Burrow, CIN
7. Baker Mayfield, TB
8. Dak Prescott, DAL
9. Brock Purdy, SF
10. Bo Nix, DEN

Running Back

1. Bijan Robinson, ATL
2. Saquon Barkley, PHI
3. Christian McCaffrey, SF
4. Jahmyr Gibbs, DET
5. Ashton Jeanty, LV
6. Derrick Henry, BAL
7. De'Von Achane, MIA
8. Chase Brown, CIN
9. Jonathan Taylor, IND
10. Bucky Irving, TB

Wide Receiver

1. Ja'Marr Chase, CIN
2. Justin Jefferson, MIN
3. CeeDee Lamb, DAL
4. Amon-Ra St. Brown, DET
5. Malik Nabers, NYG
6. Puka Nacua, LAR
7. Nico Colins, HOU
8. Brian Thomas Jr., JAX
9. A.J. Brown, PHI
10. Drake London, ATL

Tight End

1. Brock Bowers, LV
2. Trey McBride, ARI
3. George Kittle, SF
4. Sam LaPorta, DET
5. T.J. Hockenson, MIN
6. Travis Kelce, KC
7. David Njoku, CLE
8. Evan Engram, DEN
9. Mark Andrews, BAL
10. Dalton Kincaid, BUF

Defense/Special Teams

1. Denver Broncos
2. Philadelphia Eagles
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
4. Baltimore Ravens
5. Houston Texans
6. Minnesota Vikings
7. Buffalo Bills
8. Detroit Lions
9. Los Angeles Chargers
10. Kansas City Chiefs

Kicker

1. Brandon Aubrey, DAL
2. Cameron Dicker, LAC
3. Jake Bates, DET
4. Chase McLaughlin, TB
5. Harrison Butker, KC
6. Wil Lutz, DEN
7. Chris Boswell, PIT
8. Evan McPherson, CIN
9. Ka'imi Fairbairn, HOU
10. Tyler Bass, BUF