Identifying the players who could define the fantasy football season is one of my favorite exercises to do each year.
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While it’s unlikely you’ll be able to draft all the names on this list, building your roster around even a few of these players can significantly increase your odds of reaching the fantasy playoffs and hopefully bringing home the championship.
Jayden Daniels, QB, Commanders
It might feel like I’m cheating by going with the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year and one of the best fantasy quarterbacks out there, but this year more than ever I’ve found myself drafting an elite QB.
There’s a bit of a dead zone in the third and early fourth rounds with only a couple running backs and receivers worth targeting in that range. That creates a window to secure a high-end quarterback and guarantee yourself a massive advantage at the position.
Since Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen tend to be the first two quarterbacks selected, I’ll highlight Daniels in this space — just know that all three are going to give a multi-point edge over your competition.
While Jackson and Allen finished as the top two fantasy QBs in 2024, Daniels was a step behind in fifth place. The reason for that was a midseason rib injury that caused his production to dip for a month and brought down his overall totals.
However, through his first six NFL games Daniels was averaging the fourth most fantasy points in the league (22.7) at his position. Once he was unbothered by the rib issue, the 24-year-old reached a new level with 30.8 fantasy points per contest over his last five full regular-season appearances.
During that stretch, when fantasy scoring is most important — Daniels was putting up over six more fantasy points per outing than any quarterback not named Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson.
Though Terry McLaurin’s contract issues might scare some people, it’s extremely rare for a player to holdout into the season. The Commanders have also added to the offense with one of the best pass-blocking left tackles in Laremy Tunsil, a versatile veteran receiver in Deebo Samuel and an explosive rookie running back who’s generating plenty of buzz in Jacory Croskey-Merritt.
The truth is we’re just scratching the surface of Daniels’ talent heading into his sophomore season and he has a better supporting cast to work with. While his ADP is much higher this year, he’s still one of the best quarterbacks to target.
Chase Brown, RB, Bengals
Brown was one of the breakout stars of the 2024 fantasy season and is ready to build on that performance this year.
Zack Moss was actually leading the way in the Bengals’ backfield last September, but injuries sent him to the sidelines, which opened the door for Brown’s ascension.
Over the final 15 weeks last season, Brown was the seventh highest scoring fantasy running back with eight weekly finishes inside the top-12 at his position.
Since then, Moss has been released meaning Brown’s only competition for touches will come from sixth-round rookie Tahj Brooks and veteran passing-down back Samaje Perine.
Brown proved he can handle a significant workload in college, but any doubts about his ability to do so in the NFL were put to rest last year. Now the question becomes: how high can his fantasy star rise?
From a volume standpoint, the 25-year-old should see as much volume as many of the backs going in the first round of fantasy drafts. During the second half of last season, he was second in the league with 23.6 touches per game.
“Brown is going to, by the end of the season, be a household name,” Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher told Yahoo Sports’ Jori Epstein.
It’s hard to disagree.
Brown is a player you can get in the late second or early third round, but who can return first-round value and has an outside shot to push some of the top names at his position in 2025.
Kenneth Walker, RB, Seahawks
From the moment Mike Macdonald arrived in Seattle last year, he began talking up Kennenth Walker as a star running back who could be the engine of their offense.
Walker answered the call and opened his first season under Macdonald with 109 scrimmage yards and a touchdown, but suffered an abdomen injury that kept him out of the next two games. He returned in Week 4 with a monster 116-yard, three-TD performance and stayed healthy for nine games before again missing time with calf and ankle injuries down the stretch.
To his credit, Walker was still the RB12 in fppg even in PPR leagues where some questioned his pass-catching ability. Walker actually averaged over four catches per game in 2024, which would have landed him second in running back receptions if he had stayed healthy and kept that up over the whole season.
Staying healthy is the key. When Walker missed time this summer with a lingering foot issue, it was hard not to overreact and move him down the rankings. Especially when he has one of the best backups in the league behind him in Zach Charbonnet. But Walker returned to practice this week and is expected to be a full go the rest of the way leading into the season.
It’s also exciting to see new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s scheme generating huge performances from all the other backs on the roster in the preseason. The use of motion and misdirection combined with the physicality of the offensive line has been opening huge holes for their runners to rip off big gains. Wait until we see what Walker does in this system.
I’m approaching Walker the same way I’ve approached James Conner over the last few seasons — only Walker offers a higher ceiling. While he might miss games, I know the production will be there whenever he’s on the field. And if he does sit out some weeks, I trust myself to find replacements to make up the difference.
There aren’t many running backs in the fourth round who can return Round 1 value, so don’t let Walker get past you on draft day. And if you're worried about his durability, it's not crazy to spend up and get Charbonnet, as well.
Nico Collins, WR, Texans
Collins doesn’t get treated like an elite receiver yet, but he deserves to be considered as part of that club.
Two years ago while catching passes from rookie C.J. Stroud, he broke out and finished as the WR6 overall in fppg.
It seemed like Collins was making another leap early last season, when he was leading the league with 567 receiving yards through the first five weeks (WR4 overall in fppg), before suffering a hamstring injury that cost him five games.
When he returned in Week 11, the production wasn’t the same but neither was the Texans offense. Now that they’ve had an offseason to address their issues and prepare to rebound, Collins is poised to repeat his fast start from last September and hopefully keep it going over a full 17-game schedule.
The Texans open the year with three matchups against opponents who were inside the top-12 in most fantasy points allowed to a receiver a year ago (Rams, Buccaneers, Jaguars). Joe Mixon’s status is also in doubt for Week 1, which could put even more emphasis on Houston’s passing attack.
There are also growing red flags around some of the players close to Collins’ ADP. Puka Nacua has the lingering uncertainty of Matthew Stafford’s health, Malik Nabers has been dealing with toe and back issues and missed 11 straight days of practice and De’Von Achane has a lower-body soft tissue injury that’s going to keep him out until at least Week 1.
When confronted with those concerns at the Round 1-2 turn, you don’t need to inherit that kind of risk. Just take Collins.
Drake London, WR, Falcons
London is a 24-year-old receiver who finally got decent quarterback play last season and erupted for the fifth most fantasy points at his position behind only Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Brian Thomas Jr.
And we’re not even at the top of this mountain yet.
When the Falcons turned to Michael Penix Jr. in the final three games, London led the league in targets during that span and was tied for the most fantasy points among wideouts.
With Darnell Mooney dealing with a shoulder injury that could put his availability in question at the start of the season and Kyle Pitts remaining a fantasy enigma, London is set up to challenge for the most targets in the league in 2025 and perhaps even compete for the No. 1 overall fantasy receiver spot.
Being able to select a player like that in the second round as the ninth receiver off the board feels like stealing. London’s fantasy outlook is the perfect combination of talent and volume, which has made him one of my most drafted players this year.
Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Panthers
Everything is pointing in the right direction for McMillan to have a difference-making fantasy season as a rookie.
The Panthers used the eighth overall pick on the 22-year-old in an effort to give Bryce Young a true No. 1 receiver, and by all accounts McMillan has been filling that role from Day 1.
Since Carolina’s Week 11 bye last season, we’ve seen a different version of Young, who’s been more comfortable — and as a result, more productive — in Dave Canales’ offense.
Now he’s showing signs of real chemistry with the 6’5”, 219-pound McMillan, who profiles as an Alpha wideout in a WR room filled with role players like Adam Thielen, Xavier Legette, Jalen Coker and Hunter Renfrow.
Even as a rookie, McMillan should be projected for a significant target share and could easily finish top-10 league-wide in targets. Remember, this is a player who averaged 1,361 yards and nine touchdowns per season over his final two college campaigns.
A breakout from Young will be an important part of McMillan reaching his fantasy ceiling, but I expect both things will happen in 2025.
If McMillan is there in the fifth round, don’t hesitate.
Tucker Kraft, TE, Packers
Everyone is on Kraft at this point and I already wrote about him in my breakouts column a few weeks ago. But if you don’t get one of the elite tight ends (Brock Bowers, Trey McBride, George Kittle) in the first three rounds, then Kraft should be one of your top targets who comes at a much more reasonable price in the eighth round or later.
A groin injury has caused him to miss some time this month, but that might be the only thing holding back his fantasy stock.
He’s coming off a 50-catch, 707-yard, seven-touchdown campaign that snuck him into the top-12 tight ends in fppg.
The 24-year-old also led his position in yards after the catch - a great sign for his fantasy potential moving forward.
We’ve heard his quarterback Jordan Love and others admitting one of the team’s offseason goals has been to get the ball in Kraft’s hands more often, which is the final step in the recipe for fantasy success.
So entering his third season, Kraft has proven TE1 production, adds value after the catch and could see even more volume in 2025. Sometimes fantasy doesn’t have to be that difficult.
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