Every fantasy season, there are players I’m not just drafting, I’m staking my flag on them. These are my guys. The players I want on every roster, the ones I believe will swing leagues and carry me to a championship. From quarterback to tight end, these aren’t just safe picks. They’re the players I’m going out of my way to draft, no matter the league format, no matter the room. Let’s break down my guys at each position for 2025, and why I’m all-in.
Quarterback
Baker Mayfield
Tampa Bay Buccaneers • QB • #6
Just two years ago, I talking about how Baker Mayfield will not keep being that good. That was when he finished as QB10 in a season where at least 10 starting QBs missed time throughout the season, potentially elevating his numbers to what they were.
After that season, he signed a massive deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to stay where he was and just keep slinging it. That got him to QB4 last year with the Buccaneers offense, which exceeds every expectation. Will he continue to climb? Likely not… but will he be a top-tier fantasy quarterback in 2025? Absolutely.
Baker will absolutely be a starting fantasy QB this year in traditional scoring format regardless if you start one or two. When you have a receiver that has never not caught the ball for 1,000 yards in a season, another vet (that will miss some time) that was on pace for being the WR1 last year, and two emerging talents at the position, the Buccaneers offense is looking to soar this year.
Give me Baker all day in any draft. Right now, he is being drafted as QB7 (72nd overall), so find him anywhere in the 5th or 6th rounds in standard 1QB leagues. In a SuperFlex league, I secured him as early as the 3.03.
Running Back
Josh Jacobs
Green Bay Packers • RB • #8
Josh Jacobs was freed from the Las Vegas Raiders and he showed up to Green Bay and never looked back. He returned to his old form which was killing defenses through the rushing game.
With an offense that had a banged up Jordan Love and no true receiving threat in the wide receiver room, the Green Bay Packers relied heavily on their workhorse running back. What even solidified him more was the lack of depth at the position.
MarShawn Llyod is expected to miss more time this season with a new injury he picked up against the Indianapolis Colts in their second preseason game, leaving Emanual Wilson and Amar Johnson as the true backups.
Josh Jacobs is currently going as RB8 (16th overall), so in standard 1QB leagues, you may have to use up some capital to get him early in the second round. In a SuperFlex, you likely can manage to pick him up later in the third round.
Wide Receiver
Josh Downs
Indianapolis Colts • WR • #1
What looks like a slow play here in an offense that has no identity at the quarterback position at the time I am writing this, Josh Downs has emerged as the #1 consistent receiving option in Indianapolis. Finishing as a fringe WR3 or borderline FLEX play last year, Downs still managed to get better with less time played than his rookie season.
Downs played in three less games last year, but managed to get 9 more targets, 4 more receptions, 32 more yards, and 3 additional touchdowns. Whether we see Daniel Jones or Anthony Richardson play, Downs is going to get his fair share of the receiving game this year in Indy. While Michael Pittman Jr is taking the top corner option away, Tyler Warren is taking some coverage away, and Alec Pierce being a deep threat, Downs looks to be like a solid option everywhere else on the field.
Josh Downs is being drafted as the WR50 this year (119th overall), even after a WR38 finish last year. This means you can easily secure Downs later in the 9th round for a high impact player that could have potential to be a very good WR2 for your team.
Downs might not be the best receiver on your team, but he is going to be a very good option to put in and forget about in 2025.
Tight End
Evan Engram
Denver Broncos • TE • #1
Stick with me here, because I know I might have started losing you. Obviously, I could have picked a top three guy at each position, but you can’t draft all of them. Finding your guys is about finding value in the draft that can win your league. Instead of just taking a flyer or some random unknown, you need to take someone of value later who has that potential to just absolutely pop off.
Insert Evan Engram, who had a very bad year last year. Just look at his stats, they are awful due some injuries that made him miss the most time he has missed since 2019 when he was on the NEw York Giants. Two healthy years in Jacksonville put him at TE5 and TE2.
Now he goes to a team with Sean Payton and Bo Nix, who love to move the rock around all over the field. Engram has the chance to really break out in this offense this year after it was severely underutilized in Nix’s rookie season.
Engram is being drafted as TE8 (83rd overall), which means you can solidify him after everyone takes the obvious Brock Bowers, Trey McBride, and George Kittle. Getting your starting TE later in the 6th round (later if you are playing SuperFlex) is not a bad option. People might even be fading him more due to injury and new team concerns.
If you manage to pick up Evans, it’s going to be a better payday than the guys being drafted in the TE9-15 tier.
Do what you believe gives you the best opportunity to win
At the end of the day, fantasy football is about conviction. Anyone can follow ADP, but championships are won when you plant your flag on players you believe in and trust them to carry your roster. These are my guys for 2025, the players I’ll be drafting everywhere and riding with all season. Now it’s your turn: who are your guys this year?
