One of the biggest edges in fantasy football comes from knowing where the real value lies in every round of your draft. While early selections are about locking in cornerstone players, the middle and late rounds are where leagues are truly won or lost. Identifying the best pick from each round not only helps you maximize talent but also ensures you're squeezing every ounce of value out of your draft slot. Let's break down the top targets round by round so you can walk away with the most complete roster on draft day.
We're going to use the PPR Draft Rankings and ADP from Fantasy Nerds based upon a 12-team league.
Round 1 - Christian McCaffrey
Ja'Marr Chase would be the easiest player to select here, but you'll need the first overall pick. For everyone else, you're likely to see Bijan Robinson, Saquon Barkley, Jahmyr Gibbs, Justin Jefferson, and CeeDee Lamb come off the board after Chase. That's OK. The guy that we're targeting in the mid/late Round 1 is Christian McCaffrey. You're going to have to let go of last year. It's a sunk cost at this point. McCaffrey is back and looks incredible.
McCaffrey isn't just a running back - he's basically two players in one. He dominates as a rusher and receiver, giving fantasy managers a weekly floor few can match. His heavy usage in the passing game separates him from most RBs, especially in PPR formats.
While other backs can post spike weeks, McCaffrey delivers both ceiling and stability. He has the ability to single-handedly win matchups with multi-touchdown performances, yet his involvement in all phases of the offense ensures he rarely disappears from the box score. Running backs who dominate both rushing and receiving are rare. Drafting McCaffrey gives you a weekly advantage at a position where touches and reliability are harder to come by than at WR.
The 49ers' offensive line, play design, and balanced attack create one of the best environments for a RB. Defenses can't sell out to stop McCaffrey because they also have to respect weapons like Juan Jennings and George Kittle. That keeps lanes open and ensures CMC stays heavily involved.
Round 2 - A.J. Brown
A.J. Brown wasn't a bust by any means in 2024, but missing four games dragged down his final stat line to 67 receptions, 1,079 yards, and seven scores - landing him at WR13 in fantasy points per game. The numbers don't tell the full story, though. Brown actually dominated in efficiency, ranking second among wideouts in target share, yards per route run, first downs per route, and PFF receiving grade. His volume simply dipped as the Eagles leaned heavily on Saquon Barkley and their run game. That should shift in 2025, as it's unlikely Philly rides Barkley for another 400+ touches.
With a more balanced approach, Brown could climb back toward the 9 targets per game he saw in 2022 and 2023 (when he finished WR5 and WR7). Despite his boom-or-bust tendencies - six top-10 weeks but six games under 13.5 points - Brown remains Jalen Hurts' clear-cut No. 1 option and a strong bet to return fringe WR1 value. His consistency is backed up by elite advanced metrics: a career-high 34.6% target share, 3.3 yards per route run, and a three-year PFF grade of 92.7 (second only to Tyreek Hill). If he stays on the field, a top-five fantasy finish is squarely in play, making him a steal in the middle of Round 2.
Round 3 - Chase Brown
Chase Brown stands out as one of my favorite mid-round targets. After bursting onto the scene in 2024, Brown proved he's more than capable of handling a heavy workload, hauling in 54 receptions on 65 targets (sixth among RBs) while also flashing efficiency as a runner. Once he took over the starting job in Week 9, he rarely came off the field, logging over 80% of the snaps the rest of the way and averaging 23+ touches and 20.6 fantasy points per game - good for a top-five pace.
With Zack Moss gone and only Samaje Perine and rookie Tahj Brooks behind him, Brown has a clear path to a feature role in one of the NFL's highest-scoring offenses. A 1,500-yard, 50-catch season is very realistic, and while Cincinnati's offensive line still isn't a dominant run-blocking unit, the Bengals' history of leaning on a true bell cow works firmly in Brown's favor. Drafting him in the third round as a high-floor RB2 - or even as your RB1 after grabbing two elite wideouts - feels like a sharp play, with upside to finish inside the top 10.
Round 4 - Kenneth Walker
Kenneth Walker's 2024 season was derailed by injuries, limiting him to 11 games and leaving fantasy managers frustrated after his fourth-round draft cost. Still, when on the field, Walker reminded everyone why he's one of the league's most dynamic backs. He led all players in missed tackles forced per carry - a historic rate by PFF standards - and quietly broke out as a receiver, posting career-highs with 46 catches on 53 targets and ranking fifth among RBs in target share (14%). With Sam Darnold now under center and known for leaning on checkdowns, Walker's receiving floor should hold steady, especially after he led all running backs in two-minute drill receptions last year. While Zach Charbonnet will remain involved, Walker's superior explosiveness and goal-line usage cement him as Seattle's lead back.
The Seahawks' new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak favors zone-running concepts, which also fits Walker's strengths, as he's more efficient in zone than gap schemes. Health will always be the question - he's missed at least two games every season - but Walker is still just 24, operating in a contract year, and averaged 16.5 fantasy points per game in 2024 despite the missed time. With an improved line, added receiving upside, and proven big-play ability, Walker profiles as a high-end RB2 with legitimate RB1 potential, worth a look inside the top 35 picks - even if a tough opening schedule against the 49ers and Steelers requires a little early patience.
Round 5 - DeVonta Smith
DeVonta Smith once again proved to be a steady fantasy asset in 2024, finishing WR15 in standard formats and WR16 in PPR. What makes that finish impressive is that he did it on relatively modest volume - just 6.9 targets per game (32nd), 89 total targets (40th), and 833 receiving yards (33rd). The difference-maker was his ability to convert opportunities into touchdowns, as he found the end zone eight times. Entering his fifth season, Smith has now posted at least a 22% target share in every year of his career and has scored seven or more touchdowns in three straight campaigns.
While his weekly output can be volatile thanks to A.J. Brown's alpha role and the heavy involvement of Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts near the goal line, Smith's combination of efficiency, big-play upside, and red-zone reliability keeps him firmly in the WR2 conversation. Health has been a minor concern at times, but he's avoided serious setbacks, and in Philadelphia's high-powered offense, he's a strong pick in Round 5 with top-20 upside once again.
Round 6 - George Pickens
Coming off the board at the very end of the 6th round is Dallas' newly-acquired WR George Pickens. Pickens was dealt to Dallas in the offseason after the Steelers brought in DK Metcalf, and he'll now slot in as the Cowboys' No. 2 receiver behind CeeDee Lamb. The move brings both pros and cons: his target ceiling dips in Dallas, but he finally gets to catch passes from Dak Prescott - the best quarterback he's played with to date.
Let's call out the elephant in the room. Pickens remains a volatile fantasy option, capable of week-winning production but just as likely to disappoint. In 2024, he topped 16 PPR points in five games but failed to crack double digits in six others, continuing a career trend of inconsistency. He did earn a career-high 26% target share last season, though it translated into just three touchdowns despite ranking 12th in end-zone looks. BUT...this was all on a team that simply didn't have the talent to allow him to be his best. A change in environment can be just what the fantasy doctor ordered.
Entering his fourth year, the 24-year-old is still more upside than reliability, best viewed as a solid WR2/3 with upside. If Lamb were to miss time, however, Pickens' contingent upside could be massive.
Round 7 - TreVeyon Henderson
New England grabbed TreVeyon Henderson in the second round of April's draft, and the rookie from Ohio State has already turned heads in training camp. Henderson led this year's RB class with a ridiculous 7.1 yards per carry in 2023 and brings a complete skill set - burst as a runner, reliable hands as a receiver, and standout pass protection - that makes him tailor-made for today's NFL. While his frame could cap his workload in short-yardage spots, his athletic testing and tape suggest he'll be heavily involved right away, likely opening the season as New England's third-down back. That role alone carries flex appeal, but with Rhamondre Stevenson struggling through injuries, ball security issues, and an uninspiring camp, Henderson has a real shot to take over the backfield sooner than later.
Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels favors gap-heavy schemes, which play directly to Henderson's strengths, and New England's revamped offensive line and improved weapons around rookie QB Drake Maye should create plenty of scoring opportunities. If Henderson pushes toward 60% of the touches, he could easily finish as a top-24 RB, making him one of the more intriguing Round 7 targets - especially compared to middling wideouts like Chris Olave or Rome Odunze.
Round 8 - Matthew Golden
The Packers used their first-round pick on Matthew Golden, a blazing-fast wideout who turned heads at the combine with a 4.29-second 40-yard dash and 1.49-second 10-yard split - both tops among receivers. While his overall college efficiency (1.86 YPRR over 36 games) was underwhelming, he broke out in 2024 during his lone season at Texas, producing a 58-987-9 line and dominating in the playoffs with 411 yards on 29 targets (3.37 YPRR). Golden isn't the biggest receiver, and PFF's tracking data suggests his in-game speed doesn't always match his testing numbers, but his versatility across formations, red-zone usage, and special-teams value make him a strong fit in Green Bay.
With Christian Watson sidelined by an ACL injury and only Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed ahead of him, Golden has a real path to becoming Jordan Love's top target as a rookie. His big-play ability and touchdown upside in an ascending Packers offense give him WR3 value with the potential to deliver much more if he adapts quickly to the NFL.
Round 9 - Emeka Egbuka
The Buccaneers spent a first-round pick on Emeka Egbuka, the polished Ohio State product who projects as a reliable slot option at the next level. While he doesn't stand out in size, speed, or raw production compared to this rookie WR class, Egbuka's efficiency was strong in college - he caught 72% of his targets, posted 2.64 yards per route run overall, and ranked in the 95th percentile against zone coverage. He also adds value as a rusher and returner, giving him multiple ways to contribute early.
His rookie role will hinge on Chris Godwin's recovery from ankle surgery, which at the time of writing doesn't look good. Godwin is in serious danger of missing the first couple of games. If Godwin isn't ready for Week 1, Egbuka could immediately slide into the No. 2 spot behind Mike Evans. That said, even when Godwin returns, Baker Mayfield's comfort with short-to-intermediate throws fits Egbuka's skill set perfectly, making him a strong PPR asset with a stable weekly floor. Tampa's offense has supported multiple fantasy-relevant receivers the past two years, so while Egbuka's ceiling may be capped by competition, he looks like one of the safer rookie WR bets in 2025. He's a strong dynasty stash as well.
Round 10 - Colston Loveland
Chicago used its first-round pick on Colston Loveland, a 21-year-old tight end out of Michigan who brings both youth and serious receiving upside. In his final college season, he commanded a massive 37% target share and 40% of the team's air yards - both tops in his class. While his run-blocking remains a work in progress, his 88.5 receiving grade over the past five years ranks eighth among Power Five tight ends, putting him in elite company.
The Bears already have Cole Kmet and a strong wide receiver trio, but in Ben Johnson's offense, Loveland should still see plenty of opportunities, particularly as a vertical threat for rookie QB Caleb Williams. Johnson has a history of scheming deep looks to the position - Sam LaPorta led all tight ends in deep yards last year - so Loveland could find splash-play upside right away. Even if his snap share in 12 personnel varies, the rookie's skill set makes him a candidate for fringe TE1 production as early as this season.
Round 11 - Dalton Kincaid
Dalton Kincaid enters 2025 as one of the more intriguing late-round tight end targets after an underwhelming sophomore campaign that left him carrying the "bust" tag. The numbers don't tell the full story - Kincaid battled through multiple knee injuries, including a partially torn PCL, and never cleared 51% of the snaps after returning from a Week 10 setback. Even so, he flashed elite efficiency, ranking second among all tight ends in targets per route run (behind only Trey McBride) and 10th in yards per route run. Before the injury, he was on pace for 100+ targets, and with Buffalo failing to add a true difference-maker to its receiving corps, that kind of opportunity is back on the table.
The problem last year was volume, not talent: despite a 20% target share in Josh Allen's high-scoring offense, Kincaid finished outside the top 20 tight ends because of limited snaps, an ugly 59% catch rate, and just two touchdowns. The upside remains enticing - if he stays healthy, there's a realistic path to him leading the Bills in targets and returning top-5 TE production at a bargain draft cost.
