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    2025 fantasy football draft guide – Rankings, mock drafts and analysis

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    This page will be updated throughout the summer, so continue to check back for the latest content.

    As the weather heats up, so does our excitement about the 2025 fantasy football draft season.

    Whether you play in a casual redraft league, an intense deep dynasty format or anything in between, we at ESPN Fantasy are here to help.

    This draft guide will serve as a one-stop shop for all of our best material as you prepare to make the best fantasy football picks possible in every draft you’re in: Rankings and cheat sheets; player projections; mock drafts for different league types; sleepers, busts and breakouts; and plenty of helpful information and tips from our expert team of fantasy football analysts.

    It doesn’t matter whether you have been doing this for years or are a fantasy first-timer. We have everything needed to help you draft a great team and start the season with a shot at a championship.

    Fantasy football cheat sheets, projections and depth charts

    Cheat Sheet Central
    A one-stop shop for printable cheat sheets that fit your specific needs.

    The Ultimate Cheat Sheet
    All the names we’ve been talking about in a printable cheat sheet for your draft.

    2025 projections
    Mike Clay’s projected output for players at every fantasy position, sortable by category.

    Depth charts: Offense | Defense


    Rankings

    2025 rankings hub
    A range of rankings types to suit you, including our staff consensus by position, superflex, IDP, dynasty and individual overall lists.

    Fantasy football rankings: Eric Moody’s QB tiers
    How to approach drafting quarterbacks, especially if you don’t land one of the “Big 4.”

    Fantasy football rankings: Eric Karabell’s RB tiers
    Outside of Ashton Jeanty, in which tiers do the top rookies appear?

    Fantasy football rankings: Eric Karabell’s WR tiers
    There is great depth at WR, but it’s important to know when the value drops off.

    Fantasy football rankings: Eric Moody’s TE tiers
    Tight end tiers are top-heavy, with lots of uncertainty thereafter.

    Mike Clay’s “The 192”
    The 192 players who should be drafted in 12-team leagues, broken down into tiers.

    Insurance RB rankings
    A list of backup running backs best positioned to succeed if given a full workload.

    RB ranks: Most reliable TD scorers
    Which backs can you bank on near the goal line? Here are the most dependable backs.

    From Chase to London, ranking the most reliable TD scorers among WRs
    A deep dive into trustworthy TD scorers among wideouts based on target data, efficiency and more.


    Mock drafts

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    Could Brock Bowers rise in fantasy drafts?

    Field Yates explains why taking TE Brock Bowers earlier could be beneficial to a fantasy roster.

    The Mock Draft Project 2025: Results for over 30 expert 10-team PPR mock drafts

    More mocks:
    10-team, 1/2 PPR (8/27) | 12-team, PPR (8/18)
    Fantasy Marathon: 10-team, PPR (8/12) | 12-team superflex, PPR (8/5)
    10-team superflex, 1/2 PPR (7/24) | 8-team, PPR (7/9)
    12-team, non-PPR (6/24) | 12-team, 1/2 PPR (6/12)


    Featured five:


    Advice and analysis

    Adam Schefter’s Cheat Sheet
    No one is more plugged in than our NFL insider. Adam shares his favorite draft values.

    Liz Loza’s rules of drafting (Spoiler alert: There are none) and players to pick and fade
    It’s finally time to make picks, so consider the trends surrounding these players as you prepare your draft board.

    Bo Nix, Calvin Ridley among top draft targets
    Eric Moody lists the players he’s most excited about drafting this season, including some late-round targets.

    The essential guide for streaming D/STs in September: Why the Cardinals, Ravens stand out
    Here’s the blueprint for maximizing your D/ST slot each week to begin the season.

    Tough draft-day decisions: Can you pick a top-5 QB and top-3 TE and still like your team?
    Daniel Dopp shares takeaways from more than 100 drafts to help you make tough decisions in your upcoming drafts.

    Tristan H. Cockcroft’s best picks for each draft slot in Rounds 1 and 2:
    8-team leagues | 10-team leagues | 12-team leagues

    Joe Burrow, Ladd McConkey among Matt Bowen’s top 10 draft targets
    The players he’s been drafting all summer, along with a handful of late-rounders to put on the radar.

    Field’s favorites: Jaylen Waddle, TreVeyon Henderson among popular draft targets
    Field Yates offers up the players has been happy to snag most often in drafts this summer.

    Mike Clay’s Ultimate Draft Board
    Perfect picks for every round in a 12-team league.

    Tory Horton, Jaxson Dart, Adonai Mitchell among deep sleepers
    Tristan H. Cockcroft names names for those in deeper leagues seeking off-the-radar types who may emerge in 2025.

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    Why Ricky Pearsall is on Dopp’s fantasy favorites list

    Daniel Dopp and Stephania Bell express optimism about WR Ricky Pearsall’s fantasy outlook.

    Answering one key preseason question for 20 NFL teams
    NFL Nation reporters answer the most important fantasy questions, providing insight from training camps.

    ‘Do Draft’ list: Henry, Purdy, Kelce among players being undervalued
    In the perennial counterpart to the Do Not Draft list, Eric Karabell discusses players who are being underappreciated in drafts.

    ‘Do Not Draft’ list: McCaffrey, Andrews among players being overvalued
    Eric Karabell serves up his annual list of players going earlier than they should in 2025 drafts.

    Fantasy football ‘drumbeat’ players: Nix, Hampton among those generating buzz
    Liz Loza serves up six potential league-winning players who are generating serious excitement in fantasy circles.

    Benson, Higgins lead the “Have Skills, Need Opportunity” team
    Ten players who have the skills to be fantasy factors but are waiting for a chance to prove it.

    Six late-round “fliers” that can help you win your league
    Liz Loza offers up six players you need to be considering late in fantasy drafts.

    Fantasy Focus breakouts: Williams, McCarthy and more
    Field Yates, Mike Clay and Daniel Dopp identify players you can count on to break out.

    Numbers you should know before your draft
    Tristan H. Cockcroft uncovers some interesting stats that could impact draft day decisions.

    Ward, McMillan and others primed to follow path of 2024 breakouts
    These players are in position to follow a similar path to last year’s breakouts and produce big numbers.

    Year 2 player spotlight: Maye, Harrison, Odunze among popular breakouts
    The ESPN Fantasy staff lists NFL sophomores being undervalued in drafts and a few under scrutiny.

    Murray, McCaffrey among “red flag” players worth drafting
    You have to take risks to win in fantasy football. Liz Loza highlights players who are worth taking the chance on.

    Opportunity knocks: Players poised to take advantage in 2025
    Eric Moody lists those who will benefit most from teams’ vacated touches or targets from last season.

    11 players who will score fewer TDs in 2025
    Mike Clay gives his annual list of players he expects to reach the end zone less often this season.

    Nine players who will score more TDs in 2025
    Mike Clay lists the players most likely to increase their touchdown output in 2025.

    Expect a return to form from these bounce-back candidates
    Eric Karabell lists some of his favorite candidates to rebound from a disappointing 2024.

    10 undervalued pass catchers with intriguing upside or safer floors
    Matt Bowen lists his favorites with week-winning potential and others who are dependable, despite lower ADPs.

    Top storylines for 2025: What to expect from CMC, Tyreek and more
    Mike Clay, Daniel Dopp and Field Yates enjoy a robust conversation about topics that fascinate them heading into this season.

    Don’t be surprised if … these 19 things happen in 2025
    Eric Karabell offers his thoughts on players who could delight or disappoint in 2025.

    The 20 rookies that should be drafted
    Fans get excited about rookies, but which ones are truly worth taking in fantasy drafts this summer? Matt Bowen has a list.

    16 players to trade for or trade away in dynasty leagues
    Knowing when to hold and when to walk away from players is critical to dynasty league success. Eric Moody is here to help.

    Players to upgrade, downgrade due to 2025 schedule
    Mike Clay details the teams and players with the easiest and hardest schedules in fantasy terms.


    Strategy/ways to play

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    Why Yates would draft Christian McCaffrey high in fantasy

    Field Yates explains why he would draft Christian McCaffrey early in fantasy.

    The Playbook: Planning a winning fantasy football draft-day strategy
    Mike Clay goes position by position and lays out a successful approach for 2025 fantasy football drafts.

    The Playbook, Part 2: Fantasy football draft tips for nontraditional formats
    Mike Clay discusses his draft approach in various intensive league structures that get less attention.

    The Playbook, Part 3: How to manage your fantasy football team post-draft
    The draft is just the beginning of the fun. Mike Clay gives you a guide to being a savvy, championship-winning manager.

    A fantasy football beginner’s guide to salary cap drafts
    Eric Karabell’s provides an introduction to the ins and outs of salary cap drafts for fantasy football.

    Why this is the season to try an IDP league
    Tristan H. Cockcroft explains why drafting defensive players increases the fun you can have playing fantasy.

    What is a superflex league, and why should you try one?
    Tristan H. Cockcroft explains why starting two QBs instead of one maximizes the fun and also changes the way you draft.

    10 ways to make your league more fun
    Daniel Dopp provides custom options to increase the enjoyment of playing fantasy football for you and your leaguemates.


    Individual player analysis

    Drake Maye a top-10 QB in 2025?
    Eric Moody explains why Maye is in position to take the next step in Year 2.

    Should you take Ashton Jeanty over Saquon Barkley in fantasy drafts?
    Liz Loza and Tyler Fulghum debate whether the hot rookie or the 2,000-yard back is the better choice.

    The Travis Hunter Experience: How to maximize his fantasy potential
    Want to play in a league in which you get points for all of Travis Hunter’s contributions? Here’s how you do it.


    Miscellaneous

    New features in ESPN Fantasy app: Easier navigation, improved personalization
    A list of the newest elements added to the fantasy app, all of which you can enjoy this season.

    Fantasy football team names: How to pick a winner
    If you’re seeking inspiration for naming your fantasy team, Liz Loza provides a blueprint.

    The Fantasy Team Name Generator
    Answer a short quiz and be rewarded with a suggestion for a team name that fits your style and personality.

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