It’s important to know who to target as you prepare for your fantasy football drafts. Of course we want to let value come to us in places, but sometimes you have to reach a bit to get your must-have fantasy football players in drafts. Our analysts provide players they are targeting wherever possible. Here are a few of their must-have fantasy football players for 2025 drafts.
You can find all of their must-have players here: Fitz | DBro | Erickson | Joe
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Must-Have Fantasy Football Draft Targets
Here are a few must-have fantasy football draft targets our analysts love.
Fitz’s Must-Have Draft Targets
Jerry Jeudy (WR – CLE)
The year 2024 brought a long-awaited breakout for the former No. 15 overall draft pick, and Jeudy is still only 26.
Jeudy hit career highs last season in targets (145), receptions (90) and receiving yards (1,229). He’s a fine route runner, and he’s terrific after the catch.
The Browns signed mercurial WR Dionte Johnson in the offseason, but Jeudy figures to remain the No. 1 receiver in Cleveland.
The Browns’ QB situation is a jumble, but veteran Joe Flacco is one of the quarterbacks in the mix, and he’s been a stat machine late in his career. Over the last three years, Flacco has averaged 283.9 passing yards and 1.9 TD passes a game over 15 starts.
At a mid-June ADP of WR33, Jeudy is a solid value.
Check out all of Fitz’s must-have fantasy football draft targets 
DBro’s Must-Have Draft Targets
The Panthers finally gave Bryce Young a true No. 1 WR this season with the addition of Tetairoa McMillan. The Carolina Panthers selected McMillan inside the top 10 in the 2025 NFL Draft. McMillan could be a wonderful volume hog this year in what looks to be an ascending passing offense.
Last year, in Weeks 12-18, when Young was hitting his stride, the Panthers ranked 13th in neutral passing rate. We could see that number increase this year, with a true number one option leading the way. Last year, during that same stretch, Young ranked eighth in CPOE, fifth in deep throw rate, 12th in highly accurate throw rate and second in hero throw rate, per Fantasy Points Data.
McMillan is an incredibly talented receiver who can step up quickly. During his final two collegiate seasons, he ranked 17th and 21st in yards per route run. He’s a battle-tested man coverage beater as well. In 2023-2024, McMillan had the third-most and the 10th-most man coverage targets (among FBS wide receivers) while also ranking eighth and 10th in yards per route run against man coverage, per PFF.
Don’t be surprised if McMillan is a WR1/WR2 in his rookie season.
Check out all of DBro’s must-have fantasy football draft targets
Erickson’s Must-Have Draft Targets
James Conner (RB – ARI)
James Conner continues to be one of the most underappreciated and bankable fantasy running backs in the NFL – and 2025 might be his best value yet.
Despite entering his age-30 season, Conner showed no signs of decline in 2024. He finished as the RB11 overall and RB14 in fantasy points per game (matching Kenneth Walker per game pace) while playing 13-plus games for the first time since 2021. His 283 touches translated into 1,508 total yards and nine touchdowns, reaffirming his bell-cow status in an improving Arizona offense.
What makes Conner’s case even stronger is how efficient he was, not just productive. From Weeks 10-18, he was one of PFF’s top-graded RBs, joining elite company like Bijan Robinson, Derrick Henry, and Josh Jacobs. According to Fantasy Points Data, in 2024 he ranked:
- 2nd in missed tackles forced per attempt
- 11th in yards after contact per attempt
- 6th in explosive run rate
- 6th in yards per route run
- 7th in receiving yards per game
Over the past two seasons, Conner ranks 10th among all RBs in total yards from scrimmage, sixth in rushing yards per game, and eighth in scrimmage yards per game (93.5) – the RBs ahead of him are all being drafted well ahead (minimum 24 games played) inside the 20 overall RBs.
- Saquon Barkley
- Derrick Henry
- Jonathan Taylor
- Kyren Williams
- Jahmyr Gibbs
- Bijan Robinson
- Alvin Kamara
Given the ease of the opening schedule, I expect Conner to be very productive out of the gate for the Red Birds. Ride him till the wheels fall off.
Check out all of Erickson’s must-have fantasy football draft targets
Joe’s Must-Have Draft Targets
Kyle Monangai (RB – CHI)
My favorite late-round dart throw is the running back from Rutgers, Kyle Monangai, who I believe is going to play the David Montgomery role in the Chicago backfield for Ben Johnson, not Roschon Johnson. Monangai is a tough runner, and what he lacks in explosive speed, he makes up for in effort. Hence the Monty comparison. Rather than fight on the wire for him in September, I’d rather draft and stash him on my bench.
Check out all of Joe’s must-have fantasy football draft targets
Welsh’s Must-Have Draft Targets
Kaleb Johnson (RB – PIT)
There is a big clump of rookie running backs that make up the 20 range of fantasy running backs, with Kaleb Johnson being the cheapest of the group, according to FantasyPros ranks at RB29. You can argue that Jaylen Warren could take on a bigger role now that Najee Harris is gone, but I don’t think the team wants that. I think they want to run it back how they did last year, and that’s why Johnson has a great shot to walk into significant touches.
Johnson graded out high in Pro Football Focus’ (PFF) elusive rating, yet he may be used more as a north and south runner, which will work well in Arthur Smith’s offense. They won’t be afraid to throw to him in the open field with some of that elusiveness and tackle-breaking ability either. His ADP is what makes him so intriguing, with the lowest cost, in a run-heavy offense, making him a must-draft RB3 for your fantasy team.
Check out all of Welsh’s must-have fantasy football draft targets
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