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.
DBro’s Must-Have Draft Targets
J.J. McCarthy (QB – MIN)
Yes, I know we haven’t seen J.J. McCarthy play outside of an abbreviated preseason sample last year, but I’ll be targeting him everywhere this season. This should remain a pass-happy offense after ranking eighth in neutral passing rate and third in pass rate over expectation last year, per Fantasy Points Data. The Vikings remain loaded with skill players and added to the offensive line this offseason to give their new signal-caller all the time in the world to dice up opposing pass defenses in 2025.
Sam Darnold (yes, that Sam Darnold) finished as the QB9 in fantasy points per game last year, continuing a long history of Kevin O’Connell’s quarterbacks finishing as QB1s. I believe McCarthy will keep that streak alive. He was a stellar prospect airdropped into the perfect situation. In his final collegiate season, McCarthy ranked inside the top 12 FBS quarterbacks in passing grade, adjusted completion rate, yards per attempt, adjusted completion rate with downfield throws and against pressure, per Pro Football Focus (PFF). It’s wheels up for McCarthy in 2025.
Check out all of DBro’s must-have fantasy football draft targets 
Fitz’s Must-Have Draft Targets
Kenneth Walker (RB – SEA) and Zach Charbonnet (RB – SEA)
Get yourself a piece of the Seattle running game. It’s a good bet that the Seahawks’ ground game will thrive under new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and run game coordinator Rick Dennison.
The Kubiak-Dennison partnership has been running-game gold dating back to Dennison’s pairing with Klint’s dad, Gary Kubiak, in Denver in the 1990s and 2000s. Terrell Davis and Clinton Portis had some huge years in that era, and the Broncos squeezed big seasons out of less heralded RBs such as Reuben Droughns and Mike Anderson.
The Kubiak-Dennison scheme will include a lot of outside zone, which should suit Walker, who has averaged 4.54 yards per carry on outside-zone runs over his first three NFL seasons, per Ryan Heath of Fantasy Points. Walker has scored 26 touchdowns in 41 career games.
Charbonnet has impressed whenever he’s gotten an opportunity — and he’s had some opportunities in his two NFL seasons since Walker has had trouble staying healthy. Charbonnet averaged 3.35 yards after contact per carry last year and forced 32 missed tackles on 135 rushing attempts, per PFF — strong numbers. He had a pair of two-touchdown games last year in contests Walker missed. Charbonnet has also been a productive pass catcher, with 75 catches over his first two seasons.
I want to get either Walker or Charbonnet in every draft I’m in this year, and I’ll consider handcuffing them if I can do it affordably.
Check out all of Fitz’s must-have fantasy football draft targets
Erickson’s Must-Have Draft Targets
Tetairoa McMillan (WR – CAR)
Tetairoa McMillan lands in an ideal situation to emerge as the alpha wideout in Carolina. Drafted with top-10 capital (8th overall) the former Arizona star joins a Panthers offense in need of a true WR1. McMillan brings size, production and opportunity to a WR room featuring an underwhelming Xavier Legette and a promising but undrafted Jalen Coker. T-Mac was just one of 3 WRs in the FBS in 2023 to hit 1,396 yards, 10 TDs, and 89 receptions. The others being fellow top-10 WR draft selections: Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze. If Bryce Young takes even a modest step forward and continues to fuel fantasy success for his No. 1 target, McMillan could be this year’s breakout rookie receiver.
Note that Adam Thielen surpassed both 100 catches and 1,000 receiving yards during Young’s rookie season. Last year in Dave Canales’ offense, the Panthers’ No. 1 WR between Diontae Johnson/Thielen was pacing for over 1,100 receiving yards over a 17-game sample size (33% first-read target share). In Thielen’s last six games, he averaged 14.6 fantasy points per game – a mark that would have ranked 8th among all WRs last season.
Check out all of Erickson’s must-have fantasy football draft targets
Joe’s Must-Have Draft Targets
Evan Engram (TE – DEN)
Bo Nix is a short king when it comes to ADOT, and Evan Engram could easily become his safety blanket in year two. Engram was disappointing last year, but mostly due to injuries. If healthy in 2025, he could easily become a top 5 TE in fantasy. Don’t forget he was TE3 in ’23 and TE6 in ’22 before bad health dragged him down.
Check out all of Joe’s must-have fantasy football draft targets
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