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.
Erickson’s Must-Have Draft Targets
Drake Maye (QB – NE)
Drake Maye sits firmly entrenched in my top 12 fantasy quarterback rankings this season.
The offensive environment in New England has only improved for Maye with offensive additions in NFL free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Pats drafted offensive tackle Will Campbell, running back TreVeyon Henderson, wide receiver Kyle Williams, and center Jared Wilson. In free agency, they acquired wide receiver Stefon Diggs, offensive tackle Morgan Moses, and center Garrett Bradbury.
They needed to bolster the offensive line and add explosiveness for their second-year QB. They achieved both.
And don’t sleep on offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. As a head coach? Terrible.
As an OC? You have my attention. He’s had past success with non-GOAT QBs: Mac Jones (rookie QB) and Cam Newton (mobile QB).
And fantasy gamers can’t afford to ignore Maye’s dual-threat skill set. The Patriots QB HAS the cheat code.
Last season, he ranked 5th in QB scramble efficiency (@PattonAnalytics) behind only the 4 starting QBs who played in the conference championship games.
Among the seven passers in 2024 that recorded 30+ rushing yards per game (including Maye), five finished inside the top six scoring signal-callers on a per-dropback basis.
What Maye was able to achieve as a rookie in a terrible situation cannot be understated.
According to @NextGenStats, Maye was 1 of just 2 QBs to post positive EPA on tight window throws (The other was Lamar Jackson).
He threw at least one touchdown pass in the 10 games he played fully as a rookie (finished on a streak of eight games overall as a rookie – the longest streak by a rookie since Justin Herbert in 2020.
That resulted in 18.1 fantasy points per game, which would have ranked QB15 on the year.
Maye’s current draft position is QB16, according to our consensus best ball ADP.
He is the perfect late-round QB to draft. He is the archetype of a quarterback who makes the leap and wins leagues.
Check out all of Erickson’s must-have fantasy football draft targets 
Fitz’s Must-Have Draft Targets
Jordan Mason (RB – MIN)
The Vikings traded for Mason this spring and immediately gave him a two-year deal that includes more than $7 million in guaranteed money. They have plans for him.
We’ve seen what Mason can do if he gets substantial carry volume. In the 49ers’ first five games of 2024, with Christian McCaffrey out, Mason averaged 107 rushing yards per game, 120 scrimmage yards per game, and 5.1 yards per carry.
Mason is a terrific fit for a Minnesota running game that’s heavy on outside-zone runs. The Vikings improved their offensive line in free agency, and head coach Kevin O’Connell is one of the best playcallers in the league.
Mason could have stand-alone value even if 30-year-old Aaron Jones stays healthy. If Jones were to miss time, Mason could deliver RB1 value.
Grab Mason if his draft cost is anywhere near his ADP of RB35.
Check out all of Fitz’s must-have fantasy football draft targets
DBro’s Must-Have Draft Targets
Christian McCaffrey’s 2024 season was derailed by bilateral Achilles tendonitis. Yes, I know it crushed many fantasy teams. Yes, I know that if you drafted him last year, you’re probably saying, “hell no… I won’t be walking down that road again.” I’ll get this out of the way quickly. I’m back in.
George Kittle had similar issues with his Achilles, but after he received stem cell infusions, it hasn’t remained a problem. McCaffrey had a similar treatment last year and enters this season fully healthy from all reports. In the small sample we got from McCaffrey last year, his numbers remained strong.
In the three full games McCaffrey played, he averaged 18.6 touches and 93.7 total yards, all while playing 81-94% of the snaps. McCaffrey’s 22% missed tackle forced rate and his 1.80 yards per route run were strong, per Fantasy Points Data. Among those two statistical categories, McCaffrey ranked eighth-best (70 qualifying backs) and sixth-best (53 qualifying backs). McCaffrey has at least one more big season left. I’ll be investing heavily in him for 2025.
Check out all of DBro’s must-have fantasy football draft targets
Joe’s Must-Have Draft Targets
Tetairoa McMillan (WR – CAR)
Dave Canels is a good football man. He fixed Geno Smith, Baker Mayfield, and Bryce Young in successive seasons. Tetairoa McMillan immediately becomes the best target in the Panthers’ offense and could have the next sneaky Brian Thomas Jr. rookie season we saw last year. McMillan has the size and skills to be a true number one at the NFL level and gives Young a prime, polished receiver to pepper with targets. Also, the defense is still bad! Yay! So, expect plenty of late-game fantasy points from T-Mac.
Check out all of Joe’s must-have fantasy football draft targets
Welsh’s Must-Have Draft Targets
Evan Engram (TE – DEN)
It’s hard not to imagine Evan Engram can become a favorite target of Bo Nix very early on. Sean Payton is going to move Engram around and create opportunities.
The Broncos, outside of Courtland Sutton, suffered from no other real threat. Engram can not only be that, but also a force in the red zone. Engram represents the last of the “I need to draft this guy” tight ends, with real top-five tight end upside.
Check out all of Welsh’s must-have fantasy football draft targets
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