A fantasy football mock draft is the perfect way to test different roster constructions, and in this 12-team full PPR exercise, I decided to experiment with an aggressive running back start. From the 1.02 spot, I opened with Jahmyr Gibbs — bypassing Bijan Robinson — and doubled down by adding Bucky Irving and Chase Brown with my next two picks. The result is a build centered around three potential top-12 fantasy backs, with wide receiver depth coming later in the draft.
This approach isn’t without risk, but it creates upside at every level of the roster. Gibbs has overall RB1 potential if his receiving workload spikes under a new offensive coordinator, Irving looks poised for a breakout as Tampa Bay’s featured back and Brown enters 2025 as Cincinnati’s unquestioned workhorse. From there, I pivoted to proven volume receivers like Courtland Sutton and upside plays such as Ricky Pearsall, while finding value at quarterback with Bo Nix and tight end with Tyler Warren.
Let’s dive into a few of my favorite fantasy football draft picks from this recent mock.
- Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- 2025 Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
- Fantasy Football ADP
- Fantasy Football Trade Tools
Fantasy Football Draft Picks to Target
4.11 – Courtland Sutton (WR – DEN)
For fantasy, Courtland Sutton emerged as one of the biggest wide receiver values of 2024. He led Denver in every statistical receiving category, catching 81 passes for 1,081 yards and eight touchdowns. Bo Nix‘s continued emergence as one of the league’s top quarterbacks will be a big boost to Sutton’s production this year.
The hope here is that he continues to see 8-9 targets per game but is more efficient with those looks. If that happens, Sutton will far exceed his current ADP. While the addition of Evan Engram means his target competition is worth monitoring, Sutton should still be a WR2.
5.02 – Tetairoa McMillan (WR – CAR)
If I could do this pick over, I would have selected Travis Hunter instead. I think Hunter might end up being the best rookie wide receiver, and he is most certainly in a better offensive environment than Tetairoa McMillan. Be that as it may, this is why we do mock drafts.
All that said, I don’t have any issue with McMillan in the fifth round. He is part of a tier that I like in this range. This is partly why I was comfortable with taking a running back with the first three picks. There are a lot of receivers in the fourth through seventh rounds that are going to outperform their average draft position (ADP).
6.11 – Ricky Pearsall (WR – SF)
The 49ers will be without Brandon Aiyuk for probably the first six games of the season. That, combined with the departure of Deebo Samuel, opens up 15 targets per game. Ricky Pearsall turned in 8-141-1 and 6-69-1 receiving lines in his final two games, and he has looked good in the preseason.
His ADP has climbed because of that, making him a more volatile pick than he was earlier this summer. I still think the 49ers will be one of the better offenses in the league. Without a true No. 1 WR, Pearsall has a chance to turn into that.
7.02 – Bo Nix (QB – DEN)
Like a lot of people, I was not high on Bo Nix coming into his rookie season. I didn’t think his skill set would translate to an NFL offense, but obviously, I missed the mark. Nix is the perfect quarterback for Sean Payton’s system, and the runout for him to be a mid-level QB1 isn’t difficult to envision.
Despite a terrible start to the season, where he didn’t eclipse 250 yards passing through his first seven games, Nix finished with over 3,700 yards passing. He also finished with 34 total touchdowns (including seven rushing). Assuming he starts 2025 as well as he finished 2024, Nix is being undervalued in drafts.
8.11 – Tyler Warren (TE – IND)
I don’t mind waiting on tight end, especially when Tyler Warren is going roughly 30 picks later than Travis Kelce. The range of outcomes between the two is probably more similar than that. The Colts don’t have a great situation at quarterback, but unlike most other tight ends in this range, Warren could be a top-five player at the position.
Warren will be fed touches this year, and while he may get there in an unconventional manner, he will outperform at least four tight ends going ahead of him.
9.02 Cooper Kupp (WR – SEA)
Can Cooper Kupp return to his old form? Probably not, but as the WR4 on this roster, I am willing to see if he can’t get close. Kupp still brings good size, strong hands and refined route-running to beat man coverage. Trouble is, he’s lost the burst and acceleration that once separated him from defenders.
Health will be important, but over a seven-game stretch last season, Kupp averaged over nine targets and 18 PPR points per game. The Seahawks will be run-heavy, but with only Jaxon Smith-Njigba to challenge him for targets, he could return WR3 value.
Subscribe: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeart | Castbox | Amazon Music | Podcast Addict | TuneIn
Jason Kamlowsky is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Jason, check out his archive and follow him on Twitter @JasonKamlowsky.