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
Jordan Love (QB – GB)
There’s only 1 QB that has posted a passing TD rate of 5.5% or higher the last two seasons. Jordan Love.
He entered 2024 with high expectations after ending the 2023 season on an absolute heater. In Love’s first season as the starter (regular and postseason) for the Green Bay Packers, he threw 37 TDs. He created 41 total TDs, including rushing scores – equivalent to Dak Prescott. 27 of his TDs came after Week 10. He finished as a top-3 fantasy QB from Week 8-18 onward in 2023, averaging 21.2 points per game (4th). But in 2024 he got hurt, and was never himself. As a result his ADP has plummeted to QB18.
But given the Packers decent OL, suspect and potential bottom-10 defense (imo) with depth at WR/TE, I think we see the 2023 version of Love return to the field in 2025. They have already talked about running him more which is music to fantasy football managers ears.
We are trying to hit that 20 PPG threshold with our fantasy QBs. Love flashed that ceiling in his first year as a starter averaging 19.5 PPG. Buy the dip. Love is going to be in the MVP conversation when the dust settles in the 2025 season. MVP odds listed at 25-1.
Love opens the season with back-to-back home games versus the Lions (50-point game total) and Commanders. Nobody will be surprised if he’s a top-5 QB through two weeks…
Braelon Allen (RB – NYJ)
The Jets want to run the football in 2025 with a stable of RBs. And that means we could see a lot of second-year RB, Braelon Allen. Allen earned a role as an extremely young rookie last season (20 years old), despite Breece Hall being healthy to start the season. Allen is a no-nonsense rusher and could very much be the “David Montgomery” in the Jets’ offense under new OC Tanner Engstrand (formerly of the Lions). Allen converted on 11 of his 12 carries on 3rd-1 last year, a 91.7% rate that was not only the best among all NFL backs in 2024 but the best by any back from 2021-24 (Jets.com). Expect with Justin Fields under center for Allen to take full advantage of wide-open rushing lanes.
Allen has also been “as advertised” throughout the offseason, drawing rave reviews out of Jets’ training camp. He is going to have a role in the offense (1A-1B RB situation), and it could grow exponentially if Hall were to get injured or traded.
RB45 in real-time ADP is too cheap for one of fantasy football’s best RB sleepers.
Check out all of Erickson’s must-have fantasy football draft targets 
Joe’s Must-Have Draft Targets
TreVeyon Henderson (RB – NE)
The Mike Vrabel/Josh McDaniels brain trust has found their new “Patriot-Style” back, and this one is more talented than the James Whites and Kevin Faulks of yesteryear. Henderson is a playmaker, something the Pats offense has lacked for years. His speed and receiving ability, coupled with his pass protection skills, could make Rhamondre Stevenson obsolete at some juncture. However, Stevenson’s presence keeps Henderson’s ADP in check and at a value that makes me want to invest.
Check out all of Joe’s must-have fantasy football draft targets
Fitz’s Must-Have Draft Targets
Calvin Ridley (WR – TEN)
Ridley has topped 1,000 yards in each of the last two seasons. He was efficient in 2024, averaging 15.9 yards per catch and 1.86 yards per route run, even though the Titans had one of the worst QB situations in the league.
No. 1 draft pick Cam Ward takes over at quarterback for the Titans this season, and while he’s sure to hit some bumps as a rookie, Ward is an aggressive downfield thrower who should help boost Ridley’s fantasy value
Ridley has little target competition and should be the Titans’ undisputed alpha receiver, yet his late-July ADP was only WR32.
Check out all of Fitz’s must-have fantasy football draft targets
Welsh’s Must-Have Draft Targets
Jaylen Waddle (WR – MIA)
What a messy year it was for Dolphins receivers. Year-over-year, Jaylen Waddle lost about a full yard per route run, which is a huge number. Part of this was the offense moving into more run plays versus how they used to stretch the field. The other culprit could have been Jonnu Smith, who is now gone.
I’m not worried about Darren Waller, nor should you, and that should lead to Waddle being a force across the middle of the field again. He’s going off as the WR33, with top-20 wideout potential if the ball gets back in the air.
Check out all of Welsh’s must-have fantasy football draft targets
DBro’s Must-Have Draft Targets
Tetairoa McMillan (WR – CAR)
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.
Tucker Kraft (TE – GB)
Last year, Tucker Kraft stepped up as Green Bay’s clear present and future starting tight end. The South Dakota State alum finished as the TE14 in fantasy points per game in the Packers’ run-heavy offense. Green Bay loves its committee approach with the passing game, so it’s tough to see Kraft becoming a high-end target earner in this offense, but he has the talent to do so.
Last year, among 47 qualifying tight ends, Kraft ranked 20th in target share and 27th in first read share, but he posted top 12 marks in receiving yards per game (12th-best), yards per route run (seventh), missed tackles forced (third), and yards after the catch per reception (first). Green Bay did feed him an 18.5% designed target rate (second-best among tight ends), but he wasn’t the first option on many passing plays.
Kraft proved he has the talent to take the next step and become a focal point if the Green Bay offensive design changes in 2025. Kraft is a wild card TE1 with IMMENSE upside in 2025.
Check out all of DBro’s must-have fantasy football draft targets
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