Here's our annotated list of the best players in fantasy football for the upcoming season. Use it to formulate a winning draft strategy.
August is an important month in fantasy football. Maybe the most important month.
It's when position battles take place during training camp. When exhibition games get teams out on the field against each other. It's also when injuries, unfortunately, start to mount. And it's when average fantasy draft positions begin to take shape.
Of course, every fantasy draft is different, and a value pick in one league can just as easily be a reach in another. That's why ADPs and pre-draft rankings should be used as a tool, not a rule.
With that in mind, here are some thoughts about the top overall players in fantasy football for 2025.
2025 POSITION RANKINGS: QB | RB | WR | TE | K | D/ST
Fantasy football rankings: Top overall players
Obviously, a fantasy league's format greatly affects how players are valued. Most leagues out there start one quarterback and award points for receptions. So these overall rankings are geared toward half-point PPR scoring. Let's analyze them in chunks.
- WR Ja'Marr Chase, Bengals
- RB Bijan Robinson, Falcons
- RB Saquon Barkley, Eagles
- WR Justin Jefferson, Vikings
- RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions
- WR CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys
- WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions
- WR Puka Nacua, Rams
- WR Malik Nabers, Giants
- RB Derrick Henry, Ravens
- WR Nico Collins, Texans
- RB De'Von Achane, DolphinsElite running backs are most valuable at the top of the draft, but there is a wealth of high-volume wide receivers maong the overall top 12. Malik Nabers may be the biggest risk-reward first-round pick.
- RB Ashton Jeanty, Raiders
- WR A.J. Brown, Eagles
- RB Christian McCaffrey, 49ers
- TE Brock Bowers, Raiders
- WR Brian Thomas Jr., Jaguars
- WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks
- RB Chase Brown, Bengals
- RB Jonathan Taylor, Colts
- WR Ladd McConkey, Chargers
- TE Trey McBride, Cardinals
- RB Kyren Williams, Rams
- RB Bucky Irving, BuccaneersHow good can rookie Ashton Jeanty be? Better than established veterans such as Christian McCaffrey and Jonathan Taylor? Yeah, he can.Brock Bowers and Trey McBride are worth second-round picks at tight end.
- QB Lamar Jackson, Ravens
- WR Drake London, Falcons
- QB Jalen Hurts, Eagles
- QB Jayden Daniels, Commanders
- RB Josh Jacobs, Packers
- QB Josh Allen, Bills
- WR Terry McLaurin, Commanders
- WR Tyreek Hill, Dolphins
- WR Tee Higgins, Bengals
- RB Breece Hall, Jets
- TE George Kittle, 49ers
- WR Mike Evans, BuccaneersIf you want a top quarterback, get him in Round 3. Also, Drake London seems to mark a new tier of wide receiver here.
- RB James Cook, Bills
- WR Davante Adams, Rams
- WR Garrett Wilson, Jets
- RB Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks
- WR DJ Moore, Bears
- RB James Conner, Cardinals
- WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Cardinals
- WR DeVonta Smith, Eagles
- RB Alvin Kamara, Saints
- WR Courtland Sutton, Broncos
- WR DK Metcalf, Steelers
- WR Rashee Rice, Chiefs
- RB Chuba Hubbard, Panthers
- WR Jameson Williams, LionsTry to land at least a couple wide receivers in the top 50 picks.
- RB Joe Mixon, Texans
- RB Aaron Jones Sr., Vikings
- QB Joe Burrow, Bengals
- WR Zay Flowers, Ravens
- RB David Montgomery, Lions
- TE Sam LaPorta, Lions
- RB Omarion Hampton, Chargers
- WR Xavier Worthy, Chiefs
- RB D'Andre Swift, Bears
- WR Chris Godwin, BuccaneersThis is a good part of the draft to speculate on running backs — or get your first one if you subscribe to the Zero RB strategy. Will Sam LaPorta last this long?
- QB Kyler Murray, Cardinals
- QB Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
- WR Jerry Jeudy, Browns
- RB RJ Harvey, Broncos
- RB Tony Pollard, Titans
- TE T.J. Hockenson, Vikings
- RB Kaleb Johnson, Steelers
- WR Rome Odunze, Bears
- WR George Pickens, Cowboys
- RB Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs
- RB Tyrone Tracy Jr., Giants
- WR Tetairoa McMillan, Panthers
- WR Jordan Addison, VikingsFinding some WR gold here is definitely possible.Also, could one team possibly land both Patrick Mahomes AND Travis Kelce at this point in the draft?
- TE Travis Kelce, Chiefs
- RB TreVeyon Henderson, Patriots
- RB Jaylen Warren, Steelers
- QB Jared Goff, Lions
- WR Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins
- WR Jakobi Meyers, Raiders
- QB Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers
- RB Najee Harris, Chargers
- WR Calvin Ridley, Titans
- TE Evan Engram, Broncos
- RB Brian Robinson Jr., Commanders
- TE Mark Andrews, Ravens
- WR Chris Olave, Saints
- RB Travis Etienne Jr., Jaguars
- QB Brock Purdy, 49ers
- WR Jauan Jennings, 49ers
- QB Bo Nix, BroncosWaiting on quarterbacks any later than this can turn into a high-stakes game of chicken.
- WR Khalil Shakir, Bills
- RB Javonte Williams, Cowboys
- WR Travis Hunter, Jaguars
- TE David Njoku, Browns
- WR Stefon Diggs, Patriots
- TE Jonnu Smith, Steelers
- QB Dak Prescott, Cowboys
- RB Quinshon Judkins, Browns
- RB Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks
- QB Justin Herbert, Chargers
- WR Cooper Kupp, Seahawks
- RB Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots
- QB C.J. Stroud, Texans
- QB Justin Fields, JetsAt this point, give serious consideration to talented rookies and players who've changed teams in the offseason.
- TE Dalton Kincaid, Bills
- WR Jayden Reed, Packers
- QB J.J. McCarthy, Vikings
- WR Deebo Samuel Sr., Commanders
- WR Josh Downs, Colts
- TE Dallas Goedert, Eagles
- TE Tucker Kraft, Packers
- QB Caleb Williams, Bears
- RB Rachaad White, Buccaneers
- WR Ricky Pearsall, 49ers
- WR Michael Pittman Jr., Colts
- RB Cam Skattebo, Giants
- RB Tyjae Spears, Titans
- QB Drake Maye, Patriots
- RB Jordan Mason, Vikings
- WR Matthew Golden, Packers
- RB Tank Bigsby, Jaguars
- WR Darnell Mooney, Falcons
- TE Jake Ferguson, Cowboys
- QB Jordan Love, Packers
- WR Emeka Egbuka, Buccaneers
- RB Tyler Allgeier, Falcons
- WR Rashid Shaheed, Saints
- QB Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars
- RB J.K. Dobbins, Broncos
- TE Kyle Pitts, Falcons
- RB Isaac Guerendo, 49ers
- WR Keon Coleman, BillsPlayers with raw talent and plausible upside — even if they don't have a major role just yet — are great picks here in the middle rounds.
- QB Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins
- RB Jerome Ford, Browns
- WR Wan'Dale Robinson, Giants
- WR Rashod Bateman, Ravens
- TE Hunter Henry, Patriots
- QB Matthew Stafford, Rams
- WR Jayden Higgins, Texans
- RB Bhayshul Tuten, Jaguars
- WR Luther Burden III, Bears
- RB Justice Hill, Ravens
- TE Isaiah Likely, Ravens
- RB Rico Dowdle, Panthers
- RB Austin Ekeler, Commanders
- QB Bryce Young, Panthers
- RB Ray Davis, Bills
- WR Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers
- WR Adam Thielen, Panthers
- RB Jaylen Wright DolphinsIt's all personal preference as we come to the end of the top 150.Pick your favorites and grab them, regardless of where they rank.
- DST Philadelphia Eagles
- QB Aaron Rodgers, Steelers
- WR Marvin Mims Jr., Broncos
- TE Tyler Warren, Colts
- RB Trey Benson, Cardinals
- RB Jaydon Blue, Cowboys
- TE Colston Loveland, Bears
- QB Michael Penix Jr., Falcons
- RB Braelon Allen, Jets
- DST Baltimore RavensTime to start thinking about the top defenses/special teams.
- RB Roschon Johnson, Bears
- WR Tre' Harris, Chargers
- RB Ty Johnson, Bills
- WR Christian Kirk, Texans
- WR Quentin Johnston, Chargers
- DST Denver Broncos
- WR Alec Pierce, Colts
- RB Nick Chubb, Texans
- WR DeAndre Hopkins, Ravens
- DST Pittsburgh Steelers
- DST Houston Texans
- TE Cade Otton, Buccaneers
- WR Marquise Brown, Chiefs
- RB MarShawn Lloyd, Packers
- WR Jalen McMillan, Buccaneers
- RB Dylan Sampson, Browns
- WR Cedric Tillman, Browns
- QB Sam Darnold, Seahawks
- WR Romeo Doubs, Packers
- TE Pat Freiermuth, Steelers
- RB Blake Corum, Rams
- DST Seattle Seahawks
- WR Kyle Williams, Patriots
- DST Minnesota Vikings
- DST Buffalo Bills
- K Brandon Aubrey, Cowboys
- DST Green Bay Packers
- RB Kareem Hunt, Chiefs
- DST Detroit Lions
- DST Kansas City Chiefs
- K Cameron Dicker, Chargers
- K Jake Bates, Lions
- DST New York Jets
- WR Xavier Legette, Panthers
- TE Zach Ertz, Commanders
- WR DeMario Douglas, Patriots
- K Chase McLaughlin, Buccaneers
- WR Joshua Palmer, Bills
- K Wil Lutz, Broncos
- RB DJ Giddens, Colts
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fantasy football 2025: Top 200 overall players for this season
Category: General Sports
