NFL training camps are set to begin in the coming weeks, and just like for the players on the field, the key to any successful season is preparation.
The same can be said for fantasy football. Whether you have the first overall pick or the last of the first round, having a sense of who will be available in each round is key.
I will be doing mock drafts throughout the summer, offering scenarios and feedback for each position, starting with the No. 1 pick. The point of these mocks is to prepare for the unexpected.
The mock drafts will assume that 12 teams are in the league with the following roster construction: quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, tight end, a flex (running back, wide receiver or tight end), defense, kicker and seven bench spots. It is a 16-round snake draft in a half-point-per-reception (half-PPR) league. We will mix in 10- and 16-team drafts at some point as well as a Superflex draft.
If you read my draft guide, you know I am not a fan of drafting kickers and defense if it’s not necessary. I would rather add a few running backs who could end up being a starter in case of an injury. However, for the sake of this exercise, I will round out each draft by doing so. Remember, do not draft either before your final two picks!
Most important of all, be creative with your mock drafts. Do not take the same players in every mock. Your favorite sleeper is probably someone else’s, too.
The draft is just the start of the season. If you are drafting early, work the waiver wire to your advantage if any major injuries arise. If you are a fantasy nerd like me, make sure to turn on notifications from your favorite NFL insider for breaking news around the league. But the draft is where you build the foundation of your roster, and the goal is to have as deep a roster as possible.
Here is my second mock draft of the 2025 season with more fantasy analysis to come.
(See also: No. 1 pick)
Here is my roster:
Round 1, Pick 2: Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons
Round 2, Pick 11: Kyren Williams, RB, Los Angeles Rams
Round 3, Pick 2: Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills
Round 4, Pick 11: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Arizona Cardinals
Round 5, Pick 2: Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Round 6, Pick 11: Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints
Round 7, Pick 2: Kaleb Johnson, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Round 8, Pick 11: Ricky Pearsall, WR, San Francisco 49ers
Round 9, Pick 2: Evan Engram, TE, Denver Broncos
Round 10, Pick 11: Ray Davis, RB, Buffalo Bills
Round 11, Pick 2: Rashod Bateman, WR, Baltimore Ravens
Round 12, Pick 11: Braelon Allen, RB, New York Jets
Round 13, Pick 2: MarShawn Lloyd, RB, Green Bay Packers
Round 14, Pick 11: Tyler Lockett, WR, Tennessee Titans
Round 15, Pick 2: Kansas City Chiefs D/ST
Round 16, Pick 11: Chase McLaughlin, K, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Observations:
Bijan Robinson is the top running back on my board entering this season. Some have the former Longhorn as their top player overall, and I cannot fault anyone who thinks that way. The Falcons back is entering the prime of his career after finishing top five in nearly every statistical category at the position. I am expecting Atlanta’s offense to improve with Michael Penix under center, creating more scoring opportunities for Robinson. Even if that does not happen, he still has all the ability to reach 2,000 total yards this season.
I was hoping for a receiver like A.J. Brown or Drake London to fall to me at No. 11 overall, but with both gone, Kyren Williams was an easy decision. Williams has finished the last two years as RB6 in half-PPR leagues and is entering the final season of his rookie deal. Williams and Robinson were the top two running backs in total snaps last season. Having two of the game’s elite will give me a massive advantage at the position each week.
There is a debate in the fantasy community about whether you should use a high draft pick to land one of the top quarterbacks. Count me in on the group that wants Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Jayden Daniels or Jalen Hurts in the third round. Allen is QB2 in my rankings, but I would rather have any of the four over many of the skill players available in this range. Each will consistently average 20-plus points per week, while the rest of the league plays quarterback roulette. I want that clear advantage rather than hoping players like Davante Adams or Tee Higgins can get enough targets as the second option for their respective teams.
There are still plenty of wide receiver options in Rounds 4-6, and I would be ecstatic if I land the trio of Marvin Harrison Jr., Mike Evans and Chris Olave in a live draft. Harrison did not live up to lofty fantasy expectations last season, but he still finished with 885 yards and eight touchdowns. I am expecting the second-year receiver to make a big impact this year. Evans is the ageless wonder who is still the No. 1 receiver for one of the underrated offenses in the league. Injuries limited Olave to just eight games in 2024 but recorded consecutive 1,000-yard seasons to start his career in the years prior. All three wideouts are being drafted as WR2 with WR1 potential.
This is the stage of the draft I want to take some of my favorite players. Kaleb Johnson is one of several rookie running backs I will be coveting in the middle rounds. Ricky Pearsall has a huge opportunity ahead of him with Deebo Samuel out the door and Brandon Aiyuk injured to start the season. I currently have Evan Engram as TE5 in my rankings when the consensus has him much lower, so he is a bargain in my eyes in Round 9.
The next five picks are a mix of handcuff running backs and underrated veteran receivers. Ray Davis and Braelon Allen showed us in spurts that they can be elite backs when given ample opportunities. MarShawn Lloyd was banged up for most of his rookie season but was one of my favorite prospects last season. Rashod Bateman and Tyler Lockett do not offer much upside, but they are safe bye week options.
We are only two mocks into the new campaign, but this is a dream team for me. I have two elite backs, QB1 overall for most around the web, three receivers with WR1 upside and my favorite tight end based on ADP as my starting lineup. The bench has a mix of upside and stability. It is a shame that this is not one of my actual rosters.
What do you think of this roster? Let’s discuss on Twitter @JoeSerp.
You can do your own mock draft in seconds by clicking here.
