We have a long way to go until fantasy drafts begin for the 2025 season. Despite that, the old saying “practice makes perfect” rings true even in fantasy leagues. Mock drafting is a way to try and understand where players are going off the board and different pockets of positional runs.
Below you’ll find a 2025 redraft fantasy football mock draft for standard scoring 1QB leagues from the 1.01 spot. For this exercise, this draft will assume a roster format of 1QB-2RB-2WR-1TE-2Flex and no kickers or defense.
And if you want to get your practice in, be sure to check out PFSN’s Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator!
1.01) Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons
For scoring formats that reward points for receptions, the Zero RB strategy is extremely viable. Alpha wide receivers that command targets and rack up receptions are just too valuable to ignore, given the boost target volume gives them.
That isn’t the case in standard scoring formats. In standard leagues, running backs are king due to their ability to rack up rushing yards, receiving yards, and easy touchdowns.
Knowing that, the No. 1 pick becomes a competition between Bijan Robinson, Saquon Barkley, and Jahmyr Gibbs — players running behind good offensive lines that have shown the ability to command targets and find the end zone.
For this exercise, Robinson is the pick at 1.01. He finished fourth in standard points per game in 2024 (16.5), but his workload down the stretch of 2024 cannot be ignored. From Weeks 13-18, Robinson averaged 22.8 carries and 2.7 receptions per game for 124.2 all-purpose yards and scored eight touchdowns.
He is just now hitting his prime and has less competition in his backfield than Gibbs and less wear-and-tear than a 28-year-old Barkley coming off a season where he handled a career-high 378 touches (not including the playoffs).
2.12) Jayden Daniels, QB, Washington Commanders
Similar to the running back position, quarterback scoring becomes even more valuable in standard leagues than in PPR formats. Nine of the top 12 scorers in 2024 were quarterbacks, including six of the seven players who scored more than 20.0 points per game.
In this scenario, both Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson are off the board, so I’m more than happy to take the third quarterback, Jayden Daniels, at the 2/3 turn.
Calling Daniels prolific in his rookie season qualifies as an understatement. He completed 69.0% of his passes for 3,568 yards and 25 touchdowns with just nine interceptions. He also added 148 carries for 891 yards and six rushing touchdowns.
Daniels finished as the QB6 in his rookie season, averaging 20.9 fantasy points per game, and was ranked No. 9 in PFSN’s QB+ metrics with a B (85.3) grade.
Jayden Daniels film cut-up – Intermediate Passing
Every throw of 10-19 air yards without pressure in 2024 https://t.co/MvWJ2IdBFR pic.twitter.com/XR7cPOEFZ2
— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) May 21, 2025
More impressively, he put together those stats with a patchwork offensive line and a pass-catching group consisting of Terry McLaurin, Zach Ertz, Olamide Zaccheaus, and Noah Brown.
Washington bolstered the offensive line by adding left tackle Laremy Tunsil in a trade and Oregon’s Josh Conerly Jr. in the first round of the NFL Draft to play right tackle. They also added Deebo Samuel Sr. and rookie fourth-round pick Jaylin Lane as additional weapons for the passing attack.
Daniels is poised to take a step in his second season, which makes him worthy of his lofty status as the QB3 in fantasy drafts heading into 2025.
3.01) Trey McBride, TE, Arizona Cardinals
Since 2021, only four tight ends have surpassed 10.0 fantasy points per game in standard-scoring leagues. Only one of them (George Kittle) was in 2024.
For a tight end to hit the double-digit scoring mark in standard scoring leagues, they need to see enough target volume to boost their receiving yards while also catching a lot of touchdowns.
One player who has the volume but needs some more touchdown luck is Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride.
In 2024, McBride had the volume (147 targets) and the yardage (1,146 yards) but lacked the touchdown scoring (two) to surpass the 10.0 mark. Despite that, he still finished as the TE3 in standard points per game (8.7).
All McBride needs in 2024 to join the upper echelon of tight ends in fantasy is a bit more luck when it comes to scoring touchdowns. McBride led all tight ends in red-zone targets in 2024 (11) but converted just one of them into touchdowns. For context, no other player with 10+ targets finished with fewer than four.
Arizona’s passing attack runs through McBride. He’s poised to take a gigantic leap in fantasy if he just gets a little positive touchdown regression on his side.
4.12) Rashee Rice, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
At this point, we’ve added a premium running back, quarterback, and tight end to our roster. Now it’s time to start investing in wide receivers, and one player who is intriguing in 2025 is Kansas City Chiefs star wideout Rashee Rice.
Rice missed most of 2024 with a knee injury, but he was well on his way to dominating in fantasy before the injury. In Weeks 1-3 (Rice was injured just four snaps into Week 4’s game), the veteran receiver racked up 24 receptions on 29 targets for 288 yards and two touchdowns.
Not only was he the WR5 in standard ppg (13.6) with a minimum of three games played, but he was one of three players in standard scoring to have double-digit points each week to start the season.
There have been plenty of offseason videos showing that Rice has recovered fully from his knee injury. Additionally, there has been zero movement on his pending court case, which means a suspension in 2025 becomes less and less likely with each passing day.
Getting a receiver with Rice’s upside is well worth the gamble in standard-scoring formats. His ability to generate yards after the catch on short-to-intermediate routes is key to having sustainable scoring weeks.
5.01) David Montgomery, RB, Detroit Lions
Gibbs broke fantasy to end the 2024 season. But before David Montgomery’s Week 15 injury, Gibbs (15.6 ppg) was barely outscoring Montgomery (14.0 PPG) in standard scoring formats.
Since joining the Detroit Lions in 2023, Montgomery has racked up 404 carries for 1,790 yards and 25 touchdowns in 28 games. He’s also added 52 receptions for 458 yards during that span. In the last two seasons, Montgomery has handled 36 goal-line carries and converted 12 of them into touchdowns.
He’ll once again have a role in Detroit’s backfield in 2025, though time will tell how much of an impact offensive coordinator Ben Johnson’s departure will have on his workload.
Touchdowns are crucial in all fantasy formats, but even more so in standard leagues. Few running backs have been as good at scoring them as Montgomery in the past two seasons. That, combined with his upside if Gibbs misses time with injury, makes him a worthwhile RB2 in standard formats.
6.12) George Pickens, WR, Dallas Cowboys
It was hard to envision George Pickens thriving with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025. He struggled to produce big numbers in Arthur Smith’s offense in 2024, catching just 59 of 103 targets for 900 yards and three touchdowns.
It was going to be even more difficult for Pickens in 2025 while sharing a wide receiver room with DK Metcalf. Thankfully for him, the Steelers traded the mercurial receiver to the Dallas Cowboys after the NFL Draft.
Now, Pickens will have an opportunity to put up big numbers playing as an outside complement to CeeDee Lamb in his contract season.
Over the last two seasons with new head coach Brian Schottenheimer operating as offensive coordinator, Dak Prescott has averaged 35 pass attempts per game. Even Cooper Rush averaged 32.7 attempts in his eight starts in 2024.
We are finally going to see Pickens operating in a pass-heavy attack with a wide receiver who can take coverage off of him. That, combined with the incentive to not make waves in a contract year, should allow him to have a career season.
7.01) Isiah Pacheco, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
A broken fibula in Week 2 of the 2024 season robbed Isiah Pacheco of a strong season with the Chiefs. Before the injury, he averaged a 72.3% snap share while handling 34 carries for 135 yards and a touchdown and adding seven receptions for 54 yards. He was the RB16 in standard scoring during that time, averaging 12.5 points per game.
Pacheco eventually returned from his injury in Week 13 but never looked fully healed. He had just two games with more than nine carries (including the playoffs) and never surpassed a 46% snap share again during the 2024 season and postseason.
The Chiefs have an experienced backfield behind Pacheco with Kareem Hunt and Elijah Mitchell and invested a seventh-round draft pick in an explosive pass-catching back, Brashard Smith. However, Pacheco should once again dominate the carries when healthy, especially when the team gets to the red zone.
8.12) Najee Harris, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
Najee Harris signed with the Los Angeles Chargers after four consistent, but unspectacular, seasons with Pittsburgh. Since being drafted with a first-round pick in 2020, Harris averaged 274 carries for 1,078 yards and seven touchdowns per season. He’s also never missed a game in his four-year career.
Los Angeles invested a first-round pick in North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton, which has led to a slide for Harris’s ADP. However, Chargers’ offensive coordinator Greg Roman has never shied away from a split backfield, and there is a world where both Harris and Hampton play significant roles for LA in 2025.
Hampton is easily the more explosive RB, but Harris has a track record of success and has averaged 4.0+ yards per carry in each of the last two years. The early discrepancy in ADP between Hampton (RB15) and Harris (RB27) is too far given the fact that both are likely to have a role in 2025.
9.01) Matthew Golden, WR, Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers broke a long-standing draft tradition in 2025 when they selected Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden with their first-round pick. It was the first time they had used a first-round pick on a receiver since 2002 (Javon Walker).
On the surface, Golden doesn’t have the traditional production of first-round wide receivers. He had just 76 receptions for 988 yards and 13 touchdowns in two seasons with Houston before transferring to Texas in 2024. That season was much better (58 receptions for 987 yards and nine touchdowns), but far from dominant.
What Golden does have is speed. The receiver shot up draft boards after running a 4.29 40-yard dash at the Combine while measuring in at 5’11” and 191 pounds.
We know that the Packers wide receiver room features a bunch of complementary pieces that haven’t shown the ability to operate as a true WR1. However, the team clearly believes that Golden can establish himself as that missing piece for Jordan Love.
Golden will instantly have an opportunity to show that his route running and speed translate to the NFL and will be fed targets as a rookie. He’s an excellent gamble as a bench receiver that could develop into a starter in time.
10.12) Jordan Mason, RB, Minnesota Vikings
Jordan Mason instantly became one of the more intriguing RB2s in fantasy after being traded from the 49ers to the Vikings this offseason.
Mason was stuck behind Christian McCaffrey to start his NFL career but got an opportunity to show what he could do in 2024. He made the most of that chance.
In the first five weeks of the season, Mason averaged 21.0 carries for 107.2 yards and scored three rushing touchdowns. Things were going great until a sprained AC joint limited him from Weeks 6 to 13. A high ankle sprain then ended his season early.
Mason’s final fantasy production (8.2 PPG) isn’t anything special, but he was the RB7 in standard scoring through the first five weeks (15.2 PPG).
Aaron Jones will still dominate the touches with the Vikings, but he has a lengthy injury history and is coming off a season that saw him handle a career-high 306 touches at age 30. The Vikings want somebody who can keep him fresh to maximize his production.
There aren’t many running back situations that are better than Minnesota after the team spent free-agent dollars and draft capital to upgrade its offensive line. That, combined with Jones’s considerable injury history, makes Mason one of the best RB2s in fantasy in 2025.
11.01) Darnell Mooney, WR, Atlanta Falcons
Darnell Mooney signed with the Atlanta Falcons before the 2024 season was widely considered an afterthought. Mooney had just one career season with over 650 receiving yards with the Bears (1,055 in 2021) and never had more than four touchdown receptions in a single season.
However, Mooney showed that in the right environment, he could be a fantasy-relevant player.
Mooney proved that he wasn’t just a one-dimensional vertical threat in his first season with Atlanta, catching 64 of 106 targets for 992 yards and five touchdowns in 2024. Unfortunately, Mooney didn’t get to fully experience life with Michael Penix Jr. at quarterback after missing Week 18.
Still, Mooney caught seven of 11 passes for 119 yards (17.0 yards per reception) during his two-game trial with Penix.
Michael Penix 2 completions of 20+ Air Yards. Completions off 22 and 25 yards both to Darnell Mooney.
Penix had 7 attempts of 20+ air yards against the Washington Commanders last week. pic.twitter.com/ENDwV0lgt4
— Bruce Matson (@MetricScout) January 3, 2025
He’s shown the ability to command targets in his new surroundings and now gets an upgraded quarterback with the arm to take advantage of his downfield ability. That is a player worth taking a shot at in standard leagues.
12.12) Tre Harris, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
The late rounds of fantasy drafts need to be used for stashing players who have big upside. One player who fits the bill is 2025 second-round pick Tre Harris.
The Chargers selected Harris with the 55th overall pick after he produced 114 receptions for 2,015 yards and 15 touchdowns in his final two seasons (20 games) at Ole Miss. Harris was an analytical darling in his final season at Ole Miss, leading the NCAA in yards per route run (5.12) in his final season.
Los Angeles’ passing attack will run through Ladd McConkey in 2025, but Harris can carve out a role as the team’s secondary pass catcher. Given how efficient Justin Herbert was in 2025, that could be a very fantasy-friendly role going forward.
13.01) Ray Davis, RB, Buffalo Bills
James Cook will headline Buffalo’s backfield again in 2025, but he is entering the final year of his contract and has already voiced his frustration that a new deal hasn’t been done. There may be an opportunity for second-year running back Ray Davis to carve out a bigger role in the team’s backfield as a result.
Davis was solid as a rookie, carrying the ball 113 times for 442 yards and three touchdowns while adding 17 receptions (on 19 targets) for 189 yards and three receiving touchdowns. He had two games as a rookie where he handled a 50+% snap share and finished as a top-13 running back in standard scoring in both weeks.
Davis will have a role in this backfield in 2025 and could be a weekly RB2 with RB1 upside if Cook were to get hurt.
14.12) Kyle Williams, WR, New England Patriots
Another rookie wide receiver with significant upside is Patriots 2025 third-round pick Kyle Williams.
Williams was a consistent deep threat during his first three years at UNLV before transferring to Washington State for his final two seasons. Williams took off after the move, racking up 131 receptions for 2,041 yards (15.6 yards per reception) for 20 touchdowns.
He enters an ascending Patriots offense helmed by a talented second-year quarterback (Drake Maye) and a depth chart starving for playmakers. Free-agent acquisition Stefon Diggs will certainly command targets when he’s recovered from his 2024 ACL injury, but everything is up in the air after that.
If Williams can force his way onto the field early, he will have a role as a big-play threat who can play outside or in the slot. At worst, he is a player you can churn off the back end of your bench if another player establishes better production elsewhere early in the season.
