Scott Engel is in his 14th year as the official Fantasy Football writer and analyst for Seahawks.com. He is an inaugural member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association's Hall of Fame. Scott is a four-time FSWA award winner and a 13-time nominee. You can find more of his fantasy football analysis and fantasy football rankings at RotoBaller.com and on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio.

Some fantasy football competitors prepare heavily for their drafts. They approach the draft planning and execution process with several weeks of research and mock drafting exercises.

Not all who play fantasy football have enough spare time to set aside for optimum pre-draft planning. Now, it is crunch time for drafters, as we are less than a week away from the first NFL game. As the season quickly approaches, fantasy players can use a quick rundown of draft targets as they start to fill up their queues.

For those needing an express guide to put together a solid roster with not much time remaining before the draft starts, we supply a winning map here. I highlight my preferred picks in every round, based on the latest Average Draft Position reports in Point Per Reception (PPR) leagues from FantasyPros.com. Experienced players can also consult this list of targeted picks to help them make challenging decisions while the draft is progressing.

Also be sure to check out or full list of 2025 fantasy football sleepers as you ready to make the most ideal draft picks.

Fantasy Football Draft Pick Strategy: Best Targets For Round One

CeeDee Lamb (Average Draft Position of 6 Overall): Lamb might challenge to finish as the No. 1 wide receiver in fantasy football this season. Dallas will employ one of the busiest passing games in the NFL. The Cowboys will get involved in many shootouts.

Amon-Ra St. Brown (8): The Detroit standout finished as a top 4 fantasy wide receiver in each of the last two seasons. He is a very safe pick for a high statistical floor again in 2025.

Derrick Henry (10): Sometimes Henry falls further than this slot, yet he remains a rock-solid RB pick at the end of the first round. Age doesn't seem to matter for Henry, and he will be a surefire standout RB again.

Fantasy Football Draft Pick Strategy: Best Targets For Round Two

Brian Thomas Jr. (14): Thomas has started dropping to the second round of drafts, and he is even a viable pick at the end of the first round. Thomas should remain a primary target for a Jacksonville offense that can show more upside under new head coach Liam Coen.

Josh Jacobs (16): He discovered his better form again in his first season with the Packers. Jacobs is a crux of the Green Bay offense when they get inside the 10-yard line, and rely on him to rush for 12-plus TDs again.

A.J. Brown (20): Brown's ADP is dropping a bit too far as the season approaches. The Eagles might pass the ball more this year, and Brown could set a new career high in TD receptions with more than 11.

Bucky Irving (23): The second-year Buccaneer is one of my favorite early-round values. He is versatile, efficient, and will be the lead back on a potent offense. Irving might perform so well this season that he finishes as a top 5 fantasy RB and becomes a first-round pick next year.

Fantasy Football Draft Pick Strategy: Best Targets For Round Three

Kyren Williams (25): The Rams rewarded him with a new contract, and Williams is once again ticketed for a heavy workload. He is an integral and very trusted part of the Los Angeles offense and functions as a fine and reliable pick in the third round.

James Cook (28): Last year, Cook locked down the feature back role for Buffalo, and he is a central figure on one of the better offenses in the NFL. He will remain a frequent TD threat for the Bills.

Tyreek Hill (31): A bounce-back campaign is very possible for Hill, and if that happens, you will be thankful to have landed him by this point of the draft. Hill still has a top 5 fantasy WR ceiling.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba (33): Smith-Njigba could finish as a fantasy WR1 in his third pro campaign. JSN will challenge defenses as both a possession receiver and downfield threat. If you load up on RBs early, Smith-Njigba can also function as a quality first pick at his position.

Fantasy Football Draft Pick Strategy: Best Targets For Round Four

Mike Evans (39): Much like Henry, Evans is doing his best to ignore fantasy age axioms. He is a very good fantasy WR2 target in the fourth round.

Terry McLaurin (41): Another preferred value target in the early rounds. McLaurin is a borderline fantasy WR1 who is coming off the most productive season of his career.

Marvin Harrison Jr. (44): The breakout may indeed come in his second NFL season. Kyler Murray will likely make it a point to feed his top WR more frequently. Don't be surprised to see Harrison finish in double figures in TDs in 2025.

Chuba Hubbard (45): Other fantasy RBs in the top 20 are considered to be more exciting upside plays, but Hubbard has proven to be quite reliable, and the Carolina offense might improve this season, which could mean double figures in rushing TDs again.

Fantasy Football Draft Pick Strategy: Best Targets For Round Five

Courtland Sutton (51): Bo Nix will continue to rise as a QB this season, and Sutton is his clear No. 1 target. The Denver WR could come through with a career year in 2025.

D'Andre Swift (54): With Ben Johnson taking controls of the Chicago offense, Swift may start to unleash even more of his potential. This is a good spot to land a top 25 RB.

Isiah Pacheco (59): When waiting to draft an RB2, Pacheco is one of my prime targets. The Chiefs will continue to lean on him as their RB1, and now that he is healthy again, a quality rebound season should be ahead.

Fantasy Football Draft Pick Strategy: Best Targets For Round Six

Calvin Ridley (64): The Tennessee WR1 should outperform his draft slot this season with Cam Ward elevating the offense in respectability.

George Pickens (66): As indicated with Lamb, the Cowboys are going to engage in many high-scoring games, especially after trading Micah Parsons.

Tony Pollard (69): If you elect to wait on an RB2 pick, Pollard should slide into the starting lineup as an acceptable option. As with Ridley, he is another Tennessee target that can prove to be a good value pick in 2025.

Travis Hunter (70): The rookie will have instant fantasy promise in his first season as a pro. Both of the Jaguars' top two WRs have been frequent targets in several of my completed drafts.

Fantasy Football Draft Pick Strategy: Best Targets For Round Seven

Rome Odunze (76): The second-year Chicago WR could push to be the most productive pass-catcher on the Bears offense.

Chris Olave (78): New Orleans will have to be patient with their QB situation, but Olave is still the No.1 receiver for the Saints and can be a decent pick as a fantasy WR3.

Jaylen Warren (84): He will be the starting RB for Pittsburgh, and is a viable seventh round pick when being projected for that role.

Fantasy Football Draft Pick Strategy: Best Targets For Round Eight

Ricky Pearsall (87): This is a superb spot to land the guy who may be the new No. 1 WR for the 49ers.

Tyler Warren (89): Lindy's Sports actually compared him to Rob Gronkowski. Warren has top 5 fantasy tight end potential as a rookie.

Matthew Golden (91): Here's another Round Eight value who can take over as a top target for his team. Golden might quickly emerge as Green Bay's No. 1 WR.

Fantasy Football Draft Pick Strategy: Best Targets For Round Nine

Jordan Mason (100): The ex-49er might work in a time share with the Vikings to start out, and operating as the lead back due to injury could happen at any time.

Tucker Kraft (107): Look for him to become more productive in 2025, possibly as an even more frequent TD target for Jordan Love.

Zach Charbonnet (108): He is considered to be one of the top “insurance” RBs in fantasy football. Those who draft Kenneth Walker III should consider picking Charbonnet before the ninth round.

Fantasy Football Draft Pick Strategy: Best Targets For Rounds 10 and beyond

Round 10 - Keon Coleman (117): Draft him as a fourth WR, and watch Coleman possibly lead the Bills in TD receptions.

Round 11 – Drake Maye (124): Drafters who wait until late to nab a starting QB will find a top 10 player at the position here.

Round 12 – Nick Chubb (137): The longtime Browns star should open the season with a significant role in the Houston offense.

Round 13 – Braelon Allen (145): This Jets RB is one of our top sleepers for the 2025 season. He might eventually become New York's starter.

Round 14 – Trevor Lawrence has an ADP at the end of the 13th round, and he will be available in the 14th in many drafts. Take him as a late-round value QB2 who might break out as a QB1 in 2025.

Round 15 – You should draft defenses based on early-season schedules, as fantasy leaguers stream units throughout the year. The Cardinals' defense will be improved, and they face the Saints and Panthers to begin their 2025 schedule.