Paulsen's Players: Round-by-Round Fantasy Football Draft Targets & Shy-Away Players (2025)

Aug 27, 2025

Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

This year, I’ve typically been implementing a combination of strategies that include Hero RB, Stud TE, and Late-Round QB. It will usually begin with a running back in the first or second round, but there are Hero RB candidates available into the early third round this season.

I went into great detail on a position-by-position basis in my annual Draft Day Strategery article, but now I’m going to go round-by-round and highlight some targets, strategies, and “shy-away” players to avoid, assuming a half-PPR, 12-team draft.

Rounds 1-2

If I’m drafting early in the first round, I’m typically forcing myself to draft a receiver since it seems the drop-off to the receivers in the late second round is steeper than the drop-off at the running back position. There are several backs that I like near the 2/3 turn, so starting WR/RB is appealing with a pick in the early first round.

If I’m picking in the middle or late first round, then either an RB/WR or WR/RB start should work fine, though the second-round receivers still thin out more quickly than running backs, so WR/RB is my preference.

I’m happy to come out of the first two rounds with one of the following receivers: Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb, Malik Nabers, Nico Collins, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Brian Thomas Jr, or Drake London.

Typically, I’ll be pairing a first-round receiver with one of the following backs: Derrick Henry, Bucky Irving, Chase Brown, Josh Jacobs, or Jonathan Taylor.

Shy-Away: He could still deliver, but I’ve been shying away from Puka Nacua due to Matthew Stafford’s back injury. I’ve also been avoiding De’Von Achane due to the lower leg injury, but it appears that he will be available Week 1.