GREEN BAY, WI. – It’s one of the most unknown drafts in recent memory. Analysts and fans alike are struggling to predict where players will land across the 2025 NFL Draft board, and the lack of pre-draft action could set up for some fireworks.
That makes fantasy football managers that much more uneasy. You may be eying a player, but what if they fall in the draft? Go to a loaded team? Team doesn’t address the most obvious with the best players?
We may not know who will rise and fall in the first round of the NFL Draft this year, but we do know there’s an instant fantasy impact regardless of the selection.
In real time, Roto Street Journal will react to each first-round pick and provide an instant fantasy impact. The top three teams going into this year’s draft are also listed.
Let’s go!
2025 NFL DRAFT: ROUND 1 FANTASY FOOTBALL REACTIONS
Pick 1, Tennessee Titans – QB Cam Ward
Team Needs: QB, LB, Edge
This was the worst-kept secret prior to this year’s draft. But it’s Cam Ward who is heading to Nashville and bringing his big arm and mobility with him. He’ll “compete” with Will Levis for the starting job, but is expected to win it after being drafted No. 1 overall.
The biggest advantage Ward has is recognizing pre-snap pressure and being able to protect himself. He also has the football IQ, can fit the ball into tight windows, and launch it downfield. He’s also mobile.
Fantasy impact? With limited surrounding talent, he has some upside in redraft, but do not expect a Jayden Daniels-esque fantasy season for the Titans’ rookie. However, he could have some stash and streamer potential throughout his first season.
Pick 2, TRADE Jacksonville Jaguars – WR/CB Travis Hunter
Team Needs: WR, OL, TE
The NFL’s version of Shohei Ohtani is officially a Jaguar. The Colorado two-way player is the only FBS player with more than 10 touchdowns and more than five interceptions in his career.
Fantasy impact? The Heisman Trophy winner, Hunter, should qualify as both a receiver and a defensive player (IDP) in fantasy. Most scouts say he’s WR1 in the class, and with their 34-year-old GM making a splash in his first draft, it’s safe to say new HC Liam Coen has quite the plan for this generational talent. The Jags paid a pretty penny, but they got the best overall prospect in the draft.
Cleveland traded the 2nd overall pick during the draft.
Pick 3, New York Giants – EDGE Abdul Carter
Team Needs: QB, G, CB
Regardless of the listed needs, Abdul Carter was the best player remaining on the board and the best defensive player in the draft. The Penn State product should rack up the stat sheet, not just because he’s on the Giants.
Carter has a high ability of getting around blocks and has a parallel with his feet and hands that make defending him challenging. His agility is also a plus and helps him not waste his motions.
Fantasy impact? Whether scoring as a defensive player or unit, the Giants defense can count on an increase in tallies for sacks and turnovers.
Pick 4, New England Patriots – T Will Campbell
Team Needs: Edge, LB, TE
The Patriots opt for protection with their pick in Campbell. While he has a high-risk game, he also has a high-reward game. Most notably, the Patriots will be able to rely on Campbell to be a stout run blocker and succeed in pass protection, having spent his career as a starter in the SEC.
Fantasy impact? New England just needs more time to improve its offense. Campbell should boost protection for Drake Maye and also improve their run game. I like this for Rhamondre Stevenson and their running back room the most.
Pick 5, Cleveland Browns – DT Mason Graham
Team Needs: WR, RB, LB
Mason Graham is unbelievable against the run, and in a division that features Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, Cleveland again addresses a chess need when a lot of other teams are playing checkers.
The drop off from Graham to the next-best DT is huge, too, giving the Browns an edge in a division that doesn’t currently have many. Graham provides quickness, effort, and strength, and has often been compared to star DT Christian Wilkins.
Fantasy impact? Hard to pinpoint a fantasy value except for more overall points to a defensive unit in Cleveland, which is usually drafted relatively high in fantasy leagues with this setting.
Cleveland traded back from No. 2 to No. 5 during the draft.
Pick 6, Las Vegas Raiders – RB Ashton Jeanty
Team Needs: RB, OL, LB
Running back was the most glaring need for the Raiders, who had only had Sincere McCormick and Zamir White before signing the veteran Raheem Mostert in the offseason. Las Vegas was at the bottom of the league last season in most running back categories. While its offense has more holes, it found an immediate can’t-miss impact player.
Fantasy impact? New head coach Pete Carroll loves running the ball and Jeanty mirrors some traits that Marshawn Lynch possessed. Jeanty will be the Week 1 starter and will likely be a first-round pick in fantasy football. Don’t overthink this one.
Pick 7, New York Jets – T Armand Membou
Team Needs: TE, S, CB
The Jets addressed a need that will not only make its offensive line younger but also provide protection for New York’s new quarterback, Justin Fields. Arguably the best right tackle in the draft, the move should also help RBs Breece Hall and Braelon Allen.
Membou’s body control and quickness will give the Jets’ OL a “pop”. His strength also helps stifle blitzes, providing more time in the pocket and running lanes.
Fantasy impact? He only helps the case of why you continue to draft guys such as Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson with confidence.
Pick 8, Carolina Panthers – WR Tetairoa McMillan
Team Needs: DE, S, CB
This is the first shocker of this year’s draft. The Panthers’ defense was arguably the worst in the NFL the previous season, and it had the opportunity to make a huge step up, but instead chose to target its wide receiver corps that it had failed to develop after recent drafts.
Carolina drafts a young wideout after trading another young wideout, Jonathan Mingo, when the team could not develop him.
Fantasy impact? Poor. McMillan should start at X, but joins Adam Thielen, Xavier Legette, Jalen Coker, and David Moore in a crowded wide receiver room.
Pick 9, New Orleans Saints – T Kelvin Banks Jr.
Team Needs: QB, LB, S
There aren’t a lot of elite tackles worth taking in the first round in this draft, and for New Orleans, it can now pair Banks Jr. with Taliese Fuaga, whom they drafted in the first round last year.
As a former Longhorn, Banks Jr. has battled previous guys who are already in the NFL — and battled them well. He’s more ready in pass protection, but run blocking should steadily progress.
Fantasy impact? Whoever is under center for the Saints will have more time to go through reads and move the offense as a whole because of the duo of Banks Jr. and Fuaga. I’m not confident the move makes me want New Orleans’ QB, RB or WR in fantasy, but there are worse options.
Pick 10, Chicago Bears – TE Colston Loveland
Team Needs: G, EDGE, DT, RB
Originally mocked to the Colts, Chicago drafted Loveland a few spots ahead to add certainty to its tight end room and gain another offensive weapon for Caleb Williams.
The Michigan product has all the makings of a career-long TE1—size, athleticism, football IQ, and the ability to body smaller defenders. He’s not just a big dude who catches passes; he’s an every-down weapon who can block, run crisp routes, and rack up yards after the catch.
Fantasy impact? Cole Kmet did not have a high stock to begin with, but now it makes him nearly undraftable in fantasy. If Caleb Williams can improve and it’s noticeable early in the year, Loveland could be key at a weak fantasy position. The upside is real.
Pick 11, San Francisco 49ers – EDGE Mykel Williams
Team Needs: LB, CB, OL
After losing Dre Greenlaw, the edge position had an immediate need. Faced with injuries much of last season in that unit as a whole, San Francisco’s defense needed more help than anywhere on offense.
Fantasy impact? Filling that void could continue make the 49ers DST a weekly fantasy starter.
Pick 12, Dallas Cowboys – G Tyler Booker
Team Needs: WR, LB, OL
It’s Tyler cubed as Booker likely lines up opposite Tyler Smith — and joins tackle Tyler Guyton.
This was the only question mark on the Cowboys’ offensive line, and now the team can focus on getting another weapon for Dak Prescott and boosting the defense for the remainder of the draft.
Fantasy impact? Whoever Dallas makes as its primary rusher should take a step up in a big way. I also like the line having the ability to provide more time for Dak Prescott. This could allow him to cut down on turnovers and be more consistent.
Pick 13, Miami Dolphins – DT Kenneth Grant
Team Needs: CB, OL, S
With one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL, it will stay that way as Miami opts for defense with its first pick.
Grant was the 16th-best available player at the time he was selected, according to some draft big boards. Miami also missed out on a chance to improve its secondary.
Fantasy impact? Makes the defense stronger, but no key fantasy impact.
Pick 14, Indianapolis Colts – Tyler Warren
Team Needs: S, Edge, DT
Mock drafts had Indianapolis hoping for either Tyler Warren or Colston Loveland to be available at its pick. The Colts arguably got the best tight end in the draft and bolstered a room with the only notable name being veteran Mo Alie-Cox.
Fantasy impact? Anthony Richardson and/or Daniel Jones get a reliable receiving option and a player who can move around the formation to create mismatches. If Richardson can improve his accuracy and consistency, Warren should be able to make a quick fantasy impact.
Pick 15, Atlanta Falcons – LB Jalon Walker
Team Needs: WR, S, LB
Atlanta’s pass rush is immediately better with this pick from the neighboring Georgia Bulldogs. Jalen Walker is a hybrid defender who offers the Falcons many positives in his play. From constricting the running lanes to providing upside as a pass-rusher, Atlanta addresses a team need.
Fantasy impact? Much like Cleveland and San Francisco, the unit as a whole improves.
Pick 16: Arizona Cardinals – DT Walter Nolen
Team Needs: OL, Edge, LB
Arizona’s defensive line gets infinitely better adding Nolen to its interior. While the offensive line is arguably Arizona’s most significant need, the predecessor to Calais Campbell is now learning from one of the best.
Fantasy impact? Not much outside of a slight boost to that position. It’s more of a real-life over fantasy pick.
Pick 17, Cincinnati Bengals – DE Shemar Stewart
Team Needs: S, DT, OL
Not many teams needed a defensive player more than the Bengals. Stewart immediately assumes a starting role opposite of Trey Hendrickson. He is viewed as an athletic freak who broke the NFL Combine.
Fantasy impact? Having a potential stud defensive end opposite Hendrickson will only improve this abysmally bad defense. But, they still have a long way to go.
Pick 18, Seattle Seahawks – G Grey Zabel
Team Needs: TE, LB, S
This was a case of best available. If the Seahawks were going to take any lineman high, it was going to be a guard. None of the team’s starters on the line were drafted before 2022, solidifying Seattle’s commitment to get younger and more talented on an offensive line that ranked near the bottom last year.
Fantasy impact? Kenneth Walker should be able to rebound from an inefficient season. Walker has shown flashes and should only see improvement with the most athletic guard in the draft. This also makes the case of drafting Sam Darnold much more intriguing.
Pick 19, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – WR Emeka Egbuka
Team Needs: S, LB, TE
I thought this was one of the teams that saw a defensive player as a lock in Round 1. Instead, it takes a talented Ohio State receiver in the wake of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin getting closer to the end of their careers.
Fantasy impact? Low in 2025. This pick matters in fantasy for years to come — unless injuries sideline Evans or Godwin again. Plus, Baker Mayfield gets another weapon to add to a loaded corps.
Pick 20, Denver Broncos – CB Jahdae Barron
Team Needs: RB, WR, S
Much like Tampa Bay, I was sure Denver was a lock for an offensive player in Round 1. Instead, they arguably get the best corner in the draft to pair with the best corner in the NFL. The Broncos likely view Barron’s position as a limited quantity, whereas it can address running back and wide receiver in later rounds.
Fantasy impact? The Broncos’ defense as a unit is starting to look scary. The defense propelled this team to the postseason one season ago and is now better. They’ll be a top DST off the board.
Pick 21, Pittsburgh Steelers – DT Derrick Harmon
Team Needs: QB, G, CB
A lot of teams that need corners are opting for DT or edge players. While Pittsburgh needs a corner, the team desperately needs a quarterback, and they opted to pass on the likes of Shedeur Sanders and Jaxson Dart.
However, for what seems like decades, the Steelers have gone above .500 by having a lockdown defense. It got better tonight.
Fantasy impact? The Steelers defense should be drafted as a top-five unit in fantasy.
Pick 22, Los Angeles Chargers – RB Omarion Hampton
Team Needs: Edge, DE, CB
Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman is notorious for being a run-first offense. Historically, he and John Harbaugh have had massive success on the ground, so the pick makes sense.
The Chargers signed former Steeler rusher Najee Harris in the offseason, but Los Angeles is making it clear they aren’t all-in on the veteran.
Fantasy impact? Unsure that Harris is reliable to take on complete starting duties, fantasy managers can draft Hampton, hoping he wins the job if it is not clear by the time the regular season begins. At worst, in a committee, Hampton provides fantasy managers with high-upside depth at the position.
When was the last time a first-round running back was not given the keys to the backfield?
Pick 23, Green Bay Packers – WR Matthew Golden
Team Needs: T, CB, DT
For the first time since 2002, the Packers drafted an offensive skill position player. Golden joins a crowded corps of Christian Watson (ACL), Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, and Dontayvion Wicks — all of whom have not proven they can be consistent.
Fantasy impact? I like Golden in dynasty the most, as he is sure to beat out the majority of this group. As far as this year, camp and preseason buzz will be needed to see if he can win a starting spot.
Pick 24, Minnesota Vikings – G Donovan Jackson
Team Needs: Edge, OL, LB
The Vikings addressed its biggest team hole, the offensive line. They still have work to do at the other guard position, as well as center, but it’s a step to protecting J.J. McCarthy and allowing more production from Aaron Jones.
Fantasy impact? No significant change, but it’s a good start until Minnesota gets more offensive line pieces.
Pick 25, TRADE New York Giants – Jaxson Dart
Team Needs: T, DT, S
A trade up for a quarterback came at No. 25, sending Ole Miss signal caller to learn from Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston. The Giants waited to see if Pittsburgh would take a QB at No. 21, and waiting through the smoke screen paid off.
Fantasy impact? Not this year for anything except dynasty. In years to come, the Giants finally look like they are on the right track to competing again in the next few years.
Houston traded the 25th overall pick during the draft. The Texans now pick for the first time at No. 34, in Round 2.
Pick 26, TRADE Atlanta Falcons – Edge James Pearce Jr.
Team Needs: OL, LB, CB
Pearce Jr. had been one of the best available on the board for a lot of the first round. He finally goes at No. 26, marking the second defensive player Atlanta drafts tonight after giving up quite a few pieces to get him. The Falcons are trusting the process and know the defense needs vast improvement if it wants to compete in the division, let alone the league.
Fantasy impact? Much like Cleveland and San Francisco, the unit as a whole improves.
Los Angeles traded the 26th overall pick during the draft. The Rams now pick for the first time at No. 44, in Round 2.
Pick 27, Baltimore Ravens – S Malaki Starks
Team Needs: DE, S, CB
Several teams messed up in allowing Baltimore to get a dynamic safety. Even with Nick Emmanwori still on the board, Baltimore trusted its research and chose Starks. A three-year starter at Georgia, his versatility, size, and athletic ability to eliminate tight ends with his speed and ball skills will make him shine. Him and Kyle Hamilton will be the best safety duo in the league.
Fantasy impact? This should only help out a defense that can’t get over the hump against the Chiefs and Bills.
Pick 28, Detroit Lions – DT Tyleik Williams
Team Needs: CB, LB, S
Williams was projected to go in the second round, but Detroit took him after getting gashed in the second half of the season. Detroit needs help on defense, especially on the defensive line, but this may not have been the best pick for what they need or the best available option.
Fantasy impact? Non-existent in 2025.
Pick 29, Washington Commanders – OT Josh Conerly Jr.
Team Needs: OL, C, LB
Washington’s biggest need was the offensive line, and they got a great one. Since Washington traded for Laremy Tunsil in the offseason, the thought is that Conerly Jr. could play guard or right tackle. At Oregon, Conerly allowed only one sack over 511 pass-blocking snaps and anchored an offensive line that only allowed five sacks last season.
Fantasy impact? Jayden Daniels can stay upright, and the rushing lanes will open for both Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler. If the intrigue for fantasy managers wasn’t already there, it makes these guys more desirable this year.
Pick 30, Buffalo Bills – CB Maxwell Hairston
Team Needs: OL, S, DT
Buffalo is working to get younger and more talented at the corner position after being unable to stop Patrick Mahomes yet again. Aside from adding a receiver, not many changes on offense need to be made by Buffalo, who again, address need successfully.
Fantasy impact? The speedy playmaker should make a positive impact on the Bills’ defense.
Pick 31, TRADE Philadelphia Eagles – LB Jihaad Campbell
Team Needs: OL, DT, DE
Philadelphia has hit defensive picks out of the park — so much so that it couldn’t pay everyone and saw good players walk in the offseason. But, Howie Roseman filled a need and added the top linebacker in the draft. All they do is dominate the draft. Eagles filled a hole at linebacker to begin completing their lights-out defense once again.
Fantasy impact? The Eagles are a top-five unit for fantasy managers.
Kansas City traded the 31st overall pick during the draft.
Pick 32, Kansas City Chiefs – T Josh Simmons
Team Needs: T, S, LB
What do winners do? Make winning moves. Tackle was the most important position to fill when it comes to protecting Patrick Mahomes, and the Chiefs could have the best tackle in the draft in Simmons, who is coming off a sending-ended knee injury.
Fantasy impact? The protection of Mahomes in a more complete line will boost his fantasy numbers and enhance the run game.
