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 board, and the lack of pre-draft trading could set up 2025 for a frenzy.
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 team needs going into this year’s draft are also listed.
THE BIG BOARD
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 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.
The biggest advantage Ward has is recognizing pre-snap pressure and has the ability to protect himself. He also has the football IQ to fit the ball in tight windows and launch it downfield. He’s also mobile.
Fantasy impact? A good bye week fill-in with the upside to be a roster backup, depending on who else the Titans draft.
Pick 2, TRADE Jacksonville Jaguars – WR/CB Travis Hunter
Team Needs: WR, OL, TE
A new type of professional player 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 defensive player in fantasy. Depending on how he’s used, if it’s at both positions in a game, he can score you points in multiple places. He’s a must-draft on a team searching for playmakers.
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 arguably the best defensive player in the draft. The Penn State product should rack up the stat sheet and 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.
Fantasy impact? New England just needs more time on offense. Allowing more yards per carry in both the run and pass game bolsters reliability at multiple offensive positions. I like this for Rhamondre Stevenson 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 league it 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 normally drafted fairly 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 Sincere McCormick and Zamir White only 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 impact player.
Fantasy impact? New head coach Pete Carroll loves running the ball and Jeanty mirrors some positive skillsets Marshawn Lynch possessed. Jeanty will be the Week 1 starter and should be drafted in every format.
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 provide coverage for New York’s new quarterback. The move also helps backs Breece Hall and Braelon Allen with their games.
Membou’s body control and quickness will give the Jets’ OL a “pop”. His strength also helps stifle blitzes and provides 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 one season ago and it had the opportunity to make a huge step up on defense but chose to throw darts at its wide receiver corps that it has failed developing after recent drafts.
Carolina drafts a young wideout after trading another young wideout, Jonathan Mingo, when it could not develop him.
Fantasy impact? Poor. He joins Adam Thielen, Xavier Legette, Jalen Corker and David Moore in a crowded competition.
Pick 9, New Orleans Saints – T Kelvin Banks Jr.
Team Needs: QB, LB, S
There aren’t a lot of tackles worth drafting in this draft, and for New Orleans, it can now pair Banks Jr. with Taliese Fuaga that they drafted in the first round last year.
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
Originally mocked to the Colts, Chicago drafts Loveland a little high to add certainty to its tight end room and gain another offensive weapon.
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.
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 make the 49ers 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 is the only question mark on the Cowboys’ offensive line and now it can focus on defense for the majority of the time remaining in 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 the draft big boards. Miami also missed out on multiple corners it needs more.
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 bolsters a room with the only notable name being veteran Mo Alie-Cox.
Fantasy impact? Anthony Richardson gets a reliable receiving option and the offensive line gets some extra help when he lines up as a blocker. If Richardson can improve his accuracy, much like Loveland’s balance in Chicago, he could be a fantasy option at a position that does not have much.
Pick 15, Atlanta Falcons – LB Jalon Walker
Team Needs: WR, S, LB
Atlanta’s pass rush is immediately better with this pick. He’s a hybrid defender that offers the Falcons many positives in his play. From constricting the running lanes to providing strong slides and bursts, 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. While offensive line is arguably its biggest need, the predecessor to Calais Campbell is now learning from one of the best.
Fantasy impact? Not much this year unless Nolen plays in injury time — which would actually be worse for managers in fantasy.
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 next to Trey Hendrickson. He as viewed as the next Kyle Hamilton — who is already an elite safety in the game.
Fantasy impact? Not one player can bring the Bengals’ atrocious points per game down, but the leadership of both DEs could.
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 its line.
Fantasy impact? RB Kenneth Walker should be able to rebound from a poor yards per carry during the 2024-25 season. Walker is a serviceable starter who cannot get worse with this pick and offensive line. 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 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…
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, its arguably the best corner in the draft. Broncos likely view Barron’s position as a limited quantity, whereas it can address running back and wide receiver in rounds to come.
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’re worth drafting in fantasy.
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, it needs a quarterback more, chose 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. He and John Harbaugh had success in it last season, so running it back, just with different guys, makes sense.
The Chargers signed former Steeler rusher Najee Harris in the offseason, but Los Angeles is making it clear it’s anyone’s job.
Fantasy impact? Unsure that Harris is reliable to take on complete starting duties, fantasy managers can draft Hampton in later rounds 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 depth.
Pick 23, Green Bay Packers – WR Matthew Golden
Team Needs: T, CB, DT
For the first time since 2002, the Packers draft an offensive skill position player. Golden joins a crowded corps of Christian Watson, 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 half of the group Green Bay already had. As far as this year, camp and preseason buzz will be needed to see if he can crack a top starting spot.
Pick 24, Minnesota Vikings – G Donovan Jackson
Team Needs: Edge, OL, LB
The Vikings addressed its biggest team hole, 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 change until Minnesota gets more OL 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 Wilson. 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
Pierce 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. 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
31 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, his versatility, size and athletic ability to eliminate contested catches paired with his speed and ball skills will make him shine. The lack of schemes he plays should make other teams pass on him, and they did.
Pick 28, Detroit Lions – DT Tyleik Williams
Team Needs: CB, LB, S
Williams was projected to the middle of the second round, but Detroit took him so he could learn from D.J. Reader. Detroit needs help on defense, but this may have not been the best pick for them for what they need or best available.
Fantasy impact? Non-existent in 2025.
Pick 29, Washington Commanders – OT Josh Conerly Jr.
Team Needs: OL, C, LB
Washington’s biggest need was offensive line and they got a great one. Since Washington traded for Laremy Tunsil in the offseason, the thought is Conerly Jr. plays guard.
Fantasy impact? Jayden Daniels can stay upright and the running holes 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 at the corner position and drafted Hairston to learn behind Tre’Davious White, who is back with the team on a one-year deal. Aside from adding a receiver, not many changes on offense need to be made by Buffalo, who again, address need in a successful way.
Fantasy impact? Unless he wins a starting job, no fantasy impact this year.
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, the Eagles filled a hole at linebacker to begin completing its 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 a generational talent in Simmons.
Fantasy impact? The protection of Mahomes in a more complete line will boost his fantasy numbers and give more opportunities for Isiah Pacheco to add to his yards per carry.
