With the draft finally upon us, let’s go over five ideal first-round scenarios for fantasy football purposes. Where are the best landing spots that can help these future pros succeed immediately and help us win in 2025?
Ashton Jeanty Falls to Bears
It feels like almost every mock draft has the Raiders taking Jeanty, but from a fantasy perspective, it could be beneficial if they pass on this generational prospect to fill one of the many other needs they have. The Bears, sitting with the 10th pick, would provide a much better offensive infrastructure for Jeanty to succeed right away. Sure, between Rome Odunze, DJ Moore, and Cole Kmet, they have more mouths to feed than the Raiders, but the quality of touches for Jeanty in this Bears offense is far superior to the opportunities he would get with the Raiders. Think of Saquon Barkley with the Eagles. Their offense has plenty of talent, which helped Saquon thrive compared to a situation where he was the only show in town. I’m not saying Jeanty’s going to run for 2,000 yards, but the fact that defenses have to account for more weapons than a team like the Raiders could give Jeanty lighter boxes and more space to create explosive plays. The Bears have invested in the offensive line, with their most recent notable addition being Center Drew Dalman from the Falcons, something that shouldn’t be understated. Even more, Ben Johnson has shown to be one of the better play callers in the NFL and would undoubtedly get the most out of Jeanty.
Jets Select Tyler Warren
I’ve gone back and forth with the best landing spot for Warren, but I’ve settled back with the Jets. They have a major need at the Tight End position, but also have Garrett Wilson, who can command attention from defenses, and a still very talented Running Back in Breece Hall. Justin Fields isn’t the most ideal quarterback situation, but he helped Cole Kmet come away with a 73 catch, 700+ yard season with 6 touchdowns in 2023. Most would argue Warren has a much greater ceiling than Kmet, and he could thrive in a high-usage situation that the Jets should provide.
Raiders Pivot to Receiver, Select Tetairoa McMillan
The Arizona WR has seen his name fall in mock drafts as of late, landing somewhere in the late teens and early 20s to teams like the Seahawks or Broncos. I know I just slammed the Raiders for not providing a great offensive environment for Ashton Jeanty, but the attraction for McMillan to the Raiders is the connection he could have with Geno Smith. The newly acquired signal caller has the 9th-highest PFF grade on throws of 10+ yards and is second in PFF grade on big-time throws spanning the past three years. At the same time, McMillan is the highest graded receiver on throws of 10+ yards over the past two years, according to PFF. Geno Smith surely could support McMillan as a quality fantasy option. The Raiders also have a massive need for an X receiver who can command targets, and the fact that defenses have to account for standout TE Brock Bowers helps make the Raiders an even more attractive option.
Harbaugh Gets Michigan Man Colston Loveland
Loveland is a meticulous route runner and would quickly turn into Justin Herbert’s best friend. The Chargers don’t have an established Tight End and need more weapons for their highly-paid signal caller. We know Jim Harbaugh would have a plan in place to help this former Michigan Wolverine be successful immediately, and the Chargers would provide plenty of target opportunities from the start for Loveland. A good quarterback situation in a potentially high-volume environment is one of the better landing spots for Loveland. The biggest question is whether Loveland will be available at the 22nd pick, but the Chargers have a boatload of selections in this draft and could potentially use those assets to move up and take their guy.
Emeka Egbuka Reunites with CJ Stroud
Reuniting Egbuka with his college quarterback, CJ Stroud, sounds like a good plan to me. Egbuka may not profile as the most talented prospect, but everything you hear about him is glowing. He’ll be able to take advantage of defenses focusing on Nico Collins, and his previous chemistry with Stroud will undoubtedly help him be productive from the start. The former five-star recruit averaged almost 89 yards per game with Stroud at the helm at Ohio State in 2022, so we know good things happen for Egbuka when the now-Texans QB is throwing him the football. He’ll also complement Nico Collins as well, as he may fit better into a slot role while Nico dominates on the outside.
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