Following the NFL Draft, fantasy football is heating up. Your friends are ready to draft, and your brother is ready to trade the farm for Ashton Jeanty. Now is the time to start preparing for your draft whether it’s next week or in September, so let’s dive into who you should target in the first round.
1. Biijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons
Alright, let’s make this clear. Bijan is my RB1 and overall top player heading into this upcoming fantasy season. This is due to his 3 down ability, availability, pass catching, elusiveness, and increased red zone/goal-line usage in the second half of last year.
Bijan is an alpha RB, has phenomenal vision, speed, pedigree as a former top ten selection, and excelled with Penix in the lineup as well. He finished RB3 overall and 9th overall with all players considered and I believe his game takes another leap. Coming off a near 1900 cumulative yards, and 15 total touchdowns season with potential for growth screams top fantasy scorer.
2. Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Detroit Lions
Next, Gibbs is another runner who exploded last season and could command even more touches this upcoming season. To his credit, he actually finished as RB1 last season, but still has Montgomery as a complement in the backfield.
Scoring 20 total touchdowns last season in a shared backfield, you could see Gibbs go for 25 or face regression depending on the play-calling following Ben Johnson’s departure. Which explains why I have him #2 behind Bijan.
3. Ashton Jeanty, RB, Las Vegas Raiders
We move onto another tantalizing running back at third, and it’s recent sixth overall selection Ashton Jeanty out of Boise State. Putting him up here with top tier proven runners explains how highly his evaluation graded. Draft him first in rookie drafts, and in the first round of startups.
Jeanty is a 5’9, 211 pound workhorse who enters an empty backfield in Las Vegas with a coaching staff that has an OC and HC who never rank below 11th in rushing attempts. He will get a chance to make a name for himself in his rookie year early and often with little competition. He could have a generational rookie year similar to teammate and top 12 target Brock Bowers.
4. Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Not too much needs to be said about Chase, he’s finished as the top overall player and receiver before. He’s in a proven offense with a QB who can support two WR1’s. And is a LSU product, enough said.
5. Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings
Same goes for Justin Jefferson who has finished as the top overall receiver and player in fantasy before. LSU products get the job done, don’t over think it with Jefferson, he’s QB proof in O’Connells offense. And JJ McCarthy could surprise a lot of people.
6. Brian Thomas Jr, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
BTJ is coming off a pro bowl campaign where he finished 3rd in yards, on 73 receptions. The Jaguars vacated nearly 250 targets moving on from majority of the receiving corps and rebuilding it around him. Travis Hunter, Brenton Strange, and Dyami Brown are 100% a more dangerous supporting cast, but Thomas is still numero uno.
7. Malik Nabers, WR, New York Giants
The opposite could be said about Nabers and it would prop him up in contention for #1 overall receiver. The New York Giants made no additions to the receiving corps, opting to add two veteran quarterbacks and a first round rookie quarterback. Nabers has no competition for targets to where it’s alarming.
It led to injuries last season and over usage but if his availability matches his talent in 25-26 you could be looking at the best player in fantasy due to volume and production meeting situation.
8. Brock Bowers, TE, Las Vegas Raiders
Bowers is coming off a generational season not only for a rookie Tight End, but all tight ends in NFL History. He set records at receptions and yards dominating Sam LaPorta’s record breaking rookie season the year prior.
With nearly 1200 yards on 112 receptions, and 5 touchdowns, he set the NFL on fire. And with Geno Smith and Ashton Jeanty added, this offense will only elevate and create more space and opportunity for Bowers to work the openfield.
9. Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
Reigning offensive player of the year. Finished as RB2, and has an RB1 season under his belt. Running behind the best offensive line in football. Just had 2,005 rushing yards. Need anymore reasons?
10. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys
Lamb is tricky to predict, but I am not willing to bet against him. He finished last season as WR8 following a WR1 season. He has more target competition with the addition of George Pickens, but it could lead to less bracketed or double coverages. Expect a top 6 WR finish at minimum.
11. Trey McBride, TE, Arizona Cardinals
Here’s another volume guy who simply gets the job done. He won’t get you a ton of touchdowns, but he sure will have a lot of touches. McBride finished last season with 112 receptions, 1146 yards and two touchdowns (which included an extensive drought).
Expect major production from him again as the only competition for targets in this Cardinals offense are Marvin Harrison Jr. (a riser), and Michael Wilson.
12. Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Lastly, we have one of the biggest NFL draft steals in Nacua. He had a little injury bug last year, missing six games on the year. But still finished as a top 30 performer. When he played, he was elite.
Nacua had 79 receptions, 990 yards, and 3 touchdowns. You read that right, 990 yards in 11 games. With a clean bill of health, Kupp off to Seattle, and a competent number two still in tow to draw attention in Davante Adams; Puka could explode in fantasy value to the best player in the game.
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