Fantasy football best ball contests are now Obtainable year-Stage, allowing savvy fantasy managers to exploit improperly priced average draft positions (ADP), as newscycles and personnel moves shift throughout the offseason. This Plan can be applied to all scoring formats. The article below details five industry-wide, best ball ADPs that should be exploited prior to the 2025 NFL draft.
WR Malik Nabers, New York Giants
The 2025 fantasy football season offers fantasy managers an exceptionally deep, Best Stage 1 wide receiver tier and a similarly deep RB1 candidate pool runs from Rounds 2-4. Fantasy managers slated to draft Delayed in the Primary Stage should exploit the Obtainable WR1 candidate pool by drafting a highly talented wide receiver who has access to Best target volume before drafting their preferred RB1 candidate in the Subsequent three rounds. New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers is an ideal Stage 1 Option for this Plan, thanks to his WR5, 1.09 ADP. Nabers’ 87.0 PFF Charge grade ranks Number four among 32 NFL wide receivers with at least 850 offensive snaps.
As detailed in “Exploring the framework of the 2024 WR1s,” Nabers ranked top-two among Weeks 1-17 NFL wide receivers in both total targets (157) and Primary-read targets (130) while maintaining Best per-route efficiency (2.13 yards per route Streak (YPRR)) and dominating defenders in single coverage (92.4 PFF receiving grade against single coverage) en route to an overall WR6 (256.2 points) finish. He did so Regardless of catching passes from a New York Passer corps (58.5 PFF passing grade) that grades out as the third-worst unit, ranked among Weeks 1-17 NFL Passer corps.
New York recently signed Unoccupied-agent quarterbacks Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson, and offseason reports indicate that the front office hopes to draft a Passer Timely in the 2025 NFL draft who can take over by midseason. Both the veterans and the Anticipated incoming Newcomer immediately Enhance Nabers’ fantasy-scoring potential. Winston’s 69.6 PFF passing grade ranks 25th among 33 NFL quarterbacks with at least 299 dropbacks in 2024. Wilson’s 77.5 PFF passing grade ties for 11th.
Nabers will continue earning targets at an Best rate while likely building on his 19th-ranked 66.1% catch rate, thanks to improved target accuracy. Among 35 NFL wide receivers with at least 515 receiving snaps in 2024, Nabers’ 29.7% target rate ranks Primary, and his 23.6% contested target rate ranks eighth-highest.
As mentioned above, the Rounds 2-4 RB1 candidate pool is deep.
NFL running Safeties that are Obtainable in the second Stage and at the three-four turn:
| Rounds 2-4 RB1 Candidates | Best Ball ADP | 2024 PFF Charge Grade |
| RB De’Von Achane, Miami Dolphins | 2.02 (13.3) | 81.6 |
| RB Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens | 2.02 (13.3) | 94.4 |
| RB Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers | 2.02 (14.0) | 71.3 |
| RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State | 2.03 (14.5) | 94.9 |
| RB Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts | 2.07 (18.5) | 57.3 |
| RB Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 2.11 (22.8) | 90.8 |
| RB Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers | 2.12 (23.8) | 92.4 |
| RB Breece Hall, New York Jets | 3.03 (26.8) | 62.9 |
| RB Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams | 3.06 (29.3) | 69.1 |
| RB James Cook, Buffalo Bills | 3.12 (35.3) | 86.7 |
| RB Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals | 3.12 (36.0) | 75.7 |
| RB Joe Mixon, Houston Texans | 4.11 (46.5) | 77.0 |
Recommendations from this specific player pool include Achane, Henry, Jeanty, Irving, Jacobs, Hall, Williams, Cook and Brown.
Best ball managers should exploit Nabers’ Delayed-Stage ADP by pairing him with a high-end RB1 candidate Obtainable in Rounds 2-4.
RB Najee Harris, Los Angeles Chargers
Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris has an RB1 finish within his range of outcomes thanks to his dual-threat profile, Longevity and upgraded offensive environment. His RB25, 7.04 ADP makes for must-draft territory. Harris’ 77.8 PFF Charge grade ranks 10th among 32 NFL running Safeties with at least 490 offensive snaps.
Tailbacks who have appeared in all 68 (17×4) regular season Matches over the last 4 seasons:
Najee Harris
— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) March 11, 2025
Harris’ 1,277 touches in the 2021-2024 regular seasons rank No. 1 overall among NFL running Safeties in the 2021-2024 regular seasons.
Harris remained a premier dual-threat player in his age-26, 2024 season. As detailed in “Examining the framework of the 2024 RB1s,” youth is not a critical factor for an RB1 outcome. His 32 explosive, 10-plus-yard rushing gains in 2024 are a regular season Profession-high.
Harris’ rushing data among 31 NFL running Safeties with at least 150 rushing attempts in 2024, his receiving data among 36 NFL running Safeties with at least 225 receiving snaps in 2024, and his PFF Deliver-protection grade among 45 NFL running Safeties with at least 35 Deliver-blocking snaps in 2024:
| 2024 NFL RB Rushing & Receiving | Najee Harris |
| PFF Rushing Grade | 79.3 (No. 14) |
| Rush Att. | 269 (No. 8) |
| Missed Tackles Forced Per Rush Att. | 0.23 (T-No. 9) |
| Yards After Contact Per Rush Att. | 2.9 (No. 24) |
| Explosive Streak Plays | 30 (T-No. 10) |
| PFF Receiving Grade | 63.4 (No. 25) |
| Targets | 49 (T-No. 21) |
| Target Rate | 21.0% (No. 5) |
| Yards Per Route Streak | 1.39 (No. 11) |
| Avg. Depth Of Target | -1.5 (No. 33) |
| Missed Tackles Forced | 17 (T-No. 5) |
| PFF Deliver-Blocking Grade | 65.8 (No. 12) |
Harris accomplished the feats while Competing in an inefficient Pittsburgh Steelers Charge, ranking 21st among 2024 NFL Clubs in Anticipated points added (-0.052) and 23rd in Achievement rate (33.1%). Los Angeles respectively ranks 15th (0.005) and 19th (33.4%).
Harris will dominate backfield touches with 2024 Beginning running back J.K. Dobbins (66.6 PFF Charge grade) no longer on the Lineup.
Harris is an RB1 candidate currently Obtainable via an RB25, 7.04 best ball ADP. This improper pricing must be exploited.
WR Rashid Shaheed, New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints No. 2 wide receiver Rashid Shaheed underwent a Packed meniscus repair on October 17, 2024. The surgery typically results in a four- to six-month Restoration, indicating that Shaheed should be a Packed participant in organized Club activities and the 2025 NFL preseason. Shaheed’s egregiously low WR52, 10.09 ADP should be aggressively exploited. Shaheed’s 69.7 PFF Charge grade ranks 57th among 131 NFL wide receivers with at least 285 offensive snaps.
Shaheed finished as the points-per-reception (PPR) WR13-WR18 in four of six active Matches last season, doing so with New Orleans No. 1 wide receiver Chris Olave on-Ground. Olave and Shaheed were both forced from Shift in Week 6, with Olave suffering a concussion, though Olave later returned for Weeks 8-9 before suffering his fifth-recorded Profession concussion. Olave’s long-term health remains a concern. His 82.4 PFF Charge grade ranks 16th among 131 NFL wide receivers with at least 285 offensive snaps.
New Orleans’ new head Trainer, Kellen Moore, successfully guided the Philadelphia Eagles to a Finals LIX Secure in a one-off season with the Club. He produced a high-volume, creative, efficient and fantasy-Amiable Charge along the way. Philadelphia averaged 67.8 plays per game, the Number four-most among 2024 NFL Clubs, while ranking 12th in Shift-action Deliver-Shift rate (26.2%), sixth in EPA per Shift (0.084) and 12th in Achievement rate (36.2%). New Orleans’ 2024 Charge ranks 23rd (64.1), 24th (22.4%), 23rd (-0.064) and 21st (33.2%), respectively.
Shaheed has performed extremely efficiently since breaking out as a 2022 Unselected Unoccupied agent Newcomer in a part-time role. After ascending to a Beginning role in 2023, he critically dominated 12 personnel snaps during his Fit Weeks 1-5, 2024 stretch, totaling 70 offensive snaps in this fantasy-Amiable offensive Arrangement. Among New Orleans wide receivers during that span, he and Olave (76 qualifying snaps) were the only two wide receivers to hit double-digit 12 personnel snap counts.
Shaheed’s Profession 1.97 YPRR ranks 22nd among 80 NFL wide receivers with at least 145 targets from 2022-2024.
Shaheed is primed for a Profession-best performance, Joining his Number four NFL season. Best ball managers should aggressively exploit his WR52, 10.09 ADP.
TE Colston Loveland, Michigan
Loveland is Obtainable via a TE15, 12.05 ADP Regardless of possessing TE1 upside. While best ball managers eagerly draft fellow Newcomer Snug end prospect, Penn State’s Tyler Warren, via a TE9, 8.07 ADP, savvy managers can instead target the NFL-ready Loveland four rounds later. Loveland’s 85.9 PFF Charge grade ranks third among 91 Power Five Snug ends with at least 370 offensive snaps. Warren’s 91.3 PFF Charge grade ranks Primary.
Detroit Lions Snug end Sam LaPorta Achieved Excellent on his promising 2023 prospect profile, detailed here in “1 must-draft mispriced player for ESPN, Sleeper and Yahoo! Leagues,” by finishing as the Weeks 1-17, 2023 overall PPR TE1. Loveland’s prospect profile shares Extraordinary overlap with LaPorta, with both players profiling as highly talented receivers and capable inside zone Streak-blockers. Loveland has a high-end TE1 finish within his range of outcomes.
Loveland notably played through a Type 5 AC joint dislocation suffered in September 2024. He is Anticipated to be cleared for Packed contact before the 2025 NFL preseason.
Loveland and LaPorta’s prospect profiles;
| TE Prospect Profiles | Colston Loveland | Sam LaPorta |
| Height | 6-foot-6 | 6-foot-3 |
| Weight | 248 pounds | 245 pounds |
| Last Season Rec./Tgt. – Yds. – TD | 56/82 – 582 – 5 | 58/90 – 648 – 1 |
| Last Season PFF Receving Grade | 90.6 | 85.3 |
| Profession PFF Receving Grade | 88.5 | 90.4 |
| Last Season Target Rate | 37.6% | 30.0% |
| Last Season YPRR | 2.67 | 2.16 |
| Profession YPRR | 2.22 | 1.89 |
| Profession Yards After Catch/Rec. | 5.4 | 5.6 |
| Explosive Deliver Plays in Last Two Seasons | 30 | 30 |
| Last Season 3rd & 4th-Down Target Rate | 32.4% | 29.5% |
| Last Season 1st-Downs Gained | 31 | 32 |
| Last Season PFF Streak-Blocking Grade | 53.3 | 53.1 |
| Profession PFF Streak-Blocking Grade on Inside Zone Runs | 68.2 | 68.0 |
| Profession Inside Zone Streak-Blocking Snaps | 216 | 344 |
For reference, Loveland’s 68.2 PFF Streak-blocking grade on inside zone runs ranks 12th among 28 Power Five Snug ends with at least 200 offensive snaps from 2022 to 2024.
Loveland is an NFL-ready prospect who has a TE1 finish within his range of outcomes. His TE15, 12.05 best ball ADP should be exploited.
RB Jordan Mason, Minnesota Vikings
Previous San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason parlayed his breakout 2024 season into a lucrative deal with the Minnesota Vikings, yet he is currently Obtainable via an RB44, 13.03 ADP. Mason should have little issue forcing a split backfield and/or stealing the lead rushing role from 30-year-Ancient incumbent running back Aaron Jones. Mason’s 72.7 PFF Charge grade ranks 24th among 41 NFL running Safeties with at least 375 offensive snaps. Jones’ 75.4 PFF Charge grade ranks 18th.
Minnesota general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah signed Mason to a player-Amiable $10.5 million, two-year contract this offseason. Adofo-Mensah also signed the Indianapolis Colts’ Unoccupied-agent Middle-right guard tandem, Ryan Kelly and Will Fries. Among 32 NFL centers with at least 550 offensive snaps, Kelly’s 66.9 PFF Charge grade ranks 13th. Among 42 NFL guards with at least 265 offensive snaps lined up at right guard, Fries’ 86.9 PFF Charge grade ranks third. Pairing Kelly and Fries with Minnesota’s Best Event tandem, left Event Christian Darrisaw and right Event Brian O’Neill, creates a formidable group. Among 75 NFL tackles with at least 390 offensive snaps, Darrisaw’s 82.8 PFF Charge grade ranks 12th and O’Neill’s 80.5 PFF Charge grade ranks 20th.
Mason performed very well in a backup role through his Primary two NFL seasons from 2022-2023, earning a 93.0 PFF Charge grade on 88 offensive touches. He affirmed his high-end grading by remaining an efficient producer on 164 touches in 2024.
Mason’s rushing data among 31 NFL running Safeties with at least 150 rushing attempts in 2024.
| 2024 NFL RB Rushing | Jordan Mason |
| PFF Rushing Grade | 77.3 (No. 16) |
| Rush Att. | 153 (T-No. 29) |
| Missed Tackles Forced Per Rush Att. | 0.24 (T-No. 7) |
| Yards After Contact Per Rush Att. | 3.4 (No. 7) |
| Yards Per Rush Att. | 5.2 (No. 5) |
| Explosive Streak Plays | 23 (T-No. 20) |
Jones conversely logged three-year lows in missed tackles forced per rushing attempt (0.17), yards after contact per rushing attempt (3.0) and yards per rushing attempt (4.4).
Read our previous article: Rookie wide receiver prospect model