My Favorite Fantasy Football Picks in the First 10 Rounds: Bucky Irving, Matthew Golden and More

With fantasy football season getting closer and closer, I wanted to highlight my favorite picks for every round.

We'll go over the top 100 picks, so 10 rounds if you are looking at a 10-team league. I'll be referencing the FantasySP Average Draft Position list a bunch.

Let's dive right in!

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Round 1 - Ja'Marr Chase

In round 1, my favorite pick is my No. 1 pick for 2025: Chase.

He was a fantasy star last season and should star again in 2025. Some are expecting some regression from him, but I could actually see Chase being even better this season.

A lot of folks enjoy a running back with the first pick, but I think there's enough of those to go around, so I'll take a wideout first. Chase has been there and done that for so long that I just feel most comfortable taking him first.

Round 2 - Bucky Irving

While my favorite round 1 pick was the first guy in ADP, my favorite second-round selection is the last guy I could have chosen. Irving is the No. 20 overall player, and going at pick 20 on average.

He was really good as a rookie, and now should lead the Bucs' backfield in his second year. Irving is a well-rounded fantasy asset, and can put up big numbers in PPR formats.

I think he's got a good chance at outproducing his ADP, and maybe being a top-five back overall. So far, this could be a legitimate fantasy football draft.

Round 3 - Kyren Williams

Williams is another great fantasy pick, and I think there's a ton of value getting him near his ADP. He's going around pick 24 so far.

He's a workhorse for the Rams' offense, and I don't see that changing in 2025, even with Davante Adams in town. The injury concerns with Matthew Stafford should make Williams even more appealing right now.

He has top-five fantasy back upside. If I had the first pick in a draft, these are the three guys I'd go with, if possible.

Round 4 - Jayden Daniels

I don't love a lot of the guys currently ranked between 31-40 on the ADP list. With that in mind, I like going quarterback here, so Daniels it is.

Daniels is going around pick 30 on average. The dual-threat star had a great rookie season, and I expect even more in his second year.

Daniels is a riskier choice right now with the uncertainty surrounding Terry McLaurin, but I expect the situation to be resolved soon, and Washington to surround Daniels with talent at some point before the season gets rolling.

Round 5 - George Kittle

Picks 41-50 are also not full of a ton of fantasy assets I like. That makes it a good time to go after a non-RB or WR. Kittle is a top-end tight end, and is going near pick 41 on average.

Kittle was a top-end fantasy TE last season, and should star for the Niners again in 2025. There's some questions surrounding some pass catchers and Christian McCaffrey, and Kittle capitalized without those guys last year, and should deliver big numbers even if the team stays healthy.

Kittle has the chance to outperform his draft slot, and challenge for the top fantasy tight end spot. Why not take that gamble at this point of a draft?

Round 6 - Aaron Jones

There's a couple guys I like between slots 51-60, like Sam LaPorta, DeVonta Smith and Xavier Worthy, but I feel the safest pick in that range is Jones.

Jones will be the do-it-all back for the Vikings. With a first-year starting quarterback running the show, Jones should be heavily involved this season.

And with Jordan Addison suspended for the first couple games, Jones should really be a good option early in the season. He's a good PPR asset, and feels like a really good weekly starter, as long as he stays healthy.

Round 7 - Tetairoa McMillan

At this point of the draft, I like to start taking some gambles. This is a gamble, but also seems like a pretty safe pick.

McMillan will be the top wideout in Carolina. Bryce Young showed enough last season to have some hope in McMillan really taking off as a rookie. There's enough talent otherwise to take some of the defensive attention away from him too.

McMillan could be this year's rookie breakout wide receiver. That's worth a gamble at this point of a draft.

Round 8 - Brian Robinson

Robinson is my favorite pick between slots 71-90. He's going around pick 77 on average.

Robinson is the lead back for Washington, and that should continue again this season. Austin Ekeler will steal some work in the passing game, but I don't think Robinson will have an issue putting up good fantasy numbers most of the season.

This feels like a fairly low-risk pick, with a chance for it to be a draft steal. It probably comes down to the health of Robinson.

Round 9 - Stefon Diggs

In another area where there's not a ton of players I like, I'd focus on players with the highest upside. There's a few guys in the running, but I'd say it's Diggs.

There's risk with him coming off a major injury, but his upside is being the top pass catcher in New England, which I have high hopes for in Drake Maye's second season. Diggs is being overlooked a bit, and if his ADP stays near its current mark, I see some good draft value here with Diggs.

Round 10 - Matthew Golden

For my final top-100 pick, I'd go with the rookie wideout from Green Bay in Golden.

I think he could really star as a rookie, and be another great bet to be the top rookie wideout. He's going way later than McMillan because of where they were drafted and because of the extra numbers of options in Green Bay.

The only way I don't see Golden outperforming his current ADP is if Golden gets hurt and misses time.