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Fantasy Football: Bestball Draft, Strategy Discussion

May and June are perfect months for fantasy football enthusiasts to get in as many Bestball drafts as possible. With redraft season not truly kicking off until July and most dynasty leagues quieting down after the 2025 NFL Draft, Bestball is the best way to keep your head in the game while still featuring a unique scoring system that requires a unique draft strategy.

Note: This Bestball draft was a real entry into the Puppy tournament on Underdog fantasy. Every pick is listed, with my selections in bold. The live draft can be viewed with in-time reactions on the Fantasy Football RPG YouTube channel.

Fantasy Football: Full Bestball Draft Results, Strategy Discussion

First Round

1.01 – Ja’Marr Chase

1.02 – Justin Jefferson

1.03 – Bijan Robinson1.04 – Saquon Barkley

1.05 – CeeDee Lamb

1.06 – Puka Nacua

1.07 – Jahmyr Gibbs

1.08 – Malik Nabers

1.09 -Ashton Jeanty

1.10 – Amon-Ra St. Brown

1.11 – Nico Collins

1.12 – Christian McCaffrey

Ja’Marr Chase is the unquestioned first-overall pick in bestball fantasy drafts, and it’s easy to see why. After leading the league in receptions, yards, and touchdowns last year, the former first-round pick is in a perfect situation to repeat his dominant 2024. Armed with the same quarterback, coaching staff, and atrocious defense, the sky is the limit for one of the game’s elite playmakers.

Second Round

2.01 – Brock Bowers

2.02 – Brian Thomas

2.03 – Derrick Henry

2.04 – Drake London

2.05 – A.J. Brown

2.06 – Ladd McConkey

2.07 – Jonathan Taylor

2.08 – Trey McBride

2.09 – DeVon Achane

2.10 – Josh Jacobs

2.11 – Bucky Irving

2.12 – Tee Higgins

Doubling down on Bengals wide receivers would be a dangerous strategy in redraft and dynasty, but it’s a smart move in a Bestball fantasy draft. Tee Higgins has his long-awaited extension and has proven time and time again that he and Chase can simultaneously be valuable fantasy assets.

Third Round

3.01 – Marvin Harrison

3.02 – Jaxon Smith-Njigba

3.03 – Terry McLaurin

3.04 – Rashee Rice

3.05 – Garrett Wilson

3.06 – Tyreek Hill

3.07 – Davante Adams

3.08 – Josh Allen

3.09 – Chase Brown

3.10 – Mike Evans

3.11 – Kyren Williams

3.12 – Xavier Worthy

Marvin Harrison Jr. is somewhat overlooked and is a fantastic value in the top of the third round. While he didn’t have the same dominant rookie year as guys like Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas, his 62/885/8 stat line suggests he has a very bright future in this league. Maybe expectations were too high last year, but the Cardinals’ wideout has top-five upside and should be a week-in, week-out contributor to this squad.

Marvin Harrison Jr. is ONE of SIX rookie WRs over the last decade to put up 880 yards + 8 Touchdowns… The others ⬇️

Marv disappointed relative to where he was drafted last year but are you giving him another chance in year 2? pic.twitter.com/bFMo7wZyIy

— Fantasy Footballers (@TheFFBallers) May 21, 2025

Fourth Round

4.01 – Courtland Sutton

4.02 – Breece Hall

4.03 – Lamar Jackson

4.04 – Tetairoa McMillan

4.05 – Travis Hunter

4.06 – Jameson Williams

4.07 – James Cook

4.08 – Jayden Daniels

4.09 – DeVonta Smith

4.10 – D.K. Metcalf

4.11 – D.J. Moore

4.12 – Joe Burrow

The stack is complete! Stacking a quarterback and wide receiver dramatically raises the ceiling of any fantasy team, and that’s especially valuable in a Bestball draft. Burrow is one of the game’s top passers, and his elite combination of offensive weaponry and defensive ineptitude means he should be throwing early and often. With Burrow, Higgins, and Chase on the same roster, this team could explode if the Bengals play up to their potential.

Fifth Round

5.01 – George Kittle

5.02 – George Pickens

5.03 – Calvin Ridley

5.04 – Jalen Hurts

5.05 – Joe Milton

5.06 – Chub Hubbard

5.07 – Omarion Hampton

5.08 – Kenneth Walker

5.09 – Zay Flowers

5.10 – Alvin Kamara

5.11 – Jaylen Waddle

5.12 – Jauan Jennings

Brock Bowers and Trey McBride are (rightfully) the two biggest names in the tight end landscape, but nobody should forget about George Kittle. The 49ers’ tight end is one of the most talented players of his generation and is in the perfect position to succeed in 2025. With Deebo Samuel gone and Brandon Aiyuk returning from a season-ending injury, the newly extended Brock Purdy should target his big tight end early and often throughout the season.

Sixth Round

6.01 – RJ Harvey

6.02 – Jordan Addison

6.03 – Chris Olave

6.04 – TreVeyon Henderson

6.05 – Rome Odunze

6.06 – Sam LaPorta

6.07 – Chris Godwin

6.08 – Jerry Jeudy

6.09 – Deebo Samuel

6.10 – Matthew Golden

6.11 – David Montgomery

6.12 – James Connner

James Conner is not the sexiest draft pick in Bestball, but the veteran knows how to get fantasy points. Following another top-12 finish, Conner returns to the Cardinals as the unquestioned top option in this backfield. With 2024 third-round pick Trey Benson underwhelming last year, Conner should retain his heavy workload and has a clear path to another strong season.

Seventh Round

7.01 – Quinshon Judkins

7.02 – Ricky Pearsall

7.03 – D’Andre Swift

7.04 – Tony Pollard

7.05 – Kaleb Johnson

7.06 – Jayden Reed

7.07 – Stefon Diggs

7.08 – Khalil Shakir

7.09 – Jakobi Meyers

7.10 – Brandon Aiyuk

7.11 – Aaron Jones

7.12 – Patrick Mahomes

James Conner provides a safe floor in this Bestball draft, and second-round rookie Quinshon Judkins gives this fantasy team some upside down the road. The Ohio State product might start his career behind Jerome Ford, but it shouldn’t be long before he wins the starting job. Cleveland’s offense isn’t the most intimidating unit in sports, but you should never bet against a talented youngster with a clear path to playing time.

Eighth Round

8.01 – Emeka Egbuka

8.02 – T.J. Hockenson

8.03 – Isiah Pacheco

8.04 – Cooper Kupp

8.05 – Brian Robinson Jr

8.06 – Darnell Mooney

8.07 – Jonnu Smith

8.08 – Jayden Higgins

8.09 – Luther Burden

8.10 – Cam Skattebo

8.11 – Josh Downs

8.12 – Michael Pittman

Michael Pittman is currently the WR54 in Bestball drafts, which is just insulting. While the former second-round pick had a rough 2024, it’s hard to blame him for playing through a serious back injury. Now that he’s healthy, he should return to being the top option in this passing attack. Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones aren’t inspiring options under center, but you can’t ignore this projected target share late in the eighth round.

Ninth Round

9.01 – Tre Harris9.02 – Tyrone Tracy

9.03 – Caleb Williams

9.04 – Rashid Shaheed

9.05 – Najee Harris

9.06 – Justin Fields

9.07 – Jordan Mason

9.08 – Zach Charbonnet

9.09 – Baker Mayfield

9.10 – Travis Kelce

9.11 – Kyler Murray

9.12 – Bo Nix

Tre Harris is the perfect medium-risk, high-reward fantasy option that can help take your team to the next level in Bestball drafts. The big-play threat landed on a wide-open Chargers depth chart and has a clear path to playing time. While he won’t usurp Ladd McConkey atop the depth chart, his big-play style means he can give you a week-winning performance on just a handful of targets.

10th Round

10.01 – Evan Engram

10.02 – Marvin Mims

10.03 – Mark Andrews

10.04 – Jaylen Warren

10.05 – Keon Coleman

10.06 – Jared Goff

10.07 – Travis Etienne

10.08 – Rashod Bateman

10.09 – Bhayshul Tuten

10.10 – Jordan Love

10.11 – Dak Prescott

10.12 – Kyle Williams

Drake Maye looked like the real deal as a rookie, and he should be even better in 2025 with an improved coaching staff and a revamped offensive line. However, they still need someone to step up as Maye’s go-to receiver, and Kyle Williams could fill that void. Demario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte are better in depth roles, and nobody knows what Stefon Diggs has left in his tank. Williams’ style of play perfectly complements Maye’s natural skills, and nobody should be surprised if he sees an immediate role in this offense.

11th Round

11.1 – Tyjae Spears

11.2 – Brock Purdy

11.3 – Jack Bech

11.4 – Colston Loveland

11.5 – Rhamondre Stevenson

11.6 – Javonte Williams

11.7 – Justin Herbert

11.8 – Tyler Warren

11.9 – Drake Maye

11.10 – David Njoku

11.11 – J.J. McCarthy

11.12 – Hollywood Brown

Running backs easily have the best return on investment in late-round drafts, and Tyjae Spears is as good a choice as any. Head coach Brian Callahan recently said he wants an even split between Spears and Tony Pollard, which bodes well for Spears in 2025. Additionally, Pollard is entering his age-28 season and is coming off consecutive 300-touch seasons, so don’t be surprised if he begins to slow down.

12th Round

12.01 – Isaac Guerendo

12.02 – Dalton Kincaid

12.03 – Trevor Lawrence

12.04 – Christian Kirk

12.05 – Jaydon Blue

12.06 – Rachaad White

12.07 – C.J. Stroud

12.08 – Michael Penix

12.09 – Jalen McMillan

12.10 – Tucker Kraft

12.11 – Jake Ferguson

12.12 – Ray Davis

While Tyjae Spears may have standalone value, Ray Davis is a pure handcuff. James Cook is the unquestioned RB1 in Buffalo, but the Bills didn’t bring in anyone to compete for the backup job. Davis has a clear path to a massive workload if Cook goes down or holds out for a contract extension. In the back of the 12th round, that’s more than enough to justify a draft pick in this fantasy Bestball draft.

13th Round

13.01 – Tank Bigsby13.02 – Kyle Pitts

13.03 – Dallas Goedert

13.04 – Tua Tagovailoa

13.05 – Austin Ekeler

13.06 – Quentin Johnston

13.07 – Jaylin Noel

13.08 – Trey Benson

13.09 – Isaiah Likely

13.10 – Adam Thielen

13.11 – Michael Wilson

13.12 – Xavier Legette

Tank Bigsby is the cheapest player in Jacksonville’s backfield, even though he was easily the team’s best running back last year. Travis Etienne had a disastrous 2024, and while Bhayshul Tuten may be a fun rookie, he’s a fourth-round pick and probably won’t play a large role right away. Bigsby should see a decent workload on a team with an offensive-minded coach, solid quarterback, and a great wide receiver duo.

14th Round

14.01 – Pat Bryant

14.02 – Tyler Allgeier

14.03 – Romeo Doubs

14.04 – Joshua Palmer

14.05 – Bryce Young

14.06 – Roschon Johnson

14.07 – Pat Freiermuth

14.08 – Wan’Dale Robinson

14.09 – Braelon Allen

14.10 – Cam Ward

14.11 – Rico Dowdle

14.12 – Hunter Henry

George Kittle provides the ceiling for this Bestball fantasy draft, but Hunter Henry can provide a safe floor. As mentioned earlier, New England didn’t do all that much to improve the pass-catching unit, which means Henry should still see a good amount of targets as Drake Maye’s go-to security blanket.

15th Round

15.01 – Anthony Richardson15.02 – Cedric Tillman

15.03 – Elic Ayomanor

15.04 – Mike Gesicki

15.05 – Zach Ertz

15.06 – Matthew Stafford

15.07 – Keenan Allen

15.08 – Brenton Strange

15.09 – Geno Smith

15.10 – Alec Pierce

15.11 – J.K. Dobbins

15.12 – DeMairo Douglas

Anthony Richardson is not the safest draft pick by any stretch of the imagination, but nobody won a Bestball fantasy league by being cautious. The elite upside is still there, and hopefully, a true competition with Daniel Jones can bring out the best in the former top-four pick. Rushing quarterbacks are a cheat code in fantasy football, and stacking him with Pittman is an added bonus.

16th Round

16.01 – Dylan Sampson

16.02 – Terrance Ferguson

16.03 – Sam Darnold

16.04 – Mason Taylor

16.05 – Andrei Iosivas

16.06 – Tyler Conklin

16.07 – Jalen Coker

16.08 – Dalton Schultz

16.09 – D.J. Giddens

16.10 – Jarquez Hunter

16.11 – Jaylen Wright

16.12 – MarShawn Lloyd

Josh Jacobs put up remarkable numbers last year, but he did it on 337 touches. The former Raider is no spring chicken, and he suffered a serious drop in efficiency and volume the last time we saw him handle this type of workload. If history repeats itself, MarShawn Lloyd could get a decent fantasy option and be a valuable late-round Bestball draft pick.

17th Round

17.01 – Chig Okonkwo17.02 – Devin Neal

17.03 – Tyler Lockett

17.04 – Darius Slayton

17.05 – DeAndre Hopkins

17.06 – Cade Otton

17.07 – Brashard Smith

17.08 – Will Shipley

17.09 – Justice Hill

17.10 – Sean Tucker

17.11 – Jerome Ford

17.12 – Blake Corum

Full disclosure: Hunter Henry and George Kittle have the same bye week, so this team needed another tight end. Chig Okonkwo isn’t the most exciting player, but he could have a solid season with first-overall pick Cam Ward under center. Generally speaking, rookie quarterbacks tend to target tight ends as safety blankets while they adjust to the NFL, so perhaps Okonkwo can give this team some starting-quality weeks off checkdowns and the occasional touchdown.

18th Round

18.01 – Jaleel McLaughlin

18.02 – Savion Williams

18.03 – Jalen Royals

18.04 – Calvin Austin

18.05 – Jacory Croskey-Merritt

18.06 – Dontayvion Wicks

18.07 – Diontae Johnson

18.08 – Tutu Atwell

18.09 – Isaac TeSlaa

18.10 – Woody Marks

18.11 – Jordan James

18.12 – Marquez Valdes-Scantling

This fantasy Bestball draft wraps up with Marquez Valdes-Scantling – a player that nobody is drafting but could put up some fantasy-relevant weeks. The former Packer had multiple strong performances with the New Orleans Saints last year, and he followed offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak to the Seattle Seahawks. Valdes-Scantling is a speed threat who only needs one or two opportunities for a big play, which is exactly what you target late in drafts.

Main Photo: Jeff Lange – Imagn Images

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