Four Must-Draft Players I'm Reaching For in 2025 Fantasy Football

Everyone loves to say they love drafting their favorite players.

But this is a MUST-DRAFT article. And I don't think I can legally say that a player is on my "must draft list" if I'm not willing to reach for them, right? Maybe I'm making this tougher on myself than I need to, but that's my rule for today and I'm sticking to it!

It's time to reach a round.

Here are 4 must-draft players that I am willing to reach for in 2025.

(PSA: Always be aware of the variation in different drafting sites' ADP. Some differences are greater than others. For today, we're using Underdog's ADP.)

TE Brock Bowers

Current ADP: 18.6
Going Round 2
Willing to Draft Round 1

I know we're not paying 8th-round prices for Bowers anymore, but it's still not expensive enough for me. Brock Bowers not only performed with some abysmal QBs last year, but he also produced like a top-tier fantasy wide receiver. So I'm ignoring the TE tag and drafting Bowers like the ball-catching machine that he is.

Bowers' Receiving Yards: 1,194

Tied 8th with CeeDee Lamb, who is being drafted in Round 1.

Bowers' Receptions: 112

Bowers ranks 3rd in the league for receptions behind only Ja'Marr Chase (127) and Amon-Ra St. Brown (115), who are being drafted in Round 1. That's more receptions than Malik Nabers (109), Justin Jefferson (103), CeeDee Lamb (101), Nico Collins (68), and Puka Nacua (79) … who are all being drafted in (you guessed it!) Round 1.

Sure, he didn't catch a lot of touchdowns in 2024. But he's got an upgrade at QB in Geno Smith, and Ashton Jeanty is also going to help the Raiders move downfield. I'm willing to take Bowers at the end of the 1st round, but lucky for you, you don't have to. Bowers is being drafted in the middle of the 2nd (for now).

RB TreVeyon Henderson

Current ADP: 48
Going Round 4
Willing to Draft Round 3

TreVeyon Henderson, although a rookie, is making a ton of waves in the fantasy space as of late. No, he's not quite made it to Ashton Jeanty levels in your drafts, but I can assure you that he's one of your favorite fantasy analysts' favorite fantasy players.

The hype around Henderson was already electric before his preseason debut. And after Week 2's preseason matchups, he's only fueled the fire. He might even have "an Alvin Kamara type of rookie season" according to FL's Utilization Guru.

A Must-Have is a Must-Have: The ADP is only climbing. Right now, this minute, Henderson is being drafted in the 4th. But in my home league, I "reached" and drafted him in the 3rd round and have zero regrets. "He would never have made it back to me!!!" I yell into the void.

Let me ask you one of life's burning philosophical questions: Is it really "reaching" for a player if it's your last shot at getting to draft them? My answer: No.

WR Emeka Egbuka

Current ADP: 65.8
Willing to draft a round early (on some sites)

Pssst! Hey! Check your drafting site's ADP. Egbuka is being picked much later than the 5th round outside of Underdog.

While Egbuka is still a must-draft for me, I'm not taking him at Underdog prices. But he's currently being drafted in rounds 9-11 on many drafting sites. And I'm more than willing to take him on the earlier side of Round 9.

In fact, if I had known he'd go right before my pick in Round 9 of my home league draft this weekend, I would've taken him in the 8th. (Except I was able to keep Brock Bowers in the 8th. So, nevermind.)

Egbuka's Quarterback:

Egbuka is a must-draft because he's catching balls from Baker Mayfield, who has found his stride ever since moving to Tampa Bay in 2023.

2023: 4,044 yds, 28 TDs
2024: 4,500 yds, 41 TDs

Even if Baker regresses in 2025, he's still projected for 3,980 yards and 29 touchdowns. There's a reason why he's Fantasy Life's consensus QB8 this year.

Egbuka's Competition:

There are a lot of mouths to feed in Tampa. I get that. But Mike Evans can't keep getting away with 1000-yard seasons, can he? And even if he does, Chris Godwin may start the season on the PUP list. And Jalen McMillan? He isn't fully healthy either.

There's a legitimate chance that Egbuka can be the WR3 on the Bucs with WR2 upside. For a 9th rounder? Easy money. And if I could redo my home league draft all over again … I'd take him in the late 8th.

RB Ollie Gordon

Current ADP: 212
Going Undrafted
Willing to Draft Round 14-16

If you had asked me a month ago, I'd say there's no reason to worry about an RB taken in the 6th round of the NFL draft. I would've said Jaylen Wright's the guy to target behind De'Von Achane. Or, if I'm being honest, I would've said… Ollie who?

But times are different now. Things have changed… My mind, along with them.

De'Von Achane is currently nursing a soft tissue injury. While it may be "nothing" and his Week 1 playtime is "not yet threatened"… I'm monitoring it.
Next-man-up, Jaylen Wright, isn't making the most of his preseason outings. In fact, people have referred to it as "bad bad".

Dolphins RBs this preseason:

Jaylen Wright: 13 touches, 19 yds
Ollie Gordon: 21 touches, 131 yds
— Wolf of Roto Street (@RotoStreetWolf) August 17, 2025

At such a low cost, why not take a shot at the rookie who is catching everyone's eye? I could draft him now for a last-round pick or pay FAAB for him later. I'll go with the cheaper option.

BONUS MUST DRAFT OPTION FOR PARENTS

RB Bhayshul Tuten
Current ADP: 136
Going Round 11

I’ve finally found a way to get my kid into watching football. I just had to tell her that yes, Bhayshul’s last name is, in fact, Tootin’.
— cooterdoodle (@cooterdoodle) August 17, 2025