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This year’s fantasy football season could be incredibly fun. The top two rounds of the draft are stacked with talent. The quality of draft picks in the first 24 picks is much better this August than last year.

Take Drake London, for example. He was the 22nd pick by ADP last August, according to Fantasy Pros. He had a tremendous 2024 season, but he was coming off a campaign in which he was WR45 in points per game in half PPR. This year, he’s the 21st pick by ADP, coming off a WR14 season in average points and a fifth-place finish in total points.

His production increased significantly, but his draft slot has not. Same for Jonathan Taylor. He was the 10th pick, on average, before last season, when he was coming off an RB8 year in average points but was RB33 in total points following two consecutive injury-impacted seasons. Now, he has a 19.7 ADP after 1,431 rushing yards, 12 total TDs and an RB9 finish in total points in 2024.

The pickings are simply better — and not at all slim.

So what does that mean for where you want to pick in the draft? Is it better to pick later and grab two of the higher-ranked players? Not necessarily.

This year, I think the best spot to pick is at No. 4, where it’s possible to get a great player who could dominate your league and propel you to a title. Then, in the second round, you can still grab a player who is pretty darn good. If the first two rounds are flatter than in years past, I put a higher value on the players I (or you) think can create separation. I have four players in a tier of their own: Ja’Marr Chase, Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs and Saquon Barkley.

Chase is self-evident. So are Robinson and Barkley. The case for Gibbs is clear on talent, and his production last year was immense. Backfield mate David Montgomery has missed at least three games in three of the past four seasons and is now 28 years old. Gibbs had 57% of the Lions’ snaps in 2023 and 56% last year. If that increases to 60% this season, or if Gibbs gets even more pass-game usage (which seems likely), he could be the top-scoring back in fantasy this season.

And at No. 4, you can still get Gibbs, who is now going fourth overall by ADP. But who knows, maybe Robinson drops a pick?

In a 12-team league, the second-round pick comes at No. 21 overall. Many great options are available there, and your choice will depend on how you hope to construct a roster. If you want to go heavy on running backs, you can pair Gibbs or Robinson with Taylor or Chase Brown (ADP: 24). If you want to get a top-flight wide receiver, London is going 20th overall by ADP. A.J. Brown (21.3) and Ladd McConkey (24.3) could also be on the board. All three could put up top-10 WR seasons.

You’ll also want to decide how to use your second- and third-round (No. 28) picks in tandem.

If you want a premier quarterback, Josh Allen (21.3) and Lamar Jackson (22.7) could still be on the board at No. 21, but Jayden Daniels (28.7) could be there in Round 3, or you could reach for Jalen Hurts (36.3) if you took Brown and want to stack them.

You could also choose to go elite hunting with your top-three picks. If you go Gibbs or Robinson in the first round, Allen or Jackson in the second and land Trey McBride (27.3) in the third, you could end up with the top RB, QB and TE for 2025 on your team. It would, however, leave you weaker at wide receiver, especially if you’re in a league that starts three WRs and a flex. In that case, you’d need to heavily invest at WR with your next few picks.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Garrett Wilson, Omarion Hampton and Tee Higgins are also options at No. 28. A team with a premier running back and two very good wide receivers after the first three rounds will be in a good position going forward, particularly in a PPR league.

If you think Hampton (42.3) would be too much of a reach at No. 28 (not that much of a reach if you believe his talent — his draft capital and alluring backfield situation indicate he could have a top-10 RB finish), he might still be on the board with your fourth-round pick at No. 45, but his ADP is likely to continue to climb as the season nears.

Rashee Rice, Kenneth Walker and Chuba Hubbard could all be available at No. 45, and you should consider your choice in tandem with your next one at No. 52. It’s possible to get a good RB and WR or two WRs (depending on your roster composition to this point). DK Metcalf (51.3), Courtland Sutton (52.3), and Zay Flowers (59) could all be available at the latter spot. Patrick Mahomes (56.7) should be there if you’re thinking QB, or there’s Sam LaPorta (52.7) if you want to go tight end early.

It’s harder to predict who will be on the board the later you get into the draft, but the choices should still be strong in the sixth and seventh rounds. There are several nice options at No. 69, especially at wide receiver. You can hope that Xavier Worthy (64) or Tetairoa McMillan (65) slip, but Travis Hunter (68.3) and George Pickens (69.7) have a better chance of being there.

Hunter (the No. 2 overall pick) is screaming with potential, and, although, he might have a scattershot season as he juggles two positions (CB and WR), there is also a chance he gets a long runway at wide receiver as the No. 2 option in an offense with a good quarterback and head coach Liam Coen. Last year, Coen was the offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who finished third in the NFL in passing touchdowns, fourth in EPA per pass and 10th in pass rate over expectation.

There will be more solid receiving options at No. 76 as well, which will be helpful if your team went without one in the first three rounds. Calvin Ridley (75.3), Jaylen Waddle (75.7) and Chris Olave (77.3) could all be there, as could Jerry Jeudy (78.7) and Jordan Addison (79.7) — if you’re open to risk.

Jeudy was the No. 8 WR last season from Week 8 on, but the Browns’ quarterback situation right now is sub-optimal. Then again, it wasn’t great last season either, and Jeudy still flourished. Addison is very talented and has been quite productive over his first two NFL seasons, but he is set to miss three games following a 2024 DUI and pleading to a lesser misdemeanor charge.

Rome Odunze (86) is also an interesting choice if you believe the Bears’ new head coach, Ben Johnson, can bring over his offensive success from Detroit and that QB Caleb Williams can take a big step forward. What’s clear is that the WRs are much better in this range than the RBs.

If you want to wait at tight end, rookies Tyler Warren (114) and Colston Loveland (129) should be available later in the draft, and you could prioritize depth and strength at the other positions. Rookie tight ends have had explosive seasons over the past two years. Brock Bowers was TE1 last year, and LaPorta was the top TE the year before.

(Photo of Jahmyr Gibbs: Nic Antaya / Getty Images)