Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet for Beginners (Full Position Breakdown)

Put your headset on, open your mock draft lobby, and get ready to coach your fantasy football team this fall. Whether you’re joining a standard fantasy football league or exploring best ball formats, this game has become more popular over the last 35 years, letting you control an imaginary team of real NFL players. If you’ve never participated, it can seem overwhelming. Here’s a guide to use as a fantasy football cheat sheet when drafting your team this year. 

How Does Fantasy Football Work?

The rules differ depending on your league preference. Whether you’re in a keeper league or a standard format, most guys play with a points-per-reception (PPR) or half-PPR system. This format simply means a player earns a point (or half a point) with every catch they make. 

Fantasy football now engages over 30 million players annually, with AI-driven draft tools and real-time analytics shaping the game.

With this system, your wide receivers, tight ends and running backs become more valuable. Each player also earns points when they gain yards or score touchdowns. The NFL has become a more offensive-friendly league, so there are more opportunities than ever to put up big-time points. 

Each week, you’ll face one of the opponents in your fantasy football league. If you win enough games, you may make the playoffs. These last few rounds occur in the weeks leading up to the NFL’s last regular season games. Imagine standing tall among the 29.3 million players nationwide as you claim a championship trophy. 

How to Draft Your Fantasy Football Team

Winning the trophy at season’s end starts in your draft. Your first few picks make all the difference, so give these guys the most attention. Here are your priorities when picking up players. 

Running Backs

While the running back position has evolved, elite backs still offer tremendous value in fantasy football. In 2025, Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Saquon Barkley headline the top tier, with Barkley coming off a dominant 2,000-yard season for the Eagles. Christian McCaffrey remains elite, while breakout stars like Ashton Jeanty and Bucky Irving are climbing draft boards. While their relevance slowly diminishes, running backs still offer strong RB values in the early draft rounds.

The good running backs will likely go early, so which ones should you prioritize? Here are the top fantasy football tailbacks in most rankings: 

1. Bijan Robinson – Atlanta Falcons
2. Jahmyr Gibbs – Detroit Lions
3. Saquon Barkley – Philadelphia Eagles
4. Christian McCaffrey – San Francisco 49ers
5. Ashton Jeanty – Las Vegas Raiders
6. Bucky Irving – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
7. De’Von Achane – Miami Dolphins
8. Derrick Henry – Baltimore Ravens
9. Chase Brown – Cincinnati Bengals
10. Josh Jacobs – Green Bay Packers

The shortage of stellar running backs means you should take one of these guys if you see them on the board. Don’t pass up the opportunity to have a guy like Saquon Barkley, considering he was the best running back in fantasy football last season. 

Wide Receivers

Wide receivers continue to dominate scoring in modern fantasy football drafts, especially in PPR formats. According to recent fantasy news and player rankings, Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson remain elite, while Malik Nabers has emerged as a top target in New York. CeeDee Lamb, A.J. Brown, and Puka Nacua round out a deep pool of WR1 options. Drake London and Nico Collins are also rising stars worth targeting early.

For example, consider Justin Jefferson. Justin Jefferson is still one of the league’s best wide receivers, now catching passes from rookie QB J.J. McCarthy, who’s expected to start Week 1

Who are the other wide receivers to watch for in the draft? These guys are must-see TV, so get your finger foods and flat-screen TV ready to watch them on Sundays:

1. Ja’Marr Chase – Cincinnati Bengals
2. Justin Jefferson – Minnesota Vikings
3. CeeDee Lamb – Dallas Cowboys
4. Malik Nabers – New York Giants
5. A.J. Brown – Philadelphia Eagles
6. Puka Nacua – Los Angeles Rams
7. Drake London – Atlanta Falcons
8. Nico Collins – Houston Texans
9. Garrett Wilson – New York Jets
10. Amon-Ra St. Brown – Detroit Lions

Quarterback

Quarterbacks who can run and pass are fantasy gold. Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen remain top-tier, while Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix bring exciting dual-threat upside. Joe Burrow and Jalen Hurts are reliable scorers, and Baker Mayfield has quietly become a solid fantasy option in Tampa Bay.

Don’t stress about quarterbacks in the first few rounds of your mock draft. However, value picks can offer high fantasy points if drafted strategically. The ability to score touchdowns makes them even more effective. Here are the QBs to prioritize on your fantasy football cheat sheet:

1. Lamar Jackson – Baltimore Ravens
2. Josh Allen – Buffalo Bills
3. Joe Burrow – Cincinnati Bengals
4. Jayden Daniels – Washington Commanders
5. Jalen Hurts – Philadelphia Eagles
6. Baker Mayfield – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
7. Patrick Mahomes – Kansas City Chiefs
8. Bo Nix – Denver Broncos
9. Brock Purdy – San Francisco 49ers
10. Kyler Murray – Arizona Cardinals

Don’t draft your quarterback too early because you might miss out on some key skill players. Wait until some come off the board before scooping up one of these QBs. 

Tight End

Tight ends vary widely in value, but 2025 brings a strong top tier. Rookie Brock Bowers is already making waves in Las Vegas, while Trey McBride and George Kittle offer consistent production. NFL experts suggest that Sam LaPorta and Travis Kelce remain reliable. However, despite his position as a frequent Super Bowl favorite on the Kansas City Chiefs, Kelce’s age and reduced usage are worth noting. T.J. Hockenson and Evan Engram round out the top options.

Travis Kelce — who plays on the Super Bowl favorite Kansas City Chiefs — used to be one of the best players in all fantasy sports. However, he’s not getting any younger. Other stars are rising, so you have some options for this position. Remember, tight ends also block on the offensive line, so they won’t always go for a catch. 

Here are the best tight ends to watch for in the fantasy football rankings: 

1. Brock Bowers – Las Vegas Raiders
2. Trey McBride – Arizona Cardinals
3. George Kittle – San Francisco 49ers
4. Sam LaPorta – Detroit Lions
5. Travis Kelce – Kansas City Chiefs
6. T.J. Hockenson – Minnesota Vikings
7. Evan Engram – Denver Broncos
8. Mark Andrews – Baltimore Ravens
9. David Njoku – Cleveland Browns
10. Tucker Kraft – Green Bay Packers

Defense and Special Teams

Most leagues require players to draft an entire team’s defense and special teams. Defenses can swing matchups, especially with turnovers and return touchdowns. The Denver Broncos and Philadelphia Eagles lead the pack in 2025, followed by the Steelers, Ravens, and Vikings. Detroit and Houston have improved significantly, making them solid mid-round picks.

Your draft strategy should include targeting kickers from high-scoring offenses. Defenses are tricky because they can be volatile. For example, the $9 billion Dallas Cowboys can provide a bunch of points through interceptions and fumbles. However, getting blown out by the 49ers makes them a liability for your weekly wins. That said, they still belong in the top fantasy football defense rankings:

1. Denver Broncos
2. Philadelphia Eagles
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
4. Baltimore Ravens
5. Minnesota Vikings
6. Kansas City Chiefs
7. Detroit Lions
8. New York Jets
9. Houston Texans
10. Los Angeles Chargers

Remember, the defense also includes special teams. So, a kickoff or punt return for a touchdown could provide unexpected points.

Placekicker

Kickers like Matt Gay and Brandon Aubrey are top-tier options in 2025, with consistent volume and accuracy. Jake Bates and Cameron Dicker are rising stars, while veterans like Harrison Butker and Jake Elliott remain dependable. Avoid kickers on low-scoring teams or those with inconsistent accuracy.

Here are the best kickers in the NFL for this upcoming season:

1. Matt Gay – Washington Commanders
2. Brandon Aubrey – Dallas Cowboys
3. Jake Bates – Detroit Lions
4. Harrison Butker – Kansas City Chiefs
5. Cameron Dicker – Los Angeles Chargers
6. Jake Elliott – Philadelphia Eagles
7. Tyler Bass – Buffalo Bills
8. Chase McLaughlin – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
9. Evan McPherson – Cincinnati Bengals
10. Ka’imi Fairbairn – Houston Texans

What to Do After the Draft

You have your roster set for the season, but don’t forget to monitor player trades and weekly fantasy news. Use your phone number to set up alerts for injury updates and waiver wire pickups. If you want to win the championship, there are more tasks to put your team over the top. Here are the most critical post-draft assignments:

• Weekly adjustments: Each week, your players face a new matchup. How will your running backs fare against a great defense? You may need to rely on your bench and adjust your starting lineup. The bench is also critical if one of your starters is hurt, so pay attention to the weekly injury reports. 
• Waiver wire: The NFL season brings surprises through rising stars. If they went undrafted in fantasy football, use the waiver wire to pick them up. Be the first to get there to ensure their roster spot.
• Trades: If you like to wheel and deal, trades could be fruitful for your team. Some cohorts may put a player on the trading block, so make a fair offer in return. 

Drafting an Elite Fantasy Football Team for 2025

Fantasy football is fun because it makes you feel like a real coach. If you’re a casual NFL fan, this game turns you into an expert because you’ll intently watch all season. Beginners may think it’s intimidating, but our guide makes it much easier.