Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Zero-WR Strategy & Targets (2025)

The 2025 NFL regular season is less than two weeks away, meaning everyone is knee deep in draft season. However, there is always time for another mock draft, and everyone knows the best way to do that is with the FantasyPros Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator.

I am picking second in this 10-team, 1-QB, and PPR-scoring redraft mock draft. The lineup for this mock draft is one quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, one tight end, two Flex slots and six bench spots.

Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Zero-WR Strategy

My goal for this mock draft was to use a Zero WR draft strategy while using an early-round pick on an elite quarterback and top-tier tight end. Let’s see how it turned out.

Bijan Robinson is a clear-cut top-two pick in all 1QB drafts this year, regardless of the scoring format. Last season, he was the RB3, averaging 20.1 PPR fantasy points per game. However, the former Texas star was outstanding with Michael Penix Jr. under center, averaging 24.7 touches for 124.7 scrimmage yards, two touchdowns, and 26.8 fantasy points per game over the final three weeks, scoring two touchdowns and 24.3 or more fantasy points in every outing.

Despite doing their homework on the rookie class, Cincinnati waited until the sixth round to draft Tahj Brooks. Therefore, Chase Brown will have a featured role again in 2025. Last year, he was the RB6 from Week 4 through Week 17, averaging 20.3 touches and 18.3 PPR fantasy points per game. Furthermore, Brown had the same route participation rate (46.6%) as Jahmyr Gibbs and a higher target per route run rate (20% vs. 15%) than Saquon Barkley (per Fantasy Points Data).

The Colts will have one of the worst passing attacks in the NFL this season. However, that means Jonathan Taylor should see over 300 rushing attempts for the second consecutive year. The former Wisconsin star averaged more PPR fantasy points per game (17.6) than multiple running backs with a higher ADP, including Bucky Irving (14.4). Furthermore, Taylor ended last season on fire, averaging 173.3 rushing yards and 30.8 fantasy points per game over the final three weeks.

While Joe Burrow has more fantasy value in a six-point per passing touchdown league, the superstar is still a top-five quarterback in four-point per passing touchdown leagues. Last year, he was the QB3, averaging 21.9 fantasy points per game. Furthermore, Burrow led the NFL with 43 passing touchdowns, a career-high. He has had at least 34 passing touchdowns in his past three healthy seasons. The Bengals’ defense might be the worst in the NFL, forcing Burrow to throw like crazy to keep Cincinnati in games.

Last year, George Kittle finished as the TE3 behind Brock Bowers and Trey McBride. However, his 15.8 PPR fantasy points per game average was the highest among tight ends and would have made him the WR14 last season. More importantly, fantasy players can count on Kittle to have a top-12 finish nearly every week. The veteran finished as a top-12 tight end in 92.9% of the games last year, including in the top four in 57.1% of the contests.

Fantasy players should expect the Panthers’ passing attack to improve this season with Bryce Young heading into his third year in the league. Tetairoa McMillan had back-to-back seasons with at least 84 receptions for 1,300 receiving yards and eight touchdowns to end his college career. The former Arizona star has built a strong connection with Young during training camp. More importantly, no one on the team will keep the former Arizona star from seeing at least 130 targets as a rookie.

Some believe Calvin Ridley will be this year’s Terry McLaurin. Last season, the veteran wide receiver was significantly better with Mason Rudolph starting than with Will Levis. He averaged more PPR fantasy points per game (14.8 vs. 10.5), a higher yards per route run (2.46 vs. 1.81), and nearly twice as many receiving yards per contest (84 vs. 49.8) with the veteran quarterback. Imagine how well Ridley will play with Cam Ward under center and no meaningful target competition.

San Francisco traded away Deebo Samuel earlier this offseason. Meanwhile, Brandon Aiyuk likely won’t be ready until Week 6 because of a torn ACL. Unfortunately, Ricky Pearsall missed the first six weeks of last year recovering from a gunshot during an attempted robbery. Yet, the former Florida star averaged 21.6 PPR fantasy points per game in the three contests with six or more targets, scoring three receiving touchdowns. Pearsall is one of my favorite wide receiver draft targets.

The Packers ended a 23-year drought by selecting Matthew Golden with their first-round NFL Draft pick. That should stress how much the team likes the former Texas star and feels they need a difference maker on the outside. Unfortunately, Jayden Reed is dealing with a foot injury and severely struggled in the second half of last year. Meanwhile, Golden has been Green Bay’s top wide receiver in training camp. Don’t be surprised if he has a Ladd McConkey-like rookie season.

Last year, Jordan Mason was outstanding early in the season, filling in for Christian McCaffrey, ranking as the RB5 over the first month, averaging 18.6 PPR fantasy points per game, totaling 17.4 or more in all but one contest. More importantly, Mason could steal the lead role from Aaron Jones. According to Fantasy Points Data, Mason had a better explosive run rate (7.8% vs. 3.5%) and missed forced tackle per attempt rate (22% vs. 11%) than Jones last year.

Keon Coleman had four receiving touchdowns as a rookie, the second-most on the team despite ranking seventh with 29 receptions. He has had an impressive training camp. Furthermore, Coleman could turn into Josh Allen’s top wide receiver in 2025, especially with Khalil Shakir dealing with a high-ankle sprain. Last year, his first-read target share in the red zone (28.1%) led the team, 10.5% higher than any other Bill (per Fantasy Points Data). Coleman is one of my favorite double-digit round picks.

Unfortunately, Darnell Mooney suffered a shoulder injury early in training camp but should be ready for Week 1. The veteran is underrated, ranking outside the top-48 wide receivers in ADP after finishing last year as the WR31, averaging 12.1 PPR fantasy points per game, scoring a career-high five receiving touchdowns. According to Fantasy Points Data, Mooney ranked inside the top 36 wide receivers in air-yard share (33%), first-read target share (26.2%), and deep targets (17).

While some fantasy players would rather handcuff other teams’ superstar running backs, I only handcuff my guys. Tyler Allgeier has no fantasy value as long as Bijan Robinson is healthy. However, the former BYU star is arguably the most valuable handcuff in fantasy football. He averaged 0.71 PPR fantasy points per touch in limited work last season. Furthermore, Allgeier was the RB29 as a rookie before the Falcons drafted Robinson, averaging 10 fantasy points per game.

Marvin Mims Jr. was the WR22 from Week 13 through Week 18, averaging 17.5 PPR fantasy points per game, a higher average than Courtland Sutton (15.1). According to Fantasy Points Data, he averaged a higher fantasy points per route run average (1.12) than Puka Nacua (0.92), Brian Thomas Jr. (0.64), Justin Jefferson (0.58), and Nico Collins (0.55) over the final six regular-season contests. Yet, Mims had a 33.5% lower route participation rate than any of those four superstar wide receivers during those six weeks.

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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.

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