Jan 12, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (7) makes a touchdown catch against Washington Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu (4) during the third quarter of a NFC wild card playoff at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Every year, we put together a DO NOT DRAFT list that is basically hating on some players that you should avoid altogether. But the idea is to help you win a title, right?

Yet here's a more positive take: Too often, we’re caught being negative in fantasy football. You have to avoid the busts if you want a chance for a trophy, so weighing upside in sleepers against players with downside is part of the game.

So as we've done in years past, we're doing a DO DRAFT list, a look at the players I love — irrationally or otherwise — heading into draft season.

Here they are, in no particular order:

RB Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

He was SO GOOD last year, there's not a ton of competition for carries on the Bucs, and the offense will continue to hum in 2025. I think he's underrated given where he's ranked.

RB Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals

Similar to Irving: He was downright explosive last year and nothing much has changed in that high-octane Bengals offense. He could be a top-8 RB this year.

RB Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints

Age might be a bit of a concern, but here's what I love: He's going to be peppered with targets, especially late in games with the Saints trailing. The QB situation is actually a good one for Kamara as a safety valve for whoever is under center.

WR Calvin Ridley, Tennessee Titans

Who else is catching a ton of passes in Tennessee? Exactly. Even if Cam Ward needs time to adjust to the NFL, Ridley is going to see a ton of volume. I love how low Ridley is ranked, I'll take that all day in drafts.

WR Ricky Pearsall, San Francisco 49ers

Let's see: Deebo Samuel is gone, Brandon Aiyuk is recovering, Jauan Jennings hasn't been seen much in the preseason... hello!

TE Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts

A top tight end in the real NFL Draft is being taken outside the top-10 of fantasy drafts with questions about his QB situation. That's a description of... Brock Bowers! We know how that turned out last year, so I'm all in on Warren.

TE Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers

Another late tight end target I dig. He could see a lot of red zone work as he takes another step forward in Year 3, and it feels like he might be undervalued because of the Packers' catchers-by-committee approach.

WR Jakobi Meyers, Las Vegas Raiders

The touchdowns might not be there, but the volume will be, and that's worth a lot.

RB Braelon Allen, New York Jets

I don't have a ton of confidence in Breece Hall given what we saw last year and what we've heard about this year's approach for the Jets. So I could see Allen being more of a star this year.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Fantasy football DO DRAFT list 2025: 9 players I love

Reporting by Charles Curtis, For The Win / For The Win

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