NFL Strategy Guide 2025: Fantasy Football Tactics

The wait is over. The 2025 NFL season is knocking on the door, the smell of fresh turf is in the air, and your fantasy football draft room is calling your name.

Draft day isn’t just about picking the “best” players; it’s about building a roster that can dominate from Week 1 all the way through the playoffs. Which means knowing what positions to prioritize, when to zig while your opponents zag, and how to maximize value in every round.

Even though there are dozens of fantasy football approaches in the playbooks, three consistently rise to the top in competitive leagues: The Hero Running Back, The Hero Wide Receiver, and the Robust Running Back. Each has its strengths, weaknesses, and ideal scenarios, and in the unpredictable world of the NFL, the right one could be the difference between a trophy and a last-place punishment.

Which NFL strategies are your favorite? 

Dominate Your Draft With The Hero Running Back Strategy

So, what is the hero running back strategy? The hero running back strategy is a fantasy football draft tactic where the drafter selects an elite running back in the first round. After the first round, the drafter avoids the running back position for the next four to five rounds. 

So why is the hero running back strategy a successful NFL strategy? The hero running back strategy is successful because it secures an elite number one option at running back, then gives the drafter elite options at the other positions later in the draft. In 2025, an optimal hero running back fantasy football draft would look like the following:

Round 1: Bijan Robinson

Round 2: Garrett Wilson

Round 3: Tyreek Hill

Round 4: Jalen Hurts

Round 5: Rashee Rice

Round 6: TreVeyon Henderson

Round 7: Stefon Diggs

Round 8: Evan Engram

Win Your League With the Hero Wide Receiver Strategy

Now, what is the hero wide receiver strategy? The hero wide receiver strategy is similar to the hero running back strategy, but the drafter targets an elite wide receiver in the first round. After selecting the stud wide receiver, the drafter targets running backs, quarterbacks, and tight ends for the next four to five rounds. 

So why is the hero wide receiver strategy a winning NFL strategy? The hero wide receiver strategy works because of the landscape of the wide receiver position. In fantasy football drafts, the rookie wide receivers tend to drop to the double-digit rounds. Hitting on these draft picks will create a lineup that is hard to defeat. In 2025, an optimal hero wide receiver fantasy football draft would look like the following:

Round 1: Ja’Marr Chase

Round 2: Bucky Irving

Round 3: Chase Brown

Round 4: Kenneth Walker

Round 5: Joe Burrow

Round 6: TJ Hockenson

Round 7: Travis Hunter

Round 8: Emeka Egbuka

The Robust Running Back Strategy is Back in 2025

Have you heard of the robust running back strategy? Robust running back is a classic fantasy football strategy, where drafters select running backs with three of their first four picks. Hyper-targeting the running back position gives drafters an advantage at the most coveted fantasy football position. 

So why is a robust running back a successful strategy?  Loading up on the running back position early allows drafters to secure depth at the position, which is not as deep as the wide receiver position. Last season, the running back 36 finished with 129 fantasy points, while the wide receiver 36 finished with 182.7 points. The depth at wide receiver makes it a smart strategy to focus on the running back position early. In 2025, using the robust running back strategy would look like the following: 

Round 1: Christian McCaffrey

Round 2: Derrick Henry

Round 3: Kyren Williams

Round 4: Tet McMillan

Round 5: George Pickens

Round 6: Jaylen Waddle

Round 7: Jakobi Meyers

Round 8: Emeka Egbuka

So, Which Strategy is the Best?

Do not go into a draft with one draft strategy. A drafter should participate in mock drafts, listen to podcasts, and do their research to find the NFL strategy that works best for them. Going against league mates’ trends will allow drafters to select a team that stands out from the rest of the league. 

Do you know who will put up the best numbers this year? Put your football IQ to the test in NFL Survivor. 

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FAQs: NFL Survivor 

Q: Should I always stick to one draft strategy?
No. The best drafters are flexible. If you go in with only one NFL strategy, you risk forcing picks that don’t make sense. Read the draft as it happens.

Q: How important is drafting for bye weeks?
Don’t overthink it. Bye weeks are only one week of the season, and chasing “perfect” bye alignment often leads to worse overall talent.

Q: How do I prepare for my draft?
Run multiple mock drafts, keep up with preseason news, and track injuries. Knowing the depth chart changes can give you a massive edge.

Q: What is NFL Survivor?

It’s a 20-week football competition hosted by BullRush where participants make weekly picks to stay alive and advance. It’s not just about surviving… It’s about dominating the leaderboard.

Q: How does it work?

Each week, you start fresh with a $100,000 fantasy bankroll. You place picks using real NFL odds. If your return ranks in the top 80%, you survive and move to the next round. Fall into the bottom 20%, and you’re eliminated. It’s a clean slate every week, no carryover advantage.

Q: What’s the entry fee and prize pool?

Entry is $100, and the total prize pool is $100,000 guaranteed; paid out no matter how many players join. But you can save $5 off your entry using the promo code FFBBRAD at checkout. Players who reach Week 20 get paid, with the top winner earning $50,000.