DMIC’s Gold Sheet of Fearless Fantasy Predictions 

for 2025

Back in my horse racing days, I had the honor to handicap for one of the best horse racing tout sheets in the Chicago market a couple of weeks each Summer, Gordon’s Gold Sheet. Every day when you walked onto the race track, you could see 10 or more tout sheets battling for your bucks with the previous night’s winners circled to show off all their winners. They didn’t brag about their ROI; instead, they showcased numerous winners in their top three picks. If you have been following our podcast and articles, none of these picks are a surprise, but I wanted to go on record with my Fantasy Football tip sheet before the season starts. Just like at the horse races, I will only show my Top 3 picks at each level of the draft, based on the ADP from the FPPC Redraft league on August 31st.

Grading Success and Failure in Fantasy Football

There should be a massive difference in how we grade Fantasy Football picks between the early rounds and the late rounds. If I select a player in the first round of a draft, that player must deliver a Top 3 Fantasy Football finish in weekly upside value at RB or WR, as graded by my MVP Index. (125 at RB, 130 at WR) Failing to hit that high mark will be considered a “Bad Pick” and won’t get the coveted circle for a winning pick! Any QB or TE drafted in the second round must be top-rated in weekly value; otherwise, they are a bust. (QB MVP 130, TE MVP 100) Once you get deep in the draft, you should only grade players that hit the chart in the Top 12 level at QB (MVP 75), Top 8 level at TE (MVP 50), or Top 24 level at RB (MVP 70) or WR (MVP 75). You shouldn’t get credit for having your WR45 finish 40th because 40th in weekly value doesn’t help you win consistently in Fantasy Football. At each level of the draft, I will define the MVP Index level required to declare a “winner.” 

MVP Index Explained

Every week in Fantasy Football, there are three possible outcomes for a player’s statistics. They can help your team win by having a huge points week. They can cause your team to lose by having a very low points week. They can keep your team in contention by having a performance above the historic median of output expected. Combining these three outcomes into one easy-to-understand number was the goal of the MVP Index. While the landmark median for Fantasy Football points varies by position, using the same level of expected performance for RB, WR, and TE provides a consistent scoring metric for making Flex starting decisions throughout the season. 

Top 6 Picks Round One (Winning MVP RB 125, WR 130)

Ja’Marr Chase: The post time chalk for a reason, he is the best WR on a team with one of the best offenses and one of the worst defenses. 

Bijan Robinson: He exceeded the magic mark for touches last year, which could indicate possible RB regression, but youth is on his side. 

Cee Dee Lamb: Trading away their best pass rusher has made the Cowboys defense worse than last year, which means lots of passing and lots of Lamb. 

Second Half of First Round (Winning MVP RB115, WR120)

Malik Nabers: Proved himself QB-proof in his maiden start and is set to get a QB upgrade this season, making him an easy pick here. 

Amon Ra St Brown: Consensus is down on the Lions offense due to the change in Offensive Coordinator and a more demanding schedule with more outdoor games, but Sun God is still a target hog.

Christian McCaffrey: Missed numerous starts last year due to injury, but should quickly return to form this season for a team that is missing some key offensive threats from last year. 

Top 6 Picks of Second Round (Winning MVP RB/WR 110) 

Nico Collins: The team added help at WR to keep double teams away, and with solid options lacking at RB, this should open up the passing game for their top WR. 

Brian Thomas: Despite adding another outstanding WR, BTJ should play back to his rookie season and be one of the safer bets at WR again this season. 

Derrick Henry: Tough pick over fellow RB Chase Brown, but the King is still the King and should have at least one more great season staying ahead of Father Time. 

Second Half of Second Round (Winning RB/WR MVP 100) 

Josh Jacobs: Should be getting more attention from “Bettors” this season, but we will take the nice price on this veteran who should return to the Winner’s Circle. 

AJ Brown: Demonstrated high efficiency last season, achieving an MVP over 130 on a team that didn’t rely heavily on passing, and this could lead to more use of the passing attack this year. 

Drake London: Improving each season, he heads to the “track” and shows great chemistry at the end of last year with his current QB. 

Third Round (Winning RB/WR MVP 100 TE 80)

Kyren Williams: The Team drafted another RB, but then signed Williams to a contract extension, ensuring he will get the necessary volume again this year. 

TreVeyon Henderson: Reaching for a price here, but this newcomer should emerge as a solid three-down back for an improving offense. 

George Kittle, last year’s top-rated TE, must contend with his RB for targets to start the season, given the injuries at WR. 

Fourth Round (Winning RB/WR MVP 90, TE75)

Tetairoa McMillan: The Team traded away their most reliable veteran WR, indicating they believed the rookie was ready to dominate from his first start. 

Garret Wilson: Gets a QB change this season and is the only WR on the team with a history of commanding a high target share. 

Alvin Kamara: Sure, the Saints are a mess, but in a PPR format, you will get lots of points from checkdowns to the team’s best offensive option. 

Fifth Round (Winning RB/WR MVP 85) 

James Conner: Another veteran campaigner who should still command enough volume to be a solid pick at this level of the draft. 

D’Andre Swift: The New coach has a history of crafting an excellent offensive attack, and that has been lacking the last two seasons for Swift. 

DeVonta Smith: The second-best WR on his team, but would be the lead WR on more than 20 teams in the NFL right now, and has considerable playability. 

Sixth Round (Winning MVP RB/WR 80)

Emeka Egbuka: Injuries have left only one veteran WR on the active roster for week one, who could have competed for touches with this talented rookie. 

Isiah Pacheco has the back class of a season, with an MVP Index of 100, which is Top 12 weekly value, and he could play back to that level on an offense that should improve. 

Jaylen Waddle: Played through injuries last season and has the back class of a season with an MVP Index over 90, and his fellow starting WR is nursing an injury. 

Seventh Round (Winning MVP RB 70 WR 75 QB 105) 

Matthew Golden: Another talented rookie WR who should benefit from injuries to two of the other WRs for the Packers to start the season. 

Chris Olave: Injuries have been the only thing slowing down this talented WR, who has had a breakout season with an MVP Index of 100. 

Patrick Mahomes: The last time Mahomes had a Left Tackle as good as rookie Josh Simmons was the 2022 season, when he had an MVP Index of 152. 

Eighth Round (Winning MVP RB 70 WR 75 QB 105)

Travis Erienne: The consensus from Fantasy Football experts this Spring was that ETN was being replaced as the lead back. Don’t believe the noise and cash a nice ticket here. 

Bo Nix: Again, the consensus was that Nix was an overachiever last season and that the Broncos would pound the ball on the ground. I will happily take Brees-lite this late. 

Jakobi Meyers: He is not a sexy pick, nor will he be a league winner, but he'll consistently hit the board, making him an excellent flex play most weeks. 

Ninth Round (Winning MVP RB 70 WR 75 QB 105 TE 45) 

Michael Pittman: He played hurt last year, and his back class of a season, with an MVP Index of 94, shows that he can get it done with better health and average QB play. 

Baker Mayfield: There are so many non-believers in Baker thinking that last year was a fluke, but he posted an MVP Index of 129 with an ever-changing cast of WRs. 

Austin Ekeler: The departure of Brian Robinson seems to hand the job over to Bill, but this veteran might have something left and could see solid volume to start the season. 

Tenth Round (Winning MVP RB 70 WR 75 QB 105 TE 45)

Jaydon Blue: The starting job is Javonte Williams to lose, and I am betting on the rookie to take over the Cowboys' starting RB volume eventually. 

Chris Godwin: He will start the season on the inactive list, but the fact that they didn’t put him on IR means you might get a WR1 this late in the draft back in your lineup by week four. 

Bhayshul Tuten: The beauty of the “Better Than Zero” concept of drafting is that by backing up your own RBs, you protect yourself if you were wrong about a previous draft pick. 

Eleventh Round (Winning MVP RB 70 WR 75 QB 105 TE 45)

Drake Maye: He will be part of my QB Quinella plays this season, with some rushing upside protecting his floor on any given week. 

Jayden Higgins: The talented playmaker is behind a solid WR1 in Nico Collins, so his upside is capped, but he has the potential to be the next DeVonta Smith or Tee Higgins. 

Dylan Sampson: Judkins is probably coming back, but missed all of training camp, while this playmaking rookie has been there since day one.

Twelfth Round (Winning MVP RB 70 WR 75 QB 105 TE 45)

Ollie Gordon: This isn't a play focused on Achane; it is a play to complement the Dolphins' starting RB with a guy who should get enough touches from week one. 

Brenton Strange: Takes over the Evan Engram role and could be even better than the 2024 version of Engram, solid late TE play. 

Ray Davis: You can never have enough RB depth on your Fantasy Football roster, and if anything happens to James Cook, you will see some big weeks from Davis. 

Thirteenth Round (Winning MVP RB 70 WR 75 QB 105 TE 45)

Woody Marks: The Texans have already lost their star RB for an extended period, and the only guys ahead of Marks on the depth chart have an injury history, too. 

Jared Goff: Yes, Goff only had to play three games outdoors last year against a weaker schedule, but he has so many weapons and is so great at home, he is in my late QB Quinella plays too. 

Rashad Bateman: Late last year, he finally showed signs that he has the playmaking ability to be a solid backup choice at the WR position in Fantasy Football. 

Fourteenth Round (Winning MVP RB 70 WR 75 QB 105 TE 45)

Jordan Love: The Packers added a first-round WR to their roster for the first time since the Nixon Administration, which, combined with better health for Love, makes him a great late QB pick. 

Hollywood Brown: This is a plug-and-play backup plan for those Fantasy Football Managers who were brave enough to draft Rashee Rice at a nice price. 

Trevor Lawrence: The Fantasy Football world is expecting a big year from two WRs on the Jaguars, yet they are letting the QB for the team go off at a nice price. 

Fifteenth Round (Winning MVP RB 70 WR 75 QB 105 TE 45)

Tahj Brooks: A must-have handcuff for Chase Brown owners, he is also worth rostering without Brown on your roster because he is the next man up on a great offense. 

Kyle Monangai: If you like Isiah Pacheco, and who doesn’t, then you also need to like this RB to have a shot at some point in the season to make some noise. 

Kyle Williams: If Diggs can’t stay healthy all season or doesn’t have as much in the tank as we think, this talented rookie could lead in targets at some point in the season. 

Sixteenth Round and Later (Winning MVP RB 70 WR 75 QB 105 TE 45)

QBs 

Michael Penix: Performed just fine in a short sample size last year

Bryce Young: Made huge strides last season and offers rushing upside

Cam Ward: Solid deep roster backup just in case 

RBs

Brashard Smith: Could fill that Jett McKinnon role Reid has missed

Jarquez Hunter: Could be the eventual backup to Kyren Williams

Devin Neal or DJ Giddens: Rookies could be proper backup to two studs

WRs

Elic Ayomanor: Don’t leave the draft without rostering this potential star

Jalen Coker: Starts the season on IR, but is the heir apparent to the slot role

Tory Horton: Gets an opportunity if anything happens to Kupp 

TEs

Ja’Tavion Sanders: Should show signs as a rookie that he can be a playmaker

Elijah Arroyo: Rookie could earn the starting spot 

Darren Waller: Possible lotto pick if he has anything left

QB Value Plays

3rd Round: Lamar Jackson can be a nice value, especially deeper into the 3rd round

4th Round: Jayden Daniels, Joe Burrow, and Jalen Hurts are all solid plays here

TE Value Plays

6th Round: Travis Kelce is a nice value play this season in the 6th or 7th rounds

7th Round: Mark Andrews is a nice value play in the 7th or 8th rounds 

Conclusion

Many of the players I mentioned for the later rounds could become free agents in your Fantasy Football leagues, so be prepared to add them if you find yourself with an underperforming player or after injuries. The “Better Than Zero” strategy does like adding your own RB’s handcuff, but only at the right price. If you leave your drafts with a few more RBs than WRs, you should be set up for a great season. Good luck this season, except when you are playing against me!