We're around the final turn and roaring down the home stretch like it's the Preakness. We've sniped, reached and scooped up our favorite household names, and we've let some mystical combination of research, experience and the ol' gut instinct lead us to value and upside.

With our teams in the 2025 Fantasy Index Invitational nearly complete, we look to speculate on a smattering of still-anonymous rookies, over-the-hill vets with maybe one more year of magic in them, and guys who make millions kicking a football real far. This is the last leg of the FI Invitational Draftboard.

13th Round

13th Round Commentary

• Ian Allan: Heh. "Woody".
  Luke Wilson: This may not fully translate here, but just trust me when I say that Ian just shared the perfect Beavis and Butt-Head gif. Glad I wasn't drinking anything right then.
  Ian Allan: Whether Marks pans out or not, I have no idea. But he's going by "Woody", so the Beavis & Butt-heads at live drafts are going to snigger when he's picked.
  Luke Wilson: Woody did get high 'marks' for stonewalling some free rushers one-on-one in the Texans' first preseason game. For a team that abruptly shipped their franchise tackle to DC a few months ago, that's certainly a skill that can get him involved early, and potentially often.
  
• Luke Wilson: Keenan Allen in the 13th, dynamite pick. Who knows what he's got left or how much they use him, but I won't be the least bit surprised if he has 3-4 game 'turn back the clock' stretch as a rock-solid fantasy WR2. Quality production at this point in the draft.
  TPats: Yeah, Keenan could easily have a run similar to the one he had for the Bears down the stretch last year.
  
• Luke Wilson: Barring injury: Over/under 13.5 games started by Justin Fields for the 2025 New York Jets?
  Ben Prator: I'll take the over. Even if he's not the guy, throwing Tyrod Taylor or who knows what else out there would constitute a step back for the franchise. Bad look for the staff, too; he'd have to be horrible.
  
• Luke Wilson: For as much as he's become a punchline in fantasy football over the last couple seasons, I've never actually seen Pitts fall this far in a draft before. I applaud our collective self-control, but also Ben's willingness to take a good deal when it presents itself. Sounds like Darnell Mooney's gonna be awhile, and Drake London can't catch 'em all.
  Ben Prator: Pitts' aDOT (average depth of target) in his first three seasons was ridiculously high: 10.8, 13.8, and 11.3 yards. Even with that number dropping to 8.4 in his first with OC Zac Robinson, that was still a very high number relative to the elite of the elite at the position (McBride and Bowers both came in at about 6.1). Maybe Pitts could be an effective fantasy tight end if someone decides to, ya know - use him as one. Because the target volume hasn't been terrible, and the drop rate hasn't been, either.
  Andy Richardson: In this particular draft, I'd argue that Pitts hasn't even really "fallen". I see three or four tight ends that were still on the board there who I think will be better than him this year.
  Ben Prator: I don't disagree. I would not have taken him as my TE1, but his upside is like a stinky cat I've decided to adopt this season. He's so disdained that my contrarian streak is kicking in.
  Andy Richardson: I actually didn't even intend to rip Pitts, it's more an observation that I'm surprised so few teams have been interested in adding second TEs. Prior to that pick, only a few of us had done so. I clearly took one way too early, but with two FLEX spots, some teams could/should be starting more than one TE at times this season.
  
• Luke Wilson: Fitz and I claiming our respective stakes in the New England pass attack. Douglas is the one constant in this receiver group outside of the tight ends, and he's reportedly having a perfectly strong camp. But Williams has gotten some of the 'unguardable' buzz at times this summer, and he may have an edge in terms of inside-outside versatility. You've got an ear to the ground up there TP, who do you think winds up with more yards this year: Douglas or Williams?
  TPats: I'd have to lean Pop Douglas for this year. Not sure Kyle Williams is going to be on the field consistently enough to amass the necessary targets, barring peripheral injuries.
  

14th Round

14th Round Commentary

• Luke Wilson: For as much as he's become a punchline in fantasy football over the last couple seasons, I've never actually seen Pitts fall this far in a draft before. I applaud our collective self-control, but also Ben's willingness to take a good deal when it presents itself. Sounds like Darnell Mooney's gonna be awhile, and Drake London can't catch 'em all.
  Ben Prator: Pitts' aDOT (average depth of target) in his first three seasons was ridiculously high: 10.8, 13.8, and 11.3 yards. Even with that number dropping to 8.4 in his first with OC Zac Robinson, that was still a very high number relative to the elite of the elite at the position (McBride and Bowers both came in at about 6.1). Maybe Pitts could be an effective fantasy tight end if someone decides to, ya know - use him as one. Because the target volume hasn't been terrible, and the drop rate hasn't been, either.
  Andy Richardson: In this particular draft, I'd argue that Pitts hasn't even really "fallen". I see three or four tight ends that were still on the board there who I think will be better than him this year.
  Ben Prator: I don't disagree. I would not have taken him as my TE1, but his upside is like a stinky cat I've decided to adopt this season. He's so disdained that my contrarian streak is kicking in.
  Andy Richardson: I actually didn't even intend to rip Pitts, it's more an observation that I'm surprised so few teams have been interested in adding second TEs. Prior to that pick, only a few of us had done so. I clearly took one way too early, but with two FLEX spots, some teams could/should be starting more than one TE at times this season.
  

15th Round

15th Round Commentary

• Luke Wilson: Jonnu Smith over 'D-Kink' (Dalton Kincaid) definitely may not have been the right call. But Jonnu is definitely good, while Kincaid may only be kinda good. Highly technical analysis there, I know.
  Moss: Plus, Jonnu may lead all Steelers in rush attempts.
  Luke Wilson: Only MyCole Pruitt stands in his way!
  
• Ian Allan: I liked the Kyle Monangai pick. I was hoping to get around to him. I thought he looked just fine against the Dolphins, and there isn't much ahead of him on the depth chart. I don't see D'Andre Swift as a 17-game guy, and Roschon Johnson is completely unproven.
  Moss: Yeah, maybe he could break through. But it's a 4% historical chance for seventh round picks to score more than 80 points for a reason. But hey, someone has to be a 'four percenter'.
  Ian Allan: Yes. There are actually more hits of guys who weren't even drafted. But you've also got to factor in how these guys look when you put them on the field.
  Moss: Not disagreeing. Good backs get looks. Draft capital is the "rule" but there are always exceptions. Everyone points to Pacheco for example as a 7th (rounder) who broke out.
  
• Andy Richardson Thank heavens someone finally took Ertz. I was going to have to take a third tend if he lasted any longer.
  TPats: Seemed like a great spot to take him. A TE I can start in a pinch and not feel too bad about.
  Luke Wilson: Yeah, Ertz didn't deserve to get faded this hard. He was great down the stretch for the Commanders last season. But he's been doing this longer than Travis Kelce, and theoretically the Commanders are open to youngster Ben Sinnott being more than a deep reserve this time around. But Ertz should be startable for at least the first part of the season.
  Andy Richardson: He was my second choice way back when I took Goedert four rounds ago.
  
• Luke Wilson: Andy buys himself a TeSlaa! Does that feel more like a lottery ticket buy there Andy, or are you expecting some real production for Detroit's mystery man at some point in 2025? He's looked great in the microscopic sample size we've seen so far.
  Boards: Loved that pick.
  Andy Richardson: Lottery ticket. Probably not startable as a 3. But if one of Detroit's top two receivers misses time, or if LaPorta does, then maybe. Both Monangai and TeSlaa may not be usable, but could be really good. Kind of picks I like to make in these rounds rather than ones with minimal upside. They're basically cheap bets against incumbents of whom I don't think too highly (Swift-Roschon, Jameson Williams).
  Sweet Lou: These benches run deep. I almost took Jordan Love as a third QB just for the heck of it. But ultimately figured I should try to back up my Jonathan Taylor share with Giddens.
  Ian Allan: I considered a third QB. My #2 (McCarthy) is more of a dart throw than a known quantity, so I would have taken Love or Young had they not been chosen just before my pick.
  Luke Wilson: I was going to take the upside swing on J.J. McCarthy the round prior, only for you step in front of me on him. Guess the sniping came full circle.
  Ben Prator: I really thought Bryce Young would make it back to me. I'm living dangerously with Ward now.
  Boards: Yeah, had a feeling Bryce wasn't gonna make it back around to me so felt like I needed to take him there.
  

16th Round

16th Round Commentary

• TPats: Oof, I actually got sniped on Kareem Hunt.
  Moss: Things I never thought I'd hear for $100, Alex.
  Andy Richardson: I did not enjoy the pick... I felt obligated.
  TPats: He could definitely be the Chiefs' GL back again.
  Andy Richardson: I hope not! I just figure he could have a big role if Pacheco gets hurt again.
  Sweet Lou: Ha, I was looking for Brenton Strange only to realize Fitzmaurice took him earlier in the round.
  TPats: Tale of the tape in this draft...

17th Round

17th Round Commentary

Ian Allan: Sean Tucker goes in the 17th round. Oops. Didn't look at the board carefully enough when picking Will Shipley in the 16th.
Luke Wilson: Ugh, same. Absolute grand larceny pick. He should have been gone three rounds ago.
Boards: Knew I should have taken Tahj (Brooks) with my previous pick.
TPats: And I knew I should have taken Tucker. Add him to my list of late round targets in my 14-team league. I'll have people going, "Who the heck are Jacory and Sean Tucker?"
Luke Wilson: Tahj, great pick. Kid can play.
TPats: Yeah, and if his competition for the backup job is just Samaje Perine then that's an easy job for him to win.
Luke Wilson: Ehhh I wouldn't go that far, Samaje's actually been pretty good as a big passing down specialist the last couple years. But he's still just a 2025 problem, Brooks should play his way into a role by the middle part of 2026. There's a lot of love in the room for Chase Brown right now, but his efficiency sagged noticeably after he took over the full-time job last year. Plus, Brooks is big league-ready in pass protection.
Andy Richardson: Possible that I'll wish I had taken Tucker instead of Hunt last round. Basic feeling was being worried about Pacheco's durability, plus Rachaad White still in the mix for Tampa. But Tucker being better than Hunt would not surprise.
Moss: Can Tucker hold a candle to White in pass pro/as a receiver?
Luke Wilson: Good point. Rachaad White does probably have the more well-rounded skill set; Tucker is good, but is he really good enough to peel carries away from Irving? That's probably more the way to think about this backfield for now.

18th Round

18th Round Commentary

—FI Staff