Fantasy Fridays: #1 Pick Over the Years

Zak Drapeau
Jul 11
2 min read

by Zak Drapeau 7/11/2025 FansOnlySportz

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2025: Ja'Marr Chase CIN WR

2024: Christian McCaffrey SF RB

Finished: N/A

2023: Christian McCaffrey SF RB

Finished: 1

2022: Jonathan Taylor IND RB

Finished: N/A

2021: Christian McCaffrey SF RB

Finished: N/A

2020: Christian McCaffrey SF RB

Finished: N/A

2019: Saquon Barkley NYG RB

Finished: 21

2018: Todd Gurley STL RB

Finished: 1

2017: David Johnson ARI RB

Finished: N/A

2016: Antonio Brown PIT WR

Finished: 12

2015: Adrian Peterson MIN RB

Finished: 4

2014: LeSean McCoy PHI RB

Finished: 31

2013: Adrian Peterson MIN RB

Finished: 18

2012: Arian Foster HOU RB

Finished: 3

2011: Adrian Peterson MIN RB

Finished: 30

2010: Chris Johnson TEN RB

Finished: 5

2009: Adrian Peterson MIN RB

Finished: 2

2008: LaDanian Tomlinson SDG RB

Finished: 12

2007: LaDanian Tomlinson SDG RB

Finished: 2

2006: LaDanian Tomlinson SDG RB

Finished: 1

2005: LaDanian Tomlinson SDG RB

Finished: 3

2004: Priest Holmes KC RB

Finished: 30

2003: Priest Holmes KC RB

Finished: 1

2002: Marshall Faulk STL RB

Finished: 29

2001: Marshall Faulk STL RB

Finished: 1

2000: Marshall Faulk STL RB

Finished: 1

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How Many #1 Picks Performed?

Out of the 25 #1 ADP First Picks:

6 Finished as #1

12 Finished in the Top-10

16 Finished in the Top-25

5 Finished N/A (Not in Top-100)

In the last 25 years, 5 players have held the #1 ADP more than once:

LaDanian Tomlinson - 4

Adrian Peterson - 4

Christian McCaffrey - 4

Marshall Faulk - 3

Priest Holmes - 2

Historically, Marshall Faulk is the only player to finish #1 in the same year he was ADP #1 twice.

LaDanian Tomlinson is in the same tier as Faulk, with his 4, #1 ADP seasons finishing as the #3, #1, #2 and #12 ranked player respectively.

While Christian McCaffrey has the dubious honor of the only player to finish N/A three separate times he was ranked #1 ADP. A distinction only shared with David Johnson and Jonathan Taylor who finished N/A in their only season as #1 ADP.

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Ja'Marr Chase Enters Rare Company

Since 1972, only two WRs have ever topped the Fantasy Football pre-season rankings in standard scoring.

2025: Ja'Marr Chase

2016: Antonio Brown

Ja'Marr Chase's historic 2024 season ended with the 'Receiving Triple Crown' and finished #1 in fantasy points for Non-QBs in PPR leagues. His #1 ADP ranking won't be unanimous as Barkley, Robinson and Gibbs will get drafted first in some leagues but it is a distinction he nonetheless deserves.

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