Finding the best value players in each round of your fantasy football draft isn’t a strategy — it is a necessity.
Most drafters don’t need much in the way of cheatsheets or rankings to land some top-tier studs in the first few rounds, but the real test comes later when trying to fill your roster with high-upside sleepers and potential breakouts.
Finding these draft-day steals is how to transform a good fantasy team into a great one. It’s time to get to know the most underrated players at every position this season.
DOMINATE YOUR DRAFT: 2025 Fantasy Football Draft Kit
Studying consensus overall rankings and participating in mock drafts are essential exercises to help spot underrated players. Find more sleepers when realizing average draft position (ADP) doesn’t often correspond to a player’s potential production.
Based on rankings and ADPs from FantasyPros’ data for half-PPR formats, here are the best values and biggest potential steals to target throughout in 2025 fantasy football drafts.
Fantasy Football QB Value Picks: Most underrated quarterbacks in 2025
Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers (Ranking: QB11 | Overall ADP: 95)
Purdy has been finishing around this range early in his career.
He has a high floor even without a healthy Brandon Aiyuk as Ricky Pearsall, George Kittle and Jauan Jennings give him ample weapons for Kyle Shanahan’s passing game.
Purdy will come through playing well on his new, much pricier contract.
Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears (Ranking: QB16 | Overall ADP: 110)
Williams remains undervalued after some reports of rough practices, but once the lights went on for game action in Ben Johnson’s offense, he looked outstanding executing with his upgraded blockers and weaponry.
Williams is a steal this deep into QB2 range because he profiles as a top-12 producer in Year 2.
Drake Maye, New England Patriots (Ranking: QB14 | Overall ADP: 117)
Maye is climbing up the boards to the point he is no longer a secret sleeper, but he also will benefit from a schematic upgrade (to Josh McDaniels) in his second season.
Between his sneaky running cheat code and having just enough key targets with Stefon Diggs in the mix, Maye can also join Williams in the delayed breakout.
J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings (Ranking: QB20 | Overall ADP: 130)
The Kevin O’Connell system has produced top veteran fantasy passers in Kirk Cousins and Sam Darnold. His effect on Matthew Stafford under Sean McVay in Los Angeles was huge.
The only difference here is that McCarthy is much younger and unproven, but he has the arm (and bonus athleticism) to deliver with Justin Jefferson and the rest of their receivers.
Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers (Ranking: QB22 | Overall ADP: 166)
Young got a huge upgrade with a true No. 1 wide receiver: rookie Tetairoa McMillan. He’s feeling locked into returning receivers Adam Thielen and Jalen Coker, too.
The former Alabam star looks confident and on point in Dave Canales’ offense, building on the end of last season. He also can provide a dash of situational rushing production.
Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons (Ranking: QB23 | Overall ADP: 160)
Penix isn’t incapable of running, but in this case, much of his production will need to come from downfield passing.
Between Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Darnell Mooney, he’ll find plenty of targets to mesh with his strong-arm skill set to at least retain good superflex/2QB complementary value.
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams (Ranking: QB24 | Overall ADP: 177)
Stafford is almost free at this price, and the Rams don’t seem too concerned (yet) about the back injury.
The guy throwing to top fantasy receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams can’t be ignored this much ahead of a potential (final?) rejuvenation season.
PPR RANKINGS: Top 300 Cheat Sheet | QB | RB | WR | TE | DST | PK
Fantasy Football RB Value Picks: Most underrated running backs in 2025
Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals (Ranking: RB11 | Overall ADP: 24)
Brown is the clear leader of this backfield after a sizzling second half to his rookie season.
Rookie Tahj Brooks looks like his best backup, setting up Brown for a lot of high-leverage touches in the passing game and red zone. He has top-seven upside at the position.
Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints (Ranking: RB17 | Overall ADP: 39)
Kamara was the average RB6 in half-point PPR last season so this drop is rather dramatic, with the offensive scheme of Kellen Moore balancing out the very shaky quarterback situation.
With Spencer Rattler trending to start, it should become Checkdown City for Kamara, and he will be their best source of red-zone TDs.
D’Andre Swift, Chicago Bears (Ranking: RB22 | Overall ADP: 59)
Swift is set up to see key touches and targets in Johnson’s offense. There are doubts about him holding up per usual, but those can be allayed by the lack of situational competition from both Roschon Johnson and rookie Kyle Monagai.
Swift remains in a good situation to produce until the Bears might add one more back.
RJ Harvey, Denver Broncos (Ranking: RB52 | Overall ADP: 54)
A versatile young back, hand-picked for the offense of Sean Payton and Joe Lombardi for a rising offense that needs a running game spark?
Harvey lines up well for this opportunity over J.K. Dobbins because of his receiving skills. The rook could wind up a Kamara Lite for the Broncos.
Kaleb Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers (Ranking: RB27 | Overall ADP: 71)
Put this other underrated rookie on the list as many managers are worrying too much about change-of-pace Jaylen Warren.
Johnson can stay on the field for three downs if needed and will be the power scorer of choice in what can lean toward being a run-heavy offense.
Jordan Mason, Minnesota Vikings (Ranking: RB33 | Overall ADP: 93)
Slotted behind aging Aaron Jones, Mason is a good shot to take in the middle rounds.
He doesn’t provide too much as a receiver, but their line sets him up for good power rushing production and a shot at being busy in the red zone.
Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks (Ranking: RB34 | Overall ADP: 103)
Kenneth Walker III has a ton of durability issues, and Charbonnet exploded for some big games off the bench when he was inactive.
Should Walker struggle with his availability, Charbonnet can convince the coaches this should be a more even split in the new offense.
Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville Jaguars (Ranking: RB38 | Overall ADP: 113)
Travis Etienne is free-fallling in drafts, and the preseason usage suggests Bigsby might be the limited-ceiling Bucky Irving to Etienne’s Rachaad White in former Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen’s system.
Trey Benson, Arizona Cardinals (Ranking: RB47 | Overall ADP: 144)
James Conner keeps on chugging, but he has plenty of wear and tear and decent mileage from his workhorse time in Pittsburgh and Arizona. He just turned 30 in May, so there’s chance for real injury-based attrition. Benson will be readier for an expanded role this season should Conner miss time.
NON-PPR RANKINGS: TOP 300 Cheat Sheet | QB | RB | WR | TE
Fantasy Football WR Value Picks: Most underrated wide receivers in 2025
Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals (Ranking: WR13 | Overall ADP: 30)
Let’s go back to the Bengals’ well for their No. 2 receiver, who was the WR4 in average half-point PPR scoring last season, three notches behind Ja’Marr Chase.
Should he stay healthy, he can hit some more massive production for Joe Burrow with that contract situation no longer looming.
Davante Adams, Los Angeles Rams (Ranking: WR17 | Overall ADP: 43)
Adams tied with CeeDee Lamb as the average WR10 while splitting his time with the Raiders and Jets. He came on strong with some huge games for Aaron Rodgers.
Adams is the perfect outside target for Stafford and can see the scoring spike into the double digits again to push into the top 12.
Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina Panthers (Ranking: WR25 | Overall: ADP: 62)
McMillan has looked as advertised as the nice-sized field-stretching and red zone go-to guy for Young, Canales’ new developing young version of Mike Evans in his passing offense.
He should be fast-tracked for a top-20 fantasy WR finish.
Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions (Ranking: WR24 | Overall ADP: 65)
There’s no suspension or injury issue making drafters pause on Williams’ talent as the clear No. 2 to Amon-Ra St. Brown. New offensive coordinator John Morton wants to push the ball deeper with Jared Goff more and continue to showcase Williams’ speed and open-field big-play ability in other ways.
JaMo also can jump into the top 15-20 wideouts by season’s end.
Calvin Ridley, Tennessee Titans (Ranking: WR28 | Overall ADP: 78)
Ridley has had a rough few seasons going from Atlanta suspension to Jacksonville and Tennessee disappointment.
But now he finally gets a QB who will give him the necessary target treatment for the first time since Matt Ryan. Expect Cam Ward to pepper Ridley well to boost him back into a more trusted fantasy starter.
Jerry Jeudy, Cleveland Browns (Ranking: WR34 | Overall ADP: 77)
Jeudy got great news when the Browns decided to go with Joe Flacco as their initial starting QB.
The veteran go-to guy, who has developed well as Amari Cooper’s replacement, will eat up targets, sharing most with Flacco favorite David Njoku.
Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears (Ranking: WR35 | Overall ADP: 80)
Transferring the Lions’ offense buzz again to Chicago, Odunze has the vibe of being more of ARSB in the Bears’ offense with D.J. Moore still very much in play as Williams.
He should be the only other wide receiver out there often with Johnson’s frequent use of 12 personnel (two tight ends).
Jakobi Meyers, Las Vegas Raiders (Ranking: WR36 | Overall ADP: 88)
The Raiders need someone to help Geno Smith after Brock Bowers as they are still sorting out their buzzy rookies with upside. Meyers can be reliable lining up in multiple spots for Chip Kelly.
Ricky Pearsall, San Francisco 49ers (Ranking: WR38 | Overall ADP: 94)
Pearsall is starting to show why the 49ers took him in the first round in 2024. He is developing into a key target for Purdy with Deebo Samuel gone and Aiyuk ailing.
Look for the upside to manifest early for this late draft riser.
Emeka Egbuka, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Ranking: WR41 | Overall ADP: 101)
Breaks are all going this first-rounder’s way with Chris Godwin (ankle) slow in recovery and Jalen McMillan (neck) on Injured Reserve.
Egbuka has had a great first NFL offseason and will be busy sooner rather than later as the No. 2 for Baker Mayfield playing off Mike Evans.
2025 DRAFT SLEEPERS: QB | RB | WR | TE | DST | Deep Sleepers | 1 From Each Team
Fantasy Football TE Value Picks: Most underrated tight ends in 2025
Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts (Ranking: TE11 | Overall ADP: 109)
The Colts’ competition seems to be trending a bit toward Daniel Jones.
That’s good news for short-to-intermediate passing for Shane Steichen, who’s revealed his plans to use Warren everywhere on the field to make plays, from downfield to after the catch.
He’s a much better rookie value pick than the Bears’ Colston Loveland.
Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys (Ranking: TE12 | Overall ADP: 121)
Ferguson isn’t juicy in terms of big upside, but when he’s healthy on the field with a healthy Dak Prescott, the newly extended tight end produces well as a receiver through the red zone.
He’ll be key even with the deep threat of George Pickens adding to the target mix.
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots (Ranking: TE17 | Overall ADP: 152)
Henry’s last key fantasy season came with Mac Jones at QB, and he’s developing some similar chemistry with Maye, who needs a reliable target boost beyond wide receiver Stefon Diggs.
It helps that McDaniels is back to maximize Henry’s red-zone work.
Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders (Ranking: TE19 | Overall ADP: 165)
The Commanders’ vacated targets come at wide receiver, meaning what Samuel gets won’t cut into Ertz’s role.
He was too productive for Kliff Kingsbury and too trusted by Jayden Daniels through the playoffs for him to drop so far after finishing in the top 10 in average scoring in 2024.
Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars (Ranking: TE22 | Overall ADP: 189)
The Jaguars need to compensate for the 82 vacated targets at tight end between Evan Engram and Luke Farrell.
Strange earned 53 targets last season, turning them into 40 catches for 411 yards and 2 TDs in only 10 starts. He can do a lot more damage to have some sneaky backdoor TE1 value.
EXPLOIT LEAGUE APPS: Yahoo, ESPN rankings can reveal sleepers, busts
