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Dave's dynasty fantasy football sleepers and draft targets in 2025 Fantasy Football Players Championship (FFPC) start-up drafts. His undervalued players for deep dynasty leagues.
Dynasty start-up season is here! While many gamers are focusing on their 2025 dynasty rookie drafts, there are those currently engulfed in start-up drafts as well.
While getting your core players and rookies is of the utmost importance in any start-up draft, it's also vital to identify key sleepers later in the draft. There are always potential values in every start-up draft, even in the deepest of leagues. Today, we will examine several deep league targets using recent dynasty ADP (average draft position) from 2025 FFPC (Fantasy Football Players Championship) start-up leagues.
Make sure you're following RotoBaller on X and check out RotoBaller.com for all your fantasy football needs. Here are five deep league targets in 2025 FFPC dynasty start-up drafts.
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Jordan Mason, RB, Minnesota Vikings
FFPC Dynasty ADP: 131.07 Overall
The San Francisco 49ers traded Mason to the Minnesota Vikings earlier this offseason. At the time, it seemed like an out-of-nowhere move. Based on Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell’s comments, though, Mason could be a big part of Minnesota’s running game.
The Jordan Mason touchdown managers were waiting for!
He has 93 yards and a TD so far! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/lhubclHsVx
— PlayerProfiler (@rotounderworld) September 10, 2024
Mason filled in nicely for Christian McCaffrey last year. In 12 games, he ran for 789 yards and three touchdowns before suffering an ankle injury that ended his season. Some of Mason’s advanced metrics were also quite good. Among 46 backs with 100 carries, Mason finished third in Next Gen Stats' rush yards over expected per attempt (RYOE/ATT), 10th in PFF elusive rating, and 19th in PFF rushing grade.
Mason now enters a situation where he could get more consistent touches as part of a backfield committee with Aaron Jones. Minnesota has clarified that it acquired Mason to help keep Jones fresh. So, Mason should be in line for plenty of work. If Jones ever goes down, he would also be in line for a starter’s workload.
At the least, Mason should provide some standalone value for gamers. This makes him a fine target as a potential flex play (with upside for more) in deep leagues with larger starting lineups.
Tank Bigsby - RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
FFPC Dynasty ADP: 157.5 Overall
After a highly disappointing rookie season in 2023, Bigsby showed signs of life in 2024. He ran for 766 yards and scored seven touchdowns in his sophomore season.
TANK BIGSBY STIFF ARMS HIS WAY TO A 65-YARD TD.
📺: #INDvsJAX on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/oVugPI0X5s— NFL (@NFL) October 6, 2024
He looked the part of an NFL-caliber back and outshone incumbent starter Travis Etienne Jr. all year. Bigsby even finished higher than Etienne in Next Gen Stats' rush yards over expected (RYOE), PFF’s rushing grade, and PFF’s signature elusive rating. It was pretty clear Bigsby was Jacksonville’s best back in 2024.
The previous regime (Urban Meyer and Trent Baalke) that used a first-round pick to draft Etienne is gone. Liam Coen takes over as Jacksonville’s new head coach in 2025. It’s unclear who Coen will use as the team’s lead back, so Etienne is by no means a lock to lead the team in touches. Bigsby outproduced Etienne last year, and if he does it again in 2025, Coen could hand the reins over to Bigsby, similar to what he did with Bucky Irving in Tampa Bay last year.
It's worth noting that Jacksonville did select running back Bhayshul Tuten in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Tuten has elite breakaway speed and some impressive traits, but he had fumbling issues throughout his collegiate career. Tuten could also be a viable sleeper out of this backfield, but he needs to improve his ball security if he hopes to surpass Etienne and Bigsby on the depth chart.
For now, Bigsby is a very viable sleeper candidate and could be in line for a career season if he wrestles the starting job away from Etienne.
Chig Okonkwo - TE, Tennessee Titans
FFPC Dynasty ADP: 255.68 Overall
Okonkwo was a popular sleeper pick two years ago, but he failed to deliver. Things looked the same for most of 2024, but he showed life to close the season.
From Weeks 15-17, Okonkwo caught 22 passes for 182 yards on 28 targets. Per Fantasy Points Data Suite, he posted a 30 percent targets per route run (TPRR), a 2.19 yards per route run (YPRR), and a 24.3 percent target share during that stretch.
Chig Okonkwo gets in open space for a 70-yard TD!
📺: #TENvsHOU on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/98scOwfisp— NFL (@NFL) November 24, 2024
He has a realistic shot at retaining that usage to begin the 2025 season. Titans head coach Brian Callahan has cited Okonkwo’s growth and hard work as the reasons for his increased role down the home stretch last year. Callahan has praised him throughout the offseason as well. It sounds like Okonkwo has really grown on Tennessee's staff.
While the team added rookie receivers Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike in the NFL Draft, they are relatively unproven options and may not pose much of a threat to Okonkwo for targets. Tennessee also selected rookie tight end Gunnar Helm in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. He could threaten Okonkwo, but he likely holds off Helm thanks to his experience in the league and Callahan's system.
With Calvin Ridley currently as his main target competition, we could be looking at a career season for Okonkwo in 2025. At this price in drafts, there's really no downside in selecting Okonkwo. You might just find yourself a TE1.
Jalen Coker - WR, Carolina Panthers
FFPC Dynasty ADP: 273.43 Overall
Coker was an undrafted free agent out of Holy Cross in 2024. He latched on with the Carolina Panthers and began producing during the second half of the 2024 season. In 11 games, Coker posted a 32-478-2 line and showed an affinity for making big plays.
Coker 83 yards to the house!
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/tNU6kz0H9u
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) December 15, 2024
He legitimately looked the part of an NFL-caliber receiver, and his underlying data backs that up. Among 100 receivers with at least 40 targets, Coker finished a respectable 43rd in PFF's Receiving Grade. Out of 169 receivers with at least 50 routes run, Coker finished 86th in Fantasy Points Data Suite's Average Separation Score. He fared better in this metric than the likes of Davante Adams, Jaylen Waddle, DJ Moore, and DK Metcalf.
Coker's presence helped elevate Bryce Young and the team's passing game down the stretch. He won't be mistaken for Justin Jefferson anytime soon, but Coker is a solid player with room to grow into a very useful dynasty asset.
The team selected rookie Tetairoa McMillan with the eighth pick in the NFL Draft. McMillan is a true WR1 prospect and should command a healthy target share in this offense. His presence certainly hurts Coker's upside. However, Coker showed some real potential as a rookie last year. He arguably performed better than 2024 first-round pick Xavier Legette and could outright steal the WR2 job from Legette over the summer.
Coker's price tag is extremely cheap. He makes for a good late-round dart throw in dynasty start-up drafts. If Young and this offense continue to improve in 2025, Coker could emerge as a potential WR3 or flex play.
Joshua Palmer - WR, Buffalo Bills
FFPC Dynasty ADP: 302.36 Overall
Palmer never posted elite stats during his four seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers. However, he signed a three-year, $36 million deal with the Buffalo Bills this offseason. General manager Brandon Beane has previously spoken about the team’s need for a true WR1. Palmer doesn’t profile as such, but he will help immensely against man coverage.
Josh Palmer gives the Bills a much-needed weapon vs. man coverage.
BUF's Average Separation Score ranks against man among 131 qualifying players:
Josh Palmer: 8th-best
Keon Coleman: 54th
Mack Hollins: 71st
Khalil Shakir: 82nd
Dalton Kincaid: 86th pic.twitter.com/DCVIuTL41K— Fantasy Points Data (@FantasyPtsData) March 10, 2025
Keon Coleman struggled as the team’s X receiver last year and isn't great against man coverage. Palmer should work well in tandem with slot receiver Khalil Shakir.
With Josh Allen throwing passes his way, Palmer could be lined up for a career season. He is a great value pick at his current FFPC dynasty ADP. Don’t expect WR1 production, but Palmer could be a useful asset this year.
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