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Thunder Dan's analysis of five fantasy football wide receivers that could be league winners. Are these WRs undervalued players and potential league winners to target in the middle rounds of 2025 drafts?
What is emerging as a very popular way to start fantasy drafts this season is going with two running backs with your first two picks. The "zero RB" strategy had a nice run there for a few years, but thanks to dominant seasons from Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry, paired with the emergence of young three-down backs such as Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson, managers are anxious to gobble up those valuable running backs early.
What that means this year is there is value at the wide receiver position in just about every round! And if you are someone who takes running backs early or decides to take one of the "cheat code" quarterbacks in the early rounds, then you're going to have to nail your middle-round picks at the receiver position.
So I am here to help you crush those mid-round picks with some of my favorite receivers from that part of the draft. These receivers are all being drafted a bit too late based on their ADP, and I included our current RotoBaller rankings to show the difference.
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DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles
- NFFC ADP: 51
- RotoBaller PPR Rank: 45
Smith is coming off a superb showing in the Super Bowl and his fourth-straight solid season in Philadelphia. When teams gear up to stop Barkley in the running game and have to put their best coverage on A.J. Brown, look for Smith to be the guy who Jalen Hurts leans on this season.
Smith would be a WR1 on lesser teams; let's acknowledge that. In the two games that he played last year while Brown was on the shelf, he averaged seven receptions and 77 yards on 10 targets. If Brown misses any time this season, Smith would instantly be in the mix as a WR1 for those weeks.
DeVonta Smith is a stud. Top-20 WR in PPR points per game in each of the past three seasons. Floor is high, ceiling is the roof if AJB misses any time.
But man, look at George Pickens. Jaylen Waddle. Jameson Williams. They could be anything. They could even be DeVonta Smith! pic.twitter.com/rzUBqxQ8fN
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) August 4, 2025
Smith was on pace for another 1000-yard season, but missed four games last year. He still managed to catch eight touchdown passes and a very healthy 9.4 yards per target. He can be utilized in any number of ways, from short stuff like bubble screens and slants to longer routes down the field (he has a TD catch of 40+ yards in all four seasons as a pro).
I badly want to target the Eagles' passing game this season. I think it's quite likely that Barkley, even with how amazing he was last year, has the most significant chance to underperform at his ADP, while Jalen Hurts, Brown, and Smith all have a chance to go off if the Birds are forced to pass more and find themselves in more competitive games this season.
Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins
- NFFC ADP: 61
- RotoBaller PPR Rank: 49
If Waddle burned you in either of the last two seasons, you're probably sick of hearing about his upside and a potential bounce back. But I'm going to make the case for him anyway!
Waddle suffered through his worst season as a pro in 2024, catching just 58 passes for 744 yards. But last season was such a disaster for Miami that we almost have to throw it away entirely. Tua Tagovailoa missed six games, and Waddle had to deal with the likes of Skylar Thompson, Tim Boyle, and Tyler Huntley at quarterback.
Waddle also missed three games near the end of the season due to injury. When he was on the field, he saw a reduced target share while Jonnu Smith emerged at the tight end position and commanded a large chunk of targets.
Jaylen Waddle is going to remind people who he is this season‼️ pic.twitter.com/M1eChqGqOO
— King of Phinland🐬👑 (@KingOfPhinland) August 3, 2025
Well, Smith is gone to Pittsburgh, and there are lingering questions about Tyreek Hill's potential effectiveness at age 31. The opportunity for Waddle to regain his WR-1B status (or even usurp the 1-A role) should be there this season. We know that he's been outstanding when healthy and when this offense is firing on all cylinders.
Waddle's risk is in being attached to Tagovailoa's health. But at this cost, it's baked into the price. If Tagovailoa stays on the field and the Dolphins return to even 80% of what this offense was in 2023, then Waddle is primed for a huge season and could effectively smash his ADP. You might call me a sucker, but I am back in on Waddle, who, according to reports, has been having an excellent training camp.
Stefon Diggs, New England Patriots
- NFFC ADP: 95
- RotoBaller PPR Rank: 68
Diggs is entering his age-31 season (will turn 32 in November) and coming off a significant injury, so his ADP has dipped to where he could be a major value if he's able to return to form this year in New England. His tenure in Houston was short, as he played just eight games for the Texans last year after four very successful seasons in Buffalo.
He was utilized by the Texans in a possession-receiver role, with Nico Collins operating as more of a downfield threat and Tank Dell as the speedster in the slot.
He's likely to be deployed in a similar role this year in New England, but could end up being the WR1 in terms of sheer volume of targets. As a veteran who is a polished route-runner, he doesn't need elite speed to get open. He needs to run those high-value routes and earn the trust of his new quarterback, Drake Maye, by catching the ball consistently and helping this offense move the chains.
Drake Maye and Stefon Diggs.
Building that chemistry. 🔥
— Savage (@SavageSports_) August 5, 2025
Maye looked pretty impressive in the final stretch of his rookie campaign, and expectations are high for this offense in 2025. With more weapons around him this season, Maye is poised for a big year, and Diggs could easily emerge as his most trusted target as he's far more experienced than anyone else in the Patriots' receiving room.
I think Diggs could have a big bounce-back year in New England and could be an absolute steal at this ADP if he can simply stay healthy. I'm bullish on this offense, and I'm going to try to grab multiple pieces of it in drafts as often as I can.
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts
- NFFC ADP: 96
- RotoBaller PPR Rank: 80
Editor's Note: Since this article was first published, Downs suffered a hamstring injury that forced him to miss the Colts' second preseason game. He's day-to-day with the injury.
I know I will get some pushback on this player, and I've already debated the merits of drafting Downs with a few other fantasy analysts (but always in a nice way, don't worry). I am a big fan of Downs as a football player, and I think his talent is going to help him get on the field, even though he's a smaller player who has been limited to playing almost exclusively out of the slot.
There's no reason not to like slot receivers, or ding them at least for being what they are. Downs is very good at what he does and can create separation against nickel corners and linebackers. He was heavily relied upon by Joe Flacco last season in the games that Flacco started, to the tune of seven catches per game on nine targets. And if you watch some Colts games, it's easy to see why - he's always open.
"Daniel Jones being the Colts starting QB is best case for Josh Downs, Michael Pittman and Tyler Warren" is actually quite terrifying to say out loud
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) August 8, 2025
The reasons to fade Downs are that he struggled with terrible numbers playing alongside Anthony Richardson Sr.. If the Colts opt for a run-heavy approach, he will be on the field less often, as he's unlikely to be part of many two-receiver sets.How
However, Daniel Jones was able to win the job out of camp, which should raise Down's ceiling immensely. Jones at quarterback would be an excellent thing for Downs and tight end Tyler Warren, as he's a more accurate passer who would likely rely a lot on both players in the short passing game to keep the chains moving.
We saw Jones target his slot receiver (Wan'Dale Robinson) 8.4 times per game in 10 starts last season. In PPR formats, Downs is appealing to me based on what could be a large volume of targets this season. There's plenty of risk involved here, but I'm willing to take a shot on a talented player who could find himself in a good spot if Jones ends up being his quarterback.
Ricky Pearsall, San Francisco 49ers
- NFFC ADP: 86
- RotoBaller PPR Rank: 78
Pearsall should have a tremendous opportunity this season in San Francisco. Deebo Samuel Sr. is gone, Brandon Aiyuk is still hurt, and Jauan Jennings is also hurt and demanding more money. While everyone is rushing to draft George Kittle in the fourth round, I am excited to snag Pearsall in the sixth or seventh round instead.
Obviously it’s early into training camp, but it feels like Ricky Pearsall is having a similar camp that Brandon Aiyuk had in 2023 before he exploded during the season pic.twitter.com/CRFDsmAjCl
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) August 7, 2025
We don't have much to go off with Pearsall, and perhaps you could argue that he put up numbers late in the year when the Niners didn't have many other options. But what I saw was a solid route runner with excellent hands. He had 31 catches without a single drop.
His 8-141-1 game against Detroit on national TV in Week 17 was a glimpse of what Pearsall can do with increased target volume. While the 49ers will want to get back to the run on offense as much as possible, the decline of their defense may force them into more high-scoring games and thus more volume for Brock Purdy and his receivers.
Pearsall is poised for a breakout this year. Kittle can only assume so much of the target share, and the Niners may end up passing the ball enough to sustain fantasy value for Kittle, Jennings, and Pearsall this season.
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