RADIO
Kacey's fantasy football wide receiver draft targets and value picks in the late-rounds of 2025 drafts. Her top upside sleepers include Keenan Allen and more.
Back in 2020, when everyone was finding new hobbies, I decided to try my hand at flipping and reselling. There was something about digging through the shelves and finding that one hidden gem (like that vintage Houston Oilers shark tooth hat that made me shake). A $2 flip turned into something way more valuable.
That's just how fantasy football drafts can feel. The early rounds are full of shiny, expensive pieces that everyone's fighting over. Bargains live in the late rounds. Those who don't look like a lot at first glance can end up carrying your team when injuries strike or bye weeks make an appearance.
I wanted to examine five wide receivers who fit the mold of late-round league winner (or at least, league bandaid). These aren't the stars on your roster, but if you hit on the right one, they're the bargain bin finds that can help you take home the trophy. I included the RotoBaller rankings to show how RotoBaller values these players in conjunction with their FFPC ADP.
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Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers
- NFFC ADP: 169
- RotoBaller PPR Rank: 121
It's funny to think you can get a six-time Pro Bowler in the late rounds, but that's exactly what you're getting with Keenan Allen this season. After one year in Chicago, Allen returns to the Chargers on a one-year deal. He will no longer be the team's WR1; Ladd McConkey holds that honor. But Allen is set to be the WR2 and has plenty left for at least one more redraft campaign.
Last year, the veteran snagged 70 passes for 733 yards and seven scores in 15 games, putting up five 20+ point fantasy weeks over that span. His overall production dipped, but he returns to a team where he's had a connection with Justin Herbert.
Keenan Allen catching passes from Herbert. We’re so back ⚡️
(@JasonDelgado78)
pic.twitter.com/iwGBDiQF7U— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) August 7, 2025
Playing four seasons with the QB, their chemistry was on display with Allen averaging 95 catches, 1,031 yards, and 6.3 touchdowns per year. His ceiling isn't what it once was, but he's still one of the safest bets you can make in the late rounds.
He'll give you a steady WR3/Flex production, with the occasional throwback Keenan week. In an offense that will look to throw often, he's a plug-and-play asset with bigger upside than what his ADP suggests. Allen is the 65th wide receiver coming off the board, so you can afford to draft him.
Adam Thielen, Carolina Panthers
- NFFC ADP: 185
- RotoBaller PPR Rank: 154
He's 35. He missed seven games last year. But when Adam Thielen was out on the field, he produced. Last season, he averaged 14 PPR points per game and possessed five double-digit outings after he returned from a hamstring injury in Week 12. That period included a 28-point explosion in Week 17, displaying Thielen's chemistry with Bryce Young as well as his elite route running.
The Panthers' wide receiver room is full of youth: first-rounder Tetairoa McMillan, Xavier Legette, and Jalen Coker. McMillan is the No. 1 in the offense, but there's no clear-cut WR2. Thielen was a beast in the slot last season, seeing 72.8% of his work there. Carolina's heavy use of 11 personnel (72.6%) ensures he'll be on the field plenty in 3WR sets.
Adam Thielen 🤯
— Renee NFL (@ReneeFreakNFL) December 29, 2024
From Week 12-18, Thielen caught 40-of-50 passes for 506 yards and four TDs. He'll be bringing that momentum with him into his 2025 season. The veteran isn't flashy, and he's not going to be the guy who wins it all for you.
He's the type of steady flex production that can save your season when the injury bug bites. You can get Thielen for next to nothing as a late-round asset that, despite having a capped ceiling, is constant and undervalued.
Update - Thielen has been traded to the Minnesota Vikings. While he will typically slot in as the No. 3 option, he will have increased early-season value with Jordan Addison serving a three-game suspension.
Wan'Dale Robinson, New York Giants
- NFFC ADP: 179
- RotoBaller PPR Rank: 165
Volume can be a cheat code in fantasy football, and Wan'Dale Robinson brings that to the table. In 2024, he saw an incredible 132 targets and finished with 93 receptions (13th in the NFL). It doesn't seem like there would be any problems with this, except that those catches turned into just 699 yards and three TDs. Quarterback play was abysmal, with six yards per pass attempt, the fewest passing touchdowns (15), and the fourth-worst completion percentage in the league (61.9%).
It was a carousel of mediocrity after Daniel Jones' meltdown. This season, quarterback play will be improved. The Giants revamped their QB situation with Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, and rookie Jaxson Dart. Even if Wilson is no longer the deep-ball thrower he once was, his accuracy and command of short yardage give Robinson a shot to shine in the slot.
Wan’Dale Robinson is going to have a BIG year in this offense.
No more taking 50 hits per game cuz our QBs can’t throw more than 5 yards.
— Alex Wilson (@AlexWilsonESM) July 24, 2025
Robinson doesn't see much work in the red zone (just five career TDs on 176 catches), but he has one of the steadiest floors in fantasy football. Malik Nabers will be the No. 1 option yet again this season, but Robinson is clearly the next option. The Giants didn't add competition at receiver, meaning Robinson should hold steady in a meaningful high-volume role.
He's not going to win you your league on one play, but he's going to be the guy who holds your team together when bye weeks and injuries take their toll. Robinson is a reliable WR3/Flex option, so if you're buying into the QB upgrade, his WR6 price tag makes him a steal.
Joshua Palmer, Buffalo Bills
- NFFC ADP: 171
- RotoBaller PPR Rank: 141
Opportunity has always been something tied to Joshua Palmer's fantasy appeal. With the Chargers, he had pops whenever injuries forced him onto the field. Back in 2022, he posted 769 receiving yards and proved he could be a reliable WR2. Then the Chargers added Quentin Johnston and McConkey to the mix, and the Chargers' WR room was packed. A fresh start with the Bills could be what Palmer needs to see himself become fantasy-relevant.
The Bills handed Palmer a three-year, $36 million contract in the offseason, and they plan on using him for more than just depth. Khalil Shakir is the set-in-stone WR1, but Palmer has a clear shot to start on the outside. He'll be competing with Keon Coleman and Curtis Samuel, but he has the skill set to overtake them. In camp, reports are saying he's already building chemistry with Josh Allen.
Josh Allen to Josh Palmer, a connection that has been frequent for the #Bills so far to start camp. #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/IIo6Ijf9L9
— Mike Rose (@MichaelFRose_) July 24, 2025
Allen loves to spread the ball and isn't afraid to get the ball to his vertical threats. Palmer's separation skills and talent at stretching the field (15.1 yards per reception and a 15.2 average depth of target last season) should pair wonderfully with the QB. Recording 39 catches for 584 yards and one touchdown in 15 games doesn't necessarily scream “league winner.” He ended last season as WR74, averaging just 7.2 PPR points per outing.
But there are hints of upside: in 2024, he put up three double-digit fantasy games despite inconsistent usage, and he's also topped 500 yards in each of the last three seasons. If Palmer locks down the No. 2 role in Buffalo, he's going to see meaningful snaps in one of the highest-scoring offenses. Once he finds his rhythm with Allen, you'll have yourself a dart throw that actually matters.
Kyle Williams, New England Patriots
- NFFC ADP: 169
- RotoBaller PPR Rank: 158
Rookie receivers are rarely league winners, but every year we see a rookie make his mark in fantasy. Kyle Williams fits perfectly as a player worth betting on as a third-round pick out of Washington State. He brings speed and a vertical dimension the Patriots desperately needed. The wideout piled up 1,198 yards and 14 scores in 2024 while posting an average of 17.1 yards per catch. He's an intriguing speedster to pair with Drake Maye.
One worry managers currently face is the crowded WR room in Foxborough. Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas, Kendrick Bourne, Mack Hollins, Javon Baker, and Ja'Lynn Polk… whew, that is a crowded room. Diggs is 31 and returning from a torn ACL, Douglas is more of a slot specialist, and the rest of the receivers are depth.
#Patriots WR Kyle Williams makes his first NFL catch!
Hopefully he can continue getting targeted today.pic.twitter.com/L3vX6sZpxa
— Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats) August 16, 2025
These unproven depth pieces should take a seat to Williams this season. If he can seize the WR2 role, he's going to be an instant deep threat. Josh McDaniels continues to call plays, another plus. The coach has a track record of leaning on vertical routes, which can help Williams become the “surprise rookie” for 2025.
Stash him as a late-round flyer, and you could have the kind of breakout wide receiver that pays off big down the stretch. He could be a game-changer once he becomes acclimated to the NFL, and you drafted him for cheap.
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