Finding value in the middle rounds of your fantasy football draft can be the difference between a good team and a championship contender. That’s why we asked our collection of Featured Pros experts where they see value in this range for 2025. Below, you’ll find their favorite mid-round targets, complete with expert analysis on why these players are poised to outperform their ADP. If you’re looking to gain an edge over your league-mates, these picks should be on your radar as you plan your draft strategy.
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Mid-Round Fantasy Football Draft Targets: Wide Receivers
Mid-Round Wide Receivers Experts Draft
Which WR with a half-PPR ADP between WR25-55 are you targeting the most in your drafts and why?
Calvin Ridley (WR – TEN)
“Calvin Ridley finished as the WR25 last season despite bottom-tier quarterback play and a catchable target rate that ranked 78th out of 85 qualifiers. He led all wide receivers in air yards, ranked top three in deep targets, and averaged 13.6 fantasy points per game after Will Levis was benched. Now he gets first overall pick Cam Ward, a highly accurate deep passer stepping into Brian Callahan’s pass-friendly system. At WR33, you’re already drafting Ridley at his floor! I have him ranked as my WR23, and I might still be too low.”
– James Emrick-Wilson (Armchair Scouting)
“Calvin Ridley, whose ADP sits at WR33. Since missing the 2022 season due to a gambling suspension, Ridley has produced two straight 1,000-yard seasons and hasn’t missed a game over that span. He endured wretched quarterbacking in Tennessee last year, and now Ridley gets to play with top overall draft pick Cam Ward, an aggressive downfield thrower. Ridley is the Titans’ undisputed No. 1 receiver, and I think he’s likely to see more than the 120 targets he had last season. I think there’s a good chance Ridley provides WR2 numbers at a low-end WR3 price.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
Rome Odunze (WR – CHI)
“Rome Odunze’s first season in Chicago was eventful, to put it mildly. Plagued by bad coaching and buried in the depth chart behind both Keenan Allen and D.J. Moore, Odunze struggled to post numbers that would scream a breakout is coming. However, the signs are there for Odunze to go off in 2025. Keenan Allen is gone, and the Bears’ offense all of a sudden looks extremely promising under Ben Johnson, and he stands to benefit tremendously. Currently, the WR37 in half-PPR ADP, Odunze has 70+ catch upside written all over him.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)
Travis Hunter (WR, DB – JAC)
“I don’t think some of the fantasy football analysts realize just how talented Travis Hunter is, because if they did, they’d rank him a hell of a lot higher. And in my humble opinion, the most talented WR on Jacksonville isn’t Brian Thomas Jr., it’s Travis Hunter. Hunter is tougher with contested catches and is a better route runner. The only concern I have is how many snaps he’ll play, but with a current consensus ranking of only WR 35, I’ll roll the dice based on his talent alone. That’s in Ringo’s draft neighborhood- very talented players who don’t cost a lot. Ringo’s comp- Travis Hunter reminds me of a lighter version of Ja’Marr Chase.”
– Mark Ringo (Sleepers and Busts)
Chris Olave (WR – NO)
“Chris Olave is currently WR36 and going off the board 67th overall and is the cheapest WR2 you will see in fantasy football. I get it. The Saints have no quarterback, and we aren’t expecting much, but let’s be honest, the Saints didn’t really have a quarterback last year either, and he was fine when healthy. Regardless of who suits up at quarterback for the Saints, Olave is going to be their best option in the passing game; for that reason, I will draft a ton of him at his current cost.”
– Aaron St Denis (Fantasy Sports Advice Network)
DeVonta Smith (WR – PHI)
“Could someone please explain to me why DeVonta Smith is being projected as a WR3 in ADP? I don’t understand it at all. He has finished as a top 20 wide receiver in fantasy points per game in each of the last three seasons (WR15, WR20, WR14). Smith was awesome in nearly every metric last year. He was 11th in target share, 19th in yards per route run, 12th in first downs per route run, 17th in separation, and 11th in route win rate (per Fantasy Points Data). While he might not be the sexiest pick of your draft with top 5-10 upside at wide receiver, he’s a known commodity and a damn good one as a stalwart WR2. Stop the insanity.”
– Derek Brown (FantasyPros)
Jordan Addison (WR – MIN)
“Jordan Addison is significantly undervalued as the WR37 in the ADP. The former USC star was the WR21 as a rookie, averaging 11 half-point PPR fantasy points per game before finishing as the WR20 last year, averaging 12.1 fantasy points per contest. Furthermore, Addison had a higher fantasy points per route run average (0.39) than Tyreek Hill (0.37), Jaxon Smith-Njigba (0.35), and Garrett Wilson (0.33) last season (per Fantasy Points Data). More importantly, he has been a scoring machine, totaling 19 receiving touchdowns since entering the NFL, the fourth-most in the league behind Ja’Marr Chase (24), Mike Evans (24), and Amon-Ra St. Brown (22). Unless you think J.J. McCarthy will be a massive bust, there is no reason why Addison should get drafted after George Pickens (WR29) and Chris Olave (WR36).”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)
Jaylen Waddle (WR – MIA)
“Jaylen Waddle struggled immensely last season, averaging just 9.0 half-PPR points per game in 2024 (WR56) with Tua Tagovailoa. But he still posted the same number of 100-yard games as Tyreek Hill with Tua, with fewer targets and more yards per target (11.0 vs. 8.0). Waddle also finished strong with 9+ targets in 3 of his final 4 games, two 99+ yard outings, and over 13 PPG in that span. He’s still just 26 years old, with three 1,000-yard seasons already under his belt to start his career. If Tyreek Hill continues on the decline or the Miami Dolphins shift offensively post-2024, Waddle’s primed to bounce back. The Jonnu Smith trade to the Steelers suggests that Miami will get back to featuring Waddle as a focal point of the offense.”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)
Ricky Pearsall (WR – SF)
“Ricky Pearsall is the wide receiver I’m targeting most in the mid rounds in fantasy drafts, with an ADP of 80 and a positional rank of WR41. He’s stepping into a prime opportunity as the clear top option in San Francisco’s passing game, with Deebo Samuel gone and Brandon Aiyuk still recovering from injury. Pearsall flashed big-play potential late last season and has built strong offseason chemistry with Brock Purdy, setting the stage for a second-year breakout. In an offense built on timing and precision, his route-running and versatility make him a natural fit to command consistent targets. At his current price, you’re getting a potential WR1 at a mid-round cost, which feels like a steal.”
– Lawrence Iacona (Gridiron Experts)
Khalil Shakir (WR – BUF)
“The Bills signed Khalil Shakir to a four-year contract extension after stepping up for a career year in 2024 in his young career. Among wide receivers who played more than four games in 2024, Shakir was tied for the WR41 in half-PPR points per game (9.6) and has the WR42 average draft position (ADP) this year, despite some levers available to be pulled for Shakir to continue his ascension. According to the data suite at Fantasy Points, Shakir led the Bills in route participation last season, yet there’s room for growth in his route participation rate of 69.9%. Moreover, per RotoViz’s pace app, the Bills were tied for the fifth-lowest situation-neutral pass rate (51%) in 2024, but even a slight uptick could drastically improve Shakir’s fantasy output. Shakir has a prominent role in Buffalo’s passing attack and has untapped potential that’s not completely baked into his ADP.”
– Josh Shepardson (FantasyPros)
Jauan Jennings (WR – SF)
“Jauan Jennings had a breakout year in 2024 with 77 receptions (on 113 targets) for 975 yards and 6 touchdowns! During the off-season, Deebo Samuel was traded to Washington, leaving his vacated 51 receptions for Jennings to snatch up as he takes the next step in his career to being the 49ers’ #1 wide receiver. Christian McCaffrey is looking healthier this season, and Brock Purdy has another year of growth under his belt (all of which Jennings has played. Those two factors combined with his #33 wide receiver ranking (half PPR), a steal in fantasy drafts for a player that owners can comfortably put in their WR3 slot, but could give high-end WR2, maybe even WR1, numbers throughout the year!”
– Adam Dove (The Fantasy Couriers)
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