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 running back and wide receiver 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
Mid-Round Running Backs Experts Draft
Which RB with a half-PPR ADP between RB25-48 are you targeting the most in your drafts and why?
Kaleb Johnson (RB – PIT)
“Kaleb Johnson, currently the RB26 in half-PPR ADP, jumps off the page as someone with immense upside for 2025. The Steelers are not shy about running the ball with run-first offensive coordinator Arthur Smith at the helm. Yes, DK Metcalf is now around on big money, and the Steelers have Aaron Rodgers around. That will not stop Pittsburgh from running, and running often. Johnson brings the home run threat that the Steelers have been lacking at the RB position for several years now, and steps in as an immediate flex option. If Johnson can pull away from Warren at any point this season, Johnson has high-end RB2 and maybe even low-end RB1 upside.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)
“Kaleb Johnson seems very cheap at his current consensus ranking- RB 26. He’s got size (6’1″ 225 lbs.) and plays faster than his 4.57 forty time suggests. Despite the possibility that Kaleb might not be a big factor in the passing game, he’s still very talented. Maturity issues caused him to slip to day two, but he’s considered to be a first-round talent by many scouts. Ringo’s comp- Kaleb Johnson reminds me of former Chiefs’ all-pro RB Larry Johnson.”
– Mark Ringo (Sleepers and Busts)
“All the Kaleb Johnson, all the time. Last year, Najee Harris operated in an offense that was fourth in rushing attempts as Harris soaked up 299 touches (10th-most). I don’t think Johnson will hit that mark, but I do think he can get close to it. He has the talent to make the most of the volume that this team will load him up with in positive game scripts. Last year, not only did he rank fifth in breakaway percentage, but he was also eighth in yards after contact per attempt and 14th in elusive rating (per PFF). Johnson is an RB3 in ADP who will be a strong weekly RB2.”
– Derek Brown (FantasyPros)
“The Steelers are a dream fit for rookie RB Kaleb Johnson. The 6-foot-1 and 224-pound RB fits Arthur Smith’s scheme perfectly and has ample backfield touches to soak up in Pittsburgh. Smith’s offense feeds running backs, and with Najee Harris gone (nearly 300 touches vacated), Johnson will EAT once he climbs the depth chart. He led this entire rookie class in career dominator rating (33%) and posted 1,500+ yards, 21 TDs, and 6.4 YPC in 2024 (zero fumbles). The former Iowa Hawkeye running back is an ideal 1-2 punch with incumbent Jaylen Warren.”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)
Jordan Mason (RB – MIN)
“Jordan Mason is the RB35 in ADP and one of my favorite draft targets this year, especially when using a Hero-RB strategy. Last year, he was the RB5 over the first month, averaging 17.9 half-point PPR fantasy points per game, totaling 16.9 or more in all but one contest. While the veteran struggled with injuries, Mason was outstanding when healthy. More importantly, he has a real chance to steal significant work from Aaron Jones in 2025. According to Fantasy Points Data, Mason had a better explosive run rate (7.8% vs. 3.5%) and missed forced tackle per attempt rate (22% vs. 11%) than Jones in 2024. Don’t be surprised if he starts as the No. 2 running back with a role at the goal line and eventually forces the Vikings to use a 50-50 split with Jones.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)
“Jordan Mason, even though he’s starting to get more expensive. When the Vikings traded for Mason in the offseason, they immediately gave him a two-year deal that includes more than $7 million in guaranteed money. I think Mason will have some stand-alone value this season, and he’d become a jewel if anything happened to 30-year-old Vikings RB Aaron Jones. With Christian McCaffrey sidelined at the start of the 2024 season, Mason averaged 107 rushing yards for the 49ers over the first five games of the season (before getting hurt himself), 120 scrimmage yards per game, and 5.1 yards per carry. The Vikings’ running scheme uses a lot of outside zone, which is right up Mason’s alley. Mason is still a good value right now at his RB35 ADP. Here’s hoping that’s still the case in late August.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
“The Vikings traded a draft pick to add Jordan Mason to their backfield, adding a more competent option to complement incumbent Aaron Jones. Still, Jones played in all 17 games for the second time in the previous three years and set a career high for rush attempts (255) and rushing yards (1,138) in his first season with the Vikings in 2024. He also had the third-most receptions (51) and the second-most receiving yards (408) in a season in his career. Jones has a do-it-all profile, and head coach Kevin O’Connell has called high-scoring offenses with quarterbacks of varying skill levels, assuaging concerns about how the offense will perform with J.J. McCarthy in his first season as a starter. Jones was the RB20 in half-PPR points per game (12.7) last year and can perform as a rock-solid RB2 again this season.”
– Josh Shepardson (FantasyPros)
Javonte Williams (RB – DAL)
“Javonte Williams is being drafted as the RB39 in half-PPR formats, yet he enters 2025 as the likely lead back in one of the league’s highest-upside offenses. Dallas vacated 373 touches from last season, and Williams’ only competition comes from Miles Sanders and two Day 3 rookies in Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah. Last season, he ranked 5th among all running backs in targets with 70 and caught 51 passes. Now two years removed from a major knee injury, and his third-down profile, there’s a realistic path to a minimum of 12 to 15 opportunities per game with room to grow. Targeting uncertain backfields with talent and volume upside is how you unlock ceiling outcomes in fantasy football, and if Williams takes control of this backfield, he won’t just beat ADP, he’ll be the type of pick that shifts league outcomes and wins tournaments.”
– James Emrick-Wilson (Armchair Scouting)
“Dallas running back Javonte Williams is going off the board as RB39 and 113th overall, and I’m all in at that price. Williams is available later than any projected Week 1 starting running back and is free money. Many fantasy managers are down on him as he struggled to regain his early-career form last season, but with another year of distance between him and injury, he should be back to his old self. Williams was a tackle-breaking machine in college and as a rookie, and says that he is finally feeling like himself again. Look for him to turn back the clock and outperform his ADP by a wide margin. Williams is an RB2 with Top 12 upside in a potent Dallas offence.”
– Aaron St Denis (Fantasy Sports Advice Network)
“Javonte Williams is currently running back #39 (half PPR) and being drafted around the 10th round of redraft leagues. That is an excellent value for a player who could be the starting running back for a passing team, leaving the box wide open with lanes for him to run. It is an understatement to say that the last 2 years have been disappointing for Williams, but a change of scenery and two full years removed from a devastating ACL tear could be just what he needs to start a new chapter in his career. His rookie year shows that he can be an NFL starter (903 yards rushing/7 total touchdowns), and prior to his injury, he was averaging 4.35 yards/carry. He is stepping into a role in Dallas that Rico Dowdle turned into a 1,000-yard season, and his competition is Miles Sanders and a few rookies, which makes him a player to target later in drafts who could positively contribute to fantasy teams in 2025!”
– Adam Dove (The Fantasy Couriers)
Quinshon Judkins (RB – CLE)
“Quinshon Judkins is the running back I’m targeting most in the mid rounds in fantasy drafts, with an ADP of 73 and a positional rank of RB25. He’s a powerful, explosive runner who can create big plays and fits perfectly in the Browns’ run-first offense. The team used the 36th overall pick in the early second round to draft him, showing their intent to make him a key part of their offensive identity. Judkins profiles as a true three-down back with the ability to turn touches into chunk gains, even in a non-elite offense. At his current price, he brings the kind of upside that can anchor a fantasy roster without requiring a top-tier investment.”
– Lawrence Iacona (Gridiron Experts)
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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