When you’re on the clock in your fantasy football draft, sometimes playing it safe just isn’t enough. To win your league, you need to take some calculated risks – and that means reaching for the right players before someone else does. In this article, our collection of Featured Pros experts highlights the Players Worth Reaching For in 2025, offering insight into the players they believe are poised to outperform their average draft position (ADP). Whether it’s a breakout candidate, a rising rookie, or an under-the-radar value, these are the picks our experts say are worth the gamble.
- Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- 2025 Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
- Fantasy Football ADP
- Fantasy Football Trade Tools
Fantasy Football Players Worth Reaching For in 2025
If you had to reach a round early for one guy this year, who is it and why?
Jordan Addison (WR – MIN)
“While he is likely facing a three-game suspension for a DUI last offseason, I will happily reach a round early for Jordan Addison. 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 J.J. McCarthy is the next Daniel Jones, there is no reason why Addison should be the WR35 in the ADP.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)
Drake London (WR – ATL)
“I would happily reach for Drake London in Round 1 if that were the only way I could guarantee him on my roster. He’s not even 24 years old yet., coming off a Year 3 performance featuring 100 catches, 1,271 yards & 9 TDs. And he’s got one fantasy cheat code working in his favor: red-zone targets. In 2024, Drake London had: 23 red-zone targets (T-3rd in NFL) and 14 end-zone targets (Top-10). The Falcons’ WR leads the league in red-zone target rate over the last 3 seasons. And London wasn’t just a TD threat – he was a target hog. 3rd-highest target rate per route run (30%). And now he’s tied to QB Michael Penix Jr. With Penix under center late in the year, London had a 41% target rate on his routes. If Penix levels up in Year 2, look out.”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)
Tetairoa McMillan (WR – CAR)
“I will be drafting Tetairoa McMillan aggressively this year. McMillan could be a wonderful volume hog this year in what looks to be an ascending passing offense. Last year, in Weeks 12-18, when Young was hitting his stride, the Panthers ranked 13th in neutral passing rate. We could see that number increase this year, with a true number one option leading the way. Last year, during that same stretch, Young ranked eighth in CPOE, fifth in deep throw rate, 12th in highly accurate throw rate, and second in hero throw rate (per Fantasy Points Data). McMillan is an incredibly talented receiver who can step up quickly. During his final two collegiate seasons, he ranked 17th and 21st in yards per route run. He’s a battle-tested man coverage beater as well. In 2023-2024, McMillan had the third-most and the tenth-most man coverage targets (among FBS wide receivers) while also ranking eighth and tenth in yards per route run against man coverage (per PFF). His touchdown upside is quietly massive. Carolina quietly ranked 12th in passing rate inside the ten-yard line and fourth in red zone passing rate last year. Don’t be surprised if McMillan is a WR1/2 in his rookie season.”
– Derek Brown (FantasyPros)
DJ Moore (WR – CHI)
“DJ Moore has always been an elite talent as well as the primary target in whatever offense he has been forced to play in. In 2025, he’ll have a combination of the best QB and brightest offensive mind he’s ever played with/for. Moore’s going to set a career best in targets, receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns. He isn’t the same type of player as the new Head Coach Ben Johnson had in Detroit in Amon-Ra St. Brown, but he’s going to maximize Moore’s skill set and get him paid with a monster season just like he did with Brown in Detroit. Williams to Moore is going to be the breakout story of the early 2025 season, and the Bears are going to need it because that Division is a brutal gauntlet to navigate. They’re going to light it up, wins or losses be damned. He’s currently ranked as a fifth-round pick at #45 overall. I’m fine with drafting him ahead of WRs like Garrett Wilson #35 or the risky and overrated Rashee Rice #30, as well as the plucky, but undersized Ladd McConkey #19 in a run-first and run-second Harbaugh-focused offense.”
– Chris Mitchell (FantasyData)
DK Metcalf (WR – SEA)
“DK Metcalf currently ranks as the #22 WR in half-PPR rankings and #47 overall, which puts him before Courtland Sutton and after DJ Moore, but why? Metcalf is aged in his prime (turns 28 in December), has no real competition, is a physical freak and a matchup nightmare, polled just outside top-10 WR rankings (per ESPN’s poll of league executives, coaches, and scouts), and has one of the greatest to ever do it throwing him the ball. It would not surprise me to see him put up 1,200+ yards and 10 TDs this year, returning to near or better career highs, with Aaron Rodgers feeding him. He belongs up in the rankings with Tee Higgins, JSN, Tyreek Hill, Garrett Wilson, and company, but I’m happy adding him in addition to them, so let’s not push his ADP up, lol.”
– Avery Thrasher (The Branded Sports)
Josh Downs (WR – IND)
“The case for Josh Downs in 2025 is so easy. He’s going 46th among WRs on Underdog and Drafters; 47th by FantasyPros ADP for both PPR redraft and best ball. Downs finished last season 33rd in half-PPR points per game, 31st in PPR. And he did so while outperforming Michael Pittman Jr. across metrics. So even if Colts’ passing remains atrocious, third-year Downs looks solid-to-good at ADP. But what if that passing improves on atrocious? What if Daniel Jones elevates it all the way to just regular bad? Remember Sterling Shepard? Evan Engram? Wan’Dale Robinson? Jones loves him a short-range pass catcher, and Downs is looking like a bigger talent than that trio. The combo gives him upside into WR2 range. Get some.”
– Matt Schauf (Draft Sharks)
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