Players Experts Draft: Jaylen Waddle, Ricky Pearsall, Khalil Shakir (Fantasy Football)

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 wide receiver targets, complete with expert analysis on why these players are poised to outperform their average draft position (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.

Mid-Round Fantasy Football Draft Targets

Mid-Round Wide Receivers Experts Draft

Which WR with a half-PPR ADP between WR25-WR55 are you targeting the most in your drafts and why?

Jaylen Waddle (WR – MIA)

“Jaylen Waddle struggled immensely last season, averaging just nine 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 Tagovailoa, with fewer targets and more yards per target (11.0 vs. 8.0). Waddle also finished strong with nine or more targets in three of his final four games, two 99+ yard outings and over 13 points per game (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 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 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 a career year in 2024. 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). He has a 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. 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)