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.
Players Worth Reaching For in 2025
If you had to reach a round early for one guy this year, who is it and why?
Jalen Hurts (QB – PHI)
“The answer is Jalen Hurts. The majority would agree that Saquon Barkley‘s usage will meet regression this year, which puts more on Hurts and the passing game. We tie in the fact that he was QB5 before his end-of-season injury, and we know that we have a valuable asset with the most unstoppable play in the NFL: The Tush Push. Hurts returns with A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Saquon Barkley, Dallas Goedert, and Jahan Dotson with a full offseason in the system (don’t sleep on the end-of-year success he had). Hurts has a chip on his back still with the world not giving him his flowers, but he will give your team championship trophies if you make sure you draft him.”
– Joe Pepe (Beyond The Gridiron)
Jonathan Taylor (RB – IND)
“I’d be willing to take Jonathan Taylor in Round 1 of fantasy drafts. He averaged over 110 total yards per game last year and led all RBs in fantasy points per game when QB Anthony Richardson was on the bench. If we get Daniel Jones under center for most or all of 2025, Taylor could finish as a top-3 RB.”
– Jared Smola (Draft Sharks)
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)
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