Fantasy football hype can shift at an incredible pace. Yesterday’s most coveted asset can become today’s must-avoid player in the span of a season. The game is inherently emotional. As a result, we often let our biases pull us away from the objective facts surrounding a player’s outlook.
There are a number of reasons that can explain a disappointing season-long performance. Nagging injuries or inefficient offensive schemes, for example, are fixable issues that shouldn’t signal the end of a player’s fantasy relevance. Conversely, more concerning trends such as a lack of efficiency or a diminishing workload should be taken into stronger consideration when projecting future production.
In what follows, I’ll highlight players who have disappointed managers but still possess the upside to provide stellar fantasy football output in 2025. With their value discounted from previous years, they can be key pillars to a championship run in the upcoming NFL season. Here are a few of my top post-hype fantasy football sleepers.
- Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- 2025 Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
- Fantasy Football ADP
- Fantasy Football Trade Tools
Post-Hype Fantasy Football Sleepers
Kyle Pitts (TE – ATL)
The fantasy football community may very well have given up on Kyle Pitts’ future as a reliable tight end option. He’s failed to surpass 670 receiving yards or four receiving touchdowns in any of the three previous seasons. Drafted fourth overall in 2021, Pitts is quickly trending towards being regarded as one of the more disappointing draft selections in recent memory. That being said, the 2025 season presents a unique set of circumstances that may allow Pitts to finally deliver on this promise.
The Atlanta Falcons possess a very young and exciting offensive unit. Quarterback Michael Penix showed great potential in his limited stint as a starter in 2024, accumulating 737 passing yards and three passing touchdowns across three contests. He’ll benefit from working with an impressive group of ancillary weapons headlined by running back Bijan Robinson and wide receiver Drake London. Per Pro Football Focus (PFF), Robinson’s 70 missed tackles forced in 2024 trailed only Derrick Henry. Drake London also earned the fourth-highest PFF receiving grade among all wideouts in 2024.
Aside from the aforementioned Robinson and London, the Falcons lack pass-catchers of note. Darnell Mooney, who emerged as an exceptional secondary option for the Falcons in 2024, is slated to miss several weeks with a shoulder injury. The likes of Ray-Ray McCloud and KhaDarel Hodge haven’t proven to be consistent contributors in this system. Pitts has an excellent opportunity to earn steady volume in what should be a high-flying offense in 2025.
Is 2025 the breakout year for Kyle Pitts? ???? pic.twitter.com/er4uFfgS1B
— ESPN Fantasy Sports (@ESPNFantasy) July 24, 2025
Despite struggling to deliver surface-level production, Pitts’ efficiency metrics have shown encouraging signs. Among tight ends with a minimum of 35 targets, Pitts ranked fourth in yards per reception, ninth in yards after catch per reception and seventh in missed tackles forced, per PFF. His raw talent and athleticism are undeniable — the key will be putting it all together in Zac Robinson’s new-look system. Currently being drafted as the TE17, Pitts’ cost is not reflective of his league-altering upside.
Jaylen Waddle (WR – MIA)
After a scintillating start to his career in Miami, Jaylen Waddle has now disappointed fantasy managers for two consecutive seasons. Despite commanding a steep draft price, he finished as the half-PPR WR34 in 2023 and WR49 in 2024. Inconsistencies regarding Miami’s offensive scheme and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa‘s health have both played a part in Waddle’s sharp decline in production. However, Waddle’s outlook is much more promising heading into the 2025 season.
The Dolphins’ offensive identity shifted drastically in 2024. What was once a high-flying offense predicated on speed and downfield throws became a slower-paced, dink-and-dunk system. According to PFF, Tagovailoa’s average depth of target (aDOT) decreased from 8.2 yards in 2023 to 6.1 yards in 2024. With that, much of the offensive emphasis was placed on the likes of running back De’Von Achane and tight end Jonnu Smith. The team’s primary deep-ball specialists, most notably Tyreek Hill and Waddle, were targeted at a much lower rate.
Smith’s trade to the Steelers vacates a staggering 109 targets in Mike McDaniel’s system. Throughout Waddle’s illustrious rookie campaign, he ran 60.1% of his routes from the slot and was targeted an average of seven yards downfield, per PFF. He’s therefore shown the ability to be effective as a short-area possession receiver. The Alabama alum figures to inherit a great deal of the workload available as a result of Smith’s departure.
Tyreek Hill’s status will also be worth monitoring. Following a wildly disappointing 2024 season, during which he set career lows in yards after catch per reception and yards per route run, the speculation surrounding Hill has been far from encouraging. Trade requests, media incidents and legal issues have all added to the veteran receiver’s turbulent narrative. The upcoming season could mark a changing of the guard at the No. 1 WR spot in Miami.
According to PFF, Waddle has averaged an impressive 2.09 yards per route run and 5.3 yards after catch per reception across his young career. He undoubtedly remains a dynamic option who can produce at an elite level if given the opportunity. He’s well worth the investment as the WR32, according to average draft position (ADP).
Jaylen Waddle has been a FORCE in the league since Day 1 pic.twitter.com/elhCZunvDe
— Football’s Greatest Moments (@FBGreatMoments) August 9, 2025
Javonte Williams (RB – DAL)
Javonte Williams is yet another player who, like Jaylen Waddle, has struggled to sustain the successes he enjoyed at the onset of his career. Many presumed Williams would emerge as Sean Payton’s go-to back during the 2024 season in Denver. Despite earning relatively consistent volume in this potent offense, Williams failed to contribute on a consistent basis. According to PFF, he averaged an uninspiring 2.38 yards after contact per attempt and earned an elusive rating of 36.2. These concerning trends of inefficiency have removed Williams from many managers’ draft boards.
Williams will be given an ideal opportunity to revitalize his career in Dallas in 2025. During Dak Prescott‘s tenure, the Cowboys have consistently been among the league’s most dynamic offenses. Offseason addition George Pickens will join the likes of CeeDee Lamb and Jake Ferguson to form a formidable pass-catching corps. With recent defensive struggles and the potential loss of superstar Micah Parsons, the Cowboys will need to score at a high rate to keep pace with opposing offenses. Needless to say, Dallas’ starting running back role projects to be very valuable for fantasy football.
Williams is the frontrunner to earn the No. 1 RB role in Brian Schottenheimer’s system. For one, veteran Miles Sanders‘ best days are clearly behind him. Per PFF, he set career lows in yards after contact per carry, missed tackles forced and breakaway runs in 2024. While rookie Jaydon Blue possesses an intriguing skillset, he doesn’t project as a workhorse at the NFL level. He never managed to top 125 carries in any of his three seasons as a Texas Longhorn. Given Williams’ prospect pedigree and proven NFL production, he appears the most likely to earn a significant workload in Dallas.
Former undrafted free agent Rico Dowdle produced a 1,000-yard season in this system in 2024. If Williams can recapture his pre-injury dynamism, he’ll prove to be one of the best values in drafts.
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