Every year, a handful of late-round picks tilt fantasy football leagues. They’re the players who climb from bench stash to weekly starter, the ones you look back on in December and say, that’s where I won my league.
At Fantasy Fest, Justin Boone (Yahoo) and Andrew Erickson highlighted six names they believe fit that bill in 2025. Some are rookies with juice, others are veterans waiting for a bigger slice of the pie. All of them have the upside to smash their draft slot.
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Jordan Mason: Minnesota’s Next Workhorse?
Jordan Mason’s breakout in San Francisco last year wasn’t smoke. Over his first seven games, he averaged 108 yards from scrimmage before injuries slowed him down. Now he finds himself in Minnesota, playing behind 30-year-old Aaron Jones, who’s been battling a laundry list of soft-tissue ailments for years.
Boone’s read: “This feels like the sequel. Same setup: Mason behind an older back with durability concerns, only now in a better environment.” The Vikings upgraded their offensive line, Brian Flores’ defense is stout, and Kevin O’Connell has proven he can elevate quarterbacks. If Mason seizes goal-line work, he’s a weekly RB2 with RB1 upside if Jones misses time.
Erickson added a betting angle; he’s holding a 75-1 ticket on Mason to lead the NFL in rushing touchdowns. Not just hype, but a belief the Vikings brought him in to finish drives.
Tucker Kraft: Green Bay’s Surprise Alpha
Green Bay’s wideout room has depth but no alpha. Erickson sees Kraft as the one who can fill that void. From Week 7 on last season, he led the Packers in receptions, yards, and routes run. He also topped all NFL tight ends in yards after the catch per reception, a stat previously led by Jonnu Smith and George Kittle, both of whom turned it into top-four fantasy finishes the following year.
“Matt LaFleur wants him featured,” Boone noted. Even Jordan Love has echoed that sentiment this offseason. If Kraft claims a Travis Kelce-lite role as the focal point, he’s not just a late-round value. He’s a candidate to vault into the elite tier in 2025.
Keon Coleman: A Buffalo Bounce-Back
Coleman’s rookie season teased more than it delivered. Early flashes, like a 125-yard game in Week 7, hinted at big things before injuries derailed his year. Now healthy, with Khalil Shakir and Josh Palmer both battling ailments, Coleman has a chance to seize early-season volume.
Boone believes Coleman is still the most likely red zone weapon in Buffalo: “He’s the kind of guy who could put up double-digit touchdowns. It’s not hard to imagine in this offense.”
Erickson was more cautious, preferring Palmer’s cheaper ADP. Still, both agreed that buying into the Bills’ passing game is a smart play. Coleman has the ceiling, Palmer the value.
Bhayshul Tuten: The Hidden Gem in Jacksonville
Jacksonville’s backfield looks crowded on paper. Travis Etienne, Tank Bigsby, and rookie Bhayshul Tuten will all open the year with roles. However, Erickson sees Tuten as a second-half hammer.
The rookie led his draft class in broken tackles per 100 touches, a category Bucky Irving topped last year before his own late-season breakout. With Etienne entering the final year of his deal and carrying miles of wear, the Jaguars may gradually turn to Tuten. Boone noted that GM James Gladstone reportedly name-dropped him during his interview for the job, which says plenty about how much the team values him.
He’s free in drafts, and Jacksonville’s late-season schedule sets up favorably. Tuten is the definition of a stash-and-wait league-winner.
Braelon Allen: A Committee Back With More
Allen, still only 21, flashed as a rookie despite a rough Jets offense. This offseason, the buzz has been relentless: the staff loves him, reporters are touting a breakout, and his physical profile screams “future goal-line hammer.”
Yes, Breece Hall is still around, but Hall’s name has lingered in trade rumors, and even if he stays, the Jets’ new coaching staff has emphasized a committee approach. Boone likened Allen’s trajectory to Derrick Henry‘s early years behind DeMarco Murray; quiet start, then a takeover once the opportunity arrives.
Allen may not have Henry’s freakish traits, but the setup is similar. He’s going late in drafts, yet could carve out touchdown equity right away.
Drake Maye: The Late-Round QB Who Checks Every Box
If you want upside at quarterback without paying the early-round tax, Erickson points to Drake Maye. The Patriots rookie averaged 30+ rushing yards per game in college and still managed at least one passing touchdown in every start last year despite a dire supporting cast.
Now he gets improved weapons, a better play-caller, and an opening schedule of Raiders and Dolphins. Erickson: “Don’t draft a late-round QB who makes you stream in Week 1. Maye’s going to be a top-12 QB right out of the gate.”
The rushing floor plus early matchups make him a sharp target for anyone punting quarterback.
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