Fantasy Football Draft Values, Busts & Sleepers: NFC East (2025)

Thankfully, the 2025 fantasy football season is just around the corner. Each year, fantasy players want to construct their team with a proper mix of good-value players and upside sleepers while avoiding players with high bust potential.

In the fifth part of an eight-part series, I identify two ADP values, two likely-to-bust candidates, and two potential sleepers from the NFC East.

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Fantasy Football Draft Values, Busts & Sleepers: NFC East

ADP via FantasyPros

Fantasy Football ADP Values

Malik Nabers (NYG): ADP 9.6 | WR6

Last year, Nabers got drafted significantly later than Marvin Harrison Jr., despite both being elite wide receiver draft prospects and top-six selections in the NFL Draft because of his quarterback situation. Yet, catching passes from Daniel Jones, Drew Lock, Tommy DeVito, and Tim Boyle didn’t keep Nabers from being a fantasy superstar as a rookie. He finished as the WR6, averaging 18.2 PPR fantasy points per game, a higher average than his former college teammate Brian Thomas Jr. (16.7).

Furthermore, the former LSU star was outstanding despite missing two games with a concussion. Nabers finished 21st in the NFL and 18th among wide receivers with seven receiving touchdowns. Yet, he accounted for nearly half the Giants’ total (46.7%). More importantly, Nabers was the first, second, and third option in the passing game for New York. He finished second in the NFL in total targets (170) and first in targets per game (11.1), thanks to a lack of target competition.

Yet, the Giants didn’t do anything to improve their receiving corps this offseason. Therefore, Nabers should rank among the league leaders in targets again in 2025. According to Fantasy Points Data, he finished first in target share (32.2%), first in target per route run rate (32%), second in receiving yards market share (39.4%), and first in receiving touchdown market share (53.8%) among qualifying wide receivers last year. More importantly, New York improved their quarterback situation this offseason. Nabers has overall WR1 upside this year.

Dak Prescott (DAL): ADP 106.8 | QB12

Unfortunately, Prescott and his fantasy players want to forget about last year after an outstanding 2023 season. The veteran finished as the QB32, averaging 14.6 fantasy points per game, a career low, posting a lower average than Derek Carr (15.1) and Anthony Richardson (14.9). Prescott missed the final nine games with a hamstring injury that required surgery. Thankfully, he is 100% healthy, having an impressive training camp showing, and will be ready for Week 1.

Prescott was the QB3 in 2023, averaging 20.2 fantasy points per game, totaling 36 passing touchdowns. Furthermore, he started to use his legs for the first time since suffering a dislocated ankle in 2020. The veteran had 242 rushing yards and two touchdowns. By comparison, Prescott had 328 rushing yards and two touchdowns over the previous two seasons. More importantly, the veteran has the best set of weapons at his disposal since Dallas traded away Amari Cooper.

Last year, CeeDee Lamb was the only member of the team to finish with over 610 receiving yards. Furthermore, he is the only Cowboy with more than 765 receiving yards in a season over the past three years. Thankfully, that will change this season after Dallas traded for George Pickens. The former Georgia star has made several highlight reel receptions in training camp. Don’t be surprised if Prescott has the third top-five finish of his career this year.

Fantasy Football Bust Candidates

Saquon Barkley (PHI): ADP 2.8 | RB2

Rarely will fantasy players see a league winner in the first round of their drafts. However, despite having a first-round ADP, Barkley was a league winner last year. The superstar finished as the RB1 before sitting out a meaningless Week 18 contest, averaging 22.2 PPR fantasy points per game. Barkley’s 22.2 fantasy points per game average was 10.8% higher than any other running back heading into Week 18. Unfortunately, he is overvalued as the RB2 in the ADP.

While the superstar should remain a first-round pick and a top-five running back off the board, Barkley has too much risk to get drafted as the RB2 and as a top-three selection. Last season, he had 2,005 rushing yards, becoming the ninth player to hit the 2,000-yard mark. The previous eight running backs to hit that mark severely regressed the following year, averaging 966.4 fewer rushing yards. Each running back had at least 562 fewer rushing yards following their 2K season.

Yet, it wasn’t because of injury. The previous eight 2K running backs missed an average of only 3.6 games the following year. Furthermore, five of the eight running backs missed two or fewer games following the 2K season. Terrell Davis (12) and Derrick Henry (nine) were the only two to miss more than four games. More importantly, Barkley has significant injury history, missing 22.4% of the games of his career. Unfortunately, history suggests that the superstar will severely regress in 2025.

Terry McLaurin (WAS): ADP 39.4 | WR17

The Commanders and McLaurin are in the middle of ugly contract extension talks, leading to him sitting out training camp. While he will likely play for Washington this season and be on the field for Week 1, players who hold-in during training camp tend to get off to slow starts. Last year, Brandon Aiyuk severely struggled before suffering a torn ACL, averaging 8.9 PPR fantasy points per game despite coming off a career year after sitting out most of training camp over contract talks.

Therefore, fantasy players should avoid taking McLaurin anywhere near his fourth round and WR17 ADP. While the veteran is coming off a career season, averaging 15.8 fantasy points per game, McLaurin wasn’t as productive as his fantasy points per game average would suggest. He was the WR14 on a points-per-game basis. Furthermore, his 0.53 fantasy points per route run was lower than Marvin Mims Jr.’s (0.72) despite having a 12.9% higher target share (per Fantasy Points Data).

McLaurin had a career season because of a jump in touchdowns. After totaling 25 over the previous five years, he had 13 last season, the second-most in the NFL. Meanwhile, the rest of his stats were similar to previous years’ marks. Therefore, expect meaningful touchdown regression for the veteran, especially after the Commanders added multiple pass catchers this offseason. Between the touchdown regression and contract dispute, fantasy players should avoid drafting McLaurin as a top-24 wide receiver.

Fantasy Football Sleepers to Target

Deebo Samuel (WAS): ADP 89.4 | WR39

I’ve never been the biggest fan of Samuel’s, often labeling him a bust candidate in the past, including last year. Unfortunately, I was correct as he finished as the WR44, averaging 10.2 PPR fantasy points per game after having a WR15 ADP. However, Samuel was productive in 2023, ending the season as the WR15, averaging a career-high 16.2 fantasy points per game despite Brandon Aiyuk having a career year. Samuel also had a career-high seven receiving touchdowns.

Furthermore, the former South Carolina star was a factor in the run game, totaling 37 rushing attempts for 225 yards and five touchdowns in 2023, averaging 3.5 fantasy points per outing on the ground despite Christian McCaffrey being the top running back in the NFL that season. While Jacory Croskey-Merritt has been a training camp star, the Commanders lack a difference-maker in the backfield. Therefore, don’t be surprised if Samuel has a meaningful role in the run game this year.

More importantly, the veteran was Washington’s big-name offseason addition. While they signed Michael Gallup out of retirement and drafted Jaylin Lane, Samuel was acquired to give Jayden Daniels another reliable weapon in the passing game besides Terry McLaurin. Unfortunately, the star wide receiver is in the middle of ugly contract negotiations. Samuel is entering the final year of his contract and has had an outstanding start to training camp. He is undervalued as the WR39 in the ADP.

Jaydon Blue (DAL): ADP 141.2 | RB44

I have been pounding the table all offseason for Blue as one of my favorite draft targets, regardless of the league format. The Cowboys lack a clear-cut starter in the backfield, with Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders struggling the past few years. According to Fantasy Points Data, both veterans had an explosive run rate of 2.9% or lower last season, ranking in the bottom 20 of 68 running backs with at least 55 rushing attempts.

Meanwhile, Dallas spent two picks in the NFL Draft on the offensive line, including their top selection on Tyler Booker. More importantly, Blue is an explosive player, running a 4.38 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine despite dealing with a groin tear. Furthermore, he is a weapon in the passing game. Last year, his six receiving touchdowns were the most among running backs in college football despite ranking 27th in routes run (229).

While there was a report last month that some in the Cowboys’ building viewed Blue as “borderline lazy,” the former Texas star has been anything but lazy during training camp. He has been one of the bright spots during practice, earning first-team reps and making the most of them. Unfortunately, the rookie suffered a minor heel injury in practice a few days ago, but he reportedly is fine. Don’t be surprised if Blue is this year’s Bucky Irving and a league winner.

Jaydon Blue pic.twitter.com/6taLsKQHN7

— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) August 5, 2025

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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.