In fantasy football, championship teams are built by drafting players who are extremely valuable relative to their ADP (average draft position). When a player outperforms their expectations, your team receives an immediate boost and becomes closer to contending for a fantasy championship. That’s why drafting players labeled as “sleepers” is so important.
Getting true value out of every draft pick is something the best fantasy managers are able to do year after year. It gives you such an advantage, especially when the playoffs begin. In this article, we will outline the most valuable players in each round, (using ADP from Underdog Fantasy Sports) which shows who you should be targeting in fantasy drafts heading into 2025. While it’s still pretty early, doing a bit of research ahead of time never hurts anyone. Let’s get into the list.
Round 1 - Amon Ra St. Brown
(WR, DET)
Underdog ADP: 10.0
Amon-Ra St. Brown has been the safest wide receiver in fantasy football over the last two seasons, finishing as a top-three wide receiver in 2023 and 2024. St. Brown will enter 2025 as Detroit’s top receiving option and is a safe bet to produce yet another elite season. He’s proven himself as one of the top receivers in the NFL and has yet to register a season with under 1,100+ receiving yards since his rookie year.
Amon-Ra St. Brown has also caught 33 touchdowns so far throughout his four-year career, emerging as one of the best red-zone weapons in the league. If you have a late first-round pick and are looking for a receiver who is guaranteed to have a fantastic season with a high ceiling and floor, St. Brown is the pick for you.
He’s not the flashiest player, but he is capable of leading your team to the fantasy playoffs. It’s also worth mentioning that Detroit’s star receiver has only missed two games through four seasons, and as we all know, the best ability is availability.
Round 2 - Drake London
(WR, ATL)
Underdog ADP: 17.4
Drake London had a career year in 2024, setting career-high marks in nearly every statistical category in a breakout season. Despite Atlanta’s relatively rocky quarterback position in 2024 under veteran Kirk Cousins and rookie Michael Penix Jr., the Falcons still averaged the fourth-most passing yards per game in the NFL, posting an impressive mark of 239.9.
Like St. Brown, the USC product was one of the safest wide receivers in fantasy football, only posting two games all season in which he scored less than 10 fantasy points. Rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. also seemed to have a strong connection with Drake London on the field during the first-year signal-caller’s three starts, which came during the last three weeks of the season.
Through these three weeks, London averaged 13 targets, 7.3 receptions, and 117.3 receiving yards per game while also adding on two receiving touchdowns. If Penix comes out strong to start the 2025 NFL season, this elite connection could be one of the best in fantasy football, making Drake London an elite value in the second round.
Round 3 - Jaxon Smith-Njigba
(WR, SEA)
Underdog ADP: 31.3
After a solid rookie season, Seattle wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba enjoyed a successful sophomore campaign. The former Ohio State Buckeye logged 1,130 receiving yards while leading Seattle’s three-headed receiving corps in targets.
Smith-Njigba now returns to a pass-heavy offense that now features young offensive mind Klint Kubiak as its offensive coordinator. I believe that Kubiak will be able to help Smith-Njigba reach his potential in 2025 by feeding him the ball at all times. Drafting a potential top-12 wide receiver in the third round is excellent value, and that’s exactly what you will be getting in Smith-Njigba.
If Seattle decides to part ways with either DK Metcalf or Tyler Lockett this offseason, Smith-Njigba could see an even higher target share in 2025. I think he is one of the most underrated receivers in fantasy football after a stellar year in 2024.
Round 4 - Jayden Daniels
(QB, WAS)
Underdog ADP: 37.7
This year’s second-overall pick was an MVP candidate in his rookie season, posting ridiculous statistics and leading the Commanders to an appearance in the NFC Championship game. Daniels flashed clutch playmaking all season, showcasing the fact that he is already one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.
In fantasy, his ability to run the football and to complete deep pass attempts made him a star, leading many to fantasy championships. There is a legitimate chance that he will be the overall QB1 in 2025, so getting him in the fourth round should be considered a steal. He has an insanely high ceiling and a high floor bolstered by high rushing upside.
Daniels should be considered a top-tier QB1 in fantasy. If the Commanders bring in a high-profile WR2, an even better fantasy season could be on the horizon for Jayden Daniels.
Round 5 - Jordan Addison
(WR, MIN)
Underdog ADP: 54.8
After a slow start to the season, Jordan Addison produced a strong second season, benefitting from the strong quarterback play of Sam Darnold. From Weeks 9-17, Addison scored a total of eight receiving touchdowns. This is a continuation of what we saw in his rookie year. Addison has now scored 19 career receiving touchdowns in two seasons in the NFL, an extremely impressive mark for a young player.
While Minnesota’s future at quarterback is fairly undecided between Sam Darnold and J.J. McCarthy, I believe Addison will continue to be the team’s second option offensively. He has shown the ability to win deep down the field, making him a fantastic complement to superstar wideout Justin Jefferson. The two are a great duo, and Jordan Addison should continue to see more production for the foreseeable future, no matter who is at quarterback.
Round 6 - Omarion Hampton
(RB, UNC)
Underdog ADP: 61.7
Omarion Hampton, who was a top-five pick in my most recent Superflex Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft, is one of my favorite players in this year’s draft. Out of the University of North Carolina, Hampton’s powerful running style, paired with his surprising elusiveness, will allow him to become a three-down back at the professional level.
Depending on his landing spot, I could see Hampton becoming the workhorse of an NFL backfield immediately. He has the tools to be an effective weapon right off the bat, and even though my opinion could change depending on where he is drafted in April, I am still confident in his talents to emerge as a star in the NFL.
We have seen several rookie running backs rise to fantasy relevance in their rookie seasons over the last few years. I believe this will happen again in 2025. Overall, if you are looking for a running back in the middle rounds who could be a fantasy football league-winner, Hampton could be the exact player you are searching for.