2025 Fantasy Football Draft Rankings: August Updates 2025 Fantasy News
There are some common ways that players outshine expectations on a regular basis, though. Jaydon Blue was drafted in the fifth round by the Dallas Cowboys and could earn himself a big role in the offense during his rookie season. His competition is former Broncos running back Javonte Williams and Veteran Miles Sanders. Blue has lost some bank guarantee vs letter of credit ground in the battle due to an injury, but should earn the starting job sooner rather than later. Even in that season “destroyed” by Richardson’s erratic passing, Downs logged 107 targets, topped 800 receiving yards and was WR35 in PPR points—over 10 slots higher than he’s being drafted.
QB Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons
In the seven of the last eight seasons, Kamara has been a top-12 fantasy running back. And in the lone year he didn’t, he finished in the spot where he’s being drafted this year. Many expected a breakout season from James Cook in 2024—and he delivered. Cook quietly finished with over 1,200 total yards, showcasing his versatility as a pass-catching back in a Josh Allen-led offense. Rookie tight ends typically take time to develop, but Brock Bowers is no ordinary rookie. A generational talent with yards-after-catch dominance, Bowers enters a Raiders offense desperate for playmakers.
Preseason Week 3 Winners/Losers ✍️
Tampa Bay also has one of the easier schedules when it comes to opposing offenses thanks to playing the Panthers and Saints twice each. The Buccaneers also take on the AFC East this year which includes the Patriots and Jets. Fantasy football is all about finding advantages with extra value in your picks. Gary Davenport is a two-time Fantasy Sports Writers Association Football Writer of the Year. Davante Adams has had a long and storied career in the NFL, but the last season-plus has been tumultuous. The Los Angeles Rams are his third team since the beginning of the 2024 season.
Players Trending Up & Down (2025 Fantasy Football)
Godwin’s absence has given Egbuka more opportunity to shine in training camp and he has. His ceiling as capped at likely a high-end WR3 at best but he could absolutely outplay his current ADP. We’ve come up with a dozen players and units who could be great value picks this season. With one exception, all of them are ranked lower than 70th overall in average draft position (ADP) by FantasyPros. These aren’t the players you’re expecting to get in Rounds 1-5; these are the later-round players who could make a huge difference in value this season. Value is a word that every fantasy football player looks for, but not many successfully find it.
Best Fantasy Football Value Picks for 2025
Tyreek Hill is two years removed from leading the NFL in receiving yards and touchdowns and is entering his age-31 season. In 2024, Hill failed to reach 1,000 yards as a starter for the first time without missing any games for injury. Tampa Bay’s touted one of the better wide receiver duos in the league for years with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. The former is entering his age-32 season in the NFL and the latter is recovering from a devastating ankle injury that required a second surgery this offseason.
Zay Flowers, WR, Baltimore Ravens
- His competition is former Broncos running back Javonte Williams and Veteran Miles Sanders.
- It’s worth noting that the Bears just used their first two picks in the 2025 NFL draft to grab pass catchers.
- Plus, as a whole, the Titans’ offense is in a better spot after nabbing Cameron Ward with the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, which could lend itself to more scoring opportunities than last season for Pollard.
- It’s rare to find a sophomore quarterback with top five fantasy upside this late, but Caleb Williams fits the mold.
With Bateman’s new contract of three-year, $36,750,000 contract, the Ravens are invested and so am I. If he finally stays healthy, Bateman could deliver WR3 production or better—and in the 10th round, that’s exactly the kind of dart throw you want. The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author’s advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.
That leaves the door open for Sanders to have a role that far outranks his current draft position. An incredible rookie season in 2023 had Stroud up to QB5 by FantasyPros’ rankings ahead of the 2024 season. As the offense stalled out, Stroud finished as QB18 in fantasy football, a step down from his QB11 finish in 2023. Managers across all league formats are looking for players who will outperform their draft positions. A productive first-round pick is the simplest way to contending year-in and year-out. It’s a pick made in the later rounds that plays like a top five-to-10 player at their position that can make a championship team.
Smith had a career-high 111 targets in Miami with inconsistent quarterback play due to Tua Tagovailoa missing multiple games. There’s a chance he could eclipse that in Pittsburgh as he’s been reunited with his former coach Arthur Smith, now the Steelers’ offensive coordinator. Williams is the 15th quarterback being selected in most fantasy drafts, and if he reaches his potential in his sophomore season, he could end up being a top 5 QB. Other QBs who have good value late in drafts include CJ Stroud (QB18) and Michael Penix Jr (QB25). After a hamstring issue popped up in training camp, delaying his development, the 24-year-old was the victim of a shooting, taking a bullet to the chest in an altercation in August.
- The Bears selected tight end Colston Loveland 10th overall and wide receiver Luther Burden III in the second round.
- That firmly places Pearsall in the conversation of one of San Fran’s top three pass-catchers alongside fellow wideout Jauan Jennings and tight end George Kittle.
- Taking the author’s advice will not guarantee a successful outcome.
- Jaydon Blue was drafted in the fifth round by the Dallas Cowboys and could earn himself a big role in the offense during his rookie season.
- Rashod Bateman hasn’t lived up to his first-round NFL Draft pedigree, but 2025 could be his breakout season.
- The 2024 season was a mess for Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.
Ertz was one of many veterans in Washington to benefit from Jayden Daniels’ arrival in 2024. The three-time Pro Bowl tight end had 654 yards and seven touchdowns, his best year since 2021. Egbuka was one of the top wide receiver prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft. He’s one of the most pro-ready of the group with the skillset to contribute from the slot as a rookie.
The NFL season is fast-approaching, and the heart of fantasy football draft season is upon us. Today we’re back with our NFL team’s updated 2025 fantasy football draft rankings for the top 415 players in 2025 redraft leagues. We’ll look at some draft rankings risers and fallers including Chase Brown, De’Von Achane, Breece Hall, Bhayshul Tuten, Tyreek Hill, Tank Bigsby and Jacory Croskey-Merritt. Rookie defensive linemen Mykel Williams, Alfred Collins and CJ West should all see significant playing time this season in a turnaround year for the franchise.
His receiving skills out of the backfield should increase his value even more in half- and full-PPR formats as Payton likes to involve his backs in the passing game. Ricky Pearsall is benefiting from strange circumstances regarding the San Francisco 49ers receiver core. Deebo Samuel was traded to the Washington Commanders in the offseason, Brandon Aiyuk is projected to miss a chunk of the season, and Jauan Jennings has contractual issues.
The timeline for Spears’ return is unclear, but at the very least, we know it forced him to be carted off the field and immediately be ruled out for the rest of the preseason. Spears missed fives games last season with a concussion, hamstring injury, and another high-ankle sprain. Aside from that, he had a meh 2024 campaign, netting just 7.0 carries per game (to Pollard’s 16.3) and 3.7 yards per attempt. The Cowboys brought in new offensive coordinator Klayton Adams who had a prominent role in one of the top rushing attacks in the league in recent years in Arizona. Rookies Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah might take time to have an impact on late and early downs, respectively.