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This results in prime opportunities to find value in your fantasy football drafts. The offensive talent around him isn't ideal, but Fields has a true No. 1 receiver in Garrett Wilson and a couple of veteran wideouts in Josh Reynolds and Allen Lazard to help bail him out. In 2022, Fields linked up with DJ Moore to generate top-10 fantasy QB numbers in Chicago, and he doesn't have anyone lurking to take his job.

The Best 2025 Fantasy Football Undervalued Draft Picks originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Fantasy football managers should be on the lookout for optimal value with each pick, but anyone with experience in competitive or larger leagues knows that isn't as common as it may seem. Everyone has their favorite sleepers, and many owners will reach for them to the extent it drives down the draft stock of less attractive players.

This results in prime opportunities to find value in your fantasy football drafts. Players in this article are framed in the context of 12-team, 16-round, PPR drafts. The following picks present the best bang for your buck relative to their average draft position (ADP).

Fantasy Football Undervalued Quarterbacks

QB Justin Fields, New York Jets

The offensive talent around him isn't ideal, but Fields has a true No. 1 receiver in Garrett Wilson and a couple of veteran wideouts in Josh Reynolds and Allen Lazard to help bail him out. Rookie tight end Mason Taylor was the 42nd pick in this year's draft and should assume the starting chores upon returning from an ankle sprain. In 2022, Fields linked up with DJ Moore to generate top-10 fantasy QB numbers in Chicago, and he doesn't have anyone lurking to take his job. The former Ohio Stater's wheels easily offset deficiencies as a passer, and it can't hurt that this offensive line is littered with talent, including two first-round tackles as well as another at right guard, and a second-round sophomore at center. Fields mustered an 18th-place finish in a down year with Chicago in the 2023, demonstrating a usable floor when things aren't clicking. He has plenty of upside to exceed his QB14 ADP with a strong ground performance.

Fantasy Football Undervalued Running Backs

RB Travis Etienne, Jacksonville Jaguars

Last year's RB38, Etienne's slate is wiped clean with a fresh coaching staff. Jacksonville's new head coach, Liam Coen, has other options who could really cut into his workload, and those two factors are what primarily has driven down Etienne's stock. Coen loved to work in multiple backs with substantial roles while coordinating Tampa's offense last year. The Jags should open up the offense to clear room to roam, although it could rob him of some targets. Etienne's early-career production was too good to ignore, and he has a reasonable chance to sneak back into No. 2 utility, but it will require help from a revamped line and staving off hungry competition behind him. At the cost of RB33, he's a fine roll of the dice when compared to those backs going around him.

RB Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys

Two-plus seasons removed from tearing an ACL, Williams has spring in his step again. The last few years in Denver worked against him for various reasons, but he also failed to live up to fantasy expectations from Day 1. Dallas drafted RB Jaydon Blue and signed veteran in Miles Sanders for what could be a true committee if Williams doesn't stand out early. That said, Brian Schottenheimer's intention to run the ball more than Mike McCarthy implies two backs could have regular utility in this offense. Williams is still only 25 years old and offers the best bet of this backfield to stand out. In terms of ADP, 33 running backs are going earlier than Williams, which is a fine placement to assume the risk associated with drafting him.

RB D'Andre Swift, Chicago Bears

There's a decision to negotiated for fantasy owners weighing the merits of Swift's reunion with Ben Johnson and the veteran's storied injury history making a cameo in 2025. If he can play roughly 13 or more games, Swift comes with RB2 utility. In a full schedule, he'll be a borderline RB1, and gamers are starting to catch on as he's currently being drafted as the 22nd running back in PPR. Swift's skill set portends to a top-10 fantasy showing behind a rebuilt offensive line. Furthermore, the anticipated growth of QB Caleb Williams will make it difficult for defenders to crowd the box. Swift's likelihood of a career year boils down to durability. In Johnson's dynamic offense, envision the 26-year-old playing the Jahmyr Gibbs role with Roschon Johnson mimicking David Montgomery's dirty work in Detroit.

Fantasy Football Undervalued Wide Receivers

WR Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins

The trading of TE Jonnu Smith boosted Waddle's ADP a few notches, but he's still going as a No. 3 after finishing WR49 during 2024's dismal season. While Tyreek Hill comes with an array of concerns, his mere presence helps Waddle at least as much as the increase in targets would if Cheetah were to miss substantial action. Far more important is whether Tua Tagovailoa stays healthy. That's easily the biggest risk associated with drafting the fifth-year pro. Miami has little in the way of acceptable targets after these two wideouts, and a healthy, productive Hill frees up Waddle carve up single coverage at a modest price point.

WR Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts

Pittman's lack of explosiveness and blocking utility in a run-heavy system means he's reliant on volume. The Colts' shaky offensive line and abysmal quarterback outlook work against Pittman truly exploding, as does his inability to find the end zone more than six times in any of his five seasons -- frustrating but not entirely his fault. Indy chose TE Tyler Warren in Round 1 of this year's draft after investing a second-rounder on Adonai Mitchell, adding more competition for touches. A year removed from a 109-catch showing, this former USC Trojan cracked the top 20 in three straight seasons before last year's setback. Even a fair projection of 75-800-4 would position Pittman as a low-end WR3 over the last five years' worth of averages. The combo of Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson, along with everything else mentioned, explains why gamers are punting on him, but Pittman going as WR49 after finishing 41st in his worst fantasy season as a starter is worth exploiting in PPR drafts.

Fantasy Football Undervalued Tight Ends

TE Evan Engram, Denver Broncos

Injuries and age are the foremost concerns with Engram, so he's not for the faint of heart. On a positive note, the offense meant for pass-catching tight ends. There's a lack proven weapons in the aerial game behind Courtland Sutton, along with Denver counting on the relatively inexperienced Marvin Mims, Troy Franklin, Pat Bryant and Devaughn Vele to pick up the slack. Second-year QB Bo Nix enjoyed a tremendous rookie year but still was missing another reliable target. Presuming the veteran can stay on the field in his age-31 season -- something he managed to accomplish in 2023's career year -- Engram presents fair value at ADP TE9 if you miss out on one of the elite players at the position.

Fantasy Football Undervalued Defenses

D/ST Green Bay Packers

While Jaire Alexander was sent packing, injuries had taken him off the field for much of the last few years anyway. The front office hit home runs with a pair of 2024 second-rounders in DB Javon Bullard and linebacker Edgerrin Cooper. Bank on growth from third-year end Lukas Van Ness, and Rashaan Gary is fully healthy in the prime of his career. Green Bay has several favorable matchups throughout the schedule and the talent to compete in the tougher ones. The Packers are positioned among the borderline starting defenses for ADP purposes as of mid-August. Target this unit once the premier DT1 selections come off the board.

D/ST New York Giants

New York finished in the bottom half of most fantasy scoring systems last year while quietly tying for eighth in sacks (45). This group racked up 31 takeaways, but just one combined score between the defense and special teams prevented a top-12 result. The Giants will have Kayvon Thibodeaux and Bobby Okereke back on the field after injuries, adding the draft's top pass rusher with Abdul Carter's selection. Brian Burns returns, and capable cornerback Paulson Adebo should rebound after an injury-shortened year in New Orleans. The second season of DC Shane Bowen's system should bring growth, but there's no two ways around this schedule being brutal at times, with a half-dozen games vs. NFC East QBs, a road trips to Detroit and Denver as well as the incoming Kansas City offense. Drafted as DST15 overall, the Giants will warrant attention from those willing to tinker with matchups.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 13, 2025, where it first appeared.

Category: General Sports