It is obviously important to get the beginning of a fantasy football draft right. Is it just as important to nail the later rounds? Perhaps not, but it can often make the difference between achieving big success and struggling to win week in and week out. The following list consists of five wide receivers who could pay major dividends at incredibly low risk for the 2025 season.
Wide Receivers to Target in the Late Rounds
Per FantasyPros’ consensus ADP at time of writing, all of the WRs below are currently being drafted outside of the Top-100 players overall on average in standard scoring leagues.
Stefon Diggs (WR – NE)
There have been good reports regarding Diggs’ health, as he was recently cleared to fully participate at camp with his new teammates in New England. He had his one season in Houston cut short by a torn ACL last October. Prior to that injury, Diggs was averaging six grabs for 62 yards per contest. The veteran wideout had a lot more competition for targets with the Texans than he presumably will among the Patriots’ pass catchers. Even at 31 with a decade of NFL football under his belt, Diggs is too good of a value to pass up.
Marvin Mims Jr. (WR – DEN)
Did the awaited Mims’ breakout begin this past December? The 2023 second-round pick out of Oklahoma certainly began showing great chemistry with young QB Bo Nix during the final month of the duo’s first season together. Over the Broncos’ last five games of the 2024 regular season, Mims twice eclipsed the 100-yard mark and hauled in five of his six touchdowns for the campaign. Already a two-time Pro-Bowl selection as a return man, Mims could be on the cusp of a big breakout for HC Sean Payton’s offense.
Emeka Egbuka (WR – TB)
The first of two rookies included here, Egbuka wasn’t selected with the 19th-overall choice in this year’s draft just to sit and learn from 12-year veteran Mike Evans and oft-injured Chris Godwin. When that longtime Tampa Bay duo is on the field, Egbuka is likely to be no higher than the third option for QB Baker Mayfield the majority of the time. Still, the playmaking ability he displayed in helping Ohio State to a National Championship last season gives Egbuka a lofty ceiling even in year one. Take a flyer on a talent of this level who is regularly going outside the first 10 rounds in redraft formats.
Dont’e Thornton Jr. (WR – LV)
The age old story of the Raiders drafting elite speed at any cost persists. At least this time, the front office rationally waited until the fourth round for Thornton. The former Tennessee Volunteer led the nation in yards per reception (25.4) last year and then proceeded to wow everyone with a 40 time of 4.30 at this year’s NFL combine. The Raiders new veteran QB Geno Smith will definitely have a dynamic target in the 6-5 rookie. GM John Spytek said of Thornton, “You watch his target tape, I think it’s pretty impressive. And we think he hasn’t hit his ceiling yet.”
Rashod Bateman (WR – BAL)
If many were anxiously waiting on a Mims breakout, most had likely given up on a Bateman one. The former first-rounder finally made good on some of his previously immense promise for the Ravens last season., rewarding the franchise’s patience with him. Bateman finished second on the team with nine touchdown grabs while his 16.8 yards per catch ranked third in the NFL among qualifying players. He rounded out his stat line with 45 receptions and a career-high 756 yards. Bateman takes a hit in PPR leagues, but his big-play potential gives him nice late-round upside.
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