The Best Value Picks at Every Position in Fantasy Football in 2025

Value is the magic word in fantasy football. It's how success is found and championships are won.

Draft a team filled with players whose production exceeds their asking price on draft day, and fantasy managers will win a lot more games than they lose. And the more those players beat expectations by, the more value is gained.

Ask drafters who took Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, or Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown, or Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers last year.

Identifying potential values is a critical part of pre-draft participation. And that’s what we’re here to do.

For the purposes of this exercise, we’re defining "value" as a player available a full tier below their average draft position. A quarterback and tight end available outside the top 12 at their position, a RB2 available outside the top 24 or a WR3 available past the top 36.

Now, let's hit the bargain bin and identify some value picks capable of winning leagues this year.

QB: Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

AP Photo/ Brynn Anderson

ADP: QB14, 111th Overall

The 2024 season was a mess for Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. He missed nine games, threw for the second-fewest passing yards of his career and tossed a career-low 11 touchdown passes.

However, not only is the 31-year-old healthy in 2025 but the Cowboys have also upgraded his passing-game weapons and offensive line in the offseason, as Michael Fabiano noted for Sports Illustrated:

"Prescott is back at 100 percent and comes into this season with a lot to prove after signing a massive new deal last year before getting hurt. The addition of Pickens is huge for him from a statistical perspective, as Prescott had one of his best seasons (2021) as a passer when he had both Lamb and Amari Cooper at his disposal. Prescott was also successful through the air in 2023, when he had the trio of Lamb, Brandin Cooks and Ferguson. It can be argued that the group of Lamb, Pickens and Ferguson is better than both the 2021 and 2023 teams in terms of Prescott’s best group of weapons, and that new offensive line should certainly allow him ample time to make good decisions and find his receivers downfield."

With the Dallas running game a major question mark, the Cowboys could be among the NFL's most pass-heavy teams in 2025. As recently as two years ago, Prescott surpassed 4,500 passing yards, led the league in passing scores with 36 and finished third in fantasy points among quarterbacks.

Injury is the only thing that can stop Prescott from being a massive value if his ADP stays in the 10th round.

RB1: Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints

AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman

ADP: RB16, 45th Overall

There's a trend with players from the New Orleans Saints in fantasy football this summer: Avoiding them like a tuna salad sandwich at a convenience store.

On some level, that's understandable because the Saints may well be the worst team in the NFL this year. But it's not like last year's team was good.

However, Kamara still set a career high in rushing yards, had his highest yards per carry since 2020, came up just short of 1,500 total yards and finished ninth among running backs in PPR points and fifth in points per game.

If that's not enough to sell fantasy managers on the 29-year-old as a value this year, Dave Richard of CBS Sports noted he could also benefit from a favorable schedule:

"Kamara has an edge better than any RB in Fantasy. Based on my grading, the Saints have the most favorable projected running back schedule. You might not think so early on because he'll see three NFC West teams and then Buffalo to start the year, but soon after he'll take on other NFC South teams along with the Giants, Patriots, Bears, and Dolphins. He gets the Titans in Week 17, too. A lot of these teams have liabilities in pass coverage against running backs, making Kamara's path to another good year easier."

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.

The Saints may be doomed, but that doesn't mean Kamara is, too.

RB2: Kaleb Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers

AP Photo/Matt Freed

ADP: RB27, 75th Overall

Over four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Najee Harris was about as explosive as a Pop-It toy. He never averaged more than 4.1 yards per carry.

However, the 27-year-old also never failed to hit 1,000 rushing yards and never finished lower than RB23 in PPR fantasy points.

The Steelers drafted Kaleb Johnson out of Iowa in the third round of the 2025 draft to fill the Chargers-bound player's role.

And Derek Brown of Fantasy Pros expects him to perform well in that position:

"All the Kaleb Johnson, all the time. Last year, Najee Harris operated in an offense that was fourth in rushing attempts as Harris soaked up 299 touches (10th-most). I don’t think Johnson will hit that mark, but I do think he can get close to it. He has the talent to make the most of the volume that this team will load him up with in positive game scripts. Last year, not only did he rank fifth in breakaway percentage, but he was also eighth in yards after contact per attempt and 14th in elusive rating, per Pro Football Focus. Johnson is an RB3 in ADP who will be a strong weekly RB2."

Johnson has shown he can carry a heavy workload, averaging 20 carries per game for the Hawkeyes in 2024. His running style meshes well with Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Arthur Smith's outside-zone scheme. And he appears to have a better chance of peeling off a long run than Harris ever did for the Steelers.

Harris is being drafted later than the other rookie RBs with a clear path to playing time. He's also going to be the best value when all is said and done.

WR1: Davante Adams, Los Angeles Rams

AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

ADP: WR19, 37th Overall

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.

Between that, Adams' age (32) and the presence of Puka Nacua in L.A., the fantasy community appears to have soured on the six-time Pro Bowler a bit.

However, Adams told reporters he doesn't expect to play second fiddle to Nacua, as quarterback Matthew Stafford is more concerned about finding the open receiver than any pecking order:

"You've got to be a dog to do that. You’ve got to have a lot of confidence in your arm, in who's across from you, who you're throwing the ball to, all of that. I actually got the ball today on one I wasn't expecting to—thank God I was ready for it—but I wasn't thinking, based on the coverage, that I would get it. But it came to me and actually led to a catch-and-run opportunity. So, if you've got a guy like that who's going to make you defend it the proper way and not just allow you to display a coverage and let that dictate where the ball goes, you're in trouble."

Sean McVay's offense can support two high-end fantasy wideouts, and we've seen it happen more than once in the past. Adams' last season with less than 1,000 receiving yards was back in 2019. That was also the last season that he wasn't a top-12 fantasy option at his position in PPR points.

Reports of Adams' fantasy demise have been greatly exaggerated.

WR2: Jerry Jeudy, Cleveland Browns

AP Photo/Terrance Williams

ADP: WR34, 67th Overall

It's not surprising that the enthusiasm level surrounding the Cleveland Browns offense in 2025 is non-existent. Their quarterback situation is a four-headed mess—five if you count the injured Deshaun Watson, who has all but certainly played his final snap for the team.

However, Browns receiver Jerry Jeudy is coming off a career high in both catches (90) and receiving yards (1,229), and Cleveland quarterback Kenny Pickett believes the best could be yet to come for the 26-year-old:

"He's a really easy guy to throw to. I think it's a good play whenever you're throwing the ball to No. 3. So, we should keep doing a lot more of that. But Jerry's an awesome guy. He works really hard. His communication with the quarterbacks is awesome. If he sees something or if I see something, the ability just to have that open dialogue and kind of being on the same page has been great. I think it's shown."

There's no denying the Browns have a number of issues on offense, including the uncertainty under center. But it's not like the quarterback situation was good in 2024 when Cleveland started four different signal-callers last year, including Bailey Zappe and Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

Jeudy logged 145 targets and was 16th in PPR points playing with bad quarterbacks last year. If the team can get even serviceable play from Pickett, Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, why can't the 26-year-old at least approach that level of production again?

That's a rhetorical question. He can.

WR3: Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts

AP Photo/David Zalubowski

ADP: WR46, 94th Overall

While we're making a tour of teams with major questions at quarterback, we might as well stay in the Midwest with a visit to Indianapolis.

The Colts are having a QB competition this summer between Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones, but it may not be much of a competition after all. Reports have indicated the latter will enter camp with a "significant lead" over the former.

That may not be ideal for general manager Chris Ballard after he spent a top-five pick on Richardson in 2023. But Jones under center could be excellent news for young wideout Josh Downs, who is one of fantasy's biggest potential bargains at his position, according to David Latham of Last Word on Sports:

"Downs might be the most underrated player in fantasy football. While his WR35 finish last year left a lot to be desired, all his underlying metrics suggest he’s due for a breakout in 2025. He finished 2024 with a strong 25.6% target share, 29.6% target rate, and an 84.8 PFF grade, the 12th-best mark in the league. Anthony Richardson was the least accurate passer in football last year, and his inability to hit short passes single-handedly destroyed Downs’ season last year. With Daniel Jones (presumably) taking over as the starter, Downs should have a great season with the potential to be a top-20 option in PPR formats."

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.

If Downs cracks the top 30 in 2025, he will be a major bargain. If he finishes the year as a fantasy WR2, he will win leagues.

TE: Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles

AP Photo/Chris Szagola

ADP: TE14, 125th Overall

This isn't an easy one. Once you get outside the top 10 or so tight ends, just about every option has at least one sizable question attached to them.

With Dallas Goedert, there are a few. He is the wrong side of 30, has missed at least three games in each of the past three seasons—including seven a year ago—and he plays on one of the most run-heavy teams in the NFL.

However, Sigmund Bloom of Footballguys sees real potential for value with the Philadelphia Eagles player this season:

"Goedert was a top 10 tight end on a points per game basis last year, and that's before you take the game where he only played three snaps out of his average. His value was perhaps a little inflated by the fact that his eight games overlapped with three missed games by DeVonta Smith and three by A.J. Brown, and Goedert himself missed eight games. He also took a pay cut and was the subject of trade rumors this offseason. All of that is reflected in his inexpensive price. What is not reflected is that Goedert has said he is excited about what new offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo "sees in him" as the two have a connection that has grown over the last four years, and that Patullo is going to get him the ball in different ways in his offense."

There's no getting around the fact that the longer you wait to draft a tight end, the more of a dart throw it becomes. But the last time Goedert finished outside the top 10 TEs in PPR points per game was 2019.

If he can stay on the field, he's a steal in Round 11.

Gary Davenport is a two-time Fantasy Sports Writers Association Football Writer of the Year. Follow Gary on X at @IDPGodfather.