4 Fallback Options If You Miss Out on Top Stars in 2025 Fantasy Football Drafts

It's always good to enter a fantasy football draft with a plan, but part of that strategy should include fallback options for when your top targets aren't available.

While it would be wonderful to come away from a draft with every dream target, it's extremely rare for a manager to get all the players they were planning for.

Fallback options may not be as high-profile or put up as flashy of numbers, but these players can be dependable starters who perfectly augment your early-round selections. These players may not post the eye-popping stats of consensus first-rounders, but they often provide a solid proportion of a top-tier player's production at a much lower cost.

With that in mind, here is a fallback option at each position you can target if and when you miss out on your priority choices in the initial two rounds.

QB Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

AP Photo/Chris O'Meara

2025 Rankings: QB7 / No. 72 Overall

Baker Mayfield has experienced a career renaissance since arriving in Tampa Bay. While some expect regression after two strong seasons, his trajectory suggests continued success.

Despite an impressive QB4 finish in 2024—a six-spot leap from the prior campaign—the 2018 No. 1 overall pick is being selected outside the first tier of fantasy quarterbacks in 2025.

His midrange starter ADP, coupled with his proven production with the Bucs, makes him the ideal fallback plan for those hoping to get someone like Josh Allen or Joe Burrow on draft day.

Mayfield is coming off a career-best campaign in which he tallied an impressive 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns through the air. He achieved these numbers despite missing Chris Godwin Sr. for much of the season. In 2025, Godwin will rejoin a Mike Evans-led receiving corps, with rookie Emeka Egbuka also joining the team.

Most importantly for fantasy purposes, Mayfield elevated his rushing game last season. He amassed 378 yards—double his previous best—and three scores on the ground. This additional edge elevated the veteran into the top five at his position and gives him immense value going forward if he can continue to contribute as a runner.

While he may lack the true dual-threat abilities of top fantasy draft choices such as Lamar Jackson or Jayden Daniels, Mayfield is a reliable passer with just enough rushing talent to move the needle. With his mid-round ADP, he's a perfect value pick or Plan B for managers who didn't secure one of the consensus top-five QBs.

RB Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints

AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

2025 Rankings: RB14 / No. 37 Overall

Though no longer the explosive young star, Alvin Kamara remains one of the NFL's most dependable backs in 2025.

The lack of upside is the main reason for his placement as the preseason RB14. The Saints star finished No. 9 at his position last year and ranked just outside that in 2023. He has just one finish below RB11 in his entire eight-year career and that was a still-solid RB16 showing in 2022.

While he's unlikely to again lead all skill-position players in fantasy points scored as he did in 2020, Kamara is still lynchpin of New Orleans' offense and will play a major role for the club in his upcoming age-30 campaign. He'll arguably be more important than ever, given new head coach Kellen Moore's desire to have a successful first season and the team's well-documented quarterback woes.

Usage shouldn't be an issue despite Kamara's advancing age. He logged a career-most 296 touches last year and handled them well until he suffered a groin injury at the tail end of a lost season. Similar volume is all but guaranteed as Tyler Shough or Spencer Rattler look to check down or hand the ball off to generate offense.

Do-it-all, three-down backs who project to see around 300 touches like Kamara tend to come off the board early in fantasy drafts, but he is being slept on in 2025.

Managers who are hoping to get a Saquon Barkley or Derrick Henry shouldn't be disappointed if they miss out and wind up with Kamara as their fallback RB1.

WR Calvin Ridley, Tennessee Titans

AP Photo/Stew Milne

2025 Rankings: WR29 / No. 66 Overall

If Cam Ward has a strong rookie season, expect Calvin Ridley to play a major part in that success.

This could mark a major improvement for his fantasy outlook following a pedestrian initial season as the Titans' top receiver. After signing with the club in free agency following a brief but productive WR18 stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars, he regressed to WR28 in 2024.

Although he experienced a drop-off in his fantasy ranking, Ridley still posted decent numbers and provided plenty of reason to believe he'll be able to contend for a top-10 finish in 2025.

Despite being saddled by miserable quarterback play on a roster that finished with the league's worst record, the wideout mustered 64 catches for 1,017 yards and four touchdowns on 120 targets. It wasn't too far off Ridley's 2023 line of 76/1,016/8 on 136 targets, a strong amount of volume that could translate to far better production with a more talented signal-caller than Will Levis under center.

Ridley's looks already ranked in the upper echelon of receivers last year. Only 16 receivers saw more targets in 2024 and that gap could shrink as head coach Brian Callahan expands his offense with a more competent passer at the helm of Tennessee's offense.

With a modest ADP generally indicative of a WR3, Ridley might perform on the WR1 border if Ward shines and should have little issues rating as a high-end WR2 if the rookie QB isn't a complete bust.

That makes for a potentially incredible return on investment and a player all managers should have on their radar if they miss out on WR2 targets such as Marvin Harrison Jr. or Garrett Wilson.

TE Jonnu Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers

AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

2025 Rankings: TE17 / No. 145 Overall

Every fantasy manager could benefit from having a Brock Bowers or George Kittle on their roster, but most will have to settle for the less-proven or underwhelming commodities still lingering around in the latter portions of drafts to fill the position.

Don't worry if you miss out on a top-tier tight end. Jonnu Smith offers tremendous value in the late rounds considering his 2024 performance.

Despite finishing as the TE4 last year, he plummeted down draft boards following his trade from the Miami Dolphins to Pittsburgh Steelers. While there is merit in expecting a drop-off going from a Mike McDaniel scheme to Arthur Smith's system—as well as competition from incumbent starter Pat Freiermuth—the potential for Smith's demise isn't as likely as his ADP might suggest.

Smith proved capable of serving as a legitimate high-end pass-catching weapon last season. He was behind only Tyreek Hill in targets (111) and led the team with 88 receptions, turning them into 884 yards and eight touchdowns. Those are elite numbers at a position where Freiermuth mustered a TE9 finish despite having 54 fewer fantasy points in 2024.

Now getting a chance to work with Aaron Rodgers in what is likely the future Hall of Famer's final season, Smith has an outside chance to actually improve upon his already strong marks.

While DK Metcalf will lead the team's receiving corps, the depth behind the Pro Bowler is shaky at best and heavily benefits Smith's chances of emerging as one of Rodgers' go-to targets.

Instead of fading into irrelevance as just a streaming option, Smith could deliver strong, week-to-week value as a cost-effective choice for those who miss top-tier tight ends.