4 Breakout WRs the Smartest Drafters Are Drafting (2025)

Fantasy sports news, analysis, and waiver wire advice.

By Fantasy Roundup · August 29, 2025

Every fantasy football season has its landmines and its league winners. The savviest drafters aren’t just chasing last year’s points — they’re identifying the players about to explode.

This list highlights five wide receivers poised to shatter expectations in 2025 fantasy football, based on the tried-and-true criteria from my Breakout WR Model (watch the full breakdown in my Breakout WRs video).

1. Josh Downs — New York Giants Yahoo ADP: 127.8 | ESPN ADP: 160.5 Downs is the deep value breakout pick the smartest drafters are jumping on, especially on ESPN where he’s practically free. After finishing WR36 in 2024, he's a prime candidate to leap into WR2 territory in his third season. Daniel Jones’ emergence under center actually fits Downs’ game. Think of Downs as a turbocharged version of Wan'Dale Robinson — with more explosiveness and target upside. The best part? There’s virtually no risk. Hell, you can even set up a waiver wire pickup WEEKS in advance and cancel it if Downs works using our exclusive waiver wire tool! But odds are, by then, he’ll already be locked in as a top option in the Colts' passing game.

2. Zay Flowers — Baltimore Ravens Yahoo ADP: 60.8 | ESPN ADP: 68.7 Zay Flowers checks every box in the breakout model: great QB play, ideal breakout age, and increased offensive opportunity. Lamar Jackson had a career-high in passing yards in 2024, while Mark Andrews regressed. That shift could signal a new era in Baltimore's offense — one where Zay is the top option. Zay skeptics cite Lamar’s history of underwhelming WR production, but Zay is easily the most talented wideout Lamar has ever had. Entering a crucial third year with contract incentives looming, Flowers is in the perfect storm for a fantasy explosion. If you're not in on Zay now, you’ll be paying double in 2026.

3. Khalil Shakir — Buffalo Bills Yahoo ADP: 118.4 | ESPN ADP: 108.0 Khalil Shakir is one of those under-the-radar names that smart drafters know could quietly win leagues. He jumped from WR61 in 2023 to WR38 in 2024 — and he’s not done rising. I believe he finishes no worse than WR26 in 2025. I expect Josh Allen to throw more in 2025 after a low-volume 2024, and Shakir has earned Allen’s trust. Rookie Keon Coleman has struggled with consistency (even this offseason), and while Dalton Kincaid is a breakout candidate in his own right, there’s a strong chance Shakir becomes the true volume receiver in this offense. Like the great Mike Tyson said, “everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face.” In this case, Buffalo probably wants Keon and/or Kincaid to step up, but when the real games start and they aren’t capable, it will be Shakir that has to handle more.

4. Emeka Egbuka — Tampa Bay Buccaneers Yahoo ADP: 129.9 | ESPN ADP: 138.0 The Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR room is potentially the best in the NFL when all options are healthy. But since they are not all healthy, I’ve had this WR room flagged all offseason. Tampa Bay had no business drafting a wide receiver in the first round — unless they knew something we didn’t. With Mike Evans aging and Chris Godwin’s health still a question mark, Emeka Egbuka enters a crowded room with a real path to snaps — and relevance. Coaches are already raving about the rookie, who scouts and GMs called one of the safest, most NFL-ready prospects in the 2025 class. At worst, he begins the year as the WR3 in a pass-heavy offense. At best, he becomes the next breakout rookie that savvy drafters stole in the late rounds. If Evans or Godwin falters, Emeka could be a league-winner. And if he doesn’t pan out? Cut bait early and stream with our waiver wire tool. It’s a win-win.

Smart fantasy managers win leagues by identifying breakout candidates before the majority catches on. Whether it’s an ascending talent like Rashee Rice, a rookie with massive opportunity like Emeka Egbuka, or a high-floor PPR gem like Josh Downs, the five names above meet every criteria in my proven breakout WR model. Draft them before everyone else realizes what’s coming.

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