Every year, fantasy champions look back and ask, “How did I land that guy in the final round?” This article is for those players—the lottery tickets. They’re not safe, and they might bust immediately. But if they hit, they hit big.
What!? Your fantasy football league wasn’t hosted on Fantrax last season!? Once you see how Fantrax stacks up to the competition, we think you’ll be singing a different tune in the 2025 season.
Late-Round Lottery Tickets for 2025 Fantasy Football Drafts
We’re targeting late-round dart throws with enough talent, team context, or opportunity to end up in your starting lineup by midseason—or sooner. Whether you’re in a home league or battling sharps in high-stakes formats, these are the players worth drafting late or slapping a gold star on for your Week 1 watch list.
Note: Each player listed below includes their current Average Draft Position (ADP), both by position and overall. ADP data is sourced from FantasyPros and reflects a composite average across the most popular league hosting platforms. These numbers offer a snapshot of where players are generally being drafted as of publication — use them as a guide when planning your late-round strategy.
“They wrote me off, I ain’t write back though.” — GENO SMITH, CHANNELING UNDERDOG ENERGY THAT LIVES IN EVERY FINAL-ROUND FANTASY PICK
Romeo Doubs, WR, Green Bay Packers (ADP: WR73 | 195.5 OVR)
Doubs might not be the flashiest name in Green Bay, but he’s one of the most undervalued late-round picks in fantasy this year.
Despite an injury-shortened 2024, Doubs commanded an 18.2% red zone target share and caught 8 of 10 red zone looks—an elite 80% catch rate in scoring position. That turned into a solid 8.7% touchdown rate on limited volume, showing Jordan Love trusts him when it matters most.
He also owned a 26.3% share of the team’s air yards and ranked top-30 in average target depth (12.3 yards). That proves he wasn’t just working underneath—he was a legit downfield weapon. Even with missed time, he posted 1.83 fantasy points per target and added +47.6 Expected Points Added (EPA), ranking 30th among wideouts. His 83.1% route participation rate means he was a near full-time player when healthy.
Green Bay’s receiver room is deep, but Doubs has already flashed chemistry with Love. He checks all the boxes: red zone usage, deep targets, efficiency, and a path to a starting role. If things break right, he could produce weekly WR3 numbers with WR2 upside—the kind of value you love from a final-round pick.
Brenton Strange, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars (ADP: TE22 | 183.7 OVR)
Brenton Strange didn’t light up the stat sheet as a rookie, averaging just 2.4 receptions and 24.2 yards per game. But a closer look tells a different story.
His breakout moment came in Week 15 with Mac Jones under center: 12 targets, 11 catches, 73 yards. That kind of usage doesn’t happen by accident.
Now, with Evan Engram off to Denver, Strange enters 2025 as Jacksonville’s TE1. And his underlying numbers are sneaky good: a 97.6% true catch rate (6th among all receivers), 1.93 yards per route run (13th), and a 109.9 QB rating when targeted.
Even with limited reps, Strange ranked top-20 in fantasy points per target and contested catch rate. With rookie speedsters Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter Jr. stretching the field, Strange could thrive underneath as Trevor Lawrence’s go-to safety valve.
Add in Lawrence’s quick-trigger style and Strange’s dependable hands, and you get a TE breakout candidate at a bargain-bin ADP.
Cedric Tillman, WR, Cleveland Browns (ADP: WR66 | 178.0 OVR)
If you’re swinging for upside late, Cedric Tillman deserves your attention. The second-year wideout quietly impressed in 2024 before a concussion in Week 12 ended his season.
From Weeks 7 to 12, Tillman totaled 26 catches, 330 yards, and 3 touchdowns—including a 99-yard, 2-score explosion in Week 8 against Baltimore.
He posted an 87.5% true catch rate and accumulated 468 air yards on limited volume. That translated to a 12.0% team air yard share and a 10.6-yard average target depth. He’s a boundary receiver with size and field-stretching ability.
Joe Flacco looks likely to start the season under center, which bodes well for Tillman. Flacco’s aggressive style turned multiple Browns wideouts into fantasy contributors last year, and he thrives when throwing to outside receivers.
Tillman also recorded 332 unrealized air yards and a +4.7 EPA, showing he was consistently open downfield. If the QB play improves, his big-play potential could translate into actual fantasy production.
Roschon Johnson, RB, Chicago Bears (ADP: RB59 | 177.0 OVR)
Roschon Johnson enters the year behind D’Andre Swift on the depth chart, but he’s a prime stash in deeper formats or Zero RB builds.
The Bears revamped their offensive line and brought in creative play-caller Ben Johnson. That could mean more scoring chances and better run-game efficiency across the board.
Johnson already handled 15 red-zone touches last year, including eight goal-line carries, ranking 51st among RBs despite limited snaps. He also posted a +10.5 EPA, good for 13th at the position, proving he made the most of his opportunities.
While rookie Kyle Monangai is in the mix, his underwhelming athletic profile suggests he may not pose an immediate threat. Roschon has the trust of the coaching staff and is likely the first man up if Swift misses time.
At worst, he offers goal-line usage and occasional spike weeks. At best, he could become a plug-and-play RB2 in a much-improved offense.
D’onte Thornton Jr., WR, Las Vegas Raiders (ADP: WR77 | 230.0 OVR)
D’onte Thornton Jr. is turning heads in Raiders camp and is worth a final-round flier in best ball or deep redraft formats.
At 6’5″ with verified 4.3 speed, he’s built like a prototype deep threat. And this summer, he’s been running with the first-team offense and flashing chemistry with Geno Smith.
After a quiet 2023, Thornton broke out in 2024:
- 26 catches on 34 targets
- 661 yards (25.4 YPR)
- 6 touchdowns
- 76.5% catch rate
- 9.1% team receiving share
That’s elite efficiency on limited volume. And his year-over-year yards per reception tell the same story:
- 2021: 19.4 YPR
- 2022: 21.5 YPR
- 2023: 17.2 YPR
- 2024: 25.4 YPR
Thornton wasn’t just a Day 3 dart throw—he was handpicked by Pete Carroll, who brought Geno Smith along to install a familiar, vertical-heavy scheme. There are whispers of Thornton earning a D.K. Metcalf-style role, and while that might be aggressive, the archetype fits.
Expect spike weeks and goose eggs. But in an offense likely to play from behind, Thornton could produce big splash plays in catch-up mode.
In redraft, he’s a bench stash. In best ball, he’s the kind of late-round volatility you want.
Final Thoughts
The beauty of late-round lottery tickets is that there’s no real downside. If they flop, you cut bait. But if they hit, you might land a weekly starter for the cost of a kicker.
Every fantasy season brings breakout stars—and more often than not, they come from obscurity. Stack your bench with upside. Stay glued to the waiver wire. And remember: championships are rarely won at the top of the draft, but often in the forgotten rounds at the bottom.
For more great fantasy football rankings and analysis, make sure to check out the 2025 FantraxHQ Fantasy Football Draft Kit!
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