5 Deep WR Sleepers for 2025 Fantasy Football

The preseason has arrived, and that means there is real football to talk about, which should help inform some fantasy football decisions. One question is, when I go hunting in the bargain bins for receivers, who should I be plucking out and stashing? Who are the guys who could surprise with a steady role, and who could produce when the competition has gobbled up all of the top tiers of talent? Who are some deep guys (outside of the top 150) who people have clearly been sleeping on that could make a difference? One young vet on his second team, another who could return to his Swiss Army knife ways, two second-year guys who have upside in crowded receiver rooms, and a rookie who just keeps flashing in the great Northwest.

The Young Veterans Section

Wan’Dale Robinson, New York Giants, Consensus ADP: 172.2

Robinson has 153 receptions over the past two seasons, including 93 last season, but his per-reception production has not been what it needed to be over that time. He is averaging 8.2 yards per reception over his career, and he has barely found the end zone; he only has six touchdowns over his three-year career. While this seems pedestrian, the growing targets cannot be ignored. As a rookie, he produced 9.9 yards per reception in what turned into a shortened season due to injury. The next two seasons were littered with quarterback inconsistency and poor play.

That position is much different today than last year, as three new guys join Tommy DeVito in the QB room. It is led by Russell Wilson, who knows how to deliver the football. Wilson’s only pass to Robinson so far in the preseason was caught for an 11-yard gain. The problem for Robinson has been that he is best used when given space, and over the past two seasons there has been no space—instead, a lot of stationary routes where he was getting hit immediately. During his rookie season, he was moved all around and used like a utility player in the slot, out wide, and in the backfield. This gave him the chance to produce YAC, or yards after the catch. So if the targets keep coming, and there is no reason to believe they will not, expect them to produce more substantial results in 2025.

Joshua Palmer, Buffalo Bills, Consensus ADP: 176.2

Palmer joins the Bills after spending his first four seasons in LA with the Chargers. At 6-foot-1 and over 200 pounds, he has a frame that is tailor-made for a blue-collar city and offense like the Bills. Palmer enjoyed success in LA, but his problem has been perception and opportunity. The Chargers have invested in the position with multiple first-round picks who got more opportunities than he did as a third-round selection, and he still produced well. Over the last two seasons he has averaged 38.5 receptions per season on 63 targets for 582.5 yards. That is a little over 15 yards per reception—impressive production when you consider the limited opportunity.

Now he is in Buffalo, where Khalil Shakir was the leading receiver in 2025 but is not a bona fide WR1. Keon Coleman is the team's second-round draft pick from 2024, but he is still raw. This is the perfect opportunity to come into an established offense with a quarterback who does not care who he throws it to, and gain some trust. There are targets available in Buffalo since nobody has truly claimed the top spot or even a complementary role to what Shakir brings to the table. In the Bills' first preseason game, Palmer was targeted twice, and made two receptions for 21 yards. Imagine if Palmer can haul in 60 passes while maintaining his average yards per reception from the last two years—he could go for close to 1000 yards.

Season Two Consistent Contributors

Jalen McMillan, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Consensus ADP: 158

McMillan is a long, slender, athletic playmaker who the Buccaneers selected in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Last season when both Mike Evans and Chris Godwin went down with injuries, it was McMillan who stepped up and held the fort down until Evans was able to return. He finished the season with 37 receptions for 461 yards. That is a valuable 12.5 yards per reception. What he was also able to do was find the endzone; he scored eight touchdowns. He also caught two passes on four targets for 41 yards in the Bucs' playoff game.

We do not know the status of Godwin going into this season, and Evans looked mortal last season for the first time in his Hall of Fame career, so yes, McMillan is a guy who could be a legit factor on this team right now. Yes, they drafted Ohio State receiver Emeka Egbuka in the 2025 NFL Draft, but McMillan should have a better grasp on this offense and the confidence of knowing that he can perform really well in it. McMillan is already listed as a starter next to Godwin and Evans, so even if Godwin goes, he will be on the field. What value late in the draft are you getting better than that?

Jalen Coker, Carolina Panthers, Consensus ADP: 239

Coker is a savvy, big-bodied receiver who played a lot of football before coming to the NFL, and it shows. He has great hands, and he understands how to use his frame to create separation regardless of whether it is in the short, intermediate, or deep passing attack. Last season, Coker made his way onto the team as an undrafted free agent. When he received his chance to play, he made the most of it. He finished the season with 32 receptions for 478 yards and two touchdowns. That production was on par with Xavier Legette, the team's first-round draft pick last season, but Coker did it on almost half the targets.

Even with the Panthers adding Tet McMillan in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, there is still a chance for Coker to have a legit role on this offense. Coker is behind Legette on the depth chart, but he has a chance to push Legette and the 34-year-old veteran Adam Thielen. He currently occupies the fourth receiver role, but there is something to be said about earning the trust of your quarterback. He seems like he is doing just that with Bryce Young. He had two receptions for 17 yards and a touchdown from Young in the Panthers' first preseason game. He could be a sneaky pickup late in your draft or even a valuable waiver pickup.

The Rookie We Did Not See Coming!

Tory Horton, Seattle Seahawks, Consensus ADP: 236.9

Horton is a receiver who emerged after cooking the Heisman trophy winner Travis Hunter in his first season at Colorado when the Buffs played Horton’s Colorado State Rams. He finished with 16 receptions on 18 targets for 133 yards and even threw a touchdown. That season was the second of his two consecutive 1100-yard, eight-touchdown seasons. In his final season, he suffered a season-ending knee injury. He flashed on the scene again when he ran a 4.41 40-yard dash time at the 2025 NFL Combine only five months removed from surgery. It is rumored that he was only 80% healthy when he ran. He was selected by the Seahawks in the fifth round of the 2025 draft.

During training camp, he has been making a name for himself. There does not seem to be a day that goes by where his name is not brought up in camp reports when discussing standouts. Despite his fast-rising presence during training camp, he has not seen too much of a jump in his ADP. In his first preseason action, he had three receptions for 31 yards. With DK Metcalf gone to Pittsburgh, who will fill his role? Yes, they brought in Cooper Kupp and Marques Valdez-Scantling, but neither fill that type of role. Horton could, and he likely has much better hands. There are targets available in Seattle as this offense tries to take the next step and improve its pass protection.