Every fantasy football season is defined by one thing: who finds the true league-winners. Sure, drafting safe players early provides stability, but championships aren’t won by the safe route. They’re won when a manager takes a chance on a player who dramatically outperforms his draft cost. That’s the kind of pick that shifts the balance of a league.
In 2025, that means targeting players with EXTREME UPSIDE, even if their floor is uncertain. Whether it’s rookies stepping into huge roles, suspended players with a discounted price, or young guys primed to explode in Year 2, these are the five players who could tilt your league in 2025 fantasy football if things break right.
TreVeyon Henderson
(RB, New England Patriots)
ADP: Round 4–5 | Rookie Running Back with a Clear Path to Work
Every year, a rookie RB has the chance to redefine fantasy football. In 2023 it was Bijan Robinson, in 2022 it was Kenneth Walker, and in 2021 it was Najee Harris. For 2025, the name to know is TreVeyon Henderson.
The Patriots desperately needed explosiveness at running back. Rhamondre Stevenson has been steady but has clearly lost a step, and the depth chart behind him doesn’t present much competition. Enter Henderson, a player with first-round talent who blends elite acceleration, natural hands in the passing game, and strong vision between the tackles.
New offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has a history of riding versatile running backs when he has one, and Henderson could step right into that role. If he gets 15–20 touches per game, Henderson has a legitimate path to a top-15 RB finish, yet you can get him in the middle rounds.
League-Winning Scenario: Henderson earns the starting job by Week 4, pushes for 1,500+ total yards, and double-digit TDs as a rookie.
Rashee Rice
(WR, Kansas City Chiefs)
ADP: Round 6–8 | Patrick Mahomes’ WR1 (Post-Suspension)
On raw talent and situation alone, Rashee Rice could be drafted as a top-20 wide receiver. But thanks to his six-game suspension to start 2025, his ADP has slipped into the middle rounds, and this is where upside-hunters should pounce.
Rice showed last season that he’s the closest thing Patrick Mahomes has had to a true WR1 since Tyreek Hill. His ability to win on short routes, stretch the field, and fight for contested catches makes him a complete weapon. In the final eight games of 2023, Rice averaged nearly 9 targets and 80 yards per game, flashing true WR1 potential.
Yes, waiting six weeks for production is tough. But if you can draft Rice as your WR3 and stash him, the payoff could be monstrous for the fantasy playoffs. Few players available in the sixth or seventh round can put up 25-point weeks. Rice does.
League-Winning Scenario: Rice returns fresh in Week 7, commands 8–10 targets a game, and posts WR1 numbers down the stretch, winning playoff matchups.
Tyler Warren
(TE, Indianapolis Colts)
ADP: Round 7–9 | Sleeper Tight End with Elite Upside
Tight end is always the trickiest position in fantasy football after Brock Bowers, Trey McBride, and George Kittle, it’s a minefield of touchdown-dependent streamers. That’s why Warren is such an appealing late-round target.
The Colts love Tyler Warren. At 6’6”, he’s a red-zone nightmare with the kind of size-speed combo that can change games. What makes 2025 especially interesting is the quarterback situation. Daniel Jones won the starting job over Anthony Richardson to open the season. Historically, Jones leans heavily on his tight ends. That safety-valve connection could push Warren into weekly relevance early.
And if Richardson eventually takes over? Warren’s upside doesn’t dip. Instead, he could transition into Richardson’s version of Mark Andrews, the reliable, big-bodied target who thrives when plays break down. That dual path makes Warren one of the few late-round tight ends who actually have top-6 upside.
League-Winning Scenario: Jones peppers Warren with targets early, then Richardson turns him into a red-zone monster later. Warren sneaks into the top tier of fantasy TEs.
Jordan Mason
(RB, Minnesota Vikings)
ADP: Round 7–9 | Underrated Power Back with Workhorse Potential
Every draft cycle, fantasy managers overlook power backs because they’re not flashy. That’s exactly what makes Jordan Mason a sneaky late-round smash.
The Vikings extended Aaron Jones this offseason, but let’s be honest Jones is 30, coming off multiple injuries, and his explosiveness has dipped. Mason, meanwhile, is younger, fresher, and runs like a hammer. In limited opportunities with San Francisco, Mason averaged over 5.3 YPC and consistently broke tackles.
In Kevin O’Connell’s balanced offense, Mason doesn’t need 20 carries a game to matter. But if (when) Jones breaks down, Mason could inherit a true workhorse role. And unlike some backups, Mason has the skill set to thrive as an early-down bruiser and goal-line finisher.
League-Winning Scenario: Jones wears down by midseason, Mason takes over as the lead back, and finishes as a top-15 RB despite being drafted outside the top 100 picks.
Ricky Pearsall
(WR, San Francisco 49ers)
ADP: Round 6–8 | Second-Year WR with Alpha Potential
Few situations have shifted as dramatically this offseason as San Francisco’s wide receiver room. Deebo Samuel was traded, Brandon Aiyuk won’t return until Week 4, and Jauan Jennings is still battling a calf injury. That leaves Ricky Pearsall, entering Year 2, with a golden opportunity.
The 49ers used a first-round pick in 2024 on Pearsall because of his precision as a route runner and reliable hands. He flashed in limited work as a rookie, and now, with a wide-open target share, he’s primed for a breakout. Brock Purdy is at his best when working in rhythm with precise receivers, and Pearsall fits that mold perfectly.
The key? Pearsall isn’t just a placeholder until Aiyuk returns. If he dominates early and shows he can handle being the WR1, he could keep a feature role all year long. That makes him one of the most attractive Year two wide receiver breakouts in all of fantasy football.
League-Winning Scenario: Pearsall opens the season with heavy usage, establishes himself as Purdy’s top target, and cruises past 1,000 yards as the new alpha in San Francisco.
Final Thoughts
Every fantasy football season, some players swing leagues. In 2025, TreVeyon Henderson has the profile of an RB1 in New England. Rashee Rice, despite a suspension, could be a top-10 WR once he’s back. Tyler Warren is a late-round tight end who actually has top-tier upside.
Jordan Mason could be this year’s “league-winner off the bench” running back. Ricky Pearsall might emerge as San Francisco’s alpha wide receiver. All five of the players are exactly those types of EXTREME UPSIDE bets.
The early rounds of your draft are about safety. But in the middle and late rounds? That’s where you take your swings. And if you swing at the right guys, you won’t just make the playoffs, you’ll win the championship.