The 10 Most Undervalued Players in Fantasy Football

There is no more important word in fantasy football than value. It's the key to fantasy success. It's more important to summertime draft-day fun than hot dogs and potato salad and a frosty cold one put together.

OK, maybe not that last one. Let's not get nuts. But if you can't identify value picks when drafting, your fantasy season will be over faster than Milli Vanilli's "musical" career.

There are just so many levels of bad music. You think you've hit bottom, but then BAM! The drill punches through to an entirely new strata of musical hell.

But as you try to scrub that from your memory, replace it with that most magical of words in fantasy football--value. It is the foundation of the draft strategy that is the foundation of Footballguys. Build a team of players who are being drafted later than they should, and fantasy managers will win more games than they lose. Pile up more wins than losses, and it's playoff time.

Or so I hear. Also heard that shapeshifting lizard-people from the Draco constellation are controlling the government.

Haven't seen much of either. But hey--open mind.

Sometimes, it's a young player whose prospects for the season to come are being undersold. Or a veteran player who is being written off as over the hill--to many fantasy drafters, 30 is the new 80. Can't have a team with geezers on it. No sir.

Whatever the reason, there are values to be had at every position in fantasy football in 2025. And the more of them you roster, the closer you will be to ultimate victory.

Or at least, that's what the lizard-people told me. Seemed nice. Ate one of our guinea pigs, but no one's perfect.

The Most Undervalued Players in Fantasy Football

QB Dak Prescott, Dallas (ADP: QB15)

Prescott is the poster dude for the sort of players that fantasy drafters avoid without any real reason. His 2024 season was marred by injury, so he's dead. He's on the wrong side of 30, so not only is he dead, but he's also old. As if being old and dead aren't bad enough, Prescott also isn't going to run for 1,000 yards, so he's lazy to boot. What fool would draft that guy?

The fool who realizes that as recently as two years ago, Prescott threw for 4,516 yards--third-most in the NFL. That Prescott tossed 36 touchdown passes in 2023, which led the NFL. That he ranked third among all quarterbacks in fantasy points that year. And that given the issues facing the Dallas ground game in 2025, the Cowboys could be among the most pass-heavy offenses in the NFL. That fool.

QB Bryce Young, Carolina (ADP: QB24)

Young's 2024 was admittedly a little bumpy (in that the Andes are "a little bumpy")--and apparently the biggest takeaway from it is that after two atrocious starts, Young was benched in favor of Andy Dalton's corpse. That's not a great look--but it may have been what saved Young's career. Because over the second half of last season, Young played like the quarterback the Panthers hoped they were getting when they traded up in the 2023 draft.

From Week 12 on last season, Young was quietly ninth in fantasy points among quarterbacks. Young's six rushing touchdowns were tied for third in the league at his position and two more than Baltimore's Lamar Jackson had. This year, he'll be playing with the best offensive line and passing-game weapons he's had to date. And the 23-year-old is available in low-end fantasy QB2 territory.

There isn't a better upside-to-cost ratio at quarterback in 2025.

RB Alvin Kamara, New Orleans (ADP: RB17)

This one is migraine-inducing. Last year, Kamara set a new career-high in rushing yards. Had his best season in terms of yards per carry since 2020. The 29-year-old came up just short of 1,500 total yards, caught 68 passes, scored eight touchdowns, and finished ninth in PPR points among running backs and top-five in terms of points per game. But he's about to turn 30, and the Saints are poo. So, again--dead.

So much negativity. It's really harshing my chakras.

The thing is, how exactly is Kamara's situation in 2025 markedly worse than last year, outside of him being older? It might even be better if Tyler Shough is (snicker) good. The last time Kamara didn't outdo this slot in PPR points? Never. In eight professional seasons, his worst PPR finish is RB16 in 2022. This is drafting at floor. Doing that is good.

Or so my new buddy Crocos the Scaly told me. You know, before the guinea pig incident.

RB D'Andre Swift, Chicago (ADP: RB24)

There are more than a few mental gymnastics being performed by fantasy managers and pundits alike who are looking for reasons not to like Swift in 2025. New Bears head coach Ben Johnson used two backs in Chicago, so it's Roschon Johnson season. Swift isn't an ideal fit for Johnson's scheme. His 2022 rushing usage in Detroit with Johnson was pedestrian--less than 100 carries. He hates puppies and kittens.

That just enrages him. Crocos knows a guy who knows a guy who knows his pool cleaner.

Except that in that 2022 season, Swift also caught 48 passes, scored eight times, and was RB21 in PPR points and RB17 in points per game. In the two years since, he has surpassed 1,200 total yards both seasons and finished inside the top-20 twice--including a year ago in a Bears offense that was half a dumpster fire. Oh, and the 26-year-old is the best, most proven back on the roster--and it ain't close.