Fantasy Football Draft Values, Busts & Sleepers: NFC South (2025)

Thankfully, the 2025 fantasy football season is just around the corner. Each year, fantasy players want to construct their team with a proper mix of good-value players and upside sleepers while avoiding players with high bust potential.

In the seventh part of an eight-part series, I identify two ADP values, two likely-to-bust candidates, and two potential sleepers from the NFC South.

Fantasy Football Draft Values, Busts & Sleepers: NFC South

ADP via FantasyPros

Fantasy Football ADP Values

Drake London (ATL): ADP 19.8 | WR10

Many called London a breakout candidate last season after the Falcons signed Kirk Cousins in free agency. The former USC star hadn’t finished higher than the WR31 over his first two years in the NFL, averaging 10.9 or fewer PPR fantasy points per game in both seasons. London finished last year as the WR5, averaging 16.5 fantasy points per game. However, he was only the WR14 on a points-per-game basis, posting a lower average than Mike Evans (16.7).

Yet, London finished fourth in the league in receiving yards (1,271) and third in targets (158). Furthermore, he had nine receiving touchdowns, accounting for 42.9% of Atlanta’s total, scoring three more than his career total entering the season. More importantly, the former USC star posted the third-best target per route run rate (30%), 10th-best air-yards share (39.1%), and third-best first-read target share (35.4%) among wide receivers with at least 50 targets last year (per Fantasy Points Data).

The Falcons didn’t make any meaningful additions on offense this offseason, giving London another year as the team’s clear-cut best option in the passing game, especially with Darnell Mooney dealing with a shoulder injury. However, London did receive an upgrade at quarterback. Last season, the star wide receiver was far more productive with Michael Penix Jr. starting than with Cousins. London is the only wide receiver with an ADP outside the first round who could finish the year as the overall WR1.

Alvin Kamara (NO): ADP 38.2 | RB15

Kamara is a superstar in PPR scoring leagues. Last year, he was the RB5 on a points-per-game basis in PPR scoring, averaging 18.9 fantasy points per contest. By comparison, the veteran was the RB10 on a points-per-game basis in non-PPR scoring, averaging 14.1 fantasy points per outing. Therefore, fantasy players should only prioritize Kamara in half-PPR or full-PPR scoring format leagues. Furthermore, the veteran led all running backs in receptions per game last season (4.9).

Some believe the loss of Derek Carr will hurt Kamara’s fantasy production. However, he should see more targets with the Saints having three inexperienced and below-average quarterbacks on the roster who will want to lean on the star running back. Last year, Kamara averaged 4.7 receptions on 5.7 targets for 39.2 receiving yards per game, a 29% target per route run rate, and 9.2 PPR fantasy points in the air per outing in the 10 contests Carr started.

By comparison, the veteran averaged 5.3 receptions on 8.3 targets per game for 37.8 receiving yards per game, a 34% target per route run rate, and 10.5 fantasy points in the air per outing in the four contests he played without Carr starting. Last season, Kamara’s 4.2 yards per rushing attempt in 2024 was his best average since 2020, while he had a career-high 950 rushing yards. Don’t be surprised if he has another top-10 finish, especially running behind an improved offensive line.

Fantasy Football Bust Candidates

Chris Olave (NO): ADP 79.8 | WR34

Unfortunately, Olave is on my do-not-draft list this season. However, he is one of my favorite buy-low targets in dynasty leagues. While the Saints spent a second-round pick on Tyler Shough, the rookie isn’t guaranteed the long-term starting role, especially with Spencer Rattler being the favorite to start in Week 1. New Orleans will likely have a top-three pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, allowing them to draft a far better quarterback than Shough.

While better days are ahead for Olave, fantasy players should avoid drafting him and any Saints besides Alvin Kamara in 2025 at their ADP. Last year, he missed nine games with multiple concussions, including a season-ending one in Week 9. Olave finished the year as the WR56 on a points-per-game basis among wide receivers with at least eight contests played, averaging 9.6 PPR fantasy points per outing, posting a lower average than Allen Lazard (10.5) and Alec Pierce (10.1).

Furthermore, the former Ohio State had only 0.9 more total fantasy points than Rashid Shaheed (76.7 vs. 75.8) despite playing in two more games. Moreover, Shaheed was the better wide receiver, posting a higher fantasy points per route run average (0.46 vs. 0.44), first-read target share (29.8% vs. 22.3%), and air-yards share (48.2% vs. 24.4%) than Olave (per Fantasy Points Data). Fantasy players shouldn’t draft him as anything more than a boom-or-bust low-end WR4, given the quarterback situation.

Chris Godwin (TB): ADP 87.3 | WR40

Godwin was outstanding last year before suffering a season-ending lower leg injury in Week 7. The former Penn State star was the WR1 over the first six weeks, averaging 20.7 PPR fantasy points per game, totaling 22.3 or more in half the contests. Furthermore, he finished as a top 24 wide receiver in 71.4% of the games. Godwin’s 0.63 fantasy points per route run ranked fifth among wide receivers with at least 100 routes (per Fantasy Points Data).

Unfortunately, the veteran’s fantasy outlook for 2025 is far from appealing. The Buccaneers lost offensive coordinator Liam Coen to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Godwin averaged a career-high 2.36 yards per route run last year with Coen calling the plays. Furthermore, the former Penn State star is trending towards starting the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list because of the lower leg injury from last year. More importantly, Tampa Bay has no reason to rush him back on the field.

When Godwin went down with the injury last season, Jalen McMillan had a strong finish to his rookie year. He was the WR8 over the final five weeks, averaging 6.2 targets, 1.4 receiving touchdowns, and 19.8 fantasy points per game. Furthermore, the Buccaneers used their first-round NFL Draft pick on Emeka Egbuka, who has been the star of training camp. Therefore, expect the team to have Godwin on a snap count for most of the season.

Fantasy Football Sleepers to Target

Emeka Egbuka (TB): ADP 114.2 | WR47

Speaking of Egbuka, the former Ohio State star has been one of the top risers in ADP and rankings over the past several weeks. Many thought the rookie was only worth drafting as a late-round pick, as a handcuff to Chris Godwin and Mike Evans. However, he has been the star of the Buccaneers training camp, clearly putting himself ahead of Jalen McMillan on the depth chart. Furthermore, some believe Egbuka could lead the team in receptions this year.

Tampa Bay will possibly be without Godwin for the first month or more of the season, as the veteran wide receiver likely starts the year on the Physically Unable to Perform list after suffering a season-ending lower leg injury last year that required two surgeries. Meanwhile, Mike Evans missed time last season with a hamstring injury and turns 32 this month. Therefore, Egbuka could spend part of 2025 as the Buccaneers’ top wide receiver if the veterans struggle to stay healthy.

More importantly, the rookie was an outstanding player in college despite never being Ohio State’s No. 1 wide receiver. Last year, Egbuka had 1,011 receiving yards and eight touchdowns despite Jeremiah Smith being the best wide receiver in college football. Furthermore, he had 1,151 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in 2022 despite Marvin Harrison Jr. leading the Big 10 in receiving scores. Egbuka’s ADP will only go up from here. He will be a fantasy star as a rookie.

Bryce Young (CAR): ADP 181.2 | QB24

Fantasy players who selected Young as a top-three pick in the dynasty superflex rookie drafts a few years ago will likely never get enough return on their investment to warrant the pick. However, the former Alabama star has gone from a massive bust to one of the more promising young quarterbacks in the NFL. Last season, Young was the QB20, averaging 13.9 fantasy points per, posting a higher average than Drake Maye (13.6) and C.J. Stroud (13).

Furthermore, the former Alabama star was significantly better following his benching last year. Young completed 55.4% of his pass attempts for 245 yards, zero touchdowns, three interceptions, and 11.6 fantasy points over the first two weeks. However, he was a borderline must-start quarterback to end last season. Young was the QB6 from Week 13 through Week 18, averaging 21.9 fantasy points per game, a higher average than Bo Nix (21.6). More importantly, he is primed for a third-year breakout.

The Panthers improved their wide receiver this offseason, drafting Tetairoa McMillan and Jimmy Horn Jr. They also signed Hunter Renfrow, who has had a solid training camp. Young and McMillan have built an impressive connection this offseason, looking like an elite duo for years to come. More importantly, the former No. 1 overall draft pick is comfortable in his second season in Dave Canales’ offense. Young looks like he did in Alabama, making plays outside the pocket and impressive throws.

Young. Coker. Six points for the @Panthers!

CLEvsCAR on @NFLNetwork
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— NFL (@NFL) August 8, 2025

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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.