Earlier this month, Footballguys kicked off Women's History Month with a special roundtable featuring some amazing women in the fantasy football space. We're back with Part 2 of the series, turning our attention to the 2025 fantasy football season. In this installment, we highlight players who looked poised to outperform expectations.

These underrated players happen to fall into four categories:

• Players who underperformed last year
• Potential 2025 breakouts
• Players whose situation changed after a trade
• Underdogs

Players Who Underperformed in 2024

TE Mark Andrews, Baltimore

Julia Papworth: When the last memory you have of a player who took you on a roller-coaster season is him dropping the playoff game-tying two-point conversion, it is easy to pass on him in the draft the following year.

Yup, Mark Andrews was a tough player to roster last season. Trust me, I felt it. However, the fantasy community has a bad case of recency bias regarding players, which I will capitalize on heading into the 2025 draft season.

But was Andrews really that bad? He finished the season as TE5, and in his final six weeks, he never finished lower than TE9. He also scored 11 touchdowns in the 2024 season, which was his career high; in 2023, he only scored six. I am not saying that Andrews will be TE1 this season, but many people have written him off as dead, especially with the emergence of Isaiah Likely. However, the Ravens still looked to Andrews slightly more than Likely in 2024, with a 50% tight-end target share for Andrews versus 45% for Likely. I think we will see more Likely this year, but I am not turning my back entirely on Andrews; I think that Andrews will be better than most people believe in 2025.

For the draft capital spent on Andrews heading into last season, no manager was happy, but if we are thinking about this year, we are looking at a potential discount, and I love a good sale.

WR Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts

Kim Adkison: I believe Michael Pittman Jr. could be an absolute steal at his ADP (100+) in fantasy drafts this season. Pittman played through a fractured back last year. Most players would have been on the shelf for months with that injury, but he showed his toughness by lining up week after week and playing through the pain. Anthony Richardson's erratic arm and Josh Downs' special abilities are possible limiting factors, but I believe Pittman could smash his draft cost. Richardson has been working with Josh Allen and Allen's biometric trainer, Chris Hess, to remedy his accuracy issues. Indianapolis also signed Daniel Jones as insurance for a Richardson injury or poor performance. Pittman is a 6-foot-4, 233-pound former second-round NFL draft pick who had 1,152 receiving yards in 2023 before his injury-plagued 2024 season. I loved Pittman's quote about how it is a privilege to play in this league and how he doesn't take any game lightly. I love players with heart, and Pittman shows heart. The benefits of Pittman at his ADP far outweigh the risks.

WR Jaylin Noel, 2025 Rookie

I know I'm cheating by mentioning a second player, but I would be remiss if I didn't mention a rookie. Correctly gauging rookie breakouts can be vital to winning in fantasy football. Jaylin Noel caught my eye at senior bowl practice and then lit up the combine. I started valuing the gauntlet drill after falling in love with Josh Downs' gauntlet in 2023. Noel followed suit this year with an impressive gauntlet and incredible athletic measurables, including a 4.39 40, elite 41.5 inch vertical, and 11'2" broad jump. In current Underdog drafts, Noel is going around pick 180. He might start slowly but could be a league winner in the fantasy playoffs, especially considering his draft price.

Players Breaking Out

WR Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears

Kate Magdziuk: Remember that time Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze totally and completely Yeah... that never happened. Erase it from memory. There is no player I project to take a bigger leap forward in 2025 (while simultaneously surpassing all fantasy managers' expectations) than Odunze. Here's why.

Odunze had a 61.5% catchable target that ranked in the ninth percentile for wide receivers during his rookie season, per PFF. That stat was a symptom of a much larger problem — that problem being the entire Chicago Bears organization. Now that the Bears have hit the reset button, bringing in innovative play-caller Ben Johnson to steer the ship, let's remind ourselves of the player Chicago drafted ninth overall. That very special consensus All-American wide receiver prospect who led the NCAA with 1,640 receiving yards and ranked sixth in receiving touchdowns (13) in his final season at Washington.

In Odunze's final season with the Huskies, he ranked in the 85th percentile or higher in receiving grade (89.5), yards per route run (2.93), average depth of target (15.5 yards), drop rate (3%), and contested catch rate (75%). At just under 6-foot-3 and 212 pounds, Odunze had a 4.45-second 40-yard dash, a 39" vertical, and a 4.03-second 20-yard shuttle (which ranks in the 91st percentile for wide receivers, per MockDraftable).

Odunze's combination of size, athleticism, and production, paired with his elite body control, play strength, and QB-friendly play style, set the bar high for his rookie season, and he fell short. With more resources for Caleb Williams to take a step forward as a passer, Odunze should flourish and far surpass his end-of-season ranking as the WR51 in half-PPR leagues as a rookie.

WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks

Victoria Geary: If you enjoy an early victory lap, you may have celebrated much too early watching Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the first half of the 2024 season. From Weeks 1 through 8, Smith-Njigba was the WR39 overall in points per game, averaging just 11.2 PPR points per game. Last offseason, I wasn't fully convinced we would see a true breakout season for Smith-Njigba, especially with the lingering presence of DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. But I couldn't have been more wrong. His stunning breakout game came in Week 9 against the Rams, catching seven passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns. Smith-Njigba showcased his high ceiling with a stellar run from Weeks 9 through 16, ranking as the WR2 in PPR points per game and emerging as the Seahawks' top receiving option. During this run, he garnered a massive 28% target share and averaged 21.8 PPR points per game. He had 70 yards or more in seven straight games and scored 18 or more PPR points per game in seven out of eight weeks last season. I believe consistency is key to rounding out a great fantasy lineup, and it doesn't get much better than those stats.

While Seattle's complete offensive overhaul this offseason brings uncertainty, Smith-Njigba appears to be the biggest beneficiary. Even after losing both Lockett and Metcalf, the Seahawks' only major offseason acquisition was Cooper Kupp, who struggled to regain form with the Rams for most of 2024. Kupp should provide enough value to draw defenses away from Smith-Njigba. With Sam Darnold at quarterback, the opportunity is there for Smith-Njigba to make a splash this fantasy season. In 2024, Justin Jefferson finished as the WR3 overall in PPR points per game with Darnold as his quarterback. Though Smith-Njigba isn't as elite and dynamic of a player as Jefferson, Darnold has proven he can support a high-end fantasy WR1. Wheels up for Smith-Njigba!

The Fallout from a Recent Trade

WR Christian Kirk, Houston Texans

Gemma Martinez: The Jaguars traded Kirk to the Texans for a 2026 seventh-round pick, and I think it's a move that makes sense for them and a lot for fantasy purposes. The Texans needed another wide receiver beside Nico Collins. Tank Dell is expected to miss all of next season with a serious knee injury, and Stefon Diggs' future is uncertain (he also suffered an ACL injury in late 2024). Plus, he is a free agent, and it's unknown if he'll return to Houston. So Kirk should play in the slot and be the WR2 in a complementary role behind Collins.

Last year he got a slow start with the Jaguars and suffered a collarbone injury that put him on IR. The 28-year-old only played eight games in 2024 and ended with 27 receptions for 379 yards and 1 TD, but he's proven that when healthy he can be a productive WR. In 2022, he recorded 84 receptions, surpassed 1,000 yards and had 8 TDs. He goes from being the third option in Jacksonville to second in Houston.

Kirk should be fully recovered to start the 2025 season and after seeing the Texans' poor offensive line in 2024, I think they'll throw more. If they don't draft another WR early in the Draft, Kirk is gonna be the number two option in the passing game for C.J. Stroud. Because of his down year, drafters probably are gonna pass on him but he could be a sneaky WR3/Flex for Fantasy.

TE Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars

Gemma Martinez: Although Brian Thomas Jr. will be Jacksonville's primary receiver. Without Christian Kirk and Evan Engram on the team, Brenton Strange will be a reliable weapon in the Jaguars' passing game. In four of the eight games in which Engram was absent due to injury, Strange finished as a Top 10 tight end. Also, he had seven games with at least four targets. In those games, he averaged 10.36 fantasy points. In 2024, he finished as the TE13 in yards per route run and the TE18 in yards per reception.  

I consider Strange a Top 12 TE for fantasy in 2025. Go get him!

Rooting for the Underdog

WR Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers

Rachel Tootsiepop: I love a good underdog story for my fantasy football players. Last season, 49ers receiver Jauan Jennings took us all by surprise when he saw 975 receiving yards, six touchdowns, and averaged 14.0 PPR fantasy points per game. This largely resulted from him filling in for Brandon Aiyuk, who missed time due to injury. In addition, from Week 10 until the end of the season, Jennings even saw a higher snap percentage than fellow receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. Proving that his role went beyond subbing in, Jennings became a solid plug-and-play for fantasy. He had three weeks where he yielded more than 25 PPR fantasy points, including a whopping 46.5 in Week 3, making him the WR1 overall that week.

Recently, Samuel was traded to the Washington Commanders, so there's a gap to fill alongside Aiyuk atop the receiving corp. Last year's rookie Ricky Pearsall showed promising flashes, especially toward the end of the season, but I believe Jennings will command the receiving room. At the beginning of 2024, Aiyuk struggled to produce fantasy points even before his injury. Will that happen again in 2025? There's a lot to be said for a player like Jennings, who wasn't expected to do much, yet he proved his value on the field.

RB Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers

Rachel Tootsiepop: Another player who exceeded expectations in 2024 was Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard. Hubbard was only meant to bridge the running back room until rookie Jonathon Brooks was ready to take the reins. Coming off of a torn ACL, Brooks made his NFL debut in Week 12 but unfortunately tore his ACL again in Week 14. The Panthers leaned on Hubbard, and he came through. Rushing for 1,195 yards with 10 rushing touchdowns, Hubbard became a fantasy darling, averaging 16.4 PPR points per game. Heading into 2025, it appears there are concerns about Brooks' recovery time as the Panthers recently signed Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle in free agency. On the surface, this move might suggest lower expectations for Hubbard and his fantasy value. But I disagree. He's already proven he's the guy in Carolina.

WR Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Poppy Kimish: I will surprise no one and stay on brand by going with a Buccaneers player in Chris Godwin. Now, as a vocal and dedicated member of the Mike Evans fan club, I can see why much of the focus and hype has been and remains on Evans and his incredible and reliable talent. But I think that Godwin has shown that he deserves to be out of Evans' shadow and seen as his equal.

Last season, Godwin was having an absolutely incredible year, something Liam Coen promised when he signed following Dave Canales' departure. Bucs fans – and fantasy players with Godwin stock – started to get excited when Liam Coen talked about returning Godwin to the slot and into TD-scoring positions. Once there, Godwin thrived and led the league until his season was cut way too short with a devastating ankle dislocation in garbage time in what ended up being an inconsequential loss against the Ravens. Godwin has had his unfair share of injuries – as highlighted by Godwin himself saying "back to work" to the trainers as he was carted off - but this felt worse than the others in an All-Pro level season.

Having just signed a new three-year deal – hopefully making 29-year-old Godwin a Buc for life – he will be back in Tampa recovering from his injury. Many people may doubt his prospects in the 2025/26 season, given that the Buccaneers have another(!) new offensive coordinator in Josh Glizzard, and it is not yet clear when Godwin will be fully recovered and able to play football again. But one thing you shouldn't doubt about him is his dedication to the sport. People questioned whether he could return when his 2021 season ended after an ACL tear. I think it's safe to say he's proven the naysayers wrong with two back-to-back 1,000+ yard seasons (despite struggling for TDs and adjusting to Canales' system) and then playing to the high levels he did last year. Josh Glizzard's promotion from pass game coordinator to offensive coordinator is something that many offensive weapons – including Godwin – are "thrilled" about and ensures consistency on an offense that was SO exciting last season.

Don't count Godwin out. Or do. He thrives on being an underdog!

As we wrap up this roundtable series, Footballguys is proud to celebrate Women's History Month by highlighting the incredible contributions women are making in fantasy football. Thank you to everyone who participated in this roundtable and shared their expertise. We look forward to seeing how these players and many more will exceed expectations in the 2025 season!