Five late-round wide receivers could surge into must-start status in 2025, led by Darnell Mooney with Atlanta, where a high-volume, three-receiver look and Michael Penix Jr. at the helm boost weekly upside. Marvin Mims Jr. ripped off a seven-game burst as Denver’s clear second option, posting strong efficiency and big-play potential. Josh Downs carved out a slot-heavy Colts role in a system that loves 11 personnel, offering a reliable floor when healthy. DeMario Douglas is right in the mix in New England’s WR-needy attack, while Christian Kirk’s Houston move creates a new slot-path floor with red-zone upside despite a shifting offense. Drake London and Bijan Robinson anchor Atlanta’s aerial ground game, with Penix’s deep-throw ability expanding Mooney’s ceiling. In short: several late-round targets now carry a realistic path to weekly starters, driven by officer-friendly offenses, slot usage, and QB development.

Elic Ayomanor’s strong preseason showing signals a potential regular-season role for Tennessee, with motion usage and second-receiver packages giving him weekly touches as the Titans rebuild their WR room around Ridley, Lockett and Jefferson. Ayomanor’s motion frequency (six of 10 plays with starters) highlights a wrinkle-heavy approach that could yield fantasy value in multiple-receiver sets.

Calvin Ridley anchors the outside, while Cam Ward’s early exit opens questions about the starter job beyond Week 1. Chimere Dike could steal slot time from Dike and Dorsey-era backups, and Casey Washington’s Falcons rise adds depth and a sneaky Week 1 target in deep leagues. In New England, Antonio Gibson’s start over Henderson complicates backfield timing for fantasy managers.

Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy headline KC’s WR competition, with JuJu Smith-Schuster sprinkled in and Rashee Rice facing potential suspension uncertainty. Rashee Rice’s status and Worthy’s slot role create a volatile but potentially high-upside mix for redraft leagues. In Seattle, the rookies and rotation at tight end and WR point to unpredictable weekly targets but exciting early-season upside for Pearsall-type contributors.

Overall, the preseason usage underscores a common theme for 2025: multiple players banding into committee roles, making late-round targets and handcuff options more valuable in fantasy formats. Week 1 lineups will hinge on injury news and depth-chart shifts, but the trend favors flexible rosters and opportunistic pickups across WR and RB depth charts.

2025 fantasy outlooks for Addison, Shakir, Shaheed, Flowers, Godwin, Aiyuk, McLaurin, Mooney, Harrison Jr., and Diggs outline clear paths to value and risk. Addison is primed for a breakout with a high ceiling in Minnesota, while Flowers remains a hype candidate with a solid floor in a run-heavy Ravens attack. Shaheed hits as a late-round big-play bet in New Orleans, but quarterback flux could cap weeks. Godwin carries injury risk yet offers-by-week upside if he stays healthy; Aiyuk, McLaurin and Diggs anchor the group with proven floor and elite volume. Mooney, Harrison Jr. and Shakir present deeper-league intrigue, with Harrison Jr. representing rookie-dynasty upside. The piece leans on draft-tool guidance and format-aware projections to steer decisions across standard, Half-PPR and PPR leagues.

In short, target McLaurin, Diggs, and Aiyuk for solid weekly floors; chase Addison or Flowers for ceiling, depending on round. Shaheed and Mooney reward late-round grabs in best-ball and depth formats, while Harrison Jr. is a cornerstone pick for long-term rosters. Shakir and Godwin demand conditional stashes given health and target competition. The draft tool is highlighted as a core aid to compare up to four players at once and to optimize picks by scoring format and format-specific projections.

Michael Penix Jr. enters Atlanta with a renewed mindset, steering a young Falcons offense who are banking on growth from a rebuilt core. He emphasizes shedding injury focus and embracing the grind, trusting the process and his faith as fuel for a season that could propel Atlanta back into the playoff conversation. In camp battles, Casey Washington has impressed enough to seemingly lock up a roster spot, and perhaps even a starting role with Darnell Mooney sidelined. Washington’s ongoing camp showings suggest a viable path to significant snaps as Atlanta look to maximize its depth at receiver while managing injury risk through the preseason grind.

The preseason backdrop adds intrigue: a Falcons-Titans showcase that doubles as a roster audition and a test of the WR depth chart. Atlanta’s roster construction around Penix, Washington, and Mooney glimmers as a turning point in the rebuild, while the Titans provide a stern early-season measure. All told, the Falcons appear poised to lean into a youthful, confident attack as they chase breakthrough performances and fantasy upside from their top playmakers.

The Titans’ rookie Ayomanor appears primed for a regular-season role after back-to-back preseasons in which he was put in motion at a high rate. He started as the Z in a reshaped Titans WR group that now features Calvin Ridley, Tyler Lockett, and Van Jefferson, with Chimere Dike and Ayomanor adding speed and misdirection

Casey Washington’s Falcons rise as Darnell Mooney’s stand-in could reshape Week 1 targets in Tampa Bay, with Washington lapping up opportunities as the Falcons rested top names. D.J. Chark’s signing and Drake London’s absence in the latest game add dynamic depth to Atlanta’s receiver corps. In short, Ayomanor and Washington are two of the sneakiest deep-league wild cards entering 2025, with several Titans and Falcons pass-catchers poised to carve clear roles based on preseason usage.