Late-round wide receivers hold the key to turning draft capital into fantasy playoff leverage in 2025. Luther Burden III is a Bears weapon with clear upside in Ben Johnson’s offense, offering a real shot to boom as the WR58 with a path to consistent targets behind DJ Moore. Patriots rookie Kyle Williams shows excellent release and after-the-catch ability, a dart throw as the WR3 behind Stefon Diggs-style volume concerns. Cedric Tillman carries high upside in Cleveland’s unsettled passing game, while Marquise Brown and Jalen McMillan present contingent upside for deeper rosters—Brown’s intermediate-to-deep role with Kansas City and McMillan’s shot in Tampa Bay behind Evans and Egbuka. The mix emphasizes upside, draft-day risk, and the need to hedge with multiple late sleepers who can surge when opportunity opens.

These targets aren’t just flyers; they’re calculated plays for league formats that reward breakout weeks and opportunistic rides. The piece highlights why each name matters now—Burden’s athletic profile, Williams’ route creation, Tillman’s separation, Brown’s speed and fit, and McMillan’s chance to carve a weekly floor in a crowded WR room. In the end, managing late-round risk with a handful of high-upside receivers can be the difference between a title run and a middling finish.

Fantasy managers should pair these names with potential Week 1 roles, schedule-driven upside, and dynamic changing narratives across training camp and the preseason. It’s about identifying players who can outproduce their draft cost when the offense tilts toward pass volume and when injuries or suspensions open lanes for breakout weeks.