Adam Koffler unveils seven dark-horse league-winners for the 2025 fantasy season, all with ADP outside the top 90. The crew includes Ricky Pearsall, Matthew Golden, Emeka Egbuka, Drake Maye, JJ McCarthy, Rashid Shaheed, and Tyler Warren. These sleepers aren’t aiming for a weekly top-3 ceiling, but their paths to league-winning production are plausible if opportunity materializes and situations break their way in 2025.

Pearsall could inherit a sizable target share in San Francisco if Jauan Jennings and Brandon Aiyuk miss time, while Golden lands in a Packers WR room starved for playmakers and should see volume early. Egbuka steps into a Buccaneers attack that could lean on him with Godwin sidelined, and Maye’s dual-threat skills add a potent floor-ceiling mix in New England’s revamped offense. McCarthy’s rushing-boosted ceiling in Minnesota’s fast-paced system is intriguing, Shaheed’s fit in New Orleans’ more design-heavy pass game stands out, and Warren offers intriguing rookie TE upside in Indianapolis.

Jacksonville’s backfield looked more like a regular-season projection in the second preseason tune-up, with Tank Bigsby operating on first- and second-down snaps while Travis Etienne Jr. handled third downs, yielding a near 50/50 split in routes, targets and carries. The Jaguars’ depth rotation remained lively, as Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen made progress later in drives, yet Starter usage suggested a clearer top-two order than last week.

New Orleans’ offense offered a contrasting but fantasy-relevant note: Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed both logged 100% of the Saints’ starter snaps in their preseason debuts, signaling immense on-field trust. Brandin Cooks sat, Brand-new slot and outside looks emerged with Cedrick Wilson Jr. mixing in, and slot duties began to tilt toward Wilson in three-receiver sets. Alvin Kamara rested, with Kendre Miller stepping in for early-down work; Kamara’s health will drive the backfield dynamic when available.

Along the depth charts, the Saints’ receiver rotation in 11 personnel hints that Olave and Shaheed may command frequent outside targets, while Wilson’s slot role could present a modest bump in targets. For fantasy, the takeaway is clearer usage in the NO offense and a Jaguars backfield that remains fluid, with Bigsby and Etienne likely splitting early-season opportunities but susceptible to in-season shifts based on performance and coaching preferences.

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.

Bub Means sustained an ankle injury against the Chargers and is seeking a second opinion, clouding his exact timeline. The Saints are already short on depth at wideout, and the injury could push Means toward an IR stint rather than waivers. New Orleans added rookie Roderick Daniels Jr. after a tryout, but it isn’t clear if he’ll replace Means or Chris Tyree in practice. Sidelined, Means’ absence creates more opportunistic volume for Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, with Shaheed’s role perhaps expanding if Means misses time.

Beyond Means, Olave and Shaheed remain the focal points in a Saints offense that values efficiency from its pass game. The Leauge-wide nods on 53-man projections didn’t factor Means as a roster lock, amplifying the fantasy calculus around the Saints’ WR corps. The Chargers matchup underscores the volatility of Saints pass-catchers until Means’ fate is clearer, though Olave’s floor remains high and Shaheed’s ceiling could rise with increased targets.