The NFL is BACK! After a couple of great primetime games to get the juices flowing, the first full slate of the new season kicks off on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET on DraftKings. In this weekly post on DraftKings Network, I’ll be diving into the main slate and hunting for the top fantasy football sleeper WRs each Saturday. There are always great value plays available at WR, and especially in Week 1, there are some cheap options that are loaded with upside.
The fantasy football sleeper plays at wide receiver highlighted in this post each week shape up to be excellent value plays for DFS contests, and they can also be sneaky plays in your season-long league since they’re set to exceed expectations. Earlier this week, I highlighted my top 25 starters at wide receiver, and in this list, we’ll focus on players well outside those top 25 who still bring upside.
Whether you’re looking for value plays in your DFS contests like the NFL $3.5M Fantasy Football Millionaire [$1M to 1st] or looking for a last-minute addition from the waiver wire, here are my top five fantasy football sleepers at WR for Week 1 of the 2025 season:
Cedric Tillman, Cleveland Browns ($4,400)
While rookie Emeka Egbuka ($4,600) is my top play under $5,000 this week, he’ll likely be too chalky to be a true “sleeper.” Instead, let’s look at five cheaper options under $4,500, starting with Tillman of the Browns.
Tillman is lined up to be the Browns’ second receiver this season across from Jerry Jeudy. He flashed huge upside last year when Jameis Winston took over for the Browns and his YOLO approach led to more downfield passes heading Tillman’s way. From Week 7 to Week 9, Tillman produced 18.1, 28.9 and 19.5 fantasy points. His season ended shortly after that when he sustained a concussion in Week 12 against the Steelers.
During that run, he hauled in eight of 12 targets for 81 yards against the Bengals in Week 7. He’s fully recovered from his concussion and does not have an injury designation for Week 1 despite leg and thumb injuries in training camp.
While Joe Flacco ($4,900) is no Winston, he does tend to be aggressive and usually pushes the ball down the field enough to give Tillman the potential for a big game. The Bengals-Browns matchup has the potential to turn into a high-scoring contest, and if it does, Tillman could end up as one of the best fantasy football sleeper options at wide receiver in Week 1.
DeMario Douglas, New England Patriots ($4,200)
The Patriots have a lot of questions at receiver coming into the season, but they have a lot of potential as well. The target distribution for the Pats will be key to watch to figure out who from this group will be reliable for fantasy this year. Douglas is one of the most established options on the team and a solid place to start for Week 1.
“Pop” had a good preseason working with Drake Maye ($5,500) and is set to be the team’s primary slot receiver coming into his third season in the NFL. Douglas was a sixth-round pick from Liberty in 2023 and had 561 yards on 49 catches in 14 games as a rookie. He built on that last year, finishing with 66 catches for 621 yards and his first three NFL touchdowns.
The Patriots have a new offense with Josh McDaniels back in town, and in the past, McDaniels’ systems have relied heavily on the receiver in the slot. While Stefon Diggs ($5,300) could get some time in the slot as well, Douglas should be a PPR contributor as a safety valve for Maye when Diggs is drawing attention on the outside.
The Patriots offense is expected to take a step forward this year under Maye, and they’ll have a good matchup at home against the Raiders in Week 1. Douglas is a good flier play who brings a high floor due to his PPR production while he still has a good ceiling as well.
Jaylin Noel, Houston Texas ($3,800)
The Texans have a very interesting receiver room this season in general, and especially in Week 1, where fantasy football sleeper plays abound. While C.J. Stroud ($6,000) will definitely focus on Nico Collins ($7,400), there are huge opportunities for other receivers to step up since Tank Dell (leg) is out most or all of the season, John Metchie III was traded, and both Christian Kirk (hamstring) and Braxton Berrios (hamstring) will miss at least Week 1.
While No. 34 overall pick Jayden Higgins ($4,800) is an interesting play on the outside and has more long-term upside, I actually think that his fellow rookie Noel is the better fantasy football sleeper to watch this week, since he’s a natural fit in the slot, where Kirk is expected to play when healthy.
The Texans could move Collins to the slot, but if they leave him on the outside, Noel would be the natural fit with Higgins and Xavier Hutchinson ($3,000) sharing time on the other side.
Noel had 80 catches for 1,194 yards and eight touchdowns last year at Iowa State, and he had an impressive training camp. He’s a more natural replacement for Kirk and could have a breakout Week 1. His big-play potential due to his breakaway speed and his short-area quickness could bring an added dimension to Houston’s offense, making him a boom-or-bust flier worth a look under $4,000 in Week 1.
Dont’e Thornton Jr., Las Vegas Raiders ($3,600)
The Raiders’ plan at wide receiver got rewritten this week when Amari Cooper announced his surprise retirement. While Jakobi Meyers ($5,100) will get plenty of attention against his former team, the Patriots, in Week 1, it could also be a huge opportunity for rookie Dont’e Thornton Jr. to step up as a bargain play as well.
Thornton is listed as the starter on the team’s unofficial depth chart for Week 1 after the fourth-round pick out of ‘Bama beat out second-round pick Jack Bech ($4,100) for a starting role.
Thornton caught a touchdown from starter Geno Smith ($5,200) in the final preseason game and finished with three catches for 43 yards in the preseason. The rookie has been getting hype from both head coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly all training camp, and he’ll look to make a splash in his debut Week 1.
He’s one of the cheapest starters on the board this week and should have an opportuntity to step up and establish himself as a key part of the Raiders’ remade offense.
Tory Horton, Seattle Seahawks ($3,000)
From the minimum salary, Horton is a flier to check out since he’s another rookie lined up for significant time in Week 1. The fifth-round pick earned the third receiver job in Seattle with a big training camp and preseason. He’ll likely be way behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba ($5,800) and Cooper Kupp ($5,300), but brings enough upside to be the best option if you want to spend all the way down at one of your roster spots in Week 1.
Horton had four catches for 43 yards and a touchdown before an ankle injury sidelined him for the third preseason game. He returned to full practice, though, so he should be ready to go at full speed for the Seahawks’ opener against the 49ers.
If Kupp isn’t able to bounce back after struggling last year, Horton could earn more of a target share as the season goes on, but he should be involved enough off the jump to be worth a flier play at only $3,000 if you’re spending up for superstars in other spots of your Week 1 lineup.
