Lance's 2025 Fantasy Football Ninjas

Had another top five keep it alive last year (Tyrone Tracy was #4 on my list for 2024)! It seems like every year there's at least one late-round or undrafted rookie that comes out of nowhere in the fantasy world, and this article is a list of five players that I think could pick up where those guys left off in 2024. Rules are simple, in order to be considered for this the player has to be flying relatively under the radar, has to have been a day 3 NFL draft pick or went undrafted, and an added incentive for my Dynasty perspective, the players have to carry a current rookie ADP of 30+ (via FantasyPros rookie ADP list).

My running list of recent examples is:

Tyrone Tracy (5th round in 2024 and #26 RB in fantasy)

Puka Nacua (5th round pick in 2023 and #4 WR in fantasy)

Tyler Allgeier (5th round pick in 2022 and #28 RB in fantasy)

Elijah Mitchell (6th round pick in 2021 and #26 RB in fantasy)

James Robinson (Undrafted in 2020 and #7 RB in fantasy)

Darius Slayton (5th round pick in 2019 and #35 WR in fantasy)

Here are my top five ninjas to watchout for in 2025:

5) Jaylin Lane (Washington - 4th round) Current ADP: 51.5

There are a handful of exciting players I considered for the list that had to be left off cause I limit myself to 5, so hopefully one of the guys I didn't choose doesn't end up making me look like a fool. I've said it in two different settings now: Lane is best suited to take over the Olamide Zaccheaus and Dyami Brown role. They combined for 100 targets, 75 receptions, 814 yards and 4 touchdowns last season. How Washington actually decides to divvy up those routes is the red flag standing in the way of Lane being a dark horse fantasy asset. For the record, I considered Tory Horton and Dont'e Thornton in place of Lane.

4) Brashard Smith (Kansas City - 7th round) Current ADP: 34.2

Smith is explosive, he has great speed, and he can catch the ball. Those are all things the Chiefs covet. The downside here is that Isiah Pacheco would have to continue his struggles from his post-injury recovery, and/or Kareem Hunt would have to show that 30-year wall hitting him hard, in order for Smith to earn real playing time this year. I think it's worth the risk sticking him on this list though.

3) D.J. Giddens (Indianapolis - 5th round) Current ADP: 31.0

He and Neal are essentially in the exact same boat making them more of a 2A and 2B. But I had the higher draft grade on Neal, so I kept them separated. Giddens will have to compete with Khalil Herbert to be the actual handcuff to the oft-injured Jonathan Taylor, but Giddens is the more talented option if you ask me.

2) Devin Neal (New Orleans - 6th round) Current ADP: 32.8

I could almost copy and paste what I wrote for Giddens, just change the names. Neal will have to compete with Kendre Miller to be the actual handcuff to the aging Alvin Kamara, who has never been a 250+ carry guy. Neal is more talented than Miller in my opinion, and I'd say Herbert is more talented than Miller too, which makes things even better for Neal's situation versus Giddens.

1) Elic Ayomanor (Tennessee - 4th round) Current ADP: 35.2

The Tennessee receiver room is pretty open behind Calvin Ridley. Ayomanor has the talent, and if he picks up the playbook quickly, why not let him and Ward grow together from the jump? Should that happen, targets are readily available too, which is why Ayomanor tops my list here (same could be said for Chimere Dike should he be the one that proves himself over Ayomanor).