As fantasy football enthusiasts, we consistently seek out rising stars—the players on the brink of a breakout season and the promising rookies ready to make an immediate impact. Our aim is to find exciting new talent rather than selecting older and slower players.

However, there’s often a selection of veterans ready to surprise us. While their performances might not be consistent over an entire season, they can deliver strong production during several crucial weeks.

For instance, last year in 2024, players like Sam Darnold, Kareem Hunt, Adam Thielen, and Jonnu Smith provided significant contributions, possibly leading you to victory in your fantasy league.

So, who might emulate these surprise veterans in the coming season? I’ve analyzed each roster to find some players who may go undrafted or be late-round selections but still possess the potential to be relevant later in the year.

These players may be familiar names that you might shy away from drafting again, yet each could offer one final fantasy surprise in 2025 and may emerge as key waiver wire picks as the season progresses.

Today, I’ll delve into the emerging sleepers from the NFC West that I recommend for your 2025 fantasy drafts. Visit the website frequently this week and next week to stay updated on sleepers across each team and division.

NFC West Sleepers

Rams

Tyler Higbee, TE
Higbee may soon find himself reassigned as the starting TE if rookie Terrance Ferguson proves himself. Despite being in the final year of his contract with the Rams, Higbee returned last season from a torn ACL in Week 16, managing to net three touchdowns across five games, including playoffs, while averaging 11.2 PPR points per game. Despite the presence of Puka Nacua and Davante Adams leading the team in targeted receptions, Higbee could still play a vital role since his ADP on FantasyPros stands at Round 22.

49ers

Demarcus Robinson, WR
For the 49ers, the main fantasy contributors are evident, but Robinson might slip under radar, even if not being the focus of the passing offense. With Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall, and Brandon Aiyuk—returning from a torn ACL—leading the receiver lineup, Robinson could secure early production in place of Aiyuk. After finishing last season with seven touchdowns while playing for the Rams, Robinson had a noteworthy five-game stretch in Weeks 13-17, where he scored no less than 13.2 PPR points each game. He doesn’t currently have an ADP on FantasyPros, but he stands as a potential early-season waiver wire asset.

Seahawks

Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR
Reuniting with former Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak in Seattle—where he hopes to carve out a significant role—Valdes-Scantling’s path is contingent on the health of Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp. The latter has faced health challenges over the last three seasons. Additionally, with 182 targets lost from 2024 due to the departures of DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, Valdes-Scantling showed promise when playing eight games with Kubiak last year, recording 17 receptions for 385 yards and four touchdowns on 35 targets. With an ADP of Round 26 on FantasyPros, he could become impactful with the Seahawks.

Cardinals

Michael Wilson, WR
Wilson’s role may seem limited for the Cardinals if Trey McBride and Marvin Harrison Jr. remain healthy, especially given Kyler Murray’s struggles supporting multiple target options effectively. Still, in deeper formats, Wilson might make some noise, having recorded four games in 2024 with at least 12.8 PPR points. As he embarks on his third NFL season, there exists a possibility for enhancement in production, particularly if defenses hone in on McBride and Harrison. His ADP is Round 19 on FantasyPros, making him a viable late-round gamble for deeper leagues.