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5 Dart Throws Worth Taking a Shot on Late in Redraft Leagues 🎯.

Updated: Sep 5

In the high stakes world of fantasy football redraft leagues, the late rounds are your opportunity to swing for the fences with low risk, high reward picks. These dart throws often hinge on opportunity, upside, and evolving team dynamics, turning overlooked players into league winners. As we approach the 2025 season, several rookies and young talents stand out for their potential to outperform their ADP. Let's dive into some compelling options.

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Jaydon Blue, the rookie running back for the Dallas Cowboys, brings an exciting college profile from his time at Texas, where he showcased elite speed and explosiveness despite limited usage, amassing just 214 career carries in a low mileage frame at 5 foot 9 and 196 pounds. Drafted in the fifth round, No. 149 overall, he's a shifty runner with strong receiving skills. His path to touches could widen given the underwhelming performance of Javonte Williams, who signed with the Cowboys in the offseason after a dismal stint with the Broncos, averaging just 3.7 yards per carry in 2024 without a single 100 yard game, raising questions about his effectiveness as a lead back. Blue's speed and pass catching prowess make him a sneaky late round stash in PPR formats, especially if he carves out a role in a potent Cowboys offense.

Football player in yellow helmet and shorts, number 22 jersey, catches a football on a field with blurred spectators in the background.

Matthew Golden, the Green Bay Packers' first round pick, No. 23 overall out of Texas, is slipping into the later rounds of fantasy drafts despite his draft pedigree, offering massive upside if he solidifies himself as the team's top wide receiver. As a rookie with traits that can't be taught, like elite route running and contested catch ability, he's already generating buzz in camp for his potential to become Jordan Love's go to target. The Packers ended a 23 year drought by drafting a first round receiver, signaling high expectations, and Golden's speed and size could elevate him quickly in a pass heavy scheme. If he emerges as the WR1 amid a crowded but unproven group, his production could explode, making him a classic dart throw worth the gamble in rounds 10 or later.

Football player in Raiders gear catches a ball during practice. He's on a grassy field, wearing a silver helmet and white jersey.

Dont'e Thornton Jr., selected in the fourth round, No. 108 by the Las Vegas Raiders, profiles as a tall, fast deep threat at 6 foot 4 and 205 pounds with a blazing 4.30 40 yard dash, positioning him as a late round flier amid swirling speculation around Jakobi Meyers. Meyers has requested a trade after contract talks stalled, with interest from teams like the Patriots, Steelers, 49ers, and Vikings, potentially opening up significant snaps for Thornton if a deal materializes. The Raiders' receiving corps lacks true speed demons, leaving a void for a vertical weapon that Thornton fills perfectly, his size speed combo evokes Al Davis era prototypes and could make him a big play specialist in Chip Kelly's offense. With Meyers' situation unresolved and Thornton's traits screaming upside, he's an ideal dart throw for fantasy managers hunting explosive potential in the final rounds.

Football player in a black and blue uniform runs with the ball on a field. Focused expression, spectators blurred in the background.

Jalen Coker, entering his second year with the Carolina Panthers, really turned heads in 2024 by leading the team in receiving yards multiple times and tying for the top spot overall, stepping up as Bryce Young showed marked improvement in his sophomore season. Now, with Adam Thielen traded back to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for a 2026 fifth round pick and other conditional assets, Coker is poised to take over as the primary slot receiver in Carolina's evolving offense. Panthers GM Dan Morgan has confirmed Coker's starting role in the slot, where his reliable hands and route running could thrive alongside Young's growing accuracy. After outplaying higher drafted teammates last year, Coker's opportunity knocks louder than ever, making him a smart late round target for PPR leagues betting on Carolina's young core.

Two football players in teal jerseys, numbered 30 and 31, celebrate on the field. Both smile energetically in a stadium setting.

Ollie Gordon II, the Miami Dolphins' sixth round pick out of Oklahoma State, carried a projected first round grade heading into his final college season but slid due to a DUI arrest and a disappointing, injury plagued campaign that saw his stock plummet. Despite the setbacks, his big, physical downhill style, blending size, patience, and power, makes him an intriguing stash, especially with concerns in Miami's backfield. Jaylen Wright is sidelined for multiple weeks after a minor leg procedure, while De'Von Achane's smaller frame and history of nagging issues, including a current calf injury, raise durability questions about his ability to handle a full workload. Achane's upside is undeniable, but his risk profile opens the door for Gordon to contribute early, particularly if injuries linger, grab him late as a handcuff with standalone potential in a high octane Dolphins attack.

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