Who were the best fantasy football waiver wire pickups of the 2025 season?

Every fantasy football season, some hidden gems sneak past drafters in August. Adding these options can completely transform a team and, more importantly, a season.  

As usual during an NFL season, injuries have cost star players some time -- or even an entire season -- which creates new opportunities for backups. In some cases, like the Carolina Panthers' backfield, Rico Dowdle played so well that he kept the starting spot. 

Who were the best waiver wire pickups for fantasy football in 2025? Here's the list of our favorites at The Sporting News, ranked top-to-bottom by points scored in half-PPR scoring.

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Best waiver wire pickups of the 2025 fantasy season

Brissett being a QB gives him the most points by default, but it doesn't mean he was the best waiver wire pickup of the season. This is from Weeks 1 through 15, not taking into account whatever happens in Weeks 16 and 17.

1. Jacoby Brissett, QB, Cardinals (190.7 fantasy points)

It's not often that a 10th-year quarterback who has played for six different teams in the past six seasons has a revelation for fantasy football mid-season. However, that is the case for Jacoby Brissett. 

Following Kyler Murray's injury, Brissett has led the offense with notable success. (Funny how knowing Trey McBride exists can help you!)

Since becoming the starter, he has not thrown for fewer than 258 passing yards. Brissett has also recorded at least one passing touchdown in all nine of his starts and has thrown two or more in eight of those games.

Jacoby Brissett has been an ELITE fantasy QB since taking over as QB1 🏆 pic.twitter.com/mGtKBXC4xS

This has resulted in Brissett being the QB19 on the year, despite not playing for the first five weeks of the season. Since becoming the starter in Week 6, Brissett is the QB3 overall in fantasy football. 

2. Rico Dowdle, RB, Panthers (180.7)

If Brissett were not a quarterback, Dowdle would be No. 1 for a plethora of reasons. The veteran RB got his chance as the starter for the Carolina Panthers in Week 5 and never looked back. 

In the two games where Chuba Hubbard missed, this is what Dowdle did for those managers brave enough not just to pick him up but to start him.

Once Hubbard came back, it only took the Panthers' coaching staff a few games to realize that Dowdle was the better RB.

On the year, Dowdle is the RB13 overall for fantasy football. However, since he became the lead back in Carolina, he's the RB7 from Weeks 5-15 and remains a must-start name.

3. Wan'Dale Robinson, WR, Giants (151.4)

Although he is the WR16 on the season, it still feels as if Wan'Dale Robinson is disrespected in the fantasy football community. 

Many will chalk his breakout season to the fact that Malik Nabers tore his ACL early in the year. However, Robinson's second-best game of the year came in Week 2, with Nabers fully healthy.

Nothing about Robinson's situation has been perfect. He went from being the WR2 in the offense to needing to step into the alpha role as the receiver. He's had three different quarterbacks throw him the ball, yet the one constant has been Robinson's production, and he remains an every-week piece with surging rookie Jaxson Dart under center.

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4. Kenneth Gainwell, RB, Steelers (140.8)

Kenneth Gainwell's fantasy production this season has been shocking for many reasons.

For one, Jaylen Warren, the lead RB, has been excellent this season. Warren has also been healthy for all but one game this year. Gainwell has done ... well even while sharing time with a healthy Warren.

Of course, in the one game without Warren, Gainwell went nuclear:

Despite Warren being the RB19 overall, Gainwell has held his own at RB23 overall for fantasy football, cementing him in weekly flex territory.

5. Michael Wilson, WR, Cardinals (133.6)

Even though this has been unfolding more recently, it would be shameful not to include Michael Wilson on this list. We are approaching Week 16, so it is unknown how Wilson will finish.

However, there is a legitimate chance he's a playoff league winner.

Wilson has been spectacular in games without Marvin Harrison Jr., thanks to the increased availability of targets and his chemistry with resurgent QB Brissett. However, Wilson has not just played a little better; he's been unreal:

On the season, Wilson is the WR24. Since the Cardinals' Week 8 bye, he's the WR5 overall. 

Even if Harrison returns to crowd the targets picture with Wilson and McBride, the veteran has earned at least weekly WR3 consideration with Harrison back, with the proven upside for being a week-winner by himself.

6. Woody Marks, RB, Texans (125.3)

In the offseason, Woody Marks was hardly talked about for redraft leagues. Joe Mixon was coming off a great season, and even when he got hurt, the attention went straight to Nick Chubb.

Marks has been the RB27 this season, despite being in a hard committee with Chubb for most of the year. However, Marks exploded in Week 4 with 25.9 fantasy points. 

Since this performance and after the bye week, Marks continues to earn the trust of his coaching staff. He's been the RB24 since Week 7.

Of course, his penchant for taking on an injury during games and an existing ankle injury heading into Week 16 cloud how much he'll help fantasy playoff teams down the stretch. 

On the positives, he likely helped many of them get there in the first place.

7. Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Browns (122.9)

Coming into this season, it was impossible to ignore Harold Fannin.

The question was not that he was good, but rather that he was a reliable TE for fantasy football. Fannin was a known gadget piece in college, but with David Njoku already on roster, the concern was limited usage.

However, thanks to Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski's obsession with 12-man personnel, Fannin saw the field a ton. 

Due to all these opportunities on the field, Fannin made his presence known and his role undeniable:

It's been helpful that his three quarterbacks this season were two rookies and Joe Flacco. Fannin is a big, safe target for QBs of that caliber. 

Fannin ranks the TE8 on the season and has done exactly what many in the fantasy community thought Njoku would do. The Bowling Green alum will likely rank among the top five dynasty tight ends moving forward, as well.

8. Alec Pierce, WR, Colts (110)

While his upside has come to a screeching halt with the torn Achilles suffered by breakout QB Daniel Jones, Alec Pierce still needs to be mentioned in this list.

Pierce is the WR40 on the year due to two missed games and one game with 44-year-old Philip Rivers as the QB. However, Pierce gave fantasy managers a significant boost midseason.

From Weeks 7-15, Pierce was the WR24 overall. This undoubtedly gave a massive helping hand to those dealing with all the unfortunate injuries this season. 

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9. Kimani Vidal, RB, Chargers (107.3)

While Kimani Vidal is the RB34 on the year, he was a massive contributor while Omarion Hampton was down.

After Hampton went down, Vidal was the RB17. Vidal also had four top 10 finishes as the primary back in the Chargers offense. 

Part of a successful fantasy season is piecing together starts while players are on bye weeks or injured. It would be disingenuous not to include someone who bridges the gap between the start and end of a prominent player on IR.

10. Blake Corum, RB, Rams (96.4)

While on the season, Blake Corum is only the RB40, but he's been producing like a true league winner recently.

Over the past three weeks, Corum has been the RB4 overall. This is a significant development to note, as Kyren Williams has been healthy during this stretch.

With how explosive the Rams' offense is and the trust growing before our very eyes, no one should be surprised if Corum wins the league for several managers.

Waiver Wire 2025 honorable mentions

• Daniel Jones, QB, Colts
• Oronde Gadsden II, TE, Chargers
• Troy Franklin, WR, Broncos
• Kyle Monangai, RB, Bears
• Quentin Johnston, WR, Chargers
• Tre Tucker, WR, Raiders

Jones could've led this list if he continued his trend of top-10 fantasy QB finishes in the first eight weeks. However, his decline before his season-ending injury just had him excluded. 

It's a shame that the Oronde Gadsden breakout lasted only two games. However, his TE1 performance in Week 7 was enough to land him on the honorable mentions.

Similarly, Tre Tucker and Quentin Johnston exploded to start the season. Anyone brave enough to start these TD-dependent WRs surely escaped with some wins, especially since they've both quieted down significantly.

Troy Franklin has been underrated all season long. In an offense where he's fighting for targets with Courtland Sutton and RJ Harvey, he's been fantastic as the WR25, though his up-and-down performance keeps him on the outside looking in.

Since getting the opportunity with no D'Andre Swift, Kyle Monangai is the RB18 on the season. He's been a reliable RB as of late sharing duties with Swift and should have a more prominent role next season.

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