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New England Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas (3) receives a pass for a first down past Tennessee Titans cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. (29) during the third quarter at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. © Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Best Undrafted Fantasy Football Flex Options In 2025

Originally posted on Stadium Rant | By Nick Hotaling | Last updated Aug 28, 2025 8:45 AM ET

After every fantasy draft, owners will repeatedly look over their team, considering ways to improve the masterpiece they just created. With no players having enough value for a starting wide receiver or running back spot still available, it’s time to look at who could play a role in the flex position. Here are two players who went undrafted in most fantasy leagues that will play a significant role in 2025.

DeMario Douglas (New England Patriots)

As DeMario Douglas enters his third year in the NFL, he has solidified his starting position on the New England Patriots’ offense. In the past two seasons, Douglas has started 14 of 31 games, collecting 115 receptions for 1182 yards with three touchdowns. As a sixth-round pick, he has come a long way and, described as an “offseason winner” by head coach Mike Vrabel, is ready to take over in 2025.

Entering this season, Douglas will once again have Drake Maye as his quarterback. Douglas will also have some upgrades to the offensive unit, including the number four overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft, Will Campbell, and star wide receiver Stefon Diggs. This offense is poised to take a turn in 2025, leading to many players who will have significant value in fantasy football.

Having a star like Diggs on the offensive unit might be seen by some fantasy owners as a disadvantage to a player like Douglas and could lead to less fantasy production. This, in fact, is the opposite. Of course, Diggs will be Mayes‘ first target, but as most teams will likely double-team and cover Diggs with their best defensive back, it will lead to other starters like Douglas finding more open space.

Many fantasy experts have undervalued Douglas, predicting only 598 yards and 3.2 touchdowns for him this season. As a result, he has only a 14.4% roster percentage in ESPN fantasy leagues. This is a 6.6% rise over the past week, but it is still very low for a player who could easily have 750 yards and 5+ touchdowns in 2025. If an owner drafted a player who could be moved off the roster or pushed to the IR, Douglas could be the perfect addition to the team.

Amari Cooper (Las Vegas Raiders)

Recently signing a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the Las Vegas Raiders, which could reach a maximum value of $6 million, Amari Cooper is ready to return to Vegas and cash out. In Cooper’s 11th NFL season, he’s not the spring chicken he once was, but he will still play a major role in the offense and be a valuable flex option in fantasy.

Joining an offense that has seen multiple improvements, including Geno Smith, rookie Ashton Jeanty, and Chip Kelly as the offensive coordinator, Cooper is finally in a position to succeed. Having a down year in 2024, playing six games for the Cleveland Browns and eight for the Buffalo Bills, he only accumulated 547 receiving yards and four touchdowns. This, combined with his late signing with the Raiders, has caused owners to overlook him in 2025.

WOW AMARI COOPER.

: #NYJvsBUF on CBS/Paramount+
: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/Erc076QOvv
— NFL (@NFL) December 29, 2024

There’s plenty to blame for the down year from Cooper in 2024, but just one year before in 2023, he was a Pro Bowler with 1,250 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Being back in Las Vegas, a comfortable home where he had three 1,000+ yard receiving seasons, the sky’s the limit with Smith at quarterback and Kelly keeping a high-paced, efficient offense.

Having a current projection of 474 receiving yards and 2.6 touchdowns can be largely attributed to his abysmal 2024 season. With Smith, a quarterback who utilized two receivers with the Seattle Seahawks to gain over 900 yards, and Cooper at wide receiver two, this is the setup to destroy his projections. Currently rostered in 14.3% of ESPN fantasy leagues, with an 11.9% rise over the past week, Cooper is a must-claim off waivers before he is taken and the season begins.

End Of My Best Undrafted Fantasy Flex Options Rant

If you’re in a 12-man fantasy league, you may already be out of luck on claiming either of these two flex options. Being rostered at 14% each in most leagues with 10 owners or fewer, they will be available and definitely someone to watch for now. If they aren’t claimed in your 12-man league, fantasy owners need to jump at one of these two before they’re gone.

I’d prioritize Cooper over Douglas mainly due to Smith at quarterback compared to the young Maye, but both options offer significant value as starters in their respective lineups. Cooper will blow his projection out of the water, ending the year with above 800 receiving yards, and as mentioned, Douglas will finish the year with around 750 receiving yards. Don’t sleep on either of these two flex options if you have a replaceable or injured player in your roster.

This article first appeared on Stadium Rant and was syndicated with permission.

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