With fantasy football managers preparing for the 2025 season, finding value in the later stages of drafts is crucial to building a championship roster. A sleeper candidate for a breakout is San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings. 

Here's why Jennings can be a WR1 from a late-round ADP, which makes him one of the more valuable picks in fantasy drafts this season.

 

The 49ers' Offense: A Fantasy Goldmine

The San Francisco 49ers, led by head coach Kyle Shanahan, operate an offense that is a fantasy manager's dream. With their extensive utilization of fullback Kyle Juszczyk and blocking tight end Luke Farrell, there are fewer players vying for targets. The offense condenses snaps and opportunity amongst the elite playmakers: running back Christian McCaffrey, tight end George Kittle, and the lead wide receivers. The third wide receiver in this offense is usually a part-time player, so that shrinks the target pool and increases the fantasy value of the top options.

This arrangement is a fantasy football goldmine as it guarantees that players such as McCaffrey, Kittle, and the two starting wideouts receive regular volume. The 49ers' receiver room is a little more crowded this season with Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, and rookie Ricky Pearsall all competing for roles. So where does Jennings fit, and why do you want to target him in drafts?

 

Jauan Jennings: The Safe Pick with WR1 Upside

Jauan Jennings is the target in this offense, at least to begin. Jennings was reliable last season, filling in nicely whenever Deebo Samuel or Brandon Aiyuk missed a game. He played 94-95% of snaps when they did, demonstrating the capability to handle a full load. A veteran, Jennings has gained the trust of Shanahan, who even went as far as calling him the team's WR1 this offseason when Aiyuk was hurt.

As Aiyuk is perhaps worked back into the mix slowly, Jennings and rookie Ricky Pearsall are well-positioned to begin the season as the top receivers alongside Samuel. Though Aiyuk may eventually reclaim a full-time position, it's more probable he supplants Pearsall, the less experienced of the two, with Jennings being a lineup fixture. That renders Jennings the most secure 49ers receiver for guaranteed snaps and targets.

Jennings has already demonstrated that he can have monster games when the chance arises, filling in admirably for Samuel or Aiyuk in the past. With a larger role to begin 2025 now in the realm of possibility, he's perfectly positioned to take advantage of Shanahan's high-powered offense. At his present ADP, where he's going commonly as a WR3, WR4, or even WR5, Jennings is an absolute steal with the upside to provide WR1 numbers.

 

Why Jennings Instead of Pearsall or Aiyuk?

Brandon Aiyuk is a skilled receiver, though injury issues and the probability of an early-season reduced role provide him with a riskier profile at his higher ADP. Ricky Pearsall is a rookie and thus has a larger learning curve to overcome and is more apt to find the part-time WR3 role as the season begins. Jennings, meanwhile, provides stability and established production to this offense. Being able to step up when it matters and take on a high snap share is what provides the most value of the trio for him.

 

Fantasy Football Draft Strategy: Where to Target Jauan Jennings

Jennings' ADP makes him a great target in the later rounds of fantasy drafts. While players like Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle are rightfully high-priority picks, Jennings offers similar upside at a fraction of the cost. If you’re looking for a high-upside receiver to round out your roster, Jennings is the perfect choice. His upside to being better than his draft position is why he's such a valuable asset to the Fantasy Alarm Draft Guide's tiered wide receiver rankings, which will inform you of precisely when to strike on players like him.

Jauan Jennings will be one of the largest sleepers in fantasy football for the 2025 season. In the 49ers' WR-friendly offense, his opportunity, experience, and past production make him an ideal candidate for a breakout season. Taking Jennings as your WR3, WR4, or WR5 has the potential to yield a true WR1 on a value pick, the sort of value that leads to fantasy championships. Don't sleep on Jennings—draft him late and let him pay off early and often.

For more on prospects such as Jauan Jennings and to maximize your draft strategy, take a look at the *Fantasy Alarm Draft Guide* for complete rankings and breakdowns.