Gasperini has Roma well placed in the title race this season, with the players quickly responding to the former Atalanta coach's methods.
Cafu told La Gazzetta dello Sport: "I'm not surprised to see Roma up there; they're often underrated. And looking at the numbers, especially those for 2025, you realise the club's strength and consistency.
"It's also true that Serie A is a long and challenging season, but a good start is half the battle.
"Gasperini has done a great job in a short time, but the team can still improve, especially since they've had to deal with several injuries so far.
"I'm confident that the Piedmontese coach is the team's true asset. For me, he's (Zdenek) Zeman 2.0, someone who works hard on both the physical and mental aspects."
On the progress of Wesley at Roma, Cafu added: "Perhaps you in Italy will be surprised, not me. Roma probably expected just a technical player, but he also has important qualities like speed and tactical discipline."