2025 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Sneaky Good, Stupid Cheap
Fantasy leagues are rarely won in the early rounds. It’s the late-round picks that can truly supercharge your team.
We’ve been grinding the film and crunching the numbers. Now we’re ready to unveil the top 2025 fantasy football sleepers.
These aren’t just late-round dart throws. They’re legitimate difference-makers waiting to break out.
Without further ado, here are our eight favorite 2025 fantasy football sleepers.
Justin Fields, QB, New York Jets
We know what Fields is at this point: A flawed real-life QB ... but a valuable fantasy asset.
His career 61.1% completion rate ranks 46th among 51 qualifying QBs. His 7.0 yards per pass attempt ranks 28th.
But he’s been a strong fantasy producer thanks to his rushing prowess.
Elite Rushing Fuels Fields’ Fantasy Value
Fields’ 50.2 rushing yards per game rank second among QBs over the last four seasons – behind only Lamar Jackson. Fields’ 6.0 yards per carry ranks fourth.
That has helped him finish as a top-12 fantasy QB in 24 of 42 career games with a snap rate north of 90%. He has scored as a top-5 QB 12 times.
Here’s how Fields' rates compare with some QBs who finished top-12 in total fantasy points last year:
Top-12 finishes | top-5 finishes | |
Justin Fields (2021-2024) | 57% | 29% |
Kyler Murray (2024) | 53% | 29% |
Jared Goff (2024) | 47% | 29% |
Bo Nix (2024) | 41% | 18% |
Patrick Mahomes (2024) | 31% | 13% |
Jets Give Fields a Chance for More QB1 Production
Fields is set for another crack at a starting job this season after signing with the Jets. He got a two-year, $40 million deal with a fully guaranteed salary in 2025. That makes him a safe bet to remain under center this season unless things really go south.
New York’s offensive line is a work in progress after ranking 23rd in ESPN Pass Block Win Rate and 17th in Pro Football Focus pass-blocking grade last year. But they spent the seventh overall pick of this spring's draft on Armand Membou, who should immediately upgrade the RT spot.
The Jets also remain thin on pass catchers. But Garrett Wilson supplies Fields with a true No. 1 WR, and RB Breece Hall is one of only four RBs to average 30+ receiving yards per game in each of the last three seasons.
Can New Coaches Boost His Passing?
The Jets made an upside hire in OC Tanner Engstrand. The 42-year-old worked under Ben Johnson in Detroit, helping the Lions to top-5 finishes in total yards and points in each of the last three years.
Detroit’s scheme has been praised for simplifying reads and creating easy throws for QBs. That could benefit Fields, who has struggled with decision-making and accuracy.
Bottom Line
He'll never be a perfect real-life QB, but Fields' rushing ability keeps his floor high and his ceiling enticing in fantasy football. He has already delivered QB1 production in more than half of his career starts and has a clear path to a top-10 fantasy finish with the Jets. The best news: Fields is being drafted in QB2 territory.
Don't Miss The Next League-Winning Sleeper
Sleepers are always marked with a "Zz" icon on your Draft War Room cheat sheet.
Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Fantasy players are buzzing about Caleb Williams heading into 2025, pushing his ADP well into the top 10 QBs. And for good reason. He landed big coaching and weapons upgrades this offseason — and offers sneaky rushing upside.
You know who else got coaching and weapon upgrades — and offers sneaky rushing upside? Trevor Lawrence. Yet he’s flying under the radar and is still available deep into QB2 territory.
Coen Boosted Mayfield. Now It’s Lawrence’s Turn.
Jacksonville kicked off its offseason by hiring HC Liam Coen, who’s fresh off leading the Buccaneers to top-four finishes in both points and total yards.
That success was fueled by a career-best season from QB Baker Mayfield. He set new personal bests in:
- Passing yards (4,500)
- Passing TDs (41)
- Completion rate (71.4%)
- Yards per attempt (7.9)
- Passing TD rate (7.2%)
Mayfield’s yards jumped by 11.3%, and his TDs soared by 46.4% from 2023 under OC Dave Canales to 2024 under Coen. Most importantly, his fantasy output spiked by 31.8% — with only two QBs scoring more total fantasy points last season.
Best WR Tandem in the League?
Lawrence’s big offseason continued in April, when the Jaguars traded up to grab Travis Hunter with the No. 2 pick.
A rare two-way prospect, Hunter starred at both WR and CB in college. Offensively, he racked up 96 catches, 1,258 yards, and 15 TDs last year at Colorado — winning with explosive athleticism, slick routes, and strong ball skills
Hunter’s 9.34 SHARK Rookie Model Score is the highest for a WR since 2021 — edging out Ja’Marr Chase and comfortably ahead of Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers.
We’ll see exactly how the Jaguars deploy Hunter’s dual skill set. But Coen said shortly after the draft that Hunter will "primarily play on offense” to start. Expect an immediate impact.
Hunter joins Brian Thomas Jr. to give Lawrence what might be considered the league’s best WR tandem as soon as this season. Thomas is coming off a 1,282-yard debut season, becoming just the sixth rookie WR to top 2.3 yards per route over the last five seasons, joining Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, Puka Nacua, Chris Olave, and Ladd McConkey.
But is Lawrence Good Enough?
Fair question.
Lawrence’s NFL career has been underwhelming so far — at least compared to the sky-high expectations after the Jaguars made him the No. 1 overall pick in 2021. His 63.3% completion rate and 6.8 yards per attempt sit slightly below league averages (64.7% and 7.1, respectively)
Lawrence ranked seventh among QBs in total fantasy points and 13th in points per game during his second season in 2022. But he’s dropped to 16th and 27th in points per game the last two years.
But like Lawrence, Mayfield was slogging through an underwhelming career before linking up with Coen.
Here’s how Lawrence and Mayfield's numbers stack up pre-Coen:
Lawrence | Mayfield | |
Completion Rate | 63.3% | 61.9% |
Yards Per Attempt | 6.8 | 7.2 |
TD Rate | 3.4% | 4.6% |
INT Rate | 2.3% | 2.6% |
Passer Rating | 85.0 | 88.1 |
Passing Success Rate | 46.2% | 44.4% |
If Coen coaxed a top-three fantasy season out of Mayfield, there’s no reason he can’t vault Lawrence at least into the top 12.
Don’t Sleep on the Rushing Upside
The cherry on top of Lawrence’s sleeper appeal? His underrated rushing upside. He averaged over 17 rushing yards per game in each of his first three NFL seasons before dipping to 11.9 last year.
Still, his career average of 18.1 rushing yards per game ranks 13th among 51 active QBs with 20+ career starts.
A healthy Lawrence should deliver 250–350 rushing yards in 2025 — a sneaky boost to his fantasy ceiling.
Bottom Line
Lawrence has spent his first four NFL seasons stuck in middling to outright bad offenses. But 2025 brings his best setup yet. He gets a major boost from new HC Liam Coen, the same coach who just unlocked a career year from Baker Mayfield. Lawrence will also have what might be the NFL’s most explosive young WR duo in Travis Hunter and Brian Thomas Jr. Add in his sneaky rushing upside, and you’ve got a QB with clear top-12 potential being drafted well into QB2 range.
J.J. McCarthy, QB, Minnesota Vikings
McCarthy’s sleeper appeal starts with the situation. He’ll be piloting a Kevin O’Connell-led offense that has consistently delivered top-6 passing production.
Here’s where Minnesota has ranked in passing yards and TDs in O’Connell’s three seasons:
Passing yards | passing tds | |
2022 | 6th | 4th |
2023 | 5th | 4th |
2024 | 6th | 5th |
O’Connell Keeps Producing QB1s
Not surprisingly, Vikings QBs have posted nice fantasy numbers under O’Connell. Kirk Cousins finished sixth in total fantasy points in 2022 and sixth in points per game in 2023. Then Sam Darnold – who’d been left for dead – ranked seventh among QBs last year.
Only five teams have totaled more QB fantasy points than the Vikings over the last three seasons.
With O’Connell – plus Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson – back for 2025, it’s an excellent spot for McCarthy’s fantasy prospects.
McCarthy Brings Plus Accuracy and Underrated Athleticism
There’s plenty to like about the player, too, despite the August knee injury that cost McCarthy his entire rookie campaign.
He didn’t post huge raw numbers in a run-heavy Michigan offense, but McCarthy proved uber efficient. He completed 64.6% of his passes at 8.4 yards per attempt as a sophomore and then set new personal bests with a 72.3% completion rate and 9.0 yards per attempt in his 2023 junior campaign.
McCarthy was also a threat with his legs for the Wolverines, running for 742 yards and 8 TDs over his final two seasons. He clocked a sub-4.6-second 40 time at his Pro Day.
The skill set got McCarthy selected 10th overall in last year’s draft. He had a strong offseason and was seemingly on track to win the Week 1 starting job before injuring his meniscus in August.
Is the Knee Injury a Concern?
McCarthy had surgery on his right knee last August and went under the knife again in November to address swelling. His recovery timeline remained unchanged, though, and McCarthy was back on the field by January.
The Vikings let Darnold walk in free agency and said ‘no thanks’ to an interested Aaron Rodgers in March, so they don’t seem concerned about McCarthy’s health or readiness to lead this offense.
Bottom Line
McCarthy hasn’t taken an NFL snap yet, but he’s stepping into one of the league’s most QB-friendly systems under HC Kevin O’Connell. With an elite supporting cast and underrated rushing ability, McCarthy has a real shot to surprise as a QB1 option in 2025. He offers big upside at a discount in fantasy drafts.
R.J. Harvey, RB, Denver Broncos
Sean Payton is practically begging you to take Harvey in your fantasy draft.
The Broncos surprisingly grabbed Harvey with the 50th overall pick, making him the fifth RB off the board in a deep 2025 class.
Harvey Joins Strong Company
Harvey became just the fourth RB selected in the first three rounds by a Payton-led team. The first three:
- Reggie Bush
- Mark Ingram
- Alvin Kamara
All three guys delivered multiple top-12 fantasy seasons. And two of them, Bush and Kamara, were top-10 scorers as rookies.
Payton Produces RB Points
Payton has a long track record of churning out RB fantasy points, regardless of who’s in the backfield.
Check out where Payton's teams have ranked in total RB PPR points:
year | Rank |
2006 | 2nd |
2007 | 4th |
2008 | 1st |
2009 | 2nd |
2010 | 11th |
2011 | 1st |
2013 | 2nd |
2014 | 1st |
2015 | 2nd |
2016 | 1st |
2017 | 1st |
2018 | 2nd |
2019 | 8th |
2020 | 1st |
2021 | 21st |
2023 | 6th |
2024 | 18th |
That’s 14 top-eight finishes among 17 seasons. And last year’s relatively poor production can be blamed almost entirely on an inefficient Javonte Williams. He averaged -0.6 rushing yards over expected per attempt — the third worst mark among 47 qualifying RBs.
Strong O-Line Paves the Way for Harvey’s Sleeper Case
Payton gives a big boost to Harvey’s sleeper appeal. So does Denver’s offensive line.
Last year’s unit ranked:
- 1st in ESPN’s Run Block Win Rate
- 10th in Pro Football Focus’ run-blocking grades
- 13th in Adjusted Line Yards
All five starters from that unit return for the 2025 campaign.
Vulnerable Competition
Second-round draft capital makes Harvey a strong bet for a big role right out of the gate. That bet looks even better considering the underwhelming competition in Jaleel McLaughlin and Audric Estime.
McLaughlin has averaged 4.8 yards per carry over his first two NFL seasons. But he’s topped 10 carries in a game just twice. The 187-pounder is not built for a significant workload. And he’s been woefully inefficient in the passing game, averaging just 4.3 yards per catch.
Estime is a bigger back at 227 pounds. But he slipped to Round 5 in last year’s draft and turned in an uninspiring rookie season, averaging 4.1 yards per carry with five total receptions across 13 appearances.
McLaughlin and Estime figure to mix in on occasion throughout the season. But Harvey’s skill set makes him the clear favorite for lead duties.
Harvey Brings Production and Big-Play Ability to Denver
The biggest knock against Harvey is that he’s already 24. But he has excuses: He started his college career in 2019 as a QB and then tore an ACL in 2021.
Healthy and settled in at RB over the last three years, Harvey was awesome. He averaged 6.6 yards per carry and 11.8 yards per catch. And he compiled 2,993 yards and 38 TDs on the ground over the last two seasons.
Harvey ran a 4.40-second 40 time at the Combine — and that speed pops on tape. He took 13.9% of his runs for 15+ yards last year, the second-highest rate among the 31 RBs at the Combine. Harvey also ranked top six in missed tackles forced per attempt and rush yards over expected per attempt.
An explosive runner in Payton’s scheme behind a strong offensive line should mean high-end efficiency.
Bottom Line
Harvey was hand-picked in Round 2 by Sean Payton — a coach whose teams have finished top eight in total RB PPR points in 14 of 17 seasons. With minimal backfield competition and a strong offensive line in place, Harvey is set up for volume, efficiency, and scoring chances. There’s legit top-20 upside here — and real league-winning potential if everything clicks.
Jordan Mason, RB, Minnesota Vikings
Mason was excellent as San Francisco’s lead back during the first half of last season. Over the first seven weeks, he averaged:
- 18.3 carries
- 95.3 rushing yards
- 0.4 rushing TDs
- 5.2 yards per carry
Only nine RBs scored more PPR points over that span.
Mason Flashes High-End Skills
Mason benefited from running in the always-efficient Kyle Shanahan offense. But he did plenty of damage on his own. Among 47 RBs with 90+ carries last year, Mason ranked:
- 10th in yards after contact per attempt
- 14th in missed tackles forced per attempt
- third in rush yards over expected per attempt
Vikings Snag Mason in Shrewd Roster Move
Mason’s play didn’t go unnoticed by the Vikings. They swung a trade for him in March and then promptly gave him a two-year, $10.5 million deal with $7.2 million guaranteed.
That contract falls well short of RB Aaron Jones’ two-year, $20 million deal. The veteran will surely open the season as Minnesota’s lead back.
But Mason should mix in plenty right away. Jones turned 30 in December and, prior to last year, had gone three straight seasons averaging between 11 and 13 carries per game.
It’d make sense for the Vikings to get Jones back in that range, with Mason picking up the leftovers. HC Kevin O'Connell confirmed that as the plan in early April, calling his new backfield a "1A and 1B" situation.
"Aaron Jones is at his best when we can keep him fresh, we can keep him truly as that 1a, because we’ve got the 1b with him, and that was Jordan Mason," O'Connell said.
Mason Sports Multiple Upside Paths
But Mason’s real upside comes in the case of Jones either getting hurt or hitting the wall.
Last year marked just the third time in eight tries that Jones played a full season. He has missed an average of 2.0 games per year with injury.
And despite tallying 1,546 total yards last year, Jones registered a career-worst 75.8 Pro Football Focus rushing grade. His 3.0 yards after contact per attempt was his lowest mark since 2018.
In fact, Mason beat Jones last year in PFF grade, yards after contact per attempt, missed tackles forced per attempt, and rush yards over expected per attempt.
Our historical aging curves say we should expect just 65% of peak production from a 30-year-old RB. That’s down from 70% at age-29.
It’s possible that Mason emerges as Minnesota’s best RB at some point this season. That’d give him the potential to be an exciting weekly fantasy starter.
Bottom Line
The Vikings are clearly high on Mason, trading for him and then inking him to a two-year deal this offseason. He should immediately provide punch as the No. 2 RB behind Aaron Jones. And considering Jones’ age and declining play, Mason has a chance to emerge as Minnesota’s lead back at some point in 2025. He’s a strong upside stash who could turn into a fantasy starter before season's end.
Keon Coleman, WR, Buffalo Bills
Coleman didn’t do enough to help fantasy teams as a rookie last year. He finished 67th among WRs in PPR points per game and turned in just two top-24 scoring weeks.
But Coleman did three things in his debut season that make him an intriguing 2025 fantasy football sleeper.
He Worked Downfield
Coleman averaged a huge 19.2 yards per catch last year. His 15.5-yard average target depth ranked fifth-highest among 84 qualifying WRs. He drew 34% of his targets 20+ yards downfield, the seventh-highest rate among those 84 WRs.
Coleman caught only six of those 19 deep targets, so there’s work to do on his game and connection with QB Josh Allen. But similar usage this season would boost his fantasy ceiling.
He Added Value After the Catch
Coleman averaged 7.7 yards after the catch per reception as a rookie. That ranked fifth among 84 qualifying WRs – and is even more impressive when you factor in his big average target depth.
(It gets harder to gain yards after the catch the further you work downfield.)
In fact, Coleman led all players in NFL Next Gen Stats’ yards after catch per reception over expected, which factors in target depth, as well the location of blockers and defensive coverage.
He Was a Red-Zone Weapon
Coleman’s four TDs last year don’t jump off the page. But they came on just 29 total catches, giving him a strong 13.8% TD rate.
More exciting as we look ahead to 2025 is that Coleman registered 5.2 expected receiving TDs. His 25 red-zone targets and 8 end-zone targets led the Bills and ranked top-40 among all WRs league wide. (Despite Coleman missing four games.)
— Film Collins (@filmcollins01) October 27, 2024
With a 6’3, 213-pound frame and ball skills like that, expect Coleman to remain a preferred red-zone target for the Bills.
Can Coleman Earn Must-Start Status in Fantasy?
A downfield WR with after-catch chops and a big red-zone role should pique your interest.
On top of that, Coleman should still be ascending as he enters Year 2. And he could find more targets available in 2025.
The Bills let WR Amari Cooper walk in free agency, replacing him with former Chargers WR Josh Palmer. Cooper underwhelmed in Buffalo but has historically been a strong target earner, with eight seasons of 100+ targets. Palmer, meanwhile, has hit triple digits in just one of four seasons and averaged just 4.3 targets per game last year.
It’s certainly possible that Palmer proves to be a downgrade from Cooper, opening up more target opportunity for Coleman in an offense that has ranked top-6 in points for five straight seasons.
Considering his upside in terms of yards per catch and TD rate, Coleman doesn’t necessarily need huge volume to deliver for fantasy teams.
Bottom Line
Coleman flashed big-play ability, red-zone value, and after-catch dominance as a rookie. Now he’s primed for a larger role in a top offense — and a potential breakout season. The best part? You can land him in the double-digit rounds of your draft.
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Rashid Shaheed, WR, New Orleans Saints
We highlighted Shaheed in last year’s sleeper article. And he delivered — if only for six games.
Shaheed’s 2024 season ended after Week 6 due to a meniscus injury. At that point, he was sitting 23rd among WRs in PPR points and had notched four top-18 weekly finishes.
Big Plays, Surprisingly Big Volume
Shaheed again flashed the big-play pop we saw in his first two seasons, averaging 17.5 yards per catch on an 18.1-yard average target depth. Both marks ranked top five among 104 WRs with 40+ targets. Shaheed’s 2.04 yards per route ranked 29th.
But it was the surprising volume that truly fueled his strong fantasy production. Shaheed averaged 6.8 targets on a 23.3% target share in his six games. Those marks were team highs — and the target share ranked 26th among all WRs league-wide.
From MVS to Cooks: Yawn
The Saints didn’t do much at WR this offseason, swapping out Marquez Valdes-Scantling for a past-his-prime Brandin Cooks. The former perennial 1,000-yard receiver has finished under 700 yards in three straight seasons, including a career-low 259 yards in 10 games last year.
Shaheed remains a clear top-two WR alongside Chris Olave heading into 2025.
QB Questions Loom
QB play is Shaheed’s biggest concern at this point of the offseason.
Derek Carr is dealing with a mysterious shoulder injury that reportedly could cost him part or all of 2025.
His absence would leave rookie Tyler Shough as the likely starter. The 25-year-old bounced around to three different schools over his seven-year college career, failing to top 223 passing yards per game until this past season. Shough has some fans in the tape-grinding community but would pose a clear risk to Shaheed’s fantasy value.
New Coach Boosts Upside
The QB issue is at least partly offset by the hire of HC Kellen Moore. If nothing else, his arrival should mean a boost in play volume for the Saints.
Here’s how Moore’s six NFL offenses have fared in plays per game:
Year | team | plays per game | rank |
2019 | DAL | 66.8 | 6th |
2020 | DAL | 69.6 | 2nd |
2021 | DAL | 67.8 | 2nd |
2022 | DAL | 65.5 | 8th |
2023 | LAC | 65.1 | 8th |
2024 | PHI | 65.5 | 3rd |
The 2024 Saints, by comparison, ranked just 22nd with 60.7 plays per game. There’s potential for 4+ additional plays per game this season — meaning more opportunities for Shaheed to score fantasy points.
Bottom Line
Shaheed scored as a WR2 in his injury-shortened 2024, flashing big-play chops and garnering surprisingly strong volume. He’s set up to produce again this season, with little competition for targets and an up-tempo new play-caller in Kellen Moore. The QB situation adds risk, but the upside makes Shaheed a savvy late-round swing in 2025 fantasy drafts.
Jake Ferguson, TE, Dallas Cowboys
Ferguson might be the least exciting player on this list. He’s not exactly a dynamic TE, with 4.8 speed and a career 9.6 yards per catch. But ...
Ferguson Wins with Volume
Ferguson is just a couple of years removed from a 102-target season. He parlayed that action into a 71-761-5 line, finishing ninth among TEs in PPR points.
Ferguson was on a 104-target pace last year. But injuries to him and his QB curtailed his fantasy production.
Injuries Derailed Ferguson’s 2024
Ferguson was knocked out of Week 1 with a left knee injury and missed Week 2. Then he sustained a concussion early in Week 11 that cost him the next two games.
In between those two injuries, the Cowboys lost QB Dak Prescott to a season-ending hamstrsing injury in Week 9.
Ferguson was on TE1 Pace with Prescott
So Ferguson played just seven games with Prescott last year. He was busy and productive over that stretch, averaging:
- 7.4 targets
- 5.4 catches
- 48 yards
That’s a full-season pace of 126 targets, 92 catches, and 811 yards. All three marks would have ranked top 6 among TEs.
What Does George Pickens' Arrival Mean?
Ferguson will face tougher target competition this season after Dallas' early-May trade for WR George Pickens. He joins CeeDee Lamb to give the Cowboys a strong WR duo. Those guys will be the team's top two targets.
But Ferguson should be the clear No. 3 in the pecking order. And he'll benefit from what figures to be a pass-leaning offense. The Cowboys finished top eight in pass attempts each of the last two seasons under then-OC, now-HC Brian Schottenheimer. Dallas chucked it on a whopping 66.7% of their plays in Prescott’s eight games this past year. That pass rate would have easily led the league.
Our current 2025 projections have the Cowboys for the league's second-most pass attempts (627). That gives Ferguson a path to 100+ targets, which would make him a strong bet for top-10 fantasy production. Of the 26 TEs who have hit 100+ targets over the last five seasons … all but one finished top nine in PPR points.
Ferguson’s ADP sits 16th among TEs in Round 13.
Bottom Line
Ferguson is the kind of unexciting player who goes undervalued in fantasy drafts. He isn’t flashy, but he has a clear path to 100+ targets as a top option in a pass-leaning Cowboys offense. Grab Ferguson late and bank on TE1 production at a TE2 price.
Not All Sleepers Are Created Equal — Here’s How to Find Yours
Grabbing the right sleepers can be the difference between a championship run and another middle-of-the-pack finish. The players we just covered are a great starting point.
But not all sleepers are created equal. A player who’s a steal in one league might be a reach in another, depending on your scoring system, lineup requirements, and league trends.
You could go the old-school route: endless spreadsheets, hours of research, and a headache before Week 1 even starts.
Or you could let our ADP Market Index tool do the work for you, identifying undervalued players tailored to your specific league settings.

Here’s what you get with the ADP Market Index tool:
Customized Analysis: Get player rankings and ADP insights that mirror your league's unique format. Whether you're in a PPR league, seeking a trio of starting WRs, or navigating the complexities of Superflex -- both the rankings and ADP correlate to your league.
Effortless Insight: Instantly compare each player's value against the market average (ADP). Again, this is all calibrated to your fantasy platform and scoring guidelines. That means you’ll see the gaps between a player’s actual value and his ADP.
Spot the Sleepers: Next, look for green index numbers signaling undervalued players. Discovering a player underrated by 20, 30, or even 40+ spots means you've found a sleeper who could propel your championship run.
Dive into the ADP Market Index
I know you're bombarded with fantasy content asking for your attention. But if you’re truly trying to gain an advantage by targeting sleepers in your upcoming draft – you really should spend a few more minutes checking out our ADP Market Index tool.
It could be the difference between a championship and just another mediocre season!