10 Sleepers You Need To Draft in 2025 Fantasy Football
2025 Fantasy Football Sleepers You Need to Draft
Every fantasy football season, late-round gems emerge as league winners. Identifying these breakout players before your leaguemates do can give you a massive edge. Below, we highlight the top 2025 fantasy football sleepers to target in drafts—players who are undervalued right now but have clear paths to fantasy success this season.
Emeka Egbuka – WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
At first, I was worried about Emeka Egbuka’s 2025 outlook when he landed with the Buccaneers. With Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Cade Otton, and Jalen McMillan already in the mix, it wasn’t clear where Egbuka would fit. But Godwin is still dealing with setbacks from last year’s ankle injury, and Egbuka is dominating training camp. Beat reporters, coaches, teammates, and even Baker Mayfield are hyping him up daily.
Egbuka was a top-3 WR in the 2024 class and left Ohio State as the school’s all-time leader in catches (205) and receiving yards (2,868). He’s a physical slot receiver with quickness, elite change-of-direction, and the ability to create yards after the catch. His rookie impact is already showing, and with an ADP outside the top-100 on ESPN, NFL.com, and Yahoo, he’s one of the biggest steals in 2025 fantasy football drafts.
Drake Maye – QB, New England Patriots
Drake Maye was the third overall pick in 2024 and flashed as a rookie despite poor coaching, the league’s worst offensive line, and limited weapons. He still managed 2,276 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and added 421 rushing yards with two scores after taking over in Week 6.
Now in 2025, everything is aligning. He has a proven offensive coordinator, Stefon Diggs as his WR1, and explosive rookies Kyle Williams and TreVeyon Henderson. The Patriots also invested heavily in the offensive line, drafting LT Will Campbell and signing Garrett Bradberry and Morgan Moses. Maye’s rushing upside is elite—he ranked second in rushing EPX rating (PlayerProfiler) and fourth all-time in QB yards per carry for a single season. With better coaching and weapons, Maye is poised to break out as a top-10 fantasy quarterback this season.
JJ McCarthy – QB, Minnesota Vikings
JJ McCarthy lost his rookie season to a preseason meniscus injury, but the Vikings believe in him as their starter. They let Sam Darnold walk despite his breakout year, handing the reins to McCarthy. A proven winner at Michigan, he combines pocket passing accuracy with underrated athleticism that allows him to extend plays, throw on the run, and pick up yards on the ground.
McCarthy steps into one of the best situations a young QB could ask for. Kevin O’Connell is an elite playcaller, and he has Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, TJ Hockenson, and Aaron Jones as weapons. The Vikings also upgraded the offensive line with Ryan Kelly, Will Fries, and rookie guard Donovan Jackson, while getting Christian Darrisaw back healthy. Darnold was a top-10 fantasy QB in this system last year—McCarthy can match or exceed that production in 2025.
Kyle Williams – WR, New England Patriots
The Patriots desperately needed weapons for Drake Maye, and third-round pick Kyle Williams may be the answer. With Stefon Diggs aging and Demario Douglas in the slot, Williams has a chance to seize the X-receiver role. He brings explosive speed with a 4.40 forty and has already connected with Maye on multiple deep touchdowns in camp.
While third-round rookie wideouts don’t always hit right away, Williams has a clear path to targets in a thin receiver room. He’s worth a late-round dart throw in fantasy drafts and could emerge as the most dangerous weapon in New England’s passing game.
Jaydon Blue – RB, Dallas Cowboys
Dallas invested almost nothing into the RB position this offseason, only adding Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders while losing Rico Dowdle. That opens the door for rookie Jaydon Blue, the most athletic and explosive back in the group. With 4.38 speed and elusiveness in space, Blue is dangerous as both a runner and receiver.
He should see immediate snaps as a change-of-pace or third-down back, with upside to lead the committee. In the right scenario, Blue could deliver RB2 fantasy production as early as his rookie season.
Elijah Arroyo – TE, Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks released Noah Fant early in camp, clearing the way for rookie Elijah Arroyo. Competing with AJ Barner, Arroyo is expected to have a significant role—either as TE1 or functioning as a big slot receiver. At 250 lbs with elite athleticism, he brings a rare combination of size, speed, and catch radius.
Training camp buzz is strong, and with limited target competition behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Arroyo could carve out a surprising role. In deep leagues, he’s a sleeper tight end stash with breakout potential.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt – RB, Washington Commanders
Seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt is already making noise in Washington’s camp. Despite missing the 2024 college season, he posted 1,190 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2023 at New Mexico. With burst, vision, and open-field agility, he’s been rotating with the starters and drawing daily praise from beat writers.
The Commanders’ backfield of Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler lacks explosiveness, giving JCM a real shot. In an offense led by Jayden Daniels with Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel, Croskey-Merritt could become a valuable fantasy piece. He’s a must-watch late-round stash or waiver wire priority.
Christian Kirk – WR, Houston Texans
After missing most of 2024 with a collarbone injury, Christian Kirk is being overlooked. Yet, he ranked No. 2 in route win rate and No. 1 against man coverage. Now with CJ Stroud in Houston, Kirk will operate as the primary slot receiver and could be the No. 2 target behind Nico Collins.
Before 2024, Kirk averaged over 12 fantasy points per game for three straight seasons, including a WR1-level campaign in 2022. Healthy again, he’s a cheap pick with legitimate top-30 wide receiver upside.
Theo Johnson – TE, New York Giants
The Giants’ 2024 fourth-rounder Theo Johnson showed flashes before a foot injury cut his rookie season short. He played more than 80% of snaps in nine games and averaged six targets per contest over his final month. Now in 2025, the Giants upgraded QB with Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston but didn’t add new pass catchers. That leaves Johnson positioned as the potential No. 2 option behind Malik Nabers.
At 6’6”, 259 lbs, with a 4.57 forty and elite burst score, Johnson is one of the most athletic TEs in the NFL. Athleticism is a key breakout factor at the position, making him a prime sleeper candidate in fantasy football.
Woody Marks – RB, Houston Texans
With Joe Mixon sidelined and Nick Chubb not looking like his former self, rookie Woody Marks could play a big role early for Houston. A college receiving phenom with over 250 career catches, Marks adds dynamic pass-catching ability and explosiveness as a runner. He also proved himself on the ground, topping 1,100 rushing yards in his one season at USC.
The Texans’ outside-zone scheme is a perfect fit, and Marks could carve out standalone fantasy value even if Mixon returns. He’s a late-round dart throw worth targeting in every draft.
Final Thoughts
These 2025 fantasy football sleepers offer incredible value at their current draft positions. From rookies like Emeka Egbuka and Jaydon Blue to veterans like Christian Kirk, the upside is real. Draft them late, stash them, and you may find yourself with league-winning production for pennies on the dollar.
