Week 1 Fantasy Football Sleepers (2025)
Week 1 Fantasy Football Sleepers 2025
Finding the right fantasy football sleepers can be the difference between winning and losing in Week 1. If you’re digging for upside plays and under-the-radar options, here are three names to keep on your radar: Josh Palmer, Ray-Ray McCloud, and Woody Marks.
Josh Palmer
Josh Palmer is being so underappreciated going into Week 1. The Bills just gave him $18 million guaranteed, and he’s part of a wide receiver corps that is wide open for someone to step up and be the guy. Khalil Shakir has missed most of August with an ankle sprain, and his Week 1 status is still unknown. Even if Shakir does play, he won’t be at full strength.
That means Josh Palmer is likely to lead this team in targets in Week 1. It’s probably not going to be Keon Coleman. It’s probably not going to be Dalton Kincaid. So why not Josh Palmer? This game should feature plenty of passing and scoring opportunities.
Yes, the Bills struggled against the Ravens through the air last season. But the Ravens still allowed the fourth-most receiving yards and the fifth-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers in 2024. Palmer has a strong chance to deliver something like a 7-catch, 75-yard performance, with the potential to score. Either way, he projects as a solid PPR play from a player rostered in just 15% of Yahoo leagues.
Ray-Ray McCloud
With Darnell Mooney sidelined by injury, Ray-Ray McCloud is set to take on a significant role in the Falcons offense in Week 1. He’ll slot in as the No. 3 option behind Drake London and Kyle Pitts, and he has already proven he can produce in this system. Last season, despite a struggling Falcons passing attack with Kirk Cousins at quarterback, McCloud finished with 62 catches, 686 yards, and four top-35 fantasy weeks.
That included a 12.6-point outing against the Bucs in Week 5 when he saw nine targets, catching six passes for 66 yards. Now he gets the Bucs again to kick off the 2025 season, but this time with an upgraded quarterback in Michael Penix. Penix looked sharp in his three starts at the end of last year, and in Week 18 he targeted McCloud seven times, resulting in a 10.6-point fantasy performance.
This Bucs-Falcons matchup could easily turn into our first “Fantasy Points Party” of 2025. Both offenses are loaded, both defenses are questionable, and the game is in a dome in Atlanta. These two teams averaged 61.5 combined points in their two matchups last season. The Bucs gave up the 10th-most fantasy points to wide receivers in 2024, and their defensive focus will be on Drake London and Bijan Robinson. That should leave plenty of opportunities for secondary options like McCloud.
If you’re searching for a desperation flex in deeper leagues, McCloud is the kind of sleeper who could pay off big in Week 1. There will be points scored in this game, both on the field and in fantasy lineups, making McCloud a strong dart throw.
Woody Marks
With Joe Mixon out due to a foot injury, rookie Woody Marks could step into a significant role right away. The Texans signed Nick Chubb, but if last year was any indication, he’s not the same player he once was. Dameon Pierce is also in the mix, but this is exactly why Marks qualifies as a deep sleeper.
The key to Marks’ upside lies in the passing game. He was a receiving phenom in college, setting school records with over 250 career receptions. Marks has natural hands, runs a full route tree from the backfield, and once the ball is in his hands, he becomes a dynamic playmaker. In PPR formats, he could easily provide usable production with 4–5 catches.
Don’t overlook him as a runner either. Marks racked up more than 1,100 rushing yards in his final season at USC. A realistic Week 1 projection might look like four receptions for 40 yards plus 7–8 carries for another 20–30 yards. That’s over 10 fantasy points, with upside for more if the Texans decide to lean on him with 12–15 carries. Of course, there’s always the risk he barely touches the ball, but that’s why he’s a deep sleeper.
Marks draws the Rams on the road in Week 1, a matchup that could turn into a shootout and produce plenty of fantasy points. Ranked as RB42 in my Week 1 projections, he’s not a must-start, but for managers in deeper leagues or those desperate for a flex, Marks is a worthy gamble.
Final Thoughts
Week 1 fantasy football sleepers are all about opportunity meeting potential. Josh Palmer has a path to being Buffalo’s top target. Ray-Ray McCloud is stepping into a shootout environment against Tampa Bay. And Woody Marks could see unexpected usage as a rookie in Houston. If you’re digging deep for lineup options, these are three players who could surprise in Week 1.
