Every year, managers load up on stars in the first few rounds and think the draft is won. The truth? Championships are often built in rounds 8 through 15, when sharp drafters scoop up undervalued players before the rest of the league catches on. The 2025 season is no different - there are quarterbacks, running backs, receivers, and tight ends flying under the radar who could turn into weekly starters.
Here are some of the most intriguing fantasy football sleepers for 2025.
Quarterback Sleepers
Trevor Lawrence – Jacksonville Jaguars
Lawrence enters 2025 with the best setup of his career. The Jaguars hired offensive guru Liam Coen, who just turned Baker Mayfield into a top-three fantasy QB. Lawrence also inherits what could be the league's most explosive young duo: rookie Travis Hunter (the No. 2 overall pick) and breakout sophomore Brian Thomas Jr. Add his underrated rushing ability - 250+ yards is realistic - and you've got a passer being drafted as a QB2 with legitimate QB1 upside.
J.J. McCarthy – Minnesota Vikings
Kevin O'Connell's system has churned out top-10 fantasy quarterbacks for three straight seasons, and now it's McCarthy's turn. With Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson at his disposal, the second-year QB has the perfect environment to thrive. His dual-threat ability - he ran for 742 yards and eight scores at Michigan - gives him sneaky upside if he stays healthy. Drafted outside the QB1 range, he's a high-ceiling lottery ticket.
Running Back Sleepers
Ray Davis – Buffalo Bills
James Cook has yet to handle a true workhorse role, and Davis is lurking as both a premium handcuff and a possible standalone contributor. He forced missed tackles at one of the league's highest rates last year and profiles as the bigger, tougher option near the goal line. With an ADP outside the top 50 RBs, Davis is the type of low-cost pick who could swing leagues if Cook misses time.
Jerome Ford – Cleveland Browns
Ford quietly averaged 5.4 yards per carry in 2024 while contributing in the passing game. With rookie Quinshon Judkins facing uncertainty, Ford could seize the lead-back role early. He's efficient, trusted by the coaching staff, and positioned to be a sneaky value in drafts.
Ollie Gordon – Miami Dolphins
With Raheem Mostert gone and Jaylen Wright dealing with a leg injury, Gordon is penciled in as De'Von Achane's backup. Given Achane's injury history, Gordon could be one of the best stash-and-wait RBs of 2025.
Wide Receiver Sleepers
Emeka Egbuka – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The rookie from Ohio State has been lighting up camp. With Chris Godwin still recovering from ankle surgery, Egbuka has a path to an every-down role from Week 1. He's polished, versatile, and playing in a pass-happy offense with Baker Mayfield at the helm. Don't be surprised if he follows in the footsteps of recent rookie breakout WRs.
Keon Coleman – Buffalo Bills
Coleman flashed big-play ability, yards-after-catch explosiveness, and red-zone dominance in his rookie season before a wrist injury slowed him down. With Amari Cooper gone and Khalil Shakir banged up, Coleman could see more volume in 2025. Josh Allen's vertical style is tailor-made for his skill set.
Rashid Shaheed – New Orleans Saints
Shaheed was a top-25 WR through six weeks last year before a knee injury derailed him. Now healthy and reunited with play-caller Kellen Moore - whose offenses always run at a fast pace - he's poised to be a high-upside field stretcher opposite Chris Olave. Yes, QB play is a concern, but the late-round price makes him worth the risk.
Tight End Sleepers
David Njoku – Cleveland Browns
Despite inconsistent quarterback play, Njoku has delivered three straight top-10 fantasy TE finishes. With Joe Flacco under center to open 2025, Njoku has a chance to repeat his late-2023 dominance, when he averaged over 18 PPR points per game. He's a proven starter being drafted outside the TE1 range.
Jake Ferguson – Dallas Cowboys
He's not flashy, but Ferguson gets targets - and lots of them. When healthy with Dak Prescott last year, he was on pace for over 120 targets. In a pass-heavy Dallas offense with little competition behind CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, Ferguson could be this year's unheralded TE1.
Chig Okonkwo – Tennessee Titans
Okonkwo quietly surged late in 2024, averaging 7.6 targets per game over his final five outings. With rookie QB Cam Ward looking his way early in camp, Okonkwo could easily finish second on the Titans in targets. He's a classic post-hype breakout candidate at a dirt-cheap cost.
Final Thoughts
The late rounds of your draft are where champions are built. You don't need all of these names to hit - but if you snag the two or three who pop, you'll have a massive advantage over your league. From high-upside quarterbacks like Lawrence and McCarthy to rookie receivers like Egbuka, these 2025 sleepers give you multiple shots at striking gold.
So when your draft clock is winding down and the room is checking their phones, be the manager who quietly steals a future starter. That's how fantasy leagues are won.
