2025 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Players To Target In Deep Leagues

Fantasy football sleepers are what make the game fun. There is nothing like landing an absolute stud in the double-digit rounds of your fantasy draft. The more teams in your league, the more important sleepers become. As the player pool shrinks, it is an absolute must to hit on at least one or two sleepers.

Deep leagues generally consist of 14 or more teams. Every team must nail their first couple of picks to have any chance of competing. The ones who set themselves apart can identify rookies and breakout players in later rounds. In typical snake drafts, you may have to wait a long time to select. As such, you must be judicious with who you select.

In 2024, players such as Brian Thomas Jr., Jayden Daniels, and Bucky Irving made huge impacts on fantasy teams as late-round fliers. Let's take a look at a player or two at each position who could fit the sleeper bit in 2025.

• 2025 fantasy football rankings (redraft)
• Dynasty fantasy football rankings
• 2025 NFL rookie fantasy football rankings
• Best ball fantasy football rankings
• Quarterback fantasy football rankings
• Running back fantasy football rankings
• Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
• Tight end fantasy football rankings

Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots

Drake Maye had an up-and-down rookie season. Who wouldn't behind the excuse of an offensive line the Patriots rolled out in front of him? Couple that with the fact that many people are unlikely to be able to name Maye's No. 1 wide receiver from last season and you have a tough environment for any quarterback.

Despite the adversity, Maye displayed serious toughness and legitimate skill. He will work with Josh McDaniels as his offensive coordinator in a new Patriots regime in 2025. McDaniels may be a failure of a head coach but he is a quality coordinator. Additionally, the Patriots are highly likely to significantly address their line and receiving corps this offseason.

Maye was a usable fantasy asset in 2024 because of his legs. He ran for 421 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games. Those are serious numbers. His rushing baseline gives him a case as a fantasy starter in 2025. If he takes the second-year leap as a passer, Maye could be a huge steal in fantasy drafts.

#Patriots Mike Vrabel about Drake Maye pic.twitter.com/QY2GoBpPeI

— NE Patriots Loyalist (@PatsAddict6) February 28, 2025

Michael Penix Jr., QB, Atlanta Falcons

Another second-year quarterback with a lot of talent, Michael Penix Jr. will enter 2025 as the unquestioned starter in Atlanta. Penix's path to fantasy value will come almost exclusively through his arm. He is a non-factor as a rusher, but he is a highly skilled passer.

Penix has a lot more going for him than Maye. He has a quality offensive line and weapons throughout the perimeter. Let's not forget that in Penix's three starts in 2024, he zeroed in on wide receiver Drake London. London recorded 352 yards and two Week 18 touchdowns in those games.

Michael Penix Jr. is confident the Falcons can be one of the league's top offenses 😳 pic.twitter.com/Lt5ihdtaPc

— ESPN Fantasy Sports (@ESPNFantasy) February 22, 2025

If Kirk Cousins could throw for four touchdowns in multiple games with this team in 2024, then Penix surely can in 2025. If he can be the surgeon we all knew him to be in college, then Penix has a legitimate top-10 upside in fantasy drafts. He will likely be an afterthought once the draft season rolls around.

Jaylen Wright, RB, Miami Dolphins

With so many NFL teams currently employing quality starting running backs, it is tough to project sleepers at this point in the offseason. However, Jaylen Wright has a path to fantasy relevance in 2025.

Wright will play second fiddle to De'Von Achane, but this is a very running-back-friendly offense. Wright garnered 68 carries in 2024 and Raheem Mostert is vacating 85. There is certainly going to be an opportunity.

The Dolphins are likely going to be a quality offense in 2025. They love to throw to their backs, which could also boost Wright's value. Wright is a big back who could also earn goal-line opportunities. He will cost next to nothing in drafts and is worthy of a speculative add in deep formats.

Jaylen Wright breakout season is really here pic.twitter.com/mVuzTmhd5C

— Jaylen Waddle Is Elite (@TrolledbyWaddle) February 14, 2025

Rachaad White, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

While Bucky Irving has taken over the starting running back role in the Buccaneers offense, White should still have fantasy value in 2025. White is a pass-catching guru. He catches everything, as evidenced by his 51 receptions on 57 targets in 2024.

Early best ball indications suggest that White may be viewed as a fringe double-digit-round pick in fantasy drafts. Best ball has different priorities than redraft but White should still be more valuable than his ADP would suggest. White was efficient as a runner in 2024. His 4.3 yards per carry were by far a career-high. He is going to have a substantial role behind Irving.

White is also one of the best insurance running backs in the NFL. Irving is a smaller back who has already displayed difficulty staying healthy. Should White have the backfield to himself, he would be highly valuable.

Ricky Pearsall, WR, San Francisco 49ers

Ricky Pearsall is in a prime position to succeed in 2025. Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is recovering from an ACL injury and Deebo Samuel Sr. was traded. Pearsall and Jauan Jennings project to be the No. 1 and No. 2 wide receivers in this offense to start the season.

Pearsall demonstrated a solid rapport with quarterback Brock Purdy in 2024. His overall production in 2024 was pedestrian, but he had an uphill climb after being shot before the regular season began. Still, Pearsall managed to play in 11 games in 2024. He was particularly involved over the final three games of the season with 18 targets over that span.

#49ers WR Ricky Pearsall is going to be a really good weapon in San Francisco’s offense. He finished off 2024 on an incredibly high note after a tragic beginning to his rookie campaign.

14 receptions, 210 yards and 2 touchdowns in the final two games of 2024. Excited to see him… pic.twitter.com/MMbtwSdTgX

— Jake Rabadi (@JakeRabadiNFL) February 2, 2025

Pearsall profiles as a player who will take over Jennings' 2024 role as a chain-mover. He has a great opportunity to push for 1,000 receiving yards and five or more touchdowns. If the 49ers offense can get right in 2025, Pearsall should be squarely on the fantasy radar.

Noah Gray, TE, Kansas City Chiefs

Noah Gray is emerging as a significant part of the Chiefs offense. Gray is technically a tight end, but he runs like a wide receiver and managed to score five touchdowns in 2024. While all-time great Travis Kelce will return in 2025, Gray's role should still continue to grow.

In 2024, the Chiefs were scheming for Gray to have the ball in his hands. It feels like it is not outside of the realm of possibility for Gray's targets to jump significantly from the 49 he earned in 2024.

Could Noah Gray be a fantasy TE1 next year? 👀 pic.twitter.com/J6Wuol7xf3

— Underdog (@UnderdogFantasy) February 22, 2025

Gray has improved his statistics in each of his four NFL seasons. With the Chiefs in dire need of another weapon as Kelce declines, keep an eye on Gray throughout the offseason and training camp.

AJ Barner, TE, Seattle Seahawks

Tight end is a tough position to find sleepers because frankly, most NFL tight ends do not provide fantasy value. However, similarly to quarterbacks, tight ends often break out in their second and third seasons. Athletic tight ends are particularly attractive for fantasy and AJ Barner is just that.

Barner received more opportunities than expected in 2024 due to injuries to starter Noah Fant. The Seahawks love Fant, but Barner displayed an ability that demanded touches. He made his money by finding the end zone four times, but he also racked up 30 receptions, even if only for 245 yards.

With Klint Kubiak entering the fold as Seattle's new offensive coordinator, it remains to be seen how he will use his tight ends. Barner's path to fantasy relevance is cloudy, but he could emerge as a potential dark horse given how well he performed in 2024. Look for Barner to take a second-year leap at the very least.

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