Welcome to my second (now annual) Sleepers article. I reviewed last year’s version and determined that I kind of suck at this. Apparently, finding the next “Puka” in the 4th round is not an easy task.
But—big but—when I looked again, some of my sleeper picks produced at a Flex level. That’s a good result for a sleeper. I was also happy that I drafted bunches of Bucky Irving (not mentioned in last year’s article), so I’ve got that going for me.
Everyone wants the next Puka in the 4th round of a rookie draft. A longshot—like the Browns winning the Super Bowl or me hitting a hole-in-one.
So, I started thinking about golf. As some of you know, I’m not a good golfer. Just like I’m not great at predicting sleepers. Okay, the dead horse has been sufficiently beaten.
Golf—right, back to the point. Drafting a late-round player who turns out to be great is like hitting that perfect golf shot. It happens, even to me. That one shot keeps you coming back. Just like that one sleeper hit brings you back to fantasy. A Cinderella story, if you will.
Speaking of golf movies, I just love Caddyshack. I know my movie references are wicked old, but that’s where my brain is stuck—somewhere between 1975 and 1985. So many scenes to choose from, but one fits the sleeper mentality: the “Cinderella Story” scene with Carl the greenskeeper. He’s delusional. And let’s face it, so are we when we believe that our 4th-round dart throw is going to bring us a championship.
At its core, a sleeper is an undervalued asset with hidden potential. But in today’s age of nonstop info, is anything really hidden anymore?
Every fantasy football podcast and site does a sleeper list. So why am I adding another one?
Because I’m delusional. That’s it. Let’s cram in some more data to the brain.
And yes—this year I’m including rookies. They are the true Cinderellas. (Call back, baby. Like a pro.)
Loose Criteria I Used:
- Rookies with Opportunity: Fresh faces with a clear path to playing time
- Players Returning from Injury: They’re healthy again
- Players in New Situations: New team or new role
- Late Bloomers: Took a while, but ready to pop
- Under-the-Radar Talent: You saw a flash—now you’re betting on the breakout
2025 Sleepers
Drake Maye
In Year 2, I think he’ll grow as a passer and add more rushing yards. With the right coaching, he’ll be in a position to succeed.
Jaxson Dart
See: Penix. Late-season opportunity. Solid stash for dynasty Superflex. Just keep flinging it to Malik. Let’s see if he has the mental fortitude for the game.
Bryce Young
Was he ever actually hyped? So, can he be a post-hype sleeper? Whatever—Year 3, loaded offense, better coaching, and an improved line. After being benched, he went 4–6 over his last 10 games with over 200 yards per game, 15 TDs, and 6 INTs. I think he finally gets it.
Jalen Milroe
“Go Hawks.” Not Russell Wilson, but also a 3rd-rounder stuck behind an expensive veteran. He’s a deep, deep sleeper with rushing upside. I love grabbing this guy in the 3rd round of rookie drafts (a bit earlier in Superflex).
Jaylen Wright
Speed, pass-blocking, good hands, and opportunity. In his second year in the system after a quiet rookie season, he’s a cheap flier. If he breaks out, you’re a genius.
Jaydon Blue
Speed, good hands—sound familiar? By Week 6 we might be saying, “Javonte who? Was Miles Sanders really on this team?” Caution: Dallas might screw this up.
Blake Corum
A blue-light special (I know, would’ve been better with Jaydon Blue). If the lead back gets hurt or hits contract issues, Corum might be the guy. He didn’t show much last year, and there’s a shiny new rookie in the room. But I’ve got a gut feeling.
DJ Giddens
So twitchy, check, strong burst, check, thin depth chart. So, a lock, right? No, but he is one I just like to draft. The next Bucky Irving? Fun to dream. Gut feeling time.
J.K. Dobbins
Look up “lower extremity injuries” and you’ll see a picture of J.K. Hello? Is this thing on? Don’t worry folks, I’ll be here all week. This one’s wish-casting, but when he’s on, he’s great. Can he rise again? Maybe. Worth one more shot.
Marvin Mims Jr.
Sneaky late-season breakout. No major competition was added. He could end up averaging 12–15 PPR points per game.
Rashid Shaheed
Was rising, then got hurt. New play-caller in town. With shaky QB play, I bet he runs under 5–6 long bombs this year. Someone must get targets, and they’ll be playing from behind.
Cedric Tillman
6’3”, 215 with speed. Late-season breakout. I think he’s the WR2 in Cleveland. Easy to acquire—for now. Value is rising thanks to dopes like me pumping him up.
Ricky Pearsall
Locked in as the WR2. Aiyuk may not even be effective if/when he returns. I traded all my Ricky stock and might regret it. CMC and Kittle will get theirs, but Ricky will too. Keep an eye on veteran signings (Allen? Cooper?).
Tre Harris
His draft value has slipped a bit, which makes him a nice value. Good team, coach, and QB. Might start as the WR3. He’s big and can go get it. By Week 7, he might live in your Flex.
Kyle Williams
Not a fan of the team, but I’ve become a Drake Maye believer. Williams is my pick to be his go-to guy. His senior year: 1,198 yards, 14 TDs on 70 catches, averaging 17.1 YPR. I love him, but he’s rising. Might cost you 2.05 in rookie drafts.
Jakobi Meyers
Not a flashy pick but listed as WR1 (unless you don’t count Brock Bowers). He’ll outperform his WR40s ADP. I like to use late rookie picks to trade for guys like this. He’s better than most of those 2nd/3rd-round rookie lottery tickets.
TE Sleepers
Basically, anyone except:
- George Kittle
- Brock Bowers
- Trey McBride
- Sam LaPorta
The rest? Who knows.
Big shoutout to Big Brother Rick and Johnny G for getting me into this obsession—er, hobby—back in 1994.
Stay sharp. Trust your gut. Most of all—have fun.
Good luck this rookie draft season—and watch out for those whammies!
? Leagues Forming Now at DataForce Fantasy Football! ?
Ready to draft? We offer the widest variety with the best prize payouts anywhere!
Come check out what we have available in our lobby and Orphan Marketplace.
Join the fun and draft your winning team today at DataForceFF.com!
Tim Bates
Fantasy Fanatic