Hidden sleepers shape 2025 fantasy football drafts

A look at overlooked late-round players who could boost fantasy rosters in 2025 drafts.

Hidden sleepers shape 2025 fantasy football drafts

Ten deep sleepers sit beyond pick 250, spanning quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers. The list highlights Shedeur Sanders in Cleveland, Tyler Shough in New Orleans, and Jacory Croskey-Merritt in Washington as names to watch for late-season swing plays. The piece notes Shough could start Week 1 in a Saints offense with weapons like Olave and Cooks, guided by a coach who has shown willingness to ride young quarterbacks when the moment fits. It also points to a wide open backfield situation in Washington and a crowded Jets backfield, where a single breakout could shift the waiver wire in a hurry.

The piece reflects a growing appetite for late-round value in imperfect rosters. It stresses that many sleepers depend on a mix of opportunity, coaching trust and injury luck, not just talent. It also highlights how new schemes and shifting depth charts can turn a modest workload into sustained fantasy weeks. Managers should balance upside with floor, especially in redraft leagues where a few bye weeks can decide a season.

Highlights

The season will test which bets on the fringe truly pay off.