Ten sleepers set to rise in 2025 fantasy football

An editorial take on ten late round sleepers who could become weekly starters in 2025 and what their chances say about draft strategy.

Ten sleepers set to rise in 2025 fantasy football

A new round of sleepers could reshape fantasy rosters in 2025. The piece identifies players drafted in the 11th round or later who might become must-start options, with each player ranked higher than their current ADP. The evaluation relies on a consensus ADP from ESPN, Sleeper and Yahoo in standard 12-team leagues, and each candidate is assessed for path to regular snaps and scoring upside. The analysis spans multiple positions and teams to show how breakouts can come from less obvious places.

Players highlighted include Josh Downs, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Zach Charbonnet, Darnell Mooney, Marvin Mims Jr, J.J. McCarthy, Trevor Lawrence, Tank Bigsby, Chig Okonkwo and Brenton Strange. Downs has been noted for a high target rate in Indianapolis and a role shaped by 11 personnel, which could keep him fantasy-relevant even if injuries or competition arise. Croskey-Merritt is discussed as a potential early-down back in Washington’s reshuffled backfield. Charbonnet is positioned as a strong handcuff with the potential to earn starter-rep in Seattle, especially if durability issues persist with Kenneth Walker III. Mooney’s Falcons era and Penix Jr at quarterback could provide steady deep targets, while Mims looks like a late-round target with a clear route to increased snaps in Payton’s offense.

The analysis also covers J.J. McCarthy and Trevor Lawrence as quarterbacks with high upside in the right system, and Okonkwo and Strange as tight ends with notable athletic profiles and enough workload to be relevant in fantasy when their teams lean into the position. The overarching message is that a sleeper’s value depends on offense design, quarterback trust, health, and how coaches deploy players rather than raw draft pedigree.

The article demonstrates a clear shift in fantasy value toward players who benefit from modern offensive schemes and volume, not just pedigree. It highlights how offenses that use 11 personnel and multiple receiving options can lift players who are drafted late. Yet it also underscores the inherent volatility of late-round bets: health, depth chart changes, and coaching philosophy can erase or amplify upside quickly. The piece invites managers to consider upside and risk in tandem, and to balance late-round bets with sturdier veterans while tracking early-season usage trends.

A key tension is the tension between ceiling and floor. Some sleepers may deliver explosive weeks, but others can stall due to injury or role changes. The article’s breadth across positions mirrors a broader draft strategy: diversify bets across multiple teams and roles, then lean into players whose offenses show a track record of feeding fantasy points to all parts of the lineup. In short, these sleepers are not guarantees, but they map out a plausible path to weekly relevance if circumstances break the right way.

Highlights

Draft with eyes open and monitor how each offense evolves through training camp and early games.