PlayerProfiler is home to award-winning dynasty rankings and tools. Our Dynasty Deluxe package includes complete Dynasty Rankings, Rookie Rankings, Trade Analyzer, Draft Planner, Mock Drafts, and more. Check it out! Below, Wyatt Bertolone looks at the fantasy football sleepers you need in 2025!
Finding under-the-radar players in fantasy football is difficult these days. We live in a world of information, where everything has been discussed and can be looked up in the blink of an eye. “Sleepers” is a term that’s been used in fantasy football for a long time now. It refers to players that most drafters are “sleeping” on. Those are rare now.
Still, we can identify the players being selected later in drafts that can make large impacts on our fantasy teams. While they might not be “sleepers” in the old sense of the term, they can be players where people are “sleeping” on how good a player can be. Let’s dive into some of the fantasy football sleepers you need in 2025!
Rico Dowdle (RB) Carolina Panthers
Almost by default, Rico Dowdle became the Cowboys’ workhorse running back halfway through the 2024 season. The unheralded back had low expectations before the season but surprised most when he played fairly well. Dowdle ended the season with over 1,300 total yards and 12.4 PPR PPG, helping fantasy teams make and perform in the playoffs. Dowdle showed ability both as a runner and receiver, finishing 17th in True Yards per Carry and 18th in Yards per Route Run.
Rico Dowdle‘s Advance Stats & Metrics Profile
This offseason, the Cowboys let Rico Dowdle walk, and he quickly signed with the Panthers. With Jonathon Brooks out for 2025, recovering from his second torn ACL, Dowdle slots right in as Chuba Hubbard‘s backup, which is a great place to be. Dave Canelas, the Panthers’ head coach, has shown a proclivity to giving his starting running back a workhorse role. With his performance in 2024, Dowdle has proven himself to be someone a team can rely on. Now he’s become one of the best handcuff running backs you can find.
Fortunately for us, despite Rico Dowdle projecting as one of the best handcuff running backs in fantasy football, his price doesn’t reflect it. Dowdle routinely goes after most of the other handcuff running backs at the end of drafts. Dowdle is a straightforward selection for all roster constructions, given his low cost and range of outcomes.
Demario Douglas (WR) New England Patriots
After being drafted in the sixth round of the NFL Draft, Demario Douglas wasn’t expected to make an impact, let alone make the team. But over the last two years, Douglas has been one of the Patriots’ more consistent players. As an underneath threat out of the slot, Douglas has put up respectable points with 7.7 and 8.8 PPR PPG over his two years in the NFL. He easily creates separation underneath, ranking 6th and 18th in his two years in Target Separation, to make himself an easy target for his quarterback.
Demario Douglas’s Advance Stats & Metrics Profile
This offseason, the Patriots signed Stefon Diggs and drafted Kyle Williams in the third round of the NFL Draft. Diggs and Williams are expected to be the Patriots’ starting wide receivers, but Demario Douglas should be their slot whenever they go three wide. Additionally, Diggs is in his 30s and coming off a torn ACL with some off-the-field antics, and Williams still needs to prove himself in the NFL. Lastly, Drake Maye could ascend to a level in which the passing game produces much more than we’d expect.
At a baseline, Demario Douglas will have a decent role in the Patriots’ offense as their main slot receiver. A player of Douglas’ build doesn’t have as high a ceiling as others, but he can still provide flex value with enough opportunities. He’s got a pathway to those opportunities on an ascending offense. When I’m looking for some more guaranteed production at wide receiver at the end of my drafts, I’m looking Douglas’ way.
DJ Giddens (RB) Indianapolis Colts
DJ Giddens enters the NFL after two impressive seasons to finish up his career at Kansas State. In each of his last two seasons in college, Giddens gained over 1,500 total yards. Giddens is a highly athletic running back with decent size who’s still developing but is dynamite in the open field. His vision and hands are inconsistent, so he needs to improve there, which is why he was projected to be a day-three NFL Draft pick. That came to fruition when he was drafted in the sixth round, a little later than expected, by the Colts.
DJ Giddens‘ Advance Stats & Metrics Profile
For a sixth-round draft pick, landing with the Colts is about as good a spot as you could ask for. While Jonathan Taylor is the entrenched starter, there’s little to speak of after him. DJ Giddens should easily earn the backup job. His biggest competition is Khalil Herbert, who, while beloved by fantasy gamers, has made little impact. He still needs to refine his game, but he’ll have time to do that while backing up Taylor, and he should get the occasional opportunity in space to use his explosive ability.
With DJ Giddens likely to be Jonathan Taylor‘s backup, he becomes a very intriguing handcuff running back. The only reason his cost is so low is because it’s not official that he’s RB2 on the depth chart and his draft capital. Those shouldn’t be worries, though. I’m targeting Giddens at the end of my drafts as a handcuff running back who could have serious production if anything happens to Taylor.
Elic Ayomanor (WR) Tennessee Titans
Elic Ayomanor comes into the NFL after his junior year at Stanford, where he posted two productive seasons. Ayomanor has a great blend of size and speed while excelling at working down the field. He also has an underrated ability after the catch. It’s just catching the ball that can be the problem, as his hands are inconsistent. He’ll make an acrobatic catch on one play and drop a routine one on the very next play.
Elic Ayomanor‘s Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
Originally projected to be a day two selection, Elic Ayomanor ended up being drafted in the fourth round by the Titans. There have been reports that Ayomanor had a knee issue pop up on his medicals during the draft process, but regardless, being drafted on day three isn’t ideal. What is ideal is landing on a team like the Titans, where there is a clear path to opportunities for Ayomanor. After Calvin Ridley, the Titans have no other proven weapons.
Elic Ayomanor has a real chance to make an impact as a rookie, even though he was a fourth-round pick. He’s got the physical tools to do so, and the early reports from OTAs are that Ayomanor is lighting it up. Right now, Ayomanor is practically free in drafts. Given that he has a good chance to be his team’s WR2, that’s too cheap. He’s an easy way to add big upside potential to your wide receiver core.
Jaxson Dart (QB) New York Giants
Jaxson Dart joins the Giants back in the first round to draft him, and an impressive collegiate career at Ole Miss. In college, Dart averaged 9.1 Yards Per Attempt on a 10.9 Average Depth of Target with an Adjusted Completion Percentage of 74.1 percent. This shows Dart’s aggressiveness attacking the field and efficiency while doing it. He’s also shown good rushing ability with over 500 rushing yards each of his starting years. The main concern with Dart is that he didn’t have to make many advanced reads in his offensive system. But Dart has all the physical tools you can ask for and was impressive during the Senior Bowl, showing some of what he didn’t at Ole Miss.
Jaxson Dart‘s Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
The real question with Jaxson Dart is when he will become the Giants’ starting quarterback. Before drafting Dart, the Giants had already added Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston to the team. Both can hold down the starting job for however long the Giants need them to. With Dart needing a little bit of development, it could be a while until he plays. But, it’s more likely he starts early. The Giants expect to be a bad team and struggle to win games. If they’re not competing for a playoff spot, there’s no real reason to keep Dart sitting.
Patience
Jaxson Dart is more of a best ball or Superflex play, where drafting multiple quarterbacks is a must, since you may not be able to rely on him to start the season. But with his running ability and aggressive play style, there’s a better chance than people realize that Dart could be a streaming-level quarterback as a rookie. Dart has real potential as a rookie, and I want that potential on my team.
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