Fantasy football 2025 dynasty sleepers, from Jameson Williams to Joshua Palmer
In my previous articles, I provided positional rankings broken down by tiers, hoping they would aid in your draft or trade negotiations. I'll update those later this week, but as a reminder, you can find my rankings on FantasyPros.
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As we head into preseason games, here's a look at some of the sleepers I continue to target. This list comprises players from deep sleepers who I believe will outplay their current ranking status in years to come, to higher-profile players who I expect are under-ranked to their potential.
My superpower in dynasty has always been identifying under-the-radar players about to become household names. Finding them has grown more difficult, but I'm still locating players who can give you an edge. Sleepers aren't always found at the bottom of the rankings; I'm also identifying veteran bargains.
Let's dive in!
I've been very high on Williams, even when he was at Alabama, and I was disappointed when myriad issues plagued his initial years in the NFL. Entering his fourth season, Williams' past seems to be behind him, and his role on the Lions is unquestioned. The first-round selection (2022, No. 12 overall) is dynamic before the catch and after, using a blend of acceleration and speed to separate from defenders effortlessly. He does tend to lose concentration, but I believe that will improve with age. One of my bold calls for 2025 is Williams outproduces Amon-Ra St. Brown in fantasy points scored in 2025. Bold? Yes. Out of the question? No.
The fantasy expert community has finally caught on to Hubbard's potential, and the RB21 FantasyPros rating is as high as I've seen. I have toyed with Hubbard as high as RB13, but have yet to make the move. Hubbard is 26 years old, not young, but averaged 4.8 yards per carry last season while scoring 11 total touchdowns, 10 on the ground, all for a 5-12 Panthers team. His scoring and receptions ramped up at the end of the 2024 season when the Panthers found a modicum of offensive consistency, hinting at what a full season of production could look like. I'm all over Hubbard in my RB-Light strategy drafts and continue to add him elsewhere when the price is right.
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I continue to believe Lawrence is a back-end QB1, with enough tangible and intangible traits to perform better than his ranking. The fantasy community has been trading away Lawrence at a sometimes surprising discount. Without question, he's underperformed expectations, but he's also suffered mightily from changing coaches, coordinators and systems. This season will mark the first time in his career he has, what could be, a durable coaching staff and an exciting group of players around him.
Swimming against the current is the top reason for my dynasty league success. I'm paddling hard for Chris Olave. The dynasty community continues to fade Olave, due to a combination of concussion history and fear about the Saints' offense. The receiver remains the team's top wideout, and, while questions remain about who will be under center come Week 1, I believe Olave will command the lion's share of targets. I understand he may be one hit away from another extended absence, but that risk remains for all players. Olave's concussion history isn't good, but I won't fade him based on the potential of another one shortening his career.
While I'm only slightly higher than consensus tight end rankings on Engram, I consider him a sleeper. If you follow my work, you know my draft strategy regarding tight ends. I fade them with abandon outside the top four to five every year. But I'll step up when I find a lower-rated player in a proven system or scheme who should outscore players selected around him. And that's Engram in a Sean Payton system. I'm nearly three rounds ahead of consensus on his value, and I've been snapping up shares when I need a low-ranked, high-production player at the position. Based on what I've seen from Engram this offseason, I'll even go so far as to say I think he could finish as TE8.
Hear me out before rage-closing this article. There is zero, and I mean zero, chance Amari Cooper isn't signed shortly and with a team possessing a quality quarterback. If I'm wrong, you can read me the Riot Act, and I'll be accountable. But for competitive fantasy teams, pick Cooper up now for next to nothing before the coming news he's been signed by the Rams, Bills (again) or maybe even the Vikings. I'm far more interested in the first two teams. Cooper isn't a WR1 or WR2 but a potential WR3, especially if catching passes from Matthew Stafford.
I'm not giving up on Michael Pittman, but his ranking is partially contingent on Daniel Jones, not Anthony Richardson, being under center for the Colts. Pittman is discounted due to Indianapolis' QB play, the offense and his injury history, but he has the size and potential to be a true WR1 if healthy. He remains the top target in Indy's offense but trades at a WR4/5 value. At only 27 years old, I'll take the upside with the expectation he's with a new team after 2025.
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I still think Breece Hall is a difference-making talent for the Jets, but he's frustrated by his role and is playing in a contract year. He's as sure to be in a new uniform next season as the sun rising in the east. Allen continues to get accolades due to his offseason work, and he already has a noteworthy role. Come 2026, I have him as a near-certain starter for the Jets.
Acquire Benson if you can. I expect to see an even number of touches between him and James Conner. Benson can be a workhorse back and, thus, a potential RB1. Conner is on the wrong side of 30, while Benson remains the future of the ground game in the desert. If the Cardinals finish poorly again, they could use a first-round selection on a running back, but if I'm a betting man, I don't think they'll draft Benson's replacement.
Allgeier recently turned 25 and is in the last year of his contract. He averaged 4.7 yards per carry in 2024, and I'm eagerly watching where he lands in 2026. I wasn't a fan of Allgeier's game until watching him during his rookie season. I saw things I hadn't seen in his collegiate career. He has the chops to be a starter, and his hands are much better than advertised. Add him now as a 2026 stash.
Wilson is a hard-working receiver in what should be a starting role in 2025. He redshirted his rookie season but now finds himself healthy, with Aaron Rodgers under center. The second-year player has to be giddy about his chance to learn the game from a first-ballot Hall of Famer. I'm not suggesting Wilson will become the next great WR2, but he's smart and young and will see the field — enough to stash him. The best part is he's free in many leagues.
Johnson may rise more in my rankings with my next update. He's the TE1 for the Giants, and Malik Nabers plays across from him. Russell Wilson will get the nod under center to begin the year, and you can bet Johnson, still only 24, will get a lot of looks in the offense. Every year, at least one low-ranked TE rises out of anonymity, and Johnson is a fine candidate to be that player in 2025.
While I have Darnold ranked lower than consensus, I still consider him a sleeper. He finished 2025 somewhere near QB7 with Justin Jefferson as his primary target. He can still be a valuable performer in Seattle, where Jaxon Smith-Njigba is in the WR1 role. I've always thought Darnold was a much better quarterback than his NFL situations allowed. He wasn't even on the radar until Minnesota head coach Kevin O'Connell proved Darnold could be a producer. I remain intrigued by Darnold as a low-cost acquisition target.
Palmer is a deep-sleeper veteran in a new situation. He wasn't bad for the Chargers, but struggled with injuries and never had a true role. Now in Buffalo, on the receiving end of passes from Josh Allen, I wouldn't be surprised if he leads the team in targets and is a viable WR3, well above his current ranking. He may be on your waiver wire, but if he's not, you can offer a three-legged chicken for the rights to spin the wheel with Palmer.
If you have questions, head to the comment section; I enjoy interacting with my readers. You can also follow me on Twitter and Threads: @DLF_Jeff.
(Photo of Jameson Williams: Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
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