2025 Fantasy Football Deep Sleepers: QB, RB, WR, TE
One deep sleeper at each position for 2025—with clear paths to value and how to draft them.
What qualifies as a “deep sleeper”
- QB / TE: outside the top-12 in ADP/ranks
- RB / WR: outside the top-36 in ADP/ranks
QB — Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars
Why he fits: He’s being drafted outside the top-12 QBs (often in the QB18 range), which is wild for a passer with his pedigree.
Why we like it: This is the most exciting offensive setup of Lawrence’s career. New head coach Liam Coen brings a modern, QB-friendly system, and the pass-catching group adds real juice with Year 2 Brian Thomas Jr. plus rookie Travis Hunter. That trio gives Lawrence a vertical and after-the-catch potency he hasn’t enjoyed before.
Draft plan: Perfect as a late QB in 1QB builds when you want to hammer RB/WR early, and a high-upside QB2 in Superflex. If you draft Lawrence, consider a cheap pairing with one of his receivers for spike-week correlation.
RB — Braelon Allen, Jets
Why he fits: Outside the top-36 RBs and still discounted despite already flashing some NFL success.
Why we like it: New head coach Aaron Glenn has leaned into a running back by committee philosophy, and there’s at least a possibility of backfield movement with Breece Hall. If the Jets spread touches or the depth chart shifts, Allen’s size/juice combo gives him a believable path to weekly volume.
Draft plan: Target in the double-digit rounds as your RB5/6. He’s a contingency-plus back who can return flex value in a committee and jump a tier if opportunity expands.
WR — Jakobi Meyers, Raiders
Why he fits: Priced outside the top-36 wideouts in many rooms—yet he’s a bankable producer year after year.
Why we like it: This might be the cleanest quarterback situation Meyers has ever had. Geno Smith is capable of delivering on-time, accurate targets. Meyers already wins with route craft and separation. Give him steady QB play, and he becomes the archetypal “set-and-forget” WR3. He can also have legit WR2 weeks.
Draft plan: Round 8–10 target in PPR-heavy formats. He’s one of the safest ways to build out WR depth without sacrificing weekly ceiling. Arguably my favorite value pick this year.
TE — Brenton Strange, Jaguars
Why he fits: Well outside the top-12 TEs—and cheap enough to be the second half of a two-TE strategy.
Why we like it: With the Jaguars’ offense expected to take a collective step forward and a clear shot at the top of the depth chart, Strange has a realistic path to routes and red-zone looks. In a rising tide, an athletic TE who’s on the field is exactly the profile to beat price.
Draft plan: Ideal two-TE build swing. Pair with a stable veteran; if Strange’s route share pops by September, you may never need to stream.
Draft-room rules for these sleepers
- Price discipline: The edge is the discount—don’t chase these names up the board.
- Follow roles, not blurbs: Track August usage (Jets RB rotation, Jaguars target tree, Raiders QB-to-WR timing).
- Build synergy: Lawrence pairs naturally with his receivers; Strange is a cheap correlation add to JAX stacks.
Final word
Deep sleepers aren’t about being right in May—they’re about buying cheap, believable paths to volume in August. Lawrence’s ecosystem, Allen’s committee runway, Meyers’ QB stability, and Strange’s role in an ascending offense all check that box.
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