$1 Fantasy Football Auction Draft Values - Cheap Sleepers with Upside (2025)

August 29, 2025

Matt's $1 auction draft fantasy football sleepers to target. These are low-cost 2025 fantasy football auction values with upside, including Michael Penix Jr.

As we enter peak fantasy football draft season, funds get tight. One way to block out how much you have spent in fantasy drafts this offseason is to sign up for an auction draft and find some players in the bargain bin to fill out your roster. It's like a fantasy football Jedi mind trick.

Regardless of the strategy you implement at auction time, it is imperative to your rosters to add low-value players who have the potential to contribute at some point. While the end goal is to find upside players late, we also need players with a lower price tag to spend up in other places and get our budgets out of the red.

Here are 10 players you can get for a buck who not only help you allocate funds elsewhere but will also play a significant role as you make a run at your fantasy championships in 2025.

Isaac TeSlaa, WR, Detroit Lions

$1 AAV (Average Auction Value)

It's becoming hard to ignore what Isaac TeSlaa has been doing in Lions training camp, but hopefully your league mates have been doing just that. TeSlaa has been electric and earned the trust of Dan Campbell early on with his sure hands and willingness to block, nearly cementing himself a role on this explosive Lions offense.

At 6-foot-4 inches and 214 pounds, TeSlaa is an imposing figure out on the field. Many don't realize that the former Razorback is as fast as a hiccup, clocking a 4.43 40-yard dash at the combine. That size/speed combination, contested catch ability, and route running will be helpful for QB Jared Goff.

Isaac TeSlaa is electric

pic.twitter.com/qReA5Sjvks

— Steve Palazzolo (@StevePalazzolo_) August 9, 2025

TeSlaa is the perfect upside play to target late in drafts. There is a good chance that he becomes a big-play specialist, especially down in the red zone, where he can rack up the fantasy points in a hurry, even playing fourth fiddle behind Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Sam LaPorta.

Braelon Allen, RB, New York Jets

$1 AAV (Average Auction Value)

This entire offseason, the Jets have talked about a committee approach to their backfield, and it's probably time we started listening.

In other words, stop sleeping on Braelon Allen. The threat of Allen and Justin Fields' run/pass options should have defensive coordinators preparing for DEFCON 1 before Allen goes nuclear. New York doesn't project to be a pass-heavy offense, so Allen would be in line for high-value touches in the run and short-passing game.

New York Jets 2024 Round 4 RB Braelon Allen

Every rush attempt - first game preseason Year 2 pic.twitter.com/8AwYpsgTxK

— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) August 10, 2025

Before Allen turned 18, he had already rushed for 1,268 yards and 12 touchdowns as a freshman at Wisconsin, playing against men three to four years his senior in the Big Ten. Despite just 92 carries for 334 yards a season ago, Allen has proved capable of handling a heavy workload, averaging nearly 1,200 rushing yards and 199 carries per collegiate season.

This backfield still belongs to Breece Hall, but an extension for Hall doesn't seem likely. Hall could be dealt in-season, and Allen inherits the backfield. That is the best-case scenario for Allen. The worst case? HC Aaron Glenn runs this committee much like the backfield during his tenure in Detroit, with Hall playing the role of Jahmyr Gibbs and Allen replicating David Montgomery's role.

Dyami Brown, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

$1 AAV (Average Auction Value)

Dyami Brown finished the 2024-25 season with a remarkable playoff run, which saw him catch 14 passes for 229 yards in the Commanders' three postseason contests. Brown's receiving yardage was the second most behind Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy. 

This is the Dyami Brown film against Liam Coen's Bucs in the playoffs last year. pic.twitter.com/QgoIpohnUS

— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) July 6, 2025

Brown's numbers were highly efficient when factoring in a 15.7% target share. That efficiency was thanks to Brown's big-play potential, averaging 12.72 yards per target, 16.36 yards per reception, and 89 of his receiving yards coming after the catch.

None of those metrics should surprise anyone who followed Brown in college, where he averaged 20.1 yards per reception over his final two seasons at Chapel Hill, finishing with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.

Brown is a low-risk, high-upside play who sits behind Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter on the receiver pecking order. Still, with Hunter playing on the defensive side of the ball, there are several paths for Brown to carve out a larger role in this offense as the season progresses.

Michael Penix Jr., QB, Atlanta Falcons

$1 AAV (Average Auction Value)

For the most part, you can find all kinds of quarterbacks in an auction draft for a buck. Outside the Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Jayden Daniels, Joe Burrow, Patrick Mahomes, and Jalen Hurts tiers, the quarterback position is one area where you can save.

One quarterback who is often still available after the draft is Michael Penix Jr., who is entering his second season. In limited action last season and throughout training camp, Penix and that arm talent have been evident.

According to Fantasy Points Data, Penix delivered a catchable ball on 77% of throws 20-plus yards without pressure. With Bijan Robinson keeping defenses honest, Drake London, Darnell Mooney, and yes, Kyle Pitts' downfield ability make Penix a weekly threat to finish inside that top 12 for fantasy. Reminder that 11% of Penix's throws were of this variety.

Every Michael Penix Jr. passing attempt of 20+ yards. pic.twitter.com/QjrAljSQ55

— Nick Penticoff (@NickPenticoff) June 13, 2025

So, what about when Penix was under pressure? The Falcons quarterback averaged 17.3 yards per completion and now has had time to adjust to what NFL defenses want to do with him. Penix is a quarterback who makes everyone around him better. At Washington, Jalen McMillan, Rome Odunze, and Ja'Lynn Polk received plenty of accolades and earned themselves some nice draft capital. Now, it's time for Penix to help London level up.

Elijah Arroyo, TE, Seattle Seahawks

$1 AAV (Average Auction Value)

Much of Elijah Arroyo's value is tied to the Seattle Seahawks offensive line. If the offensive line can hold up and protect Sam Darnold, Arroyo could be in line for an impressive rookie campaign, especially now, seeing as the Seahawks released Noah Fant and any real threat to competition in the Seahawks tight end room. Sorry, AJ Barner, but I said what I said.

Arroyo didn't necessarily "break out" at Miami, but he did flash in his junior season, hauling in 35 passes for 590 yards for an impressive 16.9 yards per reception and seven touchdowns. Arroyo's potential lies in his athletic ability and ability to pick up yards after the catch. Down at the Senior Bowl, the former Hurricane was a handful.

Elijah Arroyo had two catches in his preseason debut, including this 10-yard reception on third-and-6 from Drew Lock. pic.twitter.com/rLFA8z8AX1

— Dugar, Michael-Shawn (@MikeDugar) August 11, 2025

Expect offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak to move Arroyo around the formations, taking advantage of his ability to create mismatches. He is too big to defend with a defensive back, while his 4.50 speed and route running leave linebackers reaching and questioning life choices.

Jaydon Blue, RB, Dallas Cowboys

$1 AAV (Average Auction Value)

The Dallas backfield is an absolute mess. It's a "Fantasy Frankenstein" with Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, and Jaydon Blue. The year is 2025, and we already know what we have in Williams and Sanders, and it's not great. However, Blue has shown immense upside when afforded an opportunity in college and early on in training camp.

Jaydon Blue with one heck of a one-handed catch on a throw from Joe Milton. pic.twitter.com/s9g7h6UmPa

— Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) July 26, 2025

Dallas projects as one of the most pass-heavy teams entering the 2025 season, and Blue happens to have been one of the best pass-catching backs available in this past April's draft. He showed his receiving chops in his final season at Texas, catching 42 passes for 368 yards and six touchdowns. That is upside that no other back on the Dallas roster offers.

Blue is already taking reps on the first team, and with that ability to catch the ball, elite quickness, and home run ability, it'll be hard to keep him off the field.

Jalen Coker/ Hunter Renfrow, WR, Carolina Panthers

$1 AAV (Average Auction Value)

Update - Coker has been placed on the injured reserve due to a quadriceps injury and will miss at least the first four games. As a result, he is only worth targeting in formats that have IR spots.

While discussing good deals, what about a buy-one-get-one-free type of scenario? Plenty of teams will be looking to vulture one of the Panthers receivers if the team were to release any of Jalen Coker, Jimmy Horn Jr., or veteran Hunter Renfrow, as all three should intrigue fantasy managers.

Coker showed potential last season, producing nearly as many receiving yards as Xavier Legette despite seeing 38 fewer targets. As a rookie, Coker's 1.73 yards per route run trailed only Brock Bowers, Malik Nabers, Ladd McConkey, and Brian Thomas Jr.; that's impressive company while also dominating (2.97) in yards per route against man coverage. Coker has been turning heads again, and the hype has led to results throughout camp.

Jalen Coker ranked 5th among rookie pass catchers in yards per route run last season (1.73), behind only Brian Thomas Jr., Ladd McConkey, Malik Nabers and Brock Bowers 👀 https://t.co/xIuKGCIRRC pic.twitter.com/o9st6LthTi

— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) August 12, 2025

At the other end of the spectrum is the soon-to-be 30-year-old Renfrow, who returns to the NFL after sitting out last season due to medical issues. Like Coker, Renfrow has impressed in camp, showing off that elite route-running ability that once led to a 103-reception season in 2021.

In that 2021 season, the last time he was healthy, Renfrow had 128 targets, 1,038 yards, averaged 10.1 yards per reception, finished with nine touchdowns, and was automatic on third down.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, Washington Commanders

$1 AAV (Average Auction Value)

Jacory Croskey-Merritt's inclusion here is all about schematic fit. He is the perfect running back for a Kliff Kingsbury offense. Kingsbury loves his inside run scheme and runs it out of the shotgun. Last season, 88% of the Commanders' rushing attempts came from the shotgun, while they ran a league-best 35% inside zone run rate.

Croskey-Merritt does an excellent job of reading defenses and processing what is in front of him, making decisive cuts with impressive acceleration in tight spaces. During his time at New Mexico, Croskey-Merritt was privileged to run an inside run scheme 51% of the time, averaging 7.2 yards per carry out of the shotgun. If the fit is there, you have to own it.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt pic.twitter.com/uqzVqE5BQs

— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) August 9, 2025

Croskey-Merritt was ineligible in 2024, but in 2023, the New Mexico back averaged 3.20 yards after contact (19th), was 12th in elusive rating, and was 50th in the nation in breakaway rate.

That season, Croskey-Merritt finished with 17 touchdowns and nearly 1,200 rushing yards. Washington's running back room lacks explosiveness, and Croskey-Merritt finds himself as the lone game-changer in the backfield, leading to more and more touches as the season progresses.

Woody Marks, RB, Houston Texans

$1 AAV (Average Auction Value)

Houston, we have a problem, and it's the current state of the Texans backfield as Nick Chubb is returning to action after missing time due to injury the last couple of seasons. Joe Mixon, who also finds himself in the infirmary, is dealing with a foot issue.

If either Chubb or Mixon were to miss time, Woody Marks would become one of the hottest names in fantasy football. In their absence, Marks is getting plenty of touches and reps with the first team and has been giving off those Bucky Irving-type vibes.

The running back formerly known as Jo'quavious has immense upside in PPR formats. During his time at USC and Mississippi, Marks would produce 1,546 receiving yards on 261 receptions over 57 contests.

I'm no mathematician, but that works out to 4.57 receptions and 5.9 yards per reception over that period. While the pass-catching offers upside, Marks also averaged 5.0 yards per rushing attempt over a college career that saw him carry the rock on 608 occasions.

Woody Marks is potentially a PERFECT fit in HOU given his ability to run outside zone, but there is one area of his game that could prevent him from getting on the field…. 5️⃣ NEW PROFILES on @RecepPerception dropped today https://t.co/NbxyWPKiNk pic.twitter.com/b5p1njqVLe

— James D Koh (@JamesDKoh) July 30, 2025

Joshua Palmer, WR, Buffalo Bills

$1 AAV (Average Auction Value)

If you are addicted to auction drafts, you need a little Robert Palmer in your lives. I apologize; I meant Joshua Palmer. Either way, it's all about love here, and you should be addicted and love Palmer's opportunity with the Bills this season.

Buffalo doesn't have a true WR1 since Stefon Diggs left town. Khalil Shakir has been filling that void, and management has hoped that Keon Coleman could eventually be that guy. Still, Palmer could become Josh Allen's "go-to" guy thanks to his ability to separate.

Last season, Palmer finished 10th among 160 receivers with a win rate of 19.7% while producing a separation score of 0.132. Among current Bills receivers, Shakir's 0.040 separation score and Coleman's 12.5% win rate are the next closest.

Palmer is coming to Buffalo after back-to-back seasons averaging more than 15 yards per reception and earning a 27% targets per route run share against man coverage last season. With his ability to separate especially against man coverage and Allen's arm, Palmer is in line for a breakout season.

Joshua Palmer

could QUICKLY become Josh Allen's GO TO WR vs. man coverage

BUF wanted Keon Coleman to fill this role last yr

vs. man 27% TPRR
vs. zone 14% TPRR

last yr vs. man
(among 71 qual WRs, per @FantasyPtsData)

J Palmer: 5th in separation & route win rate pic.twitter.com/nIeZBBKUcs

— Derek Brown (@DBro_FFB) July 12, 2025

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