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John Johnson breaks down the 2025 NFL Draft's top 4 rookie fantasy football sleepers and hidden gems at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and tight end.
The 2025 NFL Draft is now less than a month away. Just like fantasy football managers, NFL teams invest significant time and effort trying to find as many sleepers as possible in the later rounds of the draft. Striking gold in later-round picks is massively beneficial to teams.
Usually, there are only a handful of elite talents in each draft, and they're usually all gone by the end of the first round. For quarterbacks, wide receivers, and tight ends, they're often all gone early in the first -- running backs often sneak into the top 10 as well, but it's a less valued position in the NFL today.
Still, players are often underrated by every team in the league, and some of them end up becoming star players, vastly outperforming the low expectations that led to them not being selected in the earliest rounds, or at least caused them to fall. So let's break those players down -- 2025's biggest NFL Draft sleepers -- at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and tight end.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:- 2025 fantasy football rankings
- Running back (RB) fantasy football rankings
- Wide receiver (WR) fantasy football rankings
- Tight end (TE) fantasy football rankings
- Quarterback (QB) fantasy football rankings
- Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
- NFL rookie fantasy football rankings
- Best ball fantasy football rankings
- Superflex fantasy football rankings
- Dynasty fantasy football rankings
Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss
Dart is my favorite quarterback in the class, yet he's not considered a top-10 NFL Draft pick, and it seems that he's unlikely to be selected there by any of the teams in contention. Of the teams with said top-10 picks, the Tennessee Titans sit at No. 1, but it seems that they're likely to draft former Miami QB Cameron Ward.
The Cleveland Browns already have a QB under a massive contract. The New York Giants signed both Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson, so it looks like they're punting the position for now.
Even if Cleveland or New York don't select former Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders, it's unlikely either will take Dart. The rest of the teams with top-10 picks already have their starting quarterbacks seemingly set. It will not be until the 21st overall pick that there is a team in need of a quarterback—the Pittsburgh Steelers.
They seem likely to sign quarterback Aaron Rodgers if he decides to return. Even if they do draft Dart, it will be pretty late. Dart, however, is worthy of a top-10 pick.
some of Jaxson Dart's best throws are when he's staring down the barrel and about to get hit. pic.twitter.com/MWWsPkkZI9
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) March 27, 2025
As the X post above shows, one of Dart's greatest qualities is how fearlessly and composed he plays under pressure, a trait that isn't shared by Ward or Sanders. The other top two quarterbacks in this class have very inconsistent, and sometimes downright terrible, decision-making skills and composure when opposing teams turn up the heat on defense.
That's not a recipe for success in the NFL.
Dart didn't have the luxury of a good group of pass-catchers. While he did have WR Tre Harris, who is an elite receiver prospect in my eyes, Harris dealt with significant injury issues and missed much of the season, leaving Dart without his top option.
Jaxson Dart is a good athlete and strong runner of the football. With some quality vision, too! pic.twitter.com/rZqBfI08HQ
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) March 27, 2025
He also has underrated athleticism. At 6-foot-2, 225 pounds, he could be a good option at the goal line and on QB sneaks. His savviness in evading pressure will also come in handy. I think we should try to adjust how we evaluate quarterbacks who don't have great receiving talent on a play-by-play basis, as well as from a statistical standpoint.
Sometimes, QBs can have knowledge of the game that leads them to seemingly make bad decisions on tape, but in reality, it could be possible that they know they shouldn't trust their crop of pass-catchers.
Dart is a high-level processor and the best decision-maker at the position in the draft. He has plenty of arm talent and can make big throws on the run thanks to his athleticism. This is a weaker quarterback class than last season, yet I firmly believe that the NFL and the draft community are underrating Dart, and he will have a more successful career than Sanders and Ward.
Brashard Smith, RB, SMU
Before the NFL Combine, I would have easily included Virginia Tech RB Bhayshul Tuten in this list. But his elite combine performance, in which he ran a 4.32-second 40-yard dash, jumped over 40 inches high, and all-around crushed it, made him a bit less of a sleeper. Another back who had a great combine, and should have an excellent career in the NFL, is SMU running back Brashard Smith.
You guys sure you don't want an RB that catch back shoulder fades? Achane was also undersized. Both have the speed, explosiveness and WR skillset to beat defensive backs, and the hands to make circus catches. pic.twitter.com/Cj9usRRTk1
— JohnJohn Analysis (@JohnJohnalytics) March 22, 2025
It's very confusing to me that Smith doesn't have a ton of hype around him entering the draft. He has massive upside in PPR leagues (which are most of the leagues in existence), and for a back of his size, his pass protection was actually pretty good, according to Pro Football Focus.
2025 RB usage splits and pass block grades pic.twitter.com/wIbKlVGq2z
— Football Insights 📊 (@fball_insights) March 27, 2025
He should get plenty of playing time immediately because he will likely be extremely potent on routes out of the backfield and is a good enough receiver to be asked to run routes from wide receiver formations as well.
Pass up on a running back with Brashard's receiving skills in PPR fantasy football at your own risk. This guy is going to be lethal running routes out of the backfield. pic.twitter.com/GxAOdy2RbU
— JohnJohn Analysis (@JohnJohnalytics) March 22, 2025
There aren't many backs in the league with his skill set as a receiver. But it's not like he is simply a receiving back that will take up passing-game work and won't be used much as a rusher. Smith is a ridiculously talented athlete with a ton of juice in the open field, and he can navigate lanes between the tackles with good vision and decision-making.
He's not the best tackle-breaker, but that's not something you expect from a back of his size.
My closest NFL comp for Brashard Smith is De'Von Achane. Achane will cost you a 1st or 2nd round pick and Smith is virtually free in redraft leagues. pic.twitter.com/hRhO33YdTy
— JohnJohn Analysis (@JohnJohnalytics) March 22, 2025
Passing up on Smith in any league at his price isn't a very good idea. He has tremendous upside. You should pick him up everywhere you can. Whichever team drafts him will get a Swiss-Army knife type player with explosive potential.
Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa State
In my mind, Iowa State WR Jaylin Noel's best pro comp is Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, but significantly more athletic. Noel ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash, has elite short-area quickness and change-of-direction abilities, great strength, and a great route tree.
The best receivers put defenders in impossible positions. Noel could have won breaking either way against the second DB. His cuts and re-acceleration are shockingly abrupt. Back up to top speed so quickly. Noel is massively underrated. I imagine he wins leagues in 2025 pic.twitter.com/oxQu7waqgC
— JohnJohn Analysis (@JohnJohnalytics) March 17, 2025
Noel is very abrupt with his breaks. He should be a monster out of the slot at the next level -- he's at his best when he has both sides of the field to work with, but he can play on the outside as well. His ability to put defenders on skates, accelerate past them, and win on deep routes is highly impressive.
Jaylin Noel being Amon-Ra St. Brown but faster
-Runs the best zig routes in the class (second best is Jayden Higgins ironically)
-Breaks a tackle attempt square on his hip
-ACCELERATION
Noel will win leagues in 2025 if he doesn't get a horrible landing spot, I guarantee it pic.twitter.com/eaNdbpRt9A— JohnJohn Analysis (@JohnJohnalytics) March 24, 2025
Landing spot will matter a lot, but I think Noel is a future superstar in the league. He's worthy of a first-round pick in the real NFL Draft and an early first-rounder in dynasty fantasy football rookie drafts as well. I advise fantasy managers to pick him up wherever they can at any cost.
There's something in the water in Des Moines.
-Pure speed release. Not much horizontal movement needed
-0-100 in a flash
-Underthrow and immediate contact after the catch? No problem for Jaylin Noel pic.twitter.com/NuUo1BBQbg— JohnJohn Analysis (@JohnJohnalytics) March 24, 2025
One of St. Brown's best traits is his ability to make tough catches and hang on through heavy contact. Noel also possesses this ability, as well as impressive tackle-breaking skills for his size, which will quickly help his offense trust him with the ball in his hands.
His elite separation will help as well. He should quickly earn an impressive target share in his new offense in the NFL and is easily one of the three best wideouts in this year's class.
Terrance Ferguson, TE, Oregon
Former Oregon tight end Terrance Ferguson is one of the best athletes at his position in the 2025 NFL Draft. He's not considered a first- or second-round pick-worthy player, but he should immediately carve out a nice target share on his new offense. Tight end is a position that takes time to develop. He could put up significant numbers in just one or two seasons from now.
Athleticism is very predictive of NFL production at the TE position.
These are @FantasyPts composite SPORQ athleticism scores against best-season receiving YPG from college.
The class's best TEs haven't tested yet, but Terrance Ferguson is already in a pretty interesting area! pic.twitter.com/f8wltJIMBV
— Ryan Heath (@RyanJ_Heath) March 20, 2025
Ferguson's stats don't jump off the stat sheet, but he's a legitimate weapon after the catch and has the burst to consistently pick up first downs if he lands on an offense that can get him in space. A big reason why athleticism is so essential for tight ends is that they need to be able to beat linebackers with their speed and quickness and defensive backs with their size and strength.
Nice move at the top of the route by Tight End Terrance Ferguson pic.twitter.com/MXF3W0z05v
— Unnecessary Bluntness Owner/Coach/QB (@DuncOnDemand) January 28, 2025
Ferguson should be able to do both at least decently well. He should be a nice pick in the later rounds of dynasty fantasy football rookie drafts, though he might not be suited for non-TEP redraft leagues.
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