X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Fantasy Football Best Ball Sleepers For 2025 - Quarterback Draft Targets

Bryce Young - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, Waiver Wire Pickups

Frank Ammirante's top fantasy football best ball sleeper targets at quarterback for 2025 drafts. His undervalued NFL quarterbacks (QBs) best ball sleepers.

The 2025 NFL Draft and free agency have passed us by, so we're now in the thick of best ball season.

This is a great time to be drafting because you can find some terrific value on players. Once training camp and preseason get going, some players will rise in average draft position, so you have a chance to strike gold in earlier drafts.

On this page, I'll use Underdog ADP since May 11th to find some quarterback sleepers, featuring Bryce Young, Matthew Stafford, Sam Darnold, Tyler Shough, and Daniel Jones. Each player is a legit sleeper because they're available outside the top-150 picks.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers

ADP: 159.8 (QB24)

Young was terrific for the Panthers in the second half last year, turning his season around once he was re-inserted as the starting quarterback. From Week 12 onward, Young averaged 21.2 fantasy points per game, which ranked as QB8 during that stretch. This included a ceiling game of 36.4 points -- one of the best fantasy games for a quarterback all year.

Aside from significant improvements as a passer, Young also showed that he can contribute on the ground, as highlighted by his five rushing touchdowns in his last six games. This also included a season-high of 68 rushing yards. While this isn't Jayden Daniels as a runner, it's clear that Young can get to 300+ rushing yards.

The former first overall pick is in a great spot to pick up right where he left off. Now in his second year in Dave Canales' system, you'll likely see Young continue to improve as a quarterback.

Most importantly, the team did a great job getting him an alpha WR1 in Tetairoa McMillan with the eighth overall pick. McMillan has been compared to Mike Evans and Drake London, and he can provide Young with a big target, downfield threat, and contested-catch specialist.

I love targeting Young as my QB2 or QB3 in drafts, especially if I can secure McMillan earlier in the draft.

 

Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

ADP:  162.8 (QB25)

Stafford is a veteran pocket passer who offers zero on the ground, so he needs a lot of passing production to provide fantasy value. While the former Lion finished as QB27 with only 13.9 fantasy points per game last season, there are reasons for optimism here.

For one, the Rams brought in Davante Adams to replace Cooper Kupp. Adams is much more of a threat on the perimeter, complementing Puka Nacua's skill set since the veteran can also win downfield and beat man coverage.

Secondly, Stafford had only 20 touchdowns last season (3.9% TD rate). The Rams continued to go run-heavy in the red zone, feeding Kyren Williams. But now with Adams on the team, we could see more passing inside the 20-yard line. This is because Adams is a stud in the red zone, hauling in 59 touchdowns in the last six seasons.

In terms of roster construction, Stafford makes a lot of sense to complete a Rams stack with Nacua and/or Adams. Both of the Rams' wideouts are taken within the top 35 picks, so you could take a shot by pairing them with Stafford. Most who draft Nacua or Adams will likely avoid Stafford because of his middling fantasy production, making this a potential contrarian move as well.

We should also note that the Rams drafted tight end Terrance Ferguson in the second round, giving Stafford another safety valve who can win after the catch. With the improved supporting cast, Stafford looks like a legit sleeper.

 

Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks

ADP: 180.1 (QB28)

Darnold is coming off an impressive season in which he exceeded expectations, putting up 18.8 fantasy points per game, which ranked him as QB11. But the former Viking is virtually ignored in fantasy drafts because he's no longer with a stud play-caller like Kevin O'Connell.

While it's unlikely that we see a repeat of 2024 in Seattle, we have to note that this is still a pretty good situation. For one, Klint Kubiak is the new offensive coordinator for the Seahawks. Let's remember how good the Saints looked when healthy with Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed in the fold early in the year.

Kubiak comes from the Shanahan coaching tree, which is also where O'Connell comes from, so there should be some similarities there, which could help Darnold continue to perform well.

It also helps that the Seahawks bolstered their offensive line by using their first-rounder on one of the top guards in the draft in Grey Zabel. If the o-line can get back on track, this could be a decent offense -- even though they replaced D.K. Metcalf with Kupp.

From a game theory perspective, it makes sense to pair Darnold with Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who looks poised to build off a strong second half. Expect JSN to get peppered with targets this season, so pairing him with Darnold can raise your weekly ceiling.

 

Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints

ADP: 211.8 (QB31)

Shough was widely mocked for being a 26-year-old rookie selected in the second round. I have to admit, I was initially against this pick, but I can now see how it's a worthwhile gamble, not only for the Saints but also for fantasy football players.

This is a quarterback who has great size at 6-foot-5, 216 pounds, along with elite arm talent. We also have to acknowledge that he was hand-picked by new head coach Kellen Moore, who has succeeded as an offensive coordinator, working with quarterbacks like Dak Prescott, Justin Herbert, and Jalen Hurts.

Now that Derek Carr has retired, the runway has cleared for Shough to be the Saints' Week 1 starter. We don't have to worry too much about Spencer Rattler because he struggled last year, and Moore prioritized Shough in the draft.

The reason why I love targeting Shough as my QB3 is because I view Olave as one of the best receiver values in the draft. Pairing Olave with Shough can give me a cheap stack that could pay major dividends.

Not only do the Saints have a good play-caller in Moore, but they now have two first-round picks at offensive tackle in Kelvin Banks Jr. and Taliese Fuaga. What if the offensive line improves? Then we can see Shough hurl bombs downfield to Olave and Shaheed. If you're in a build where you wait on QB and target three of them, make sure Shough is a part of that plan.

 

Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts

ADP: 214.5 (QB34)

I know what you're thinking -- why would you draft Jones? He's been awful for the past couple of seasons with the Giants. But hear me out here, there's some value. For one, let's remember that Jones at his best is a productive fantasy QB, finishing as QB9 in points per game back in 2022. The rushing production (708 yards in 2022) helps raise Jones' weekly floor.

Joining a head coach like Shane Steichen can help Jones. Remember that Steichen has a good track record with quarterbacks, helping out Hurts and Herbert throughout his career.

While Anthony Richardson is still there, I'm going out on a limb in saying that Jones beats him out for the starting job. Steichen is on the hot seat right now, so I'm betting that he plays the quarterback who gives him the best chance to win right now.

Given A-Rich's struggles as a passer, it's quite possible that Jones is that guy. In this scenario, Jones would be throwing to a solid group of receivers, including Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs, along with a first-round rookie tight end in Tyler Warren. There's also a stud running back in Jonathan Taylor.

Jones is likely to be barely rostered, which is an added benefit in a large-field tournament like Underdog Best Ball Mania. If you get Pittman, Downs, or Warren earlier, taking a shot on Jones makes sense. Remember that this time last year, Darnold was also viewed as a backup, and he provided a major profit. Don't rule out something similar happening with Jones.

 



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!

More Fantasy Football Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Connor Hellebuyck

Wins Vezina And Hart Trophies
Aleksander Barkov

Records Two Power-Play Assists Thursday
Sam Reinhart

Collects Three Points in Thursday's Loss
Matthew Tkachuk

Notches Three Points in Losing Effort
Calvin Pickard

Joins Exclusive List with Thursday's Win
Mattias Ekholm

Logs Two Assists in Comeback Victory
Leon Draisaitl

Delivers Victory in Overtime Thursday
Myles Turner

Playing Through Illness
Reed Sheppard

Will Play in the NBA Summer League
Kevin Durant

Deal Could Come Sooner Rather Than Later
Jacob Misiorowski

Pulled With Cramps
Framber Valdez

Punches Out 12 in Win
Isaac Paredes

Homers, Exits Early With Hamstring Injury
D.J. Humphries

Rams Sign D.J. Humphries on Thursday
Troy Franklin

has Had a Good Offseason
Jacob Misiorowski

Leaves Game with Ankle Injury
Mike Williams

Expected to be Ready for Training Camp
Trey Benson

Adds Weight, Explosiveness
Dorian Finney-Smith

Undergoes Ankle Surgery
Christian Moore

Angels Calling Up Christian Moore
Noah Brown

Undergoing MRI
Keon Coleman

Dealt With Chipped Bone in his Wrist in 2024
Anze Kopitar

Wins Third Lady Byng Trophy
J.J. McCarthy

Says he's Fully Cleared
Sergei Bobrovsky

Heading Out for Win No. 15
Brian Thomas Jr.

Returns to Practice on Thursday
Travis Hunter

Plays Offense and Defense in Final Minicamp Practice
John Klingberg

Won't Play in Game 4 Against Panthers
Viktor Arvidsson

Sits Out Game 4 Against Panthers
Christian Yelich

Back in Brewers Lineup
Stuart Skinner

Remains in Oilers Crease Thursday
Chris Kreider

Ducks Acquire Chris Kreider From Rangers
Aaron Judge

Out for First Time All Season
Kodai Senga

Heading to Injured List With Hamstring Strain
Buffalo Bills

Maxwell Hairston Tweaks Hamstring
Arizona Cardinals

Will Johnson Sitting with Hamstring Tightness
Diontae Johnson

Focused on Returning to Form in 2025
Green Bay Packers

Bo Melton to Dabble at Cornerback
Rafael Devers

has Been Playing Through Groin Strain
Shedeur Sanders

Positioning Himself to Make the Roster
Tetairoa McMillan

Sitting Again on Thursday
Malik Nabers

Taking Part in Walkthrough
Shemar Stewart

Leaves Minicamp Without Contract
Tucker Kraft

Breakout Season Coming for Tucker Kraft?
Jalen Williams

Leads Thunder in Scoring Wednesday
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Settles for 24 Points in Game 3 Loss
Pascal Siakam

Does Everything for Pacers Wednesday Night
Tyrese Haliburton

Gets Close to Triple-Double in Game 3 Win
Bennedict Mathurin

Leads All Scorers with 27 Points Wednesday
Brandin Podziemski

Has Second Offseason Surgery
Cale Makar

Wins His Second Norris Trophy
Lane Hutson

Voted NHL's Best Rookie
CGY

Adam Klapka Agrees to Two-Year Extension with Flames
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

Considered a Game-Time Call Thursday
Carlos Santana

Hits Grand Slam on Wednesday
Alec Bohm

Homers, Drives in Four on Wednesday
Clarke Schmidt

Strikes Out Seven in Win on Wednesday
Hunter Goodman

Homers, Doubles Twice on Wednesday
Marcelo Mayer

has First Multi-Homer Game in Win Over Rays
Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Leaves Wednesday's Game Early With Groin Tightness
TreVeyon Henderson

Hard to Miss at Offseason Workouts
Brandon Nimmo

Launches Two Home Runs
Jaylen Brown

Undergoes Successful Knee Procedure
Michael Gallup

Sitting at Minicamp Due to Hamstring Strain
David Peterson

Throws Complete-Game Shutout
Kevin Porter Jr.

Likely to Decline Player Option
Matt McCarty

Comes Off Season-Best Showing at RBC Canadian Open
Jalen Coker

Back on the Field
Justin Thomas

Desperate to Continue Good 2025 Season
Kevin Durant

Knicks Not Looking to Trade for Kevin Durant
Jon Rahm

Seeks Revenge at U.S. Open
Tom Kim

Aiming for Improvement in U.S. Open
Brent Rooker

Homers Twice in Four-Hit Game
Spencer Schwellenbach

Strikes Out Nine in Complete Game
PGA

Sungjae Im Expects Solid Performance at Oakmont
Brian Harman

Aims to Rebound From the Memorial
Tony Finau

has Been Up and Down at U.S. Open
Brendan Donovan

Not Concerned He'll Land on Injured List
Shane McClanahan

In "Shut-Down Mode," to See Nerve Specialist
Patrick Cantlay

Hoping This is the Year at Oakmont
Akshay Bhatia

Improving in Time for U.S. Open
Xander Schauffele

Primed for Another Major Championship Run
Cameron Young

May Struggle at U.S. Open
Collin Morikawa

Eyeing Third Major Championship Title
Matt Fitzpatrick

Seeks to Avenge Oakmont Collapse
Jordan Spieth

Can Contend at Oakmont
Shane Lowry

a Strong Value Play at U.S. Open
Brooks Koepka

Seeks Another Major Win at Oakmont
Viktor Hovland

Still Can Improve at U.S. Open
Michael Kim

a Boom-or-Bust Value Play at U.S. Open
Russell Henley

Looking to Play the Weekend at Oakmont
Tyrrell Hatton

a Safe Option at U.S. Open
Bryson DeChambeau

Eyeing Third U.S. Open Title
Darius Garland

Kings Targeting Darius Garland
Kevin Durant

Expected to Be Moved Soon
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Reportedly Has "No Trade Market"
Jarace Walker

Remains Out Wednesday
Tyrese Haliburton

"Fine" For Wednesday's Action
Denny Hamlin

Charges Late to Win at Michigan
Carson Hocevar

Michigan Run is Derailed by A Late-Race Flat Tire
Kyle Larson

Up-and-Down Day Ends With Top-Five Finish at Michigan
Ross Chastain

Quietly Finishes Sixth at Michigan
Olivier-Maxence Prosper

Says Rehab Going "Great"
Vasilije Micić

Vasilije Micic Expected to Return to Europe
Myles Turner

Two Teams Seen as Potential Suitors for Myles Turner
Corey Perry

Nets Power-Play Goal in Monday's Loss
Stuart Skinner

Gets Pulled in Heavy Game 3 Defeat
Evan Rodrigues

Extends Scoring Streak with Multi-Point Effort
Sam Reinhart

Collects Two Points in Monday's Win
Chris Buescher

Takes Second Place After William Byron Runs Out of Fuel
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Has a Great Points Day to Build Buffer Over the Playoff Cut Line
Ryan Blaney

Flat Tire Results in Poor Finish for Ryan Blaney
Alex Bowman

Playoffs in Doubt After Stage 2 Crash at Michigan
Sean O'Malley

Submitted For The First Time In His Career
Merab Dvalishvili

Defends Bantamweight Belt At UFC 316
Julianna Peña

Julianna Pena No Longer A Champion
Kayla Harrison

Is The New Champion
Joe Pyfer

Wins Back-To-Back Fights
Kelvin Gastelum

Drops Decision
Patchy Mix

Drops Decision In His UFC Debut
Mario Bautista

Extends His Win Streak
Vicente Luque

Submitted At UFC 316
Kevin Holland

Gets Submission Win At UFC 316
Denny Hamlin

is A Top Contender to Win At Michigan
Kyle Larson

Will Compete For The Win At Michigan
Chase Elliott

is One of the Most Favored DFS Options of the Week for Michigan
William Byron

May be A Top Threat to Win at Michigan
Kyle Busch

is Difficult to Recommend for DFS Lineups at Michigan
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Qualifies Ninth For the FireKeepers Casino 400
Alex Bowman

What Should Fantasy Managers Do With Alex Bowman at Michigan?
Austin Cindric

Should Austin Cindric be Considered For Michigan DFS Lineups?
Shane Van Gisbergen

Should Shane Van Gisbergen Be Rostered For Michigan DFS Lineups?
John Hunter Nemechek

Is A Solid Value Option For Michigan DFS Lineups
Zane Smith

Is Zane Smith Worth Rostering Outside of Tournament Lineups at Michigan?
Todd Gilliland

Is A Decent Value Option for Michigan DFS Lineups
Ryan Blaney

One of the Leading DFS Contenders, but Might Be Slightly Overpriced
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF