RADIO
Frank's favorite 2025 fantasy football sleepers, intriguing draft values to target in the later rounds including Isaac TeSlaa, Nick Chubb, Harold Fannin Jr., more.
Finding a sleeper who significantly exceeds expectations is a great way to strengthen your position as a contender for the fantasy football championship.
In this article today, I'll analyze a few fantasy football players available outside of the top-150 picks who can put you over the top this season. These are my later-round fantasy football sleepers to consider targeting in drafts.
With that in mind, find out why Bryce Young, Nick Chubb, Jerome Ford, Isaac TeSlaa, Elic Ayomanor, and Harold Fannin Jr. are intriguing fantasy football sleepers for 2025.
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Bryce Young, QB, Carolina Panthers
Young's career got off to a tumultuous start, but once he was re-inserted as a starter in the second half of last season, the former first overall pick showed significant improvement under center.
From Weeks 12-18, Young averaged 21.2 fantasy points per game, which ranked as QB9 during that stretch. This included a huge spike week of 36.4 points against the Falcons in Week 18.
Young proved himself as a threat on the ground in this sample, rushing for five touchdowns in his last six games.
Bryce Young’s Player Bucket features three Quarterbacks
- 1 has posted a 24+ PPG Season
- 2 have posted a 20+ PPG Season
- 3 have posted a 16+ PPG Seasonit’s still a wide range of outcomes for Young heading into Year 3 pic.twitter.com/mofmkWmZbl
— DynastyIM (@dynasty_im) July 18, 2025
There are a couple of key factors that make Young an appealing sleeper for 2025.
For one, you have to love the continuity with Dave Canales calling plays. This is a proven quarterback whisperer who helped both Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield take their games to the next level.
Judging by what we saw in the last seven games, the same is happening to Young.
Then you have to consider the impact of first-round rookie wideout Tetairoa McMillan. This is a perimeter threat who can win downfield, opening up room for the rest of the offense. With McMillan in the fold, Young now has a legit WR1 in his arsenal.
The Panthers' defense is still a work in progress, which could force Young into more shootouts.
You're able to take Young outside of the top-20 quarterbacks, but this is a clear dark horse to crack the top-12.
Nick Chubb, RB, Houston Texans
Chubb is coming off a disappointing final season with the Browns, where he averaged only 3.3 yards per carry. It's clear that Chubb was not the same back after returning from a torn ACL that prematurely ended his 2023 season.
However, this is one of the best running backs of our generation, so we can't count him out. What if Chubb starts to look more like himself now, one year further removed from a serious knee injury?
I asked Texans HC DeMeco Ryans about his faith in RB Nick Chubb as an every down back:
"He looks better and better each week. Especially when we got the pads on, he has the explosion and speed to make plays in this league. I am very impressed with Chubb." pic.twitter.com/rJ3mNlXPks
— Will Kunkel (@WillKunkelV) August 25, 2025
The veteran running back is in a good position to lead the Texans in carries, at least for the early stages of the season.
Joe Mixon is currently dealing with an ankle injury, which will keep him out for the first four games of the year. However, the timetable is completely unclear, so there's a legitimate chance that this could be a long-term injury.
If that's the case, you're getting the top ballcarrier -- especially in the red zone -- for an improved Texans offense with a playcaller upgrade in Nick Caley, who comes over from the Rams.
We just saw Kareem Hunt put up weekly FLEX value last season. Don't count out Chubb to do the same.
Jerome Ford, RB, Cleveland Browns
While I prefer to take Dylan Sampson in the Browns backfield, the rookie's ADP has been pushed up following a strong camp and a delayed return for Quinshon Judkins.
With that in mind, I'm riding with the veteran in Ford as my other sleeper RB choice for this column.
Jerome Ford pops a long run against the 1st Defense. pic.twitter.com/BBrC36jKBZ
— Browns Film Breakdown (@BrownsFilmBDN) August 2, 2025
This is a good option for Zero RB drafters looking for early-season production. It wouldn't be surprising to see the Browns ease in their rookie in Sampson, giving more work to Ford early on.
That gives him a chance to make an impact in the first couple of games, especially in Week 1 in a potential shootout vs. a porous Bengals defense.
Target Ford for some projectable volume to start out the year, as there's some FLEX appeal here.
Isaac TeSlaa, WR, Detroit Lions
TeSlaa was widely considered to be a reach when the Lions took him in the third round this season, but the former Arkansas wideout has had a terrific camp so far.
I have failed myself by not taking Isaac TeSlaa seriously enough.
TD vs press into an elite worm. He is him. pic.twitter.com/inJV8WsgXw
— Al Calo (@Calo_Football) August 23, 2025
TeSlaa's ascension up the depth chart was clear when the Lions decided to trade Tim Patrick earlier this month.
While it's obviously a crowded group of pass-catchers in Detroit with Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Sam LaPorta, and Jahmyr Gibbs, you're making a bet on a talented rookie in an elite offense.
This is the type of upside player that you stash at the end of your bench and hope that this lottery ticket hits for you.
Elic Ayomanor, WR, Tennessee Titans
Ayomanor is a fourth-round rookie wideout with strong college production, putting up a combined 125 catches for 1,844 yards and 12 touchdowns in two years at Stanford.
What's appealing about this situation is that it's basically Calvin Ridley and a wide-open competition for the WR2 spot, with Tyler Lockett (potentially washed) and Van Jefferson (situational deep-threat).
Elic Ayomanor Developing Strong Rapport With Cam Ward https://t.co/o8QNPIcgp2
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) August 30, 2025
Reports out of camp indicate that first overall pick Cam Ward is looking terrific under center. This is the type of quarterback who can elevate his teammates. With that in mind, getting his No. 2 target could prove to be lucrative in fantasy.
The best bet to make there is Ayomanor, who is virtually free in drafts. Take him to stash on your bench because there could be some late-season magic here.
Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Cleveland Browns
Fannin put up elite college production at Bowling Green, highlighted by a 1,555-yard season in his junior year.
This made the Browns take Fannin in the third round, despite already having David Njoku at tight end.
Harold Fannin Jr. is a baller. I’ve struggled to picture a world where he produces consistently enough to have much value in fantasy but I’m rooting for it to work
— Matty Kiwoom (@MattyKiwoom) August 23, 2025
While there's a tough path to fantasy relevance for Fannin because of Njoku, this is the kind of talent who can force his way onto the field.
It wouldn't surprise me to see Kevin Stefanski use more 2-TE sets to incorporate his talented rookie, joining Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman on the outside.
The best spot to target Fannin is as your TE3 in Best Ball formats, but I also don't mind riding with him in deeper high-stakes leagues with 10+ bench spots as a backup tight end.
It's a swing for the fences that could pay major dividends, especially later in the season.
