Rookie Fantasy Football Draft Sleepers - Late-Round Targets With Upside

Hayden Epinette highlights six sleepers for fantasy football rookie drafts in 2025 dynasty leagues. These NFL rookies are targets in the late rounds of rookie drafts.

With the NFL regular season around the corner, time is running out for fantasy football dynasty leagues to stage their rookie drafts. At this point, there is already a significant amount of information about where the rookies stand on their respective teams. Turning that information into sharp picks is the challenge.

It does not take an expert to know to target studs like Ashton Jeanty, Omarion Hampton, and Tetairoa McMillan early in rookie drafts. There is an edge to be gained later, though. Many promising rookies who have been going in Rounds 3 and 4 should be getting more attention.

Without further ado, let's dive into the top six rookie sleepers to target in your fantasy drafts.

Jalen Milroe, QB, Seattle Seahawks

After three strong seasons starting for Seattle, quarterback Geno Smith was traded to Las Vegas this offseason. The Seahawks opted to sign Sam Darnold to a three-year deal as a replacement, but they also turned to the draft for reinforcements.

Former Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe was drafted by the squad with the 28th pick of the third round. He will enter the season as Darnold's backup.

Milroe is an excellent athlete; he rushed for 32 touchdowns over the past two years with the Crimson Tide. While Milroe has faced questions about his accuracy, rushing production elevates quarterbacks' fantasy floors significantly. He is also an intelligent player with solid size (6-foot-2, 217 pounds) and elite arm strength. When he gets on the field, he could be a very dynamic fantasy option.

NOT ONE, NOT TWO, NOT THREE BUT FOUR RUSHING TDS FOR JALEN MILROE 😱

ABSOLUTELY TERRORIZING THE LSU DEFENSE 😳 pic.twitter.com/XuXOsCkLLC

— ESPN (@espn) November 10, 2024

The chances of him getting starts early in his career are also higher than one may expect. Although Darnold had an excellent 2024 campaign with Minnesota, his career was in a real rut before that. Moreover, Darnold struggled mightily in a Wild Card round loss to the Rams while facing heavy pressure (nine sacks).

With a shaky offensive line and without Justin Jefferson to rely on, Darnold's chances of replicating his outlier season appear slim.

Milroe has been a second-round pick in Superflex drafts, but in 1QB leagues, he has gone in Round 4. He provides excellent value at that price. Milroe has already impressed observers in the preseason. If you draft him, it is because of the tantalizing ceiling his physical traits present. That ceiling makes him worth a third-rounder in 1QB leagues without a doubt.

Brashard Smith, RB, Kansas City Chiefs

Kansas City selected Brashard Smith in the seventh round of this year's draft. As a seventh-round pick, Smith is naturally available for cheap in rookie drafts. Indeed, he was even rumored to be on Kansas City's roster bubble. Despite this, he presents intriguing value as a Round 4 lottery ticket.

The Chiefs have boasted Isiah Pacheco as their starting running back for several years now, but a fractured fibula he suffered in Week 2 last season impacted him greatly. He played eight games, including the playoffs, after returning in Week 13. In those eight appearances, he crested 4.0 yards per carry just once. His usual form was noticeably absent en route to a career-low 3.73 yards per carry average for the season.

While Pacheco is ready to roll for 2025, there is no guarantee he regains his previous burst. The Chiefs have Kareem Hunt as a backup, but he has been aggressively mediocre over the past three years.

Enter the dynamic Smith. The former SMU Mustang runs a 4.39-second 40-yard dash, and he rushed for 1,332 yards last season on 5.7 yards per carry. His time as a wide receiver with the Miami Hurricanes adds credibility to his chances to be a receiving threat as well.

Mahomes throwing it deep to rookie RB Brashard Smith 👀
pic.twitter.com/3GhyA0zNGa

— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) August 6, 2025

Although Smith is a smaller back at 5-foot-10 and 194 pounds, he can carve out a real role in Kansas City, given his profile. Smith can provide the explosion that Pacheco and Hunt may fail to give. While K.C. may not be as appealing a fantasy destination as it used to be, that is still absolutely worth a fourth-round rookie draft pick.

Jaylin Noel, WR, Houston Texans

New Texans wideout Jaylin Noel arguably does not fit this article. He has an ADP placing him in the late second or early third round of rookie drafts. However, the third-rounder out of Iowa State deserves attention as an absolute steal in the third.

Noel caught 80 passes for 1,194 yards and eight scores last season as a Cyclone despite inconsistent quarterback play. He garnered a 78th-percentile target share as well, showing his reliability. Importantly, Noel is also an elite athlete. He posted the best broad jump at the combine among WRs, and he tied for the best vertical jump at his position. Moreover, he ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash.

Catch 8️⃣2️⃣ up there! pic.twitter.com/gaD5Es91W2

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) August 21, 2025

Notably, the Texans will also need a wideout to step up this season. While star Nico Collins should be among the league's leaders, the WR2 behind him is unsettled. Houston traded for Christian Kirk this offseason, and it also drafted Jayden Higgins in the second round. However, with Tank Dell injured and likely out for the entire season, Noel is best poised to take over Dell's role, given his profile.

Thus, Noel stands as an underrated target in what should be a strong passing attack with C.J. Stroud at the helm. Although Higgins was drafted a round earlier, he is also being drafted higher than Noel in rookie drafts. Noel is capable of excelling alongside Collins this season, which would insulate him from any Dell comeback in the future.

Jalen Royals, WR, Kansas City Chiefs

Brashard Smith is not the only Chief to qualify for this list. Kansas City drafted fellow sleeper Jalen Royals out of Utah State in the fourth round of this year's draft.

Royals broke out in 2023 with 71 catches, 1,080 yards, and 15 touchdowns as a junior. His 2024 campaign was abbreviated due to a foot injury, but he still made 55 catches for 834 yards and six scores in just seven games.

Royals posted an excellent 38.8% college dominator, and he also owns an 86th-percentile speed score at 6-foot, 205 pounds. He now joins a squad led by head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Rookie route work 💯 pic.twitter.com/x6npxOUYBV

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) August 1, 2025

Barriers to playing time are the main negative for Royals' near-future outlook. However, should they be? Rashee Rice will face a six-game suspension due to his involvement in a car crash in 2024. Xavier Worthy also exists, but he and Royals will fill different roles on the team. Royals' primary competition for snaps may be veteran Marquise Brown, but Royals brings more physicality and YAC ability.

Royals has been a late third-round pick in rookie drafts this offseason. Considering his immediate prospects are being underrated, as well as the long-term promise of working with Reid and Mahomes, Royals is a target in the third. This is a profile that fantasy managers should feel comfortable gambling on.

Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Cleveland Browns

Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. is a great choice at his ADP of 39. The Bowling Green product went in the early third round in the NFL Draft, and he has been the TE5 in rookie drafts. In both instances, his profile suggests he should have been a higher priority.

Fannin's measurables are solid (4.71-second 40-yard dash, 57th-percentile burst score), but they do not jump off the page. His production in college did, though. Fannin had a strong sophomore season, catching 44 balls for 623 yards and six touchdowns. He went bonkers as a junior last year, however. He led all FBS players with 117 grabs and 1,555 receiving yards, and he also scored 11 total TDs. His college dominator was an absurd 49.9%.

Fannin continued to impress at the Senior Bowl, and he has carried his momentum into training camp. After the Browns took him in April, Fannin has reportedly been turning heads. Indeed, he was even held out of Cleveland's first two preseason games along with the starters, suggesting he will be heavily involved in the offense come the regular season.

Yeah, Harold Fannin Jr. is ELITE 🔥

One handed grab this morning at the #SeniorBowl practice 😮‍💨

(🎥 via @FantasyPts)
pic.twitter.com/LXJinIO5wd

— SleeperCFB (@SleeperCFB) January 30, 2025

While Cleveland already has a great TE1 in David Njoku, Fannin may be a major factor immediately. At the sparse tight-end position, that bodes very well for his long-term outlook in the league. Getting Fannin in the third round would be an excellent pick. Drafting him in the fourth would be highway robbery.

Terrance Ferguson, TE, Los Angeles Rams

Terrance Ferguson provides another option at tight end in the fourth round. With an ADP of 46, Ferguson can be had at an extremely low cost as the TE6. This comes despite the Rams selecting the former Oregon Duck in the middle of the second round this past April, making him the fourth TE off the board.

Ferguson has more impressive testing numbers than Fannin. He ran a 4.63-second 40-yard dash at 6-foot-5 and 247 pounds, earning him an 86th-percentile speed score. He also boasts a 94th-percentile burst score and a 90th-percentile catch radius. Pairing that with his ability to break tackles after the catch, it is easy to see why the Rams fell in love with Ferguson during the draft process.

First @OregonFootball touchdown at Autzen this year belongs to @Tf3four 👏

📺 Pac-12 Networks
📱https://t.co/bsUHv7v0hW#Pac12FB pic.twitter.com/qd9TwT389f

— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) September 11, 2022

Ferguson joined a Rams team where he has vied for the TE2 role behind Tyler Higbee. As neither Higbee nor L.A.'s other options (Colby Parkinson, Davis Allen) are inspiring, there is a clear path for Ferguson to be fantasy relevant sooner rather than later.

While he will need to improve his contested catching ability and shore up his blocking, if things fall into place, Ferguson will be a young tight end in a Sean McVay offense for years to come.

While your league mates scoop up Mason Taylor and Elijah Arroyo in Rounds 2 and 3, remaining patient and snagging Ferguson or Fannin is the ideal strategy.

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