8 Late-Round Best Ball Sleepers and Draft Fliers: Fantasy Football Sleepers to Target

Dan Fornek's top late-round best ball targets for fantasy football drafts. His top best ball target and value picks for QBs, RB, WRs, and TEs for 2025.

NFL training camps and preseason action are just around the corner. For many, that means the fantasy season will be starting soon.

However, many fantasy gamers have been drafting best ball teams on platforms like Underdog Fantasy for months. Because of that, we have a firm grasp on ADP for players heading into 2025.

Even with months of ADP data, there are still a lot of values that can be found in the late rounds of best ball drafts. Check out some of the best fliers and value picks you can make below.

• 2025 fantasy football rankings
• Running back (RB) rankings
• Wide receiver (WR) rankings
• Quarterback (QB) rankings
• Tight end (TE) rankings
• Defense (D/ST) rankings
• Kicker (K) rankings
• FLEX rankings
• Dynasty rankings

Quarterbacks

Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins

ADP: 149.6, QB22

Drafting Tagovailoa is a considerable risk given his well-documented history of concussions. However, that risk is baked into his current ADP (QB22), making him a big value in best ball drafts.

Tagovailoa was operating at a high level when he was on the field in 2024, completing 72.9% of his passes for 2,867 yards and 19 touchdowns with seven interceptions in 11 games. He’s now played 41 games with Mike McDaniel as head coach and is averaging a 69.0% completion percentage with 3,680 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions per season.

Tua Tagovailoa film cut-up - Short Passing

Every throw of 5-9 air yards without pressure in 2024 https://t.co/5FU9siiA2z pic.twitter.com/WpSSZ70rV3

— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) May 26, 2025

Tua’s best stretch of games (in real life and fantasy) came from Weeks 9 to 16. During that time, Tagovailoa was the QB13 in points per game (18.4) and had four games as a top 10 weekly finisher at quarterback despite missing Jaylen Waddle for two weeks and working with a limited Tyreek Hill (wrist).

The Dolphins' offensive line probably won’t be good again in 2025, especially now that left tackle Terron Armstead has officially retired. However, the Dolphins have been able to mitigate a bad offensive line with quick passing concepts and screens to get the ball in the hands of their playmakers in the past three seasons.

We know that Tagovailoa can go down with a concussion at any time, especially if he keeps running into contact as a scrambler. However, if he can stay healthy for a full season (or at least most of one), he will crush his current ADP.

Geno Smith, Las Vegas Raiders

ADP: 162.1, QB25

Smith was shockingly traded from Seattle to Las Vegas this offseason. His ADP (QB25) has remained consistent throughout the offseason, even though he is reuniting with Pete Carroll (and working with offensive coordinator Chip Kelly).

That may be a mistake.

Smith’s most successful seasons as a quarterback came during his two seasons with Carroll in Seattle. In 2022 and 2023, Smith averaged a 67.4% completion rate, 3,953 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. He finished as the QB8 in 2022 before dropping to QB19 in 2023.

Geno Smith from a clean pocket in 2024:

-81.4% adjusted completion (5th)
-13 highlight throws (4th)
-59.1% success rate (5th)
-76.1% completion rate (2nd) pic.twitter.com/ndum9vSroq

— Adam Pfeifer (@APfeifer24) June 30, 2025

Smith now finds himself back with Pete Carroll in an offense that is arguably better than the talent surrounding him in Seattle in 2024. Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers are a solid one-two punch as pass catchers. Players like Tre Tucker and Dont’e Thornton are excellent field stretchers. And 2025 first-round pick Ashton Jeanty is a solid pass catcher. Even the offensive line is better.

Fantasy managers are too certain that Smith will struggle with Las Vegas, given the history of Las Vegas. But this could be a good offense for fantasy, making Smith an excellent late-round QB option in 2025.

Running Backs

Austin Ekeler, Washington Commanders

ADP: 153, RB49

Ekeler was having a successful first season with the Commanders before a concussion limited him to just 12 games. Ekeler logged a 52% snap share while handling 77 carries for 367 yards and four touchdowns and 41 targets, 35 receptions, and 366 receiving yards.

The veteran running back was able to return for Washington’s playoff run, handling 22 carries for 89 yards and catching 12 of 15 targets for 84 yards in three games.

His regular season production was good enough for an RB30 finish with 9.6 points per game.

AUSTIN EKELER 24-YARD TOUCHDOWN 🔥 pic.twitter.com/iCP2H2UnT8

— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) September 24, 2024

Washington didn’t add any meaningful competition to the backfield this offseason (although new wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. could siphon off some touches out of the backfield).

Ekeler should be going much higher in drafts, especially since he showed a renewed level of efficiency in his new home. Ekeler had his highest yards per carry (4.8) since 2018 and had the second-highest yards per reception in his career (10.5).

Jaylen Wright, Miami Dolphins

ADP: 162.1, RB51

Wright’s rookie season was an absolute letdown for fantasy managers who tapped him as a sleeper before the season. Wright handled just 68 carries for 249 yards while adding three receptions for eight yards in 15 games.

Last season, Wright was buried behind not only De'Von Achane but also Raheem Mostert for most of the season. However, when given opportunities to see the field, he showed that his speed and burst could be effective at the NFL level, especially when getting to the edge of the defense.

Jaylen Wright had a couple of impressive runs against the Patriots pic.twitter.com/HVwHLKVBFR

— Jake (@FinsCentral) November 25, 2024

Wright received plenty of praise throughout the Dolphins’ minicamp for coming in prepared for the 2025 season. His development would allow Miami to continue maximizing Achane’s ability as a pass catcher by moving him along the formation to utilize mismatches in the defense. At worst, Wright can take some of the carries in the backfield to ensure that Achane has fresh legs as much as possible.

Wright’s price (RB51) suggests that he will be a straight handcuff in 2025. However, Miami has shown a willingness to split their backfield in the past, and Wright’s biggest obstacle to touches (Mostert) is no longer with the team.

Wide Receivers

Joshua Palmer, Buffalo Bills

ADP: 154.9, WR66

Palmer was a consistent piece of the Chargers’ offense throughout his career, but never truly broke out. In 58 career games (29 starts), Palmer caught 182 of 282 targets for 2,287 yards and 10 touchdowns. He had just one season (2022) with more than 65 targets, 39 receptions, and 585 receiving yards.

Still, that didn’t stop the veteran receiver from getting a three-year, $36 million contract with the Buffalo Bills this offseason. Palmer instantly fills a void on the team as a deep target (15.0+ yards per reception during his last two seasons) and should instantly have a role in three receiver sets.

What are the Bills getting in WR Joshua Palmer

Boundary Receiver

The ability to separate downfield

Elite against main coverage

Still only 25

Very very solid move #BillsMafia | #GoBills
pic.twitter.com/RhwWKQ20Lu

— Peter DiBiasi (@DibiasiPeter) March 10, 2025

More importantly for fantasy, Palmer will have an immediate path to targets in Buffalo. The Bills had just one player (Khalil Shakir) log 100+ targets in 2025. Neither Dalton Kincaid (44 receptions for 448 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games) nor Keon Coleman (29 receptions for 556 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games) made a significant impact despite their high draft capital.

Palmer has a chance to put together a similar season to Darnell Mooney in 2024 after he moved to the Falcons. He has an opportunity to establish a connection with one of the best passers in the NFL and minimal competition for targets.

Dontayvion Wicks, Green Bay

ADP: 211.0, WR86

Many fantasy managers expected Wicks to take a step in his second season after posting 39 receptions for 581 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie. Instead, Wicks posted a slightly worse stat line (39 receptions for 415 yards) despite seeing nearly 20 more targets in his second season.

4 plays showing why the Packers keep Dontayvion Wicks on the field despite his league-worst drop rate.

He’s a competitor. pic.twitter.com/JzGCvDyKCd

— Daire Carragher (@DaireCarragher) November 29, 2024

The biggest problem for the 2023 fifth-round pick has been his drops. Wicks has dropped 12 passes (9% of his targets) through two seasons. His struggles as a pass catcher, combined with the Packers’ drafting of Matthew Golden, have caused Wicks’ ADP to drop to WR86 before the 2025 season.

There are advanced metrics that suggest that Wicks can beat his ADP, especially if he can become more reliable as a pass catcher. Wicks’s route win rate (47.9%) ranked 26th among all qualified wide receivers in 2024. Additionally, he’s shown the ability to succeed against man coverage (35.5%-win rate in 2024, 31st). He also had a 0.30 target per route run rate (TPRR) last season, which ranked ninth among all wide receivers in the NFL who played at least eight games.

Jordan Love isn’t afraid to spread the ball around to his weapons, which means any player who can get on the field has a chance to put up solid statistics. We can assume that Matthew Golden will be one of the wide receivers on the field for two receiver sets. The other is up for grabs between Wicks and Romeo Doubs (assuming Green Bay continues to use Jayden Reed strictly in the slot).

Tight Ends

Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints

ADP: 203.4, TE29

Nobody is excited to roster a Saints’ offensive player outside of Alvin Kamara in 2025. That has led to nearly every piece of their offense being available at a significant discount. One of the best values on the board is veteran tight end Johnson.

Johnson signed a three-year, $30.7 million extension to return to the team this offseason. The former college wide receiver has successfully transitioned to tight end in the NFL and is coming off one of the most productive seasons in his career (66 targets, 50 receptions, 548 receiving yards, and three touchdowns).

Juwan Johnson with the saucy Choice route win pic.twitter.com/xnYP8C3xUC

— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) September 12, 2023

Taysom Hill is still recovering from his season-ending knee injury in 2024, giving Johnson the runway to an increased snap share. After Hill went down in Week 13, Johnson saw his snap share increase from 60% to 80% and his target share jump from 10.3% to 15.8%.  He’s also averaged 11.1 yards per reception in his career.

His new play-caller (head coach Kellen Moore) has shown an ability to involve tight ends in the passing attack during his stops with Dallas and Philadelphia as well. He’s a worthwhile dart throw at the end of rounds at a position where just a touchdown could lead to a scoring week.

Theo Johnson, New York Giants

ADP: 207.4, TE30

Theo Johnson’s rookie season started slowly, but eventually, he started carving out a consistent role in the Giants’ passing attack.

Johnson averaged 5.4 targets, 3.6 receptions, and 43.2 receiving yards with a touchdown from Weeks 8 to 13. Unfortunately, a foot injury ended his rookie season early.

Daniel Jones touchdown to Theo Johnson! The first of his career!!! pic.twitter.com/5OiQMcTZrC

— Bobby Skinner (@BobbySkinner_) November 3, 2024

The Giants invested heavily to upgrade their quarterback room this offseason, signing veterans Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston in free agency and drafting Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart in the first round of the NFL Draft.

More importantly for Johnson, the Giants didn’t add any significant pass-catching competition at wide receiver (outside of re-signing veteran Darius Slayton). Johnson will have an opportunity to carve out a consistent role in the pass-catching hierarchy with a better quality of target. It won’t take much for him to beat his current price (TE30) in best ball drafts.

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