Sneaky Fantasy Football Bench Sleepers and Stashes: Late-Round Dart Throws (2025)

August 31, 2025

Dave's fantasy football sneaky bench stashes, sleepers, and late-round draft targets for 2025. Potential late-season league-winners, including Blake Corum.

There are a variety of strategies you can deploy in your 2025 fantasy football draft. From Zero RB to late-round quarterback, there’s much debate regarding which approach is best to build a championship-caliber team.

One strategy that’s not up for debate, though, is using your last few picks to select bench players with upside. It's a great way to get ahead of the waiver wire if a player emerges in Week 1. Plus, if you happen to hit on even one late-round pick, it can give you a huge advantage over your league mates.

So, who are some potential players to stash with your last few picks? Let’s dive in and discuss a few names. Here are five sneaky fantasy football bench sleepers to target in your 2025 fantasy football draft.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt - RB, Washington Commanders

There’s no “Training Camp Hype Award” in fantasy football. If there were, Croskey-Merritt would be the runaway winner this summer.

Jump-cuts like this are why Jacory Croskey-Merritt has become one of the biggest storylines at Commanders camp. He’s explosive. pic.twitter.com/H63a74yZ4t

— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) July 29, 2025

I grabbed some media members during practice and asked them who has stood out the most so far in training camp.

Lots of love for Jacory Croskey-Merritt. pic.twitter.com/NcYuHQ6xpk

— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) July 28, 2025

Despite garnering several top-30 pre-draft visits, Croskey-Merritt fell to the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He only played in one game during his final collegiate season in 2024, but that was due to eligibility issues. Don't be fooled by his draft capital. Croskey-Merritt is an explosive running back with big-play ability.

Just take Croskey-Merritt with one of your last picks. I am begging you.

He is free in #fantasyfootball drafts.

You literally have nothing to lose.#FantasyFootballAdvice

pic.twitter.com/NWoy2xBX1h

— Dave Ventresca (@FF_Stallion) August 4, 2025

The Washington coaching staff has taken notice of his talent, and Croskey-Merritt recently received some run with the first-team offense.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt Getting Work With First-Team Offense https://t.co/aLTCRaGZ7L

— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) July 29, 2025

Washington’s running backs lacked explosive upside last year. Croskey-Merritt is young and unproven, but his skill set could mesh nicely with a dual-threat quarterback like Jayden Daniels. After the team traded last year's starter, Brian Robinson Jr., to the San Francisco 49ers, the runway is clear for Croskey-Merritt to function as the team's lead back. Gamers can confidently draft him in the latter half of their drafts (Rounds 7-9 range) as he could be a viable RB2 play.

Kyle Monangai - RB, Chicago Bears

Like Croskey-Merritt, Monangai also fell to the seventh round of the NFL Draft. He was taken 233rd overall by Chicago, but was one of the more underrated players in this draft class.

Monangai ran for over 1,200 rushing yards and averaged over 5.0 yards per carry during his final two years at Rutgers. He also scored 22 total touchdowns during that time. Some of his advanced metrics were also quite good. Among 161 collegiate backs with at least 100 attempts, Monangai finished tied for 13th in PFF’s missed tackles forced and 12th in PFF’s yards after contact.

R-U SERIOUS??!!

My call of Kyle Monangai's game-winning touchdown for @WRSUsports , as @RFootball had a remarkable comeback, down 18 in the fourth quarter, to beat Michigan State.

One more win for bowl eligibility #CHOP pic.twitter.com/px4Q74D2vw

— Eddie Kalegi (@EddieKalegi) October 14, 2023

It’s possible new Bears head coach Ben Johnson sticks with what he knows and makes D’Andre Swift the team’s bell cow back (Swift previously played for Johnson in Detroit). But there is also a scenario where Johnson deploys a two-back approach (similar to his days in Detroit) and one of either Roschon Johnson or Monangai functions in a Jamaal Williams/David Montgomery type of role.

Monangai has consistently drawn praise from the Bears this offseason, while Johnson seems to be more of an afterthought. Based on recent comments from Johnson, Monangai might already be in the team's early-season plans.

Bears HC Ben Johnson on Kyle Monangai:

“I’m very pleased with where he’s at. I think he’s a guy we’re gonna be able to trust this fall.” pic.twitter.com/umkJZ5QjAj

— Dave (@dave_bfr) August 3, 2025

If that’s the case, and Monangai emerges as the team’s RB2, he would function quite well in a Williams/Montgomery role, as it perfectly fits his skillset. Monangai is currently nursing a soft tissue injury, but he can still become the team's RB2 behind Swift. That means Monangai is worth a selection with one of your last picks.

Trey Benson - RB, Arizona Cardinals

Benson’s rookie season was highly disappointing. He played sparingly behind veteran RB1 James Conner. When Benson did see the field, he was not all that productive, as he only ran for 291 yards and one touchdown on 63 carries.

Despite his shortcomings as a rookie, Arizona did not make any notable additions to its running back room this offseason. Even with a strong incoming rookie running back class, Arizona kept the status quo. That is a very good sign for Benson’s outlook.

He has drawn praise from the coaching staff this offseason, and there's been some smoke that Benson might be in line for a bigger role in Year 2. For whatever it’s worth, Arizona’s current RB1 seemingly confirms this will be the case.

“He’s gonna play a lot this year.”

Cardinals RB James Conner is expecting big things from Trey Benson. pic.twitter.com/6227zTyFIh

— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) August 3, 2025

Whether or not Benson receives more touches remains to be seen. But 2025 will be Conner’s age-30 season, and his game may start to decline. That would open the door for Benson to receive more touches.

If he actually does force a timeshare with Conner, then Benson will carry some standalone value. There is also contingent upside here in the event of a Conner injury. That’s enough to target Benson as a bench stash late in drafts.

Blake Corum - RB, Los Angeles Rams

Much like Benson's, Corum’s rookie year was also disappointing. He was a popular pick among some dynasty gamers (myself included), and there was some smoke that he would supplant Kyren Williams as the team’s RB1. However, Corum failed to make a significant impact, and Williams remained the team’s lead back.

Despite Williams maintaining a stranglehold on the backfield, he did see a major dip in efficiency and had problems putting the ball on the ground.

FUMBLE! @Eagles ball!

📺: #LARvsPHI on NBC
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/QnOU4u3bce

— NFL (@NFL) January 19, 2025

Rams head coach Sean McVay has been very vocal about the team’s need for a more explosive running game in 2025. This is noteworthy because explosive runs are not exactly Williams’ strength. Per Fantasy Points Data Suite, among 46 backs with at least 100 rush attempts, Williams ranked 34th in explosive rush yards and 44th in explosive run rate.

This is where Corum could make a sophomore impact, as he is a more explosive back than Williams.

Blake Corum has good vision and a nice jump cut at the first level. That's a starting point to work with. pic.twitter.com/P0Optpo6Gx

— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) May 26, 2025

Fourth-round rookie running back Jarquez Hunter has received a lot of attention this offseason. Many analysts believe he could be the man to take touches away from Williams rather than Corum. While this could be the case, it’s worth noting that rookie running backs have notoriously received few touches in the McVay era.

Here are rookie running backs and their Year 1 touch totals during McVay’s time as the Rams head coach:

2018 - John Kelly: 29 touches
2019 - Darrell Henderson: 43 touches
2020 - Cam Akers: 156 touches
2021 - Jake Funk: 2 touches
2022 - Kyren Williams: 44 touches
2023 - Zach Evans: 9 touches
2024 - Blake Corum: 65 touches

Except for Akers (who would eventually flame out as the Rams' starter), we have a very clear pattern here. That’s why it’s interesting to see people projecting Hunter to cut into Williams’ workload. This train of thought seemingly ignores McVay’s history with rookie backs.

If we take McVay at his word and assume he wants the running game to be more explosive, then Corum seems like the most logical choice to take touches away from Williams.

Since Los Angeles recently signed Williams to an extension, we should expect him to remain the team’s lead back. But don’t be surprised if Corum has a bigger role. That makes Corum a potential post-hype sleeper to target in drafts.

Chig Okonkwo - TE, Tennessee Titans

Okonkwo has a great opportunity in front of him this year. Tennessee has few weapons behind WR1 Calvin Ridley, and Okonkwo has reportedly been having a strong training camp.

Chig Okonkwo "Looks Like he has an Extra Gear" https://t.co/DPpBCkKgpZ

— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) August 2, 2025

Tennessee also drafted rookie quarterback Cam Ward first overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. His presence should be an upgrade compared to the quarterback play Okonkwo has dealt with during his first two years.

He hasn’t done much statistically during his three-year career, but Okonkwo did close the 2024 season on a strong note. Per Fantasy Points Data Suite, Okonkwo posted a 30% targets per route run (TPRR) and a 2.19 yards per route run (YPRR) from Weeks 15-18 last year.

Given the praise he’s received this offseason and Tennessee’s lack of weapons behind Ridley, there is a real possibility Okonkwo remains heavily involved in the Titans' offense in 2025. If Ward proves to be the real deal, then there is a chance Okonkwo finishes the season in the TE1 conversation.

This all makes Okonkwo an ideal late-round pick for gamers who wait on a tight end in drafts. Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft would be an ideal target to pair with Okonkwo. Look to take him toward the tail end of your draft.

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