Fantasy Football Auction Draft Values for $10 or Less - Cheap Sleepers with Upside (2025)

August 20, 2025

Matt's $10 or less auction draft fantasy football sleepers to target. His low-cost 2025 fantasy football auction values with upside, including Emeka Egbuka and more.

As we close in on the 2025 fantasy football season, NFL fantasy drafts are in full swing. While snake drafts are common practice, if you are a thrill seeker, someone who is seeking a bit of an adrenaline rush, you need to get in on an auction draft today.

Any draft you go into is about finding value to help with your roster construction. Auction drafts are no different. Identify players before they break out. Find players that others have forgotten and players that may appear to be buried on the depth chart but have a path to fantasy relevance.

Here are nine players who have league-winning upside for less than the cost of a couple of cups of coffee.

Emeka Egbuka, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

$6 AAV (Average Auction Value)

On paper, the competition for targets in Tampa Bay seems daunting for a rookie to carve out a significant fantasy role. However, we also know that Chris Godwin will likely miss time, especially early on, which could open the door for hip State's all-time leading receiver.

There is a reason the Buccaneers selected the former Buckeye with the 19th overall selection in this past April's draft despite having one of the more formidable receiving rooms in the league. In the second preseason game, we caught a glimpse of Egbuka's game as he caught his first NFL touchdown in the back corner of the endzone.

First NFL preseason TD for Buccaneers first-round pick Emeka Egbuka:
pic.twitter.com/6GSicEwRAn

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 16, 2025

Before missing the rest of the season due to injury, Godwin ranked in the top three in receptions among wide receivers, receiving yards, fantasy points (PPR), and touchdowns. Egbuka playing the slot in Godwin's absence (ankle) should net similar results, especially down in the red zone, where Egbuka has already proven to be a matchup nightmare. There's a good chance that Egbuka leads the Buccaneers in receptions.

Last season, fantasy managers witnessed late-round value in rookie picks Ladd McConkey and Brian Thomas Jr., who offered league-winning upside. Egbuka should be considered in the same fashion.

Bo Nix, QB, Denver Broncos

$6 AAV (Average Auction Value)

From Week 5 on, Bo Nix averaged 21.5 fantasy points per game, helping forge a QB7 fantasy performance in his rookie campaign. In auction drafts, the quarterback position is one spot fantasy managers can save some money, and the drop from Josh Allen to Bo Nix over that 13-game sample was a minuscule 27 total fantasy points, while the current gap in the auction market is usually $13 or more.

Bo Nix is a machine 💪#NFLTop100 | #BroncosCountry pic.twitter.com/CWxsV090we

— NFL+ (@NFLPlus) July 24, 2025

Let's take a closer look at Nix's splits last season. During Weeks 1-8, Nix scored 138.1 fantasy points while throwing 1,529 yards and eight touchdowns. With a bit of seasoning in Sean Payton's offense, Nix would throw for 2,246 yards, 21 touchdown passes, and produce 190 fantasy points from Week 9 through Week 18.

Nix would have been even more productive had it not been for some dropped passes. Nix was second, last season, with 163 dropped air yards on on-target throws, ahead of Baker Mayfield, and just behind Bryce Young (210) per Fantasy Points Data.

Denver already has one of the best offensive lines in the entire league; its downfall was its running game. Entering 2025, Nix has an upgraded backfield thanks to the additions of J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey, and he has a couple of additional weapons in the passing game in Evan Engram and Pat Bryant.

T.J. Hockenson, TE, Minnesota Vikings

$7 AAV (Average Auction Value)

After finishing the 2023 season tied with Travis Kelce, averaging 14.6 fantasy points per contest, T.J. Hockenson saw his fantasy value take a hit after succumbing to a serious knee injury at the end of that season. As a result, Hockenson didn't see any action until Week 9 last year and would end up as the TE32.

From Weeks 9 through 17, Hockenson was the TE10, averaging 9.3 fantasy points per contest, producing a pair of top-5 performances in those nine contests. Hockenson would record 446 receiving yards in those nine games, averaging 11.4 yards per reception. Before suffering that season-ending ACL and MCL injuries, Hockenson never finished lower than TE7 or 11 fantasy points per game going back to the 202 season.

T.J. Hockenson - Fantasy Points per Game Rank

2020: 7th (11.0)
2021: 7th (12.1)
2022: 4th (12.7)
2023: 2nd (14.6)
---torn ACL and MCL---
2024: 17th (8.7)

2025 ADP = TE5 pic.twitter.com/5tpcoxj1kS

— Fantasy Points Data (@FantasyPtsData) July 26, 2025

Hockenson is now 100% recovered from that ACL injury, and Jordan Addison will miss the first three weeks of the 2025 season while serving his suspension. Minnesota is turning the offense over to first-year starter J.J. McCarthy, who will likely build a healthy rapport with Hockenson in Addison's absence.

Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys

$4 AAV (Average Auction Value)

Dak Prescott is now just 2,712 passing yards away from passing Tony Romo as the Dallas Cowboys' all-time leading passer, and it's an odd-numbered year, so it's all but a guarantee that there will be a new Sheriff in Big D after this season.

Last season, despite missing the final nine games, Prescott still managed to throw for 1,978 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 15.6 fantasy points per game. This is on the heels of arguably his most outstanding season, having thrown for 4,516 yards, a league-best 36 touchdowns, and completing 69.5% of his passes back in 2023. 

The Cowboys have scored points on 46.9% of their possessions in Dak Prescott’s starts – which would lead the Lions (46.1%) as the top scoring offense over the last two combined seasons.

CeeDee Lamb is averaging 18.5 Half-PPR points per game across Dak’s last 25 games. That would…

— Graham Barfield (@GrahamBarfield) July 11, 2025

Prescott has finished as the QB2, QB8, and QB3 in fantasy in 2019,2021, and 2023, all of which he played in 15 or more contests. In 2020, 2022, and 2024, Prescott in 12 or fewer contests in each season ranked as the QB32, QB18, and QB31. Going back to 20216, Prescott has never finished lower than QB11 or thrown fewer than 4,000 yards in a season in which he has played at least 16 games. Coincidence, perhaps. As a fantasy manager, tracking patterns is essential, and this one shouldn't be ignored.

Rome Odunze, WR, Chicago Bears

$8 AAV (Average Auction Value)

Rome Odunze is one player looking to break out after a disappointing rookie season. Odunze was the third receiver taken in the 2024 draft, but when the dust settled, five wide receivers from his class all produced more receiving yards than Odunze's 734. Entering year two, Odunze moves up in the Bears' passing progression with the departure of Keenan Allen and his 121 vacated targets.

Chicago invested in Caleb Williams this past offseason, upgrading his offensive line. This, in turn, should yield positive results for Odunze, who is looking to improve upon his WR46 fantasy finish. Odunze displayed exceptional route running, contested catch ability, and great hands in his rookie season. He also showed a little inconsistency, which Ben Johnson and his offensive scheme will rectify.

Keenan Allen led the Bears in target share last year. And he was inactive for two games: Weeks 2 and 3.

Here are Rome Odunze’s highlights from one of those games that Allen missed.

Mind you, this was just his 3rd career NFL game.pic.twitter.com/XChrWAE5G8

— Dave Kluge (@DaveKluge) May 23, 2025

Odunze flashed last season. While Odunze only had 54 receptions, Williams targeted his young receiver on 101 occasions with an average depth of target of 14.3 yards. Chicago's offense struggled due to inefficient play along the offensive line, so Odunze's 734 receiving yards should be taken with a grain of salt. Despite the low receiving total, Odunze accounted for a 33.8% air yards share, and his 1,390 air yards were the 15th-most. At $8, you are getting WR4 with WR2 potential.

Keenan Allen, WR, Los Angeles Chargers

$7 AAV (Average Auction Value)

Speaking of Allen, he brings that 23.5% target share that he got from Chicago last season to Los Angeles, where he will be in a position to repeat that number, if not exceed it. After McConkey, the Chargers' receivers are relatively unproven, with the likes of Tre' Harris, Quentin Johnston, and Keandre Lambert-Smith. There is also the matter of Joshua Palmer taking his talents to Buffalo and vacating 65 targets.

After spending one season in Chicago, Allen returns to Los Angeles, where in 2023, he led the Chargers with 108 receptions, 150 targets, seven touchdowns, and 1,243 yards. That connection with Justin Herbert is already established, and with McConkey commanding attention, Allen will see plenty of opportunities. When Allen was last paired with Herbert, he was the WR10, averaging 21.5 fantasy points per game.

Last season, Allen was arguably the Bears' best receiver; if McConkey were to miss any time, Allen would have weekly WR1 in his absence. You can't even get a Venti Blonde Vanilla Latte at Starbucks for $7, but you can get a WR1 in fantasy if you play your cards right.

Bears WRs on non-screen plays
[in 2024, @FantasyPtsData]

Receiving yards/game:

Keenan Allen - 47.9
D.J. Moore - 42.1
Rome Odunze - 40.4

Targets per route run:

Allen - 23%
Odunze - 18%
Moore - 17%

Yards per route run:

Allen - 1.56
Odunze - 1.32
Moore - 1.27

Idk about Moore.

— Ryan Heath (@RyanJ_Heath) May 27, 2025

Tyrone Tracy Jr., RB, New York Giants

$10 AAV (Average Auction Value)

If you aren't sure how this Giants backfield plays out in 2025, why not bid on Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Cam Skattebo? Currently, you could secure the Giants' backfield for approximately $15, which is the going rate for backs such as David Montgomery, Harvey, and Aaron Jones Sr. 

The presence of Skattebo makes Tracy such a valuable player in auction drafts. Let's not pretend that Tracy wasn't good last season. The converted wide receiver averaged 4.4 yards per carry while adding 38 receptions, showing that he has what it takes to be a three-down back. 

Of Tracy's 829 rushing yards, 239 (15th-most) come on runs resulting in 15-plus yards, which equated to an explosive run rate of 31.3%. Tracy forced 33 missed tackles, which ranked 19th, resulting in a missed tackle force rate of 0.17, equal to that of De'Von Achane and Chuba Hubbard.

Tyrone Tracy Jr. took over as the Giants Starting RB in Week 5..

His healthy 17 Game Pace?

➖260 Touches
➖1,390 Yards
➖7 TDs

Giants Offensive Line Ranked 28th per Pro Football Network..

..he didn’t start playing the Running Back position until 2023, his final year at Purdue pic.twitter.com/KQWxaN7UiP

— Austin Abbott (@AustinAbbottFF) July 2, 2025

Through two preseason contests, Tracy has once again demonstrated that big-play ability, with 50% of his rushing attempts resulting in five or more yards.

Evan Engram, TE, Denver Broncos

$6 AAV (Average Auction Value)

A tight end not getting enough love with the regular season just weeks away is the first-year Bronco Engram. Engram played in just nine contests last season, resulting in his lowest receiving output of his career. Yet, in the first five games in which Engram was available, he managed to be a top 12 fantasy producer at the tight end position on four occasions.

People tend to forget because last season was so bad, just how good Engram was back in 2023. Engram caught 114 of the 143 targets that went in his direction, producing 963 receiving yards, 13.5 fantasy points per game, and an overall TE2, and finished as a top-10 tight end in 12 of 17 contests.

Last season, Courtand Sutton led the Broncos with 81 receptions, 135 targets, and 1,081 receiving yards. After Sutton, Javonte Williams's 52 receptions and 70 targets were the second most. Marvin Mims Jr. was second on the team in receiving yards. Broncos' tight ends combined for 51 receptions and 483 receiving yards between the four of them, including Lucas Krull, the warrior king. 

Evan Engram catch-and-run for 58 yards!

Watch on @NFLNetwork
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/eLXJQtwfpe

— NFL (@NFL) August 17, 2025

Engram will get all the action from the tight end position and become Nix's second option in the passing game by default.

Kaleb Johnson, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

$9 AAV (Average Auction Value)

When looking for a value back later in auction drafts, there will come a point where you see Kaleb Johnson coming off the board for around $9, while Joe Mixon will be looking at a perceived value around the same price. While Mixon has a proven track record as a fantasy manager, something seems entirely off regarding that foot and his availability for the 2025 season.

Early on, the Steelers' backfield projects to handle snaps fairly evenly between Johnson and Jaylen Warren. Warren is pencilled in as the starter, but has always been better and more efficient when splitting carries as opposed to handling a majority of the workload. On the other hand, Johnson has the pedigree to be a workhorse back, and in his second preseason contest, he produced 59 total yards on 12 touches, breaking five tackles along the way.

Kaleb Johnson had a very good game on the ground. A handful of his classic cutback runs. Then showed some burst when he correctly bounced a run to the outside. pic.twitter.com/IsLSxhkv3c

— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) August 17, 2025

It may not happen immediately, but Johnson will eventually take over this backfield. Johnson is just as fast as Warren and has better vision. He is also a threat to make a house call at any time, showing that skill set off last season with 21 runs greater than 20 yards, scoring on 23 occasions, and averaging 6.6 yards per touch at Iowa as a Junior. You can pay $15 for a more comfortable option, but for less than $10, the upside of Johnson is too much to pass up.

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