One Fantasy Football Sleeper For Each AFC Team: 16 Late-Round Draft Targets and Value Picks

July 13, 2025

Dan Fornek's fantasy football sleepers for every AFC (American Football Conference) team. His 16 AFC value picks and draft targets for fantasy drafts.

2025 fantasy football drafts are just around the corner, as we are now in July. Soon, teams will be in training camps and preseason games will be kicking off.

One of the best ways to build your fantasy team is to take upside plays in the late rounds that can round out your team’s depth. This allows you to make sure that you have great streamers during bye weeks, fill-ins during injuries, or even players who can provide consistent flex-level production.

This article contains one sleeper for each AFC team who should be targeted late in drafts. If they hit, fantastic. If not, these players can easily be churned off the bench for more productive options. Let’s dive in.

Baltimore Ravens

Keaton Mitchell, RB

It seems like just yesterday that Keaton Mitchell was an exciting UDFA looking to make an impact with the Ravens. In his 2023 rookie season, Mitchell got an opportunity and looked impressive.

The rookie played in eight games, carrying the ball 47 times for 396 yards and two touchdowns while adding nine receptions for 93 yards. Mitchell averaged 8.7 yards per touch, but his season was cut short due to an ACL tear right when he was starting to see his snap share climb.

Are we thinking 100% of FAB for Keaton Mitchell?pic.twitter.com/57iy2ePaF0

— Scott Spratt (@Scott_Spratt) October 22, 2023

The knee injury cost Mitchell almost his entire 2024 season (15 carries for 30 yards in five games). However, he is heading into training camp healthy and looking to earn his way back into a role on the Ravens offense.

Mitchell was a highly productive running back during his three seasons at Eastern Carolina (463 carries for 3,027 yards and 25 touchdowns, plus 60 receptions for 580 yards and three receiving scores in 33 career games) before going undrafted due to his size.

We have a small sample size, suggesting that Mitchell’s explosiveness will translate to the NFL level. Derrick Henry is set to dominate the Ravens backfield, but the pass-catching role held by Justice Hill is not nearly as secure.

Mitchell was an intriguing rookie who seemed to be fully healthy. If you’re looking for an upside running back with big-play ability, he’s a quality flier in the final round of drafts.

Buffalo Bills

Elijah Moore, WR

Yes, we will be doing the Elijah Moore thing again in 2025.

Moore had good, but far from great, seasons during his two years with the Cleveland Browns. In 2023 and 2024, he averaged 103 targets, 60 receptions, 589 receiving yards, and 1.5 receiving touchdowns. He (like most of the Browns offense) was severely limited by terrible quarterback play during his Cleveland tenure.

Every Elijah Moore reception from 2024 pic.twitter.com/4qQTAm7nDY

— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) June 19, 2025

The Browns allowed Moore to walk this offseason. The veteran wide receiver landed with the Buffalo Bills on a one-year, $2.5 million contract. The contract doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence, but throughout the summer, there was a steady drumbeat of positive news from the Bills on how good Moore looked during practices.

The veteran receiver also joined a depth chart with plenty of wide receivers and no established alpha. Moore will have to work to get repetitions over established pieces (Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, and Curtis Samuel) as well as higher-paid free agents (Joshua Palmer).

However, one thing that Moore offers that the group doesn’t is speed. Moore’s explosiveness with the ball after the catch could easily translate into a bigger role if he can maximize early opportunities and build rapport with Josh Allen.

If Elijah Moore can make the Bills' final roster, he will have an opportunity to finally play on a talented team with one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. That is worth taking a chance in the last round of fantasy drafts.

Cincinnati Bengals

Andrei Iosivas, WR

Many thought that Jermaine Burton would establish himself as the third wide receiver in Cincinnati in 2024 after being drafted in the third round. However, immaturity and decision-making off the field led him to miss several games.

Those lapses gave Iosivas a chance to show growth in his second season. He played in all 17 games for the Bengals, catching 36 of 61 passes for 479 yards and six touchdowns. It wasn’t the biggest role (79% snap share), but it did provide some fantasy value.

Andrei Iosivas pic.twitter.com/4UUZHZG8OO

— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) May 26, 2025

More importantly, Iosivas established that he could be a reliable weapon for Joe Burrow in the end zone. There is a chance his reliable play will lead to an even bigger role in 2025.

We have seen the Bengals offense support three fantasy receivers in the past. Iosivas is a cheap way to get a hold of one of the best pass offenses in the NFL with upside should Ja'Marr Chase or Tee Higgins suffer an injury.

Cleveland Browns

Dylan Sampson, RB

There aren’t many fantasy-viable players on the Browns to begin with, but there are some candidates for sleepers in fantasy.

Everybody is expecting 2025 second-round pick Quinshon Judkins to dominate touches in the backfield, but the Browns took another running back in the fourth round who could have an impact as a rookie as well.

Former Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson led the SEC in rushing in 2024, handling 258 carries for 1,491 yards and 22 touchdowns. Sampson averaged 5.9 yards per rush in his career, along with 8.6 yards per reception.

Dylan Sampson is the @Vol_Football record holder for single-season rushing touchdowns with 22 last year

...a mark previously set in 1929 😳 pic.twitter.com/gUDBdDc7Tm

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) April 26, 2025

Sampson will likely beat out returning starter Jerome Ford for the Browns’ pass-catching role thanks to his speed and elusiveness. However, Sampson’s explosiveness could also yield a share of the backfield. There is plenty of history suggesting that the Browns will split their backfield based on the Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt days.

Sampson has been overshadowed this offseason by the team’s second-round draft pick, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he commanded a fantasy-relevant role starting in Week 1.

Denver Broncos

Pat Bryant, WR

The Broncos surprised many when they selected Illinois receiver Pat Bryant in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Bryant was a modest producer during his college career, with 2024 being his most productive season by far (54 receptions for 984 yards and 10 touchdowns).

i bet you weren't expecting these Pat Bryant highlights on your feed right now pic.twitter.com/Mm16INHxwU

— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) April 7, 2025

Bryant didn’t do himself many favors at the NFL Combine, measuring in at 6-foot-2, 204 pounds, and running a pedestrian 4.61 40-yard dash. In the end, none of that mattered to Sean Payton, who loves utilizing big-bodied wide receivers. Payton has already commented during the summer that Bryant’s traits remind him of former Saints receiver Michael Thomas.

The Broncos have one legitimate wide receiver (Courtland Sutton) surrounded by interesting complementary players who contributed in 2024 (Devaughn Vele and Marvin Mims Jr.) but weren’t great enough to lock down a full-time role in 2025.

If Bryant can earn consistent playing time, he will have an interesting fantasy upside in an ascending offense with a young quarterback we expect to grow in 2025.

Houston Texans

Jaylin Noel, WR

The player on the Texans who best exemplifies a sleeper in 2025 is rookie receiver Jaylin Noel. Noel was overshadowed throughout the draft process by teammate Jayden Higgins. That continued into the NFL Draft after Houston selected both Higgins (second round) and Noel (third round).

Noel was a high-level producer at Iowa State (245 receptions for 2,855 yards and 18 touchdowns) during his four seasons there. Noel has the speed and route-running acumen to play on the outside, but his size will likely limit him to the slot at the NFL level.

Jaylin Noel 2025 #ReceptionPerception Prospect Profile 🔥

Some highlights:
- 74.1% success rate vs. man coverage (84th percentile)
- 81.8% success rate vs. zone coverage
- 80% contested catch rate in the sample

Guy is a baller, and I can easily see how he's going to help an NFL… pic.twitter.com/An5TFWU53c

— Matt Harmon (@MattHarmon_BYB) April 9, 2025

The Texans traded for Christian Kirk this offseason, so Noel will start the season buried behind Kirk, Nico Collins, and Higgins on the depth chart. However, an injury to any of those players will get the shifty rookie onto the field.

If Noel can earn playing time, he has the makings of a boom-or-bust receiver with the speed to take any reception to the house. That is a gamble worth taking in the final rounds of fantasy drafts.

Indianapolis Colts

DJ Giddens, RB

Indianapolis has a group of talented wide receivers and, hopefully, a quarterback who can get them the ball this season. However, this team’s identity will continue to flow through the run game for the foreseeable future.

Jonathan Taylor isn’t going anywhere and will take on the bulk of the backfield work. However, the RB2 spot behind him is wide open. That is where 2025 fifth-round pick DJ Giddens comes into play.

Giddens was excellent in his final two seasons with Kansas State, racking up 228 carries for 2,569 yards and 17 rushing touchdowns plus 50 receptions for 581 yards and four receiving touchdowns. Giddens confirmed his explosiveness on film by running a 4.43 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.

DJ Giddens hits his top speed so freaking fast https://t.co/xiMbUYpX38 pic.twitter.com/YwXN4868J2

— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) April 10, 2025

Giddens will likely have a role as the Colts’ change-of-pace back, considering his competition (Khalil Herbert and Tyler Goodson) isn’t too strong. That gives Giddens fantasy upside as a rookie with a chance to be a weekly RB2 if Taylor suffers an injury.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Dyami Brown, WR

Brian Thomas Jr. and 2025 second overall pick Travis Hunter are getting all the recognition in Jacksonville’s passing attack, but Dyami Brown has an interesting upside in 2025.

Brown is fresh off a strong finish to 2024 during the Commanders' playoff run. In three playoff games, the fifth-year receiver caught 14 of 18 targets for 229 yards and a touchdown. That stretch was impressive enough to earn him a one-year, $10 million contract with the Jaguars this offseason.

Dyami Brown pic.twitter.com/55wTaAcLrs

— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) March 11, 2025

The veteran receiver was getting plenty of hype throughout the summer due to his route running and field-stretching ability. It is fair to assume at this point that he’s secured a role in three-receiver sets at the very least.

We are excited about Jacksonville’s offense in 2025. Grabbing Brown in the late rounds gives you a piece of the passing attack that should be on the field frequently next season.

Kansas City Chiefs

Brashard Smith, RB

Brashard Smith was a wide receiver for his first three collegiate seasons at Miami (FL) before transferring to SMU in 2024. SMU converted him to running back to maximize his playmaking ability, which greatly paid off.

Smith had 235 carries for 1,332 yards and 14 touchdowns in his lone season with SMU. He also added 39 receptions for 327 yards and four touchdowns. Despite the lack of repetitions at running back, Smith solidified himself as a draftable prospect after measuring in at 5-foot-10, 194 pounds and running a 4.39 40-yard dash.

Yet another RB from the 2025 #NFLDraft class with extremely fun film:

Brashard Smith -- Elite speed (4.39) and burst
🔹Converted WR
🔹1,000+ career receiving yards
🔹2.15 yards per route run at Miami

As a RB at SMU:
🔺1,332 yards + 14 TDs on the ground
🔺39-327-4 receiving pic.twitter.com/3itwS4zzQO

— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) March 18, 2025

Smith was drafted in the seventh round by the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs have an experienced backfield with Isiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt, and Elijah Mitchell. However, the offense has always looked for dynamic weapons out of the backfield. Smith can fit that billing as soon as his rookie season.

It is highly unlikely that Smith will carve out a workhorse role in his career due to his frame. However, he can be a highly explosive change-of-pace running back who is unguardable out of the backfield thanks to his background and speed. He’s worth taking a flyer on this season.

Las Vegas Raiders

Dont'e Thornton Jr., WR

The Raiders offense seems fairly predictable in 2025. We know Ashton Jeanty will dominate touches out of the backfield. We also know that Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers will finish top two in targets if they are healthy.

What we don’t know is what other receivers will be on the field to earn targets. That gives us a legitimate chance to find a sleeper among several options.

The most likely option after minicamps seems to be fourth-round pick Dont’e Thornton Jr. The Tennessee product had modest production stats in his final college season (26 receptions for 661 yards and six touchdowns), but led the NCAA in yards per reception (25.4).

Dont’e Thornton is a freak. 6’4 4.3 speed. Love the dart throw in the 4th round. pic.twitter.com/BnDYiJxaZW

— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) April 26, 2025

Thronton further elevated his draft stock after measuring in at 6-foot-5, 205 pounds and running a 4.30 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. Thornton was getting repetitions with the Raiders first team by the end of the minicamp and has a skill set that pairs extremely well with Geno Smith’s deep-ball accuracy.

Getting on the field is the first step for any rookie, and Thornton is seemingly in a position to do that. His role as a deep-shot specialist isn’t the most consistent for fantasy, but it gives him a chance to provide a scoring week during byes at the minimum.

Los Angeles Chargers

Oronde Gadsden II, TE

The Chargers have several players who fit the sleeper mold, but one who isn’t getting enough attention is rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden II.

Los Angeles selected the tight end in the fifth round of the NFL Draft after a strong final season at Syracuse (73 receptions for 934 yards and seven touchdowns). Gadsden struggled with injuries in his college career but was healthy when it mattered.

Oronde Gadsden truthers stand up! 📢

Is the hype warranted?

pic.twitter.com/1LRLmdL7bk

— FastDraft Fantasy (@fastdraftapp) June 18, 2025

He has the athletic ability to function as a pure receiving tight end to start his career, but the size to develop into a solid blocker. The Chargers’ current tight-end depth chart (Tyler Conklin and Will Dissly) consists of two adequate veterans who could easily be unseated by a dynamic rookie.

Gadsden should not be your only drafted tight end, but he is a great upside bench stash who could provide fantasy production early into the season if he can have a strong summer.

Miami Dolphins

Jaylen Wright, RB

Jaylen Wright was a popular sleeper in 2024 after the speedy running back was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. Unfortunately for fantasy managers, Wright struggled to make an impact during his rookie season.

Wright played in 15 games, carrying the ball 68 times for 249 yards and three receptions for eight yards. The rookie was buried behind two veterans (De'Von Achane and Raheem Mostert) and only had two games with a 30%+ snap share.

Jaylen Wright — Week 5
13 Carries for 86 Yards #Dolphins pic.twitter.com/nOEMSCGjte

— Doηmεgαh Mεdïα (@donmegah) October 7, 2024

Mostert is no longer on the team, clearing the runway for Wright to be the RB2 in 2025. Achane is going to be the featured part of the running game again, but Wright has the size (5-foot-10, 210 pounds) and speed (4.38 40-yard dash) to make an impact as a rusher.

Historically, Miami’s run game is one of the most efficient groups in the NFL. The team is hoping it can return to that after investing in the offensive line this offseason. Wright should factor into that resurgence in 2025.

New England Patriots

DeMario Douglas, WR

DeMario Douglas was a sixth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft but has still made a consistent impact through his first two seasons. Douglas is a slot-specific player but has averaged 83 targets, 58 receptions, 591 yards, and 1.5 touchdowns per season. He has certainly benefited from a subpar supporting cast to begin his career.

I don't think this is exactly what the Patriots want in terms of feet/technique?

But it's exactly what they want in terms of results: Drake Maye puts the ball on the money despite a blitz. Demario Douglas beats his man.

TOUCHDOWN. pic.twitter.com/lIWthY2Eth

— Henry McKenna (@henrycmckenna) October 14, 2024

2025 will be the first time that Douglas has had strong target competition in the passing attack with Stefon Diggs, rookie Kyle Williams, and Mack Hollins. Douglas will not have a clear path to a huge target increase but should see higher-quality targets with defenses having to pay attention to other players.

Douglas is the forgotten man in this passing attack but has a track record of solid production with weak supporting casts. He will return to solid fantasy value again in 2025.

New York Jets

Braelon Allen, RB

There aren’t many pieces of the Jets offense that are worth rostering in fantasy. However, the team’s new coaching staff seems to be intent on utilizing a multi-headed approach in the backfield. That gives second-year running back Braelon Allen a chance to be fantasy-relevant in 2025.

Allen had a solid rookie season after being selected in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Jets. He carried the ball 92 times for 334 yards and two touchdowns while adding 19 receptions (on 27 targets) for 148 yards and a touchdown. The rookie started the season strong but struggled to maintain consistency in his first season.

Jets RB Braelon Allen is set for a ‘significant role’ this season💪

Allen as a rookie rushed for 334 yards on 92 carries (3.6 YPC) and 3 total TDs, and he’s now expected to get more touches in year two.

Via: @nyjets #JetUp pic.twitter.com/dEVAnk3qSp

— Jets Roundtable 🟢 (@JetsRoundtable) June 9, 2025

New York’s new coaching staff has roots in Detroit’s offensive system, so there is precedent for the coaching staff to incorporate two backs. Allen is a solid power back who will be the thunder to Breece Hall’s lightning in 2025. Expect him to be fantasy-relevant next season.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Calvin Austin III, WR

Initially, I had Roman Wilson as the sleeper to target for the Pittsburgh Steelers. That was before the team completed a trade for Jonnu Smith, a move that will likely change the complexion of its offense (more 12 personnel and fewer true slot receiver reps for Wilson).

Now that we have a better idea of Pittsburgh's offense, the new sleeper to target in Pittsburgh is veteran receiver Calvin Austin III.

Calvin Austin pic.twitter.com/eouXRtfB9E

— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) May 4, 2025

Austin saw his role in Pittsburgh's offense grow in 2024. The second-year receiver caught 36 of 58 targets for 548 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 15.2 yards per reception. Austin emerged as the team's WR2 behind George Pickens and had some impressive plays where he could showcase his elite speed.

Austin will be the WR2 again in 2025, this time serving as a complement to DK Metcalf. We can expect Metcalf to dominate targets on the field, but Austin will be out there in two-receiver sets. Austin has legitimate deep-threat speed and will benefit greatly from Aaron Rodgers (65 20+ yard passes in 2024, sixth most) taking chances on him on play-action passes.

The third-year receiver's production will be boom-or-bust in Arthur Smith's run-heavy offense. However, he can have very big weeks with his strengths matching up perfectly with Rodgers.

Tennessee Titans

Elic Ayomanor, WR

The Titans drafted Stanford’s Elic Ayomanor in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Ayomanor was a favorite dynasty target on Sleeper heading into the draft thanks to two strong final seasons at Stanford (125 receptions for 1,844 yards and 12 touchdowns).

No WR from the #NFLDraft2025 class accounted for a higher percentage of their team's receiving yards when on the field than... Elic Ayomanor

What might this stat tell us?

In a better offensive environment, Ayomanor might have put up some crazy numbers. His film showed a player… https://t.co/AuYnIgU0uY pic.twitter.com/PgKzcg6jDU

— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) April 23, 2025

Ayomanor didn’t get great draft capital, but he did find a strong landing spot with the Tennessee Titans. Tennessee is in the middle of overhauling its pass-catching group, leaving plenty of opportunities for snaps next to Calvin Ridley. The team will likely start the season with experienced players (Van Jefferson and Tyler Lockett) but could shift to younger players as the season progresses.

That means Ayomanor could see a consistent role down the stretch, especially in the red zone, where his route running and contested catch abilities can thrive.

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