10 Fantasy Football Rookie Draft Sleepers - Undervalued Players to Target (2025)

April 11, 2025

John's analyzes his top fantasy football rookie draft sleepers for 2025: Travis Hunter, Tre Harris, Bhayshul Tuten, Jayden Higgins, Brashard Smith, RJ Harvey, more.

The 2025 NFL Draft is less than a few weeks away, so it's time to start thinking about who may be sleepers in this year's rookie drafts. Obviously, which team each player goes to will significantly impact their fantasy production, but we can still evaluate them based purely on their skills.

This is a valuable thing to do. We shouldn't totally fade players who aren't hyped massively and don't get an ideal landing spot. There are multiple examples of players who don't get great landing spots and still are very productive, like Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving. No one expected his massive 2024 season, and many believed he'd be the clear RB2 behind RB Rachaad White.

White was the RB4 in PPR in 2023, so there was a lot of doubt about Irving ever getting a significant role. But it happened, and the spot wasn't a great reason to fade Irving, who was somewhat of a sleeper heading into 2025. So let's break down all of my biggest sleepers in dynasty fantasy football rookie drafts ahead of the 2025 NFL season.

Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado

Hunter will mostly play wide receiver at the next level if his coaches don't want to get fired. Think about it this way: think about how NFL teams would answer the following question. "Would you rather have Justin Jefferson or Jalen Ramsey on a rookie contract?" Any management group that answers Ramsey should be immediately fired in this hypothetical situation.

Travis Hunter in 1 clip.
-Improvises
-Elite body adjustment to ball trajectory
-Attacks the ball, big vertical
-Elite awareness
-Sells to the outside after the catch
-Hard jab fake to the outside, cuts back in
-Makes 3 guys miss
WR1 pic.twitter.com/XxlN0fMgR8

— JohnJohn Analysis (@JohnJohnalytics) March 17, 2025

The other question I'd like to ask teams is this: "Do you think Hunter has a lot of room to grow as a WR?" I imagine all of them would say yes. He was raw as a prospect, yet he put up great numbers and likely single-handedly got his quarterback much better draft capital.

I don't want to leave any rookie draft without Hunter. He is an astoundingly good athlete with tremendous upside.

Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan

Loveland is an excellent route-runner and separator. Compared to the other TEs in this class, he should have the most immediate success. With some more development, he could become the centerpiece of a team's passing offense or serve as a de facto WR2 on a team that lacks one. A lot of teams lack a good WR2.

A 6'4" WR weighing 210-220 pounds would be praised for this route. Colston Loveland is running it at 6'6" and 245 pounds. Ridiculous pic.twitter.com/un8ozAKPlj

— JohnJohn Analysis (@JohnJohnalytics) March 25, 2025

I've seen conflicting numbers about his height and weight, but I'm going with the numbers from his combine on the official NFL website. You can get Loveland quite a bit cheaper than Penn State TE Tyler Warren, and Loveland is the superior separator and route-runner with more receiving upside. So you should take him if you want better value.

RJ Harvey, RB, UCF

Harvey is very elusive, has massive athletic upside, is a great pass-catcher, and is a wizard at turning negative plays into positive gains when the offensive line doesn't open up holes for him. He's an older prospect, at 24 years old, but he tested excellently at the NFL Combine, and he has a ton of upside for at least his rookie season.

there is so much to love about UCF RB RJ Harvey's game

~ Phone booth creation vs unblocked DL/LB
~ Tempo behind pulling OL to maximize blocking
~ Juice and finish when given the second level pic.twitter.com/PdAAWKYo2U

— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) March 14, 2025

Harvey put up monster numbers in his final two campaigns at UCF. He should immediately be productive in the NFL. His blend of elusiveness, speed, explosiveness, and receiving upside will make it hard for an NFL offensive coordinator to pass up on his talents, and he should get significant touches in Year 1, especially if he's selected by a team that doesn't have a clear RB1.

Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Virginia Tech

Tuten is my favorite running back in this class. I'm not saying he'll outproduce Ashton Jeanty in Year 1, nor does that remotely matter, because he's being picked much later in the draft. I do think it's a great idea to trade back and stockpile picks in the second and third rounds, partly because of players like Tuten.

The idea that Bhayshul Tuten is just ridiculously fast and doesn't possess a deep skill set is just inaccurate. He'll have plenty of receiving upside and is very hard to bring down. The acceleration is nuts. He could become a wheel route and screen pass monster in Year 1. pic.twitter.com/AMY6RuEpu6

— JohnJohn Analysis (@JohnJohnalytics) March 25, 2025

Tuten is remarkably skilled and highly underrated right now. You can probably get him in the late second round. With enough volume, he should win leagues in Year 1.

Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State

To me, Higgins is a player that people want Tetairoa McMillan and Luther Burden III to be, combined. He's a silky smooth route-runner, has surprising speed and acceleration for his size, is a fantastic separator, has amazing body control, and can immediately be a team's prototypical "X" WR.

If you're picking Luther Burden for his after the catch abilities I suggest you instead take Jayden Higgins, who's elite both before and after the catch pic.twitter.com/d2PkIztK8r

— JohnJohn Analysis (@JohnJohnalytics) March 23, 2025

Higgins is another player I firmly believe will win leagues in 2025.

Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa State

Noel's upside is Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, who has much more speed and explosiveness. Unfortunately for his fantasy value, but incredibly fortunate for yours, he had to share a team with the Higgins, as mentioned earlier. Noel has league-winning upside in Year 1, just like his former teammate. We pray he goes to a team with a good quarterback.

Half pirouette, and if you pause it right when the ball arrives he catches it with one hand and sticks it to his mitts before securing with the other just to make sure. Absurd play. pic.twitter.com/ka6lamA2kL

— JohnJohn Analysis (@JohnJohnalytics) March 24, 2025

If just one or the other was on the team in 2024, he could have easily surpassed 1,500 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns, but that wasn't the case, so their values are being depressed because of that. Trade for multiple second-round picks, and make picking Noel and Higgins a top priority. It will pay off.

Brashard Smith, RB, SMU

Smith is a Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane-type player. Smith has excellent receiving upside since he's a converted WR and should be lethal on routes out of the backfield, just like Achane was. Like Achane, he's a highly explosive and fast running back (he ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash) and can win running routes out of wide receiver spots in his formation. He can also improvise well when plays break down, getting open down the field for massive gains, and make some absurd circus catches.

You guys sure you don't want an RB that catch back shoulder fades? Achane was also undersized. Both have the speed, explosiveness and WR skillset to beat defensive backs, and the hands to make circus catches. pic.twitter.com/Cj9usRRTk1

— JohnJohn Analysis (@JohnJohnalytics) March 22, 2025

Smith is not just a back who will be used as a receiver on passing downs. He's an excellent football runner, too. He's most dangerous in space, and his size isn't what you expect from a workhorse back (especially from a pass-protection standpoint), which caps his upside, but he's ridiculously cheap in rookie drafts right now.

Brashard Smith is an undersized RB that can legitimately run routes from the pattern and win. Huge PPR upside. Not leaving fantasy drafts without him in any of my leagues. Explosive athlete too. pic.twitter.com/7GPfAWIBlE

— JohnJohn Analysis (@JohnJohnalytics) March 22, 2025

If it were just for the pure receiving upside in PPR leagues, he'd be worth a third-round pick in rookie drafts all day. I'd be comfortable taking him in the second, with the caveat that I want to stock up on as many picks as possible to take all the guys on this list.

Every Brashard Smith breakaway run (15+yards) from 2024 #NFLDraft2025 pic.twitter.com/UAjbx36rBX

— Ray G (@RayGQue) March 21, 2025

Smith has the speed to hit home-run plays, which is massively crucial for later-round picks. You can win fantasy matchups on just one or two huge plays or long touchdowns, and getting scoring like that from a late-round pick can cover for your team's other holes in the roster or push it into elite territory.

Draft Smith in all leagues if he's there in the third round. That's an insane value.

Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss

Dart is my QB1. He's the best processor in this year's draft class, makes the fewest boneheaded plays, has the best accuracy when dealing with pressure, and put up great numbers even when he had no one to throw it to in 2024. His best WR, Tre Harris, missed a lot of time with a groin injury.

QB draft prospects with last year’s class. Drew Allar added and sorted by PFF grade. pic.twitter.com/1x30rUS4aD

— Football Insights 📊 (@fball_insights) January 4, 2025

He has underrated rushing upside, and his film shows that he has the most nuanced understanding of the position. He should have the best rookie season among the top-3 quarterbacks in this class, including Dart, Shedeur Sanders, and Cam Ward.

I won't be picking Ward or Sanders in any rookie drafts. I'll just pick Dart wherever I can get him, especially in Superflex/2QB leagues. He's a better player at a cheaper price.

Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss

Harris is the most unfairly hated WR in this class. He's a bit of an older prospect, but his film in 2023 and 2024 was incredible. There's not much he can't do. He regularly breaks tackles, carries defenders with him for extra yards, gets wide open due to his elite route-running nuance and separation skills, rarely loses jump balls, and dominated everyone in 2024.

Tre Harris is an elite prospect.
-Elite feel for zone coverage lets him get WIDE open
-Immediately makes sharp turn after catch to get the best angle to run away from the defender
-Perfectly placed, NASTY stiff arm levels defender
-Only brought down when DB falls on his ankles pic.twitter.com/dbWIyMiB8b

— JohnJohn Analysis (@JohnJohnalytics) March 18, 2025

He has a disgusting stiff-arm, is fantastic against zone coverage, can manipulate defensive backs and pace his routes enough to win vertically even without elite speed, and shattered the efficiency record for most yards per route run against man coverage in a season in college football history.

Tre Harris is a lot like Puka Nacua. You can't cover him, because he's open when he's covered. TMac's one hander against Colorado gets more attention than this, but Harris is falling down after getting interfered with and still catches it. Harris has elite body coordination. pic.twitter.com/4azKWhcw4W

— JohnJohn Analysis (@JohnJohnalytics) March 19, 2025

He has no shortage of absurd highlight-worthy plays, and it's likely that his groin injury significantly hampered his abilities in 2024, which makes his production even more absurd. He looked to have a bit more juice on his 2023 tape.

Tre Harris' route running is criminally underrated. Separates so fast running two variants of the same route. Sells the outside fake even harder the second time. Mind games with the DB. Insult to injury when he slips his first tackle and carries him for the 1st down later pic.twitter.com/1tEcRv0fBO

— JohnJohn Analysis (@JohnJohnalytics) March 21, 2025

The criticism that his production mostly came against small schools isn't a knock on his talents, either. There are mountains of examples of him embarrassing corners from bigger schools, sometimes multiple times per game, with his routes.

Jarquez Hunter, RB, Auburn

Hunter is an intriguing player. Thanks to Dataroma on X for bringing him to my attention and pointing out his similarities with Irving. Hunter is a smaller prospect, but his blend of elusiveness and burst could quickly land him a nice RB2 role.

Jarquez Hunter is not the most athletic or biggest RB out there, which is likely driving down his draft value. He does have some speed, but has just a 40th percentile burst score and stands at just 5'9".

He poses a lot of similarities to Bucky Irving's college profile, IMO:… https://t.co/aKvOePbyXO

— Dataroma (@ffdataroma) March 25, 2025

The film also shows a surprisingly good player, considering how low his ADP is in rookie rankings.

Jarquez Hunter offers some really nice late round upside:

- Powerful Player
- Runs Through Arm Tackles
- Plus Game Speed
- Good Enough Game Vision

Keep an eye where he lands in the NFL draft 👀 pic.twitter.com/FRBCbyDcCv

— Dynasty Nerds (@DynastyNerds) March 18, 2025

Note his re-acceleration after breaking through contact. That's a highly underrated skill RBs can have, and it's pretty nuanced, but every yard counts at the next level, and if it allows him to break away big runs at the next level (it should), he should be a player to get excited about. I'd hammer Hunter as much as possible in the fourth round of dynasty drafts.

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