Early 2025 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Undervalued Draft Targets For Every AFC Team

March 27, 2025

Mike's top early fantasy football sleepers and targets from each AFC team for 2025 fantasy football leagues. His top sleeper targets for 2025 fantasy football.

Fantasy football is year-round, even for those who only play in redraft leagues.

Much will change over the next several months, including the rest of free agency, the NFL Draft, and training camp. However, it’s never too early to look at potential sleeper candidates and undervalued draft targets for next season.

Therefore, let’s look at the most undervalued draft target for every AFC team.

AFC East

Buffalo Bills – Ray Davis

James Cook is up for a contract extension after having a career year in 2024. While the Bills have shown no signs of trading the star running back, he has made public contract demands, which could lead to an offseason parting. Davis played well in limited action, averaging 6.3 half-point PPR fantasy points per game and totaling six offensive touchdowns.

Ray Davis takes it in for the TD! Time for snowballs in Buffalo ☃️

📺: #SFvsBUF on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/Mny7SZpama

— NFL (@NFL) December 2, 2024

Miami Dolphins – Jaylen Waddle

Unfortunately, Waddle had a disappointing 2024 season. He finished the year as the WR46, averaging eight half-point PPR fantasy points per game. However, the former Alabama star is one of the better young wide receivers in the NFL. Waddle has the talent needed to bounce back next year, especially with Tyreek Hill showing signs of decline last season.

New England Patriots – Hunter Henry

The Patriots arguably had the most lackluster set of weapons in the NFL last year. Yet Henry was a solid tight end for fantasy players. The veteran ended the season as the TE12, averaging seven half-point PPR fantasy points per game. Furthermore, Henry averaged 7.1 targets and 8.8 fantasy points per game in the nine contests he played at least 58% of the snaps with Drake Maye.

New York Jets – Justin Fields

Fantasy football is better when Fields is a starting quarterback for some NFL team. Thankfully, the Jets signed the former Ohio State star to a two-year deal in free agency, making him their starter in 2025. While he isn’t an average passer, Fields is one of the top rushing quarterbacks in the league. The veteran had five rushing touchdowns last year in his six starts.

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens – Rashod Bateman

Bateman had a productive 2024 season after struggling with staying healthy early in his career. The former Minnesota star became a reliable weapon for Lamar Jackson, totaling nine receiving touchdowns, including four over the final month of the regular season. More importantly, he finished the year as the WR34, averaging 8.9 half-point PPR fantasy points per game.

Cincinnati Bengals – Mike Gesicki

Thankfully, the Bengals managed to keep Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins in town. Both superstar wide receivers signed four-year extensions, keeping Joe Burrow’s receiving core intact. However, the team also re-signed Gesicki. While the veteran tight end averaged only 6.4 half-point PPR fantasy points per game in 2024, he was a borderline must-start option when Higgins missed time with injuries.

BREAKING: #Bengals WRs Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins exclusively tell me they’ve agreed to contract extensions with the team.

Ja'Marr gets: 4-years, $161M with $112M guaranteed — making him the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history.

Tee gets: 4-years, $115M with the first two… pic.twitter.com/zbdnEDELgz

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 17, 2025

Cleveland Browns – Jerome Ford

Unfortunately, Nick Chubb is a free agent and unlikely to return to Cleveland, making Ford the early favorite to start next season. The Browns likely won’t invest significant draft capital at running back as they head into another rebuilding project. Ford was productive in 2023, with Chubb missing most of the year, finishing as the RB17, and averaging 11.1 half-point PPR fantasy points per contest.

Pittsburgh Steelers – Cordarrelle Patterson

While the Steelers will likely add a running back during the NFL Draft, fantasy players expected the Dallas Cowboys to draft one last year, only for the team to stick with the options on their roster. Najee Harris is now a member of the Los Angeles Chargers, leaving Jaylen Warren as Pittsburgh’s No. 1 running back. However, don’t be surprised if Arthur Smith’s favorite, Patterson, gets enough work to be fantasy-relevant in 2025.

AFC South

Houston Texans – John Metchie III

Houston’s wide receiver core could look drastically different next season. Stefon Diggs likely won’t return after the team traded for Christian Kirk. Meanwhile, Tank Dell likely won’t play in 2025 because of a massive knee injury. Metchie hasn’t had any meaningful fantasy value in his career. However, that could change for the former second-rounder next year.

Indianapolis Colts – Alec Pierce

While Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs are the two big-name players in the team’s wide receiver room, Pierce had a breakout 2024 season. He finished the year as the WR39, averaging 8.9 half-point PPR fantasy points per game and totaling seven receiving touchdowns. More importantly, Pierce was the Colts’ best deep threat.

Anthony Richardson 60-YARD DIME TO ALEC PIERCE.

📺: #HOUvsIND on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/p0xddm5Kl1

— NFL (@NFL) September 8, 2024

Jacksonville Jaguars – Trevor Lawrence

Lawrence had an awful 2024 season, ending the year as the QB27 and averaging 14.5 fantasy points per game. However, he dealt with multiple injuries, missing seven of the final eight contests. Yet, fantasy players should expect him to bounce back under new head coach Liam Coen.

Tennessee Titans – Tyjae Spears

The Titans have a talented one-two punch in the backfield. While Tony Pollard is the starter, Spears earned more work at the end of the last year. He averaged 15.3 touches for 87 scrimmage yards, 1.3 touchdowns, and 18.7 half-point PPR fantasy points per game over his final three regular-season contests, totaling 20 or more twice.

AFC West

Denver Broncos – Marvin Mims Jr.

Many believe the Broncos will add a big-name wide receiver in free agency. However, they didn’t because of Mims and the other young wide receivers on the roster. The former Oklahoma star shined at the end of last season, totaling 13 receptions for 154 receiving yards, four touchdowns, and 45.8 half-point PPR fantasy points over the final two weeks.

Kansas City Chiefs – Marquise Brown

Brown quickly signed a one-year deal to remain with the Chiefs before the start of free agency. Unfortunately, the veteran only played in two regular season games because of an injury. While he has dealt with injuries in his career, Brown was once a fantasy star. The veteran could bounce back this upcoming year, especially if Rashee Rice misses significant time with a suspension.

Las Vegas Raiders – Jakobi Meyers

While the Raiders lacked a difference-maker at quarterback, Meyers had a solid 2024 season. The veteran finished the year as the WR23, averaging 11.6 half-point PPR fantasy points per game despite Brock Bowers breaking the record for receptions by a rookie. Meyers should be even better after trading for Geno Smith.

Los Angeles Chargers – Quentin Johnston

Fantasy players should have high hopes for Ladd McConkey in 2025 as Justin Herbert’s No. 1 wide receiver. However, Johnston made massive improvements last year after an awful rookie season. The former TCU star averaged 9.8 half-point PPR fantasy points per game while leading the team with eight receiving touchdowns.

Justin Herbert to Quentin Johnston for SIX!

📺: #TENvsLAC on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/FYxG1IJ9BA

— NFL (@NFL) November 10, 2024

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