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Mike Fanelli provides 10 Day 3 NFL Draft prospects who could be sleepers and have fantasy football upside early on in their careers. Are they worth a late-round pick?
The 2025 NFL Draft is nearly here. While the rumor mill has been on fire, most of the information can’t be trusted. Therefore, the first two nights of the NFL Draft should be full of surprises. However, let’s not forget about the third day of the NFL Draft.
Every year, there are Day 3 players who have fantasy football value as rookies. Last year, Bucky Irving and Tyrone Tracy Jr. were fantasy stars despite being fourth and fifth-round picks, respectively. Two years ago, Puka Nacua was a superstar despite being the last pick of the fifth round. Three years ago, Dameon Pierce and Tyler Allgeier were solid RB2s for fantasy players. Meanwhile, Brock Purdy became a starting quarterback as the Mr. Irrelevant pick.
While the 2025 NFL Draft class likely won’t have a Nacua-like superstar, let’s look at 10 Day 3 prospects with fantasy upside.
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Day 3 Sleeper Quarterback Prospects
Will Howard – Ohio State
Howard had an impressive college career. Last year, he completed 73 percent of his pass attempts for 4,010 passing yards and 35 touchdowns in his lone season at Ohio State. By comparison, Howard completed 58.8 percent of his pass attempts for 5,786 yards and 48 touchdowns in 34 games during his four years at Kansas State.
No one should be surprised that Howard’s best season came with the weapons and coaching staff at Ohio State. The ideal landing spot for him is with the Las Vegas Raiders, who hired his former offensive coordinator, Chip Kelly. While it would take an injury to Geno Smith, Howard could be a fantasy star if given an opportunity.
Riley Leonard – Notre Dame
Quarterbacks who can make plays with their legs can be worth their weight in gold for fantasy players. Leonard had a career year in his lone season at Notre Dame, completing 66.7 percent of his pass attempts for 2,861 yards and 21 touchdowns. However, his fantasy appeal will come from his legs.
Last year, Leonard had 906 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns for Notre Dame, tying Jeremiyah Love for the team lead in rushing scores. By comparison, Leonard had 19 rushing touchdowns in 27 career games at Duke. While he won’t get drafted as a starting quarterback, Leonard could have a Lamar Jackson-lite rookie season if he gets on the field.
THERE GOES THAT MAN
3️⃣4️⃣ YARD RUSHING TOUCHDOWN FOR @rileyleonard13_
📺 CBS#GoIrish☘️ pic.twitter.com/8a9Xh1p0Ze
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) September 14, 2024
Day 3 Sleeper Running Back Prospects
Cam Skattebo – Arizona State
While he is far from the fastest running back in the draft class, Skattebo is a talented prospect. Unfortunately, he will likely slide into the fourth round because of the lack of home-run speed. Yet, Skattebo is a physical runner and a talented pass protector. Furthermore, he is a threat in the passing game.
The former Arizona State star was the best running back not named Ashton Jeanty in 2024. Skattebo had 293 rushing attempts for 1,711 yards and 21 touchdowns, leading the Big 12 in attempts and yards. Furthermore, he had 45 receptions for 605 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Anyone who needs proof that Skattebo can be a fantasy star should watch his performance in the playoff game against Texas.
Devin Neal – Kansas
Neal isn’t a flashy running back. He ran a 4.58 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, the fourth slowest among running backs. However, Neal was a consistent running back at Kansas. Last season, he had 219 rushing attempts for 1,266 yards and 16 touchdowns, totaling over 1,000 yards for the third consecutive year.
Furthermore, the former Kansas star had 16 rushing touchdowns in back-to-back seasons. While he lacks elite speed, Neal is an effective runner with three-down abilities. He had 24 receptions for 254 receiving yards last year. Don’t be surprised if Neal turns into this year’s Tyrone Tracy Jr. in the right situation.
Bhayshul Tuten – Virginia Tech
While he didn’t get much attention early in the draft process, Tuten has become a popular sleeper candidate over the past several weeks. He had an impressive career at Virginia Tech, totaling 356 rushing attempts for 2,022 yards and 25 touchdowns over the past two years, recording 10 or more rushing scores in both seasons.
Fantasy players who love speed will want to draft Tuten this year. He ran a 4.32 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, the fastest among running backs and fifth-best overall. Some believe Tuten can be this year’s Isiah Pacheco because of the speed. The former Virginia Tech star’s speed could make him a fantasy star, even if he is only a part-time player.
Officially a 4.32!
Bhayshul Tuten is tied for the 4th fastest 40 by a RB since 2003 👀
📺: #NFLCombine on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/x0VUV5i2ap— NFL (@NFL) March 1, 2025
Day 3 Sleeper Wide Receiver Prospects
Xavier Restrepo – Miami
Unfortunately, Restrepo’s chances of being a Day 2 pick went out the window following his poor pro day performance. Reportedly, he ran a 4.8 40-yard dash, which would be historically awful. Furthermore, many scouts believe Restrepo can only play from the slot. However, that doesn’t mean he won’t be a fantasy star.
Restrepo had a breakout season in 2024 with Cameron Ward under center, totaling 69 receptions for 1,127 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns, leading the ACC in yards and scores. Even if he is a full-time slot player in the NFL, Restrepo can produce for fantasy players. Hunter Renfrow finished as a WR1 a few years ago despite being a full-time slot player as a Day 3 draft pick.
Savion Williams – TCU
Many don’t love Williams because of a lack of elite production despite spending five years at TCU. He had 60 receptions for 611 receiving yards and six touchdowns last season, setting career highs in every category. However, Williams shined as a red-zone weapon, displaying the ability to high-point the ball.
— _ (@tixmix99) August 31, 2024
Furthermore, he is a weapon in the run game. Despite measuring at 6-foot-4 and 222 pounds at the NFL Combine, Williams ran an impressive 4.48 40-yard dash. More importantly, he had 51 rushing attempts for 322 yards and six touchdowns last year at TCU. At worst, Williams should have a Cordarrelle Patterson-like career.
Jaylin Lane – Virginia Tech
NFL teams looking for a slot receiver with over-the-top deep ball speed will love Lane. The former Virginia Tech star ran a 4.34 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, the third fastest among wide receivers. He also showed impressive quickness and change of direction, ranking third in the 20-yard shuttle (4.12 seconds) and second in the three-cone drill (6.75 seconds) among wide receivers at the NFL Combine.
Last year, Lane was a factor in the pass and run game for Virginia Tech. He had 56 touches for 582 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns despite inconsistent quarterback production. Lane would be an excellent fit with the Houston Texans as a long-term replacement for Christian Kirk.
Day 3 Sleeper Tight End Prospects
Oronde Gadsden II – Syracuse
Gadsden is a work in progress at tight end. He spends the first two years of his college career playing wide receiver before moving to tight end during the 2023 offseason. Furthermore, Gadsden has missed nearly a third of the games in his college career because of injury, including 11 contests in 2023.
Yet, the former Syracuse star has been productive when healthy. Gadsden averaged 67 receptions for 954.5 receiving yards and 6.5 touchdowns per season in the two years he played more than eight games. Furthermore, he played a massive role in Syracuse’s 10-3 record, ranking second on the team in receiving scores (seven).
TOUCHDOWN GADSDEN‼️
Oronde Gadsden II tallies two TDs on the day to give Syracuse the W over No. 23 Georgia Tech@CuseFootball | @Cuse | @cpisecurity pic.twitter.com/qvzoePhfv3
— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) September 7, 2024
Jake Briningstool – Clemson
The 2025 NFL Draft class has several talented tight end prospects. While he won’t be a top 100 pick, Briningstool should be an early Day 3 selection. He had a solid college career, totaling at least 49 receptions for 498 receiving yards and five touchdowns in back-to-back years at Clemson despite playing alongside some talented wide receivers.
Furthermore, Briningstool did an impressive job playing through contact despite having a smaller frame in college. He won’t separate at a high level against man coverage. Yet, Briningstool knows how to find the weak spots in zone coverage, showing off solid body control. While he won’t get drafted as a starting tight end, don’t be surprised if Briningstool has fantasy value a year or two from now.
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