Four Players You Can’t Sleep on in the 2025 Fantasy Football Season
The success of fantasy football teams is not just about the first pick or two; it's about your team as a whole. The players you draft in the later rounds serve as the building blocks for your team's success. A sleeper is a player whose average draft position, ADP, is lower than what they're going to produce; therefore, they're likely to outperform their current draft position. While the players you draft in the early rounds are top players in the league, it's the players you draft in the later rounds that help you win it all. Everyone is searching for the next Bucky Irving or Chase Brown of this year's fantasy football draft, and here are four sleepers that could be just that for your team.
1. TreVeyon Henderson
Even though TreVeyon Henderson has been soaring in preseason, his average draft position puts him in the fourth round. During preseason, he recorded two touchdowns, including a one-hundred-yard kick return. The New England Patriots drafted the five-foot-10 and 203-pound running back with the 38th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, which can be influenced by his amazing career and 2024 National Championship win at Ohio State, and his 4.43 run at the 2025 NFL Combine. In his senior season, Henderson produced 1,300 all-purpose yards while splitting the backfield with Quinshon Judkins. Henderson is sure to have a successful season as he will be led by the Patriots' new head coach, whom they hired in January, Mike Vrabel. Vrabel is sure to come in and do great things as a head coach. During his tenure as the head coach of the Tennessee Titans, he did a great job leaning on the run and focusing on making plays with the team's running back. We will see this again at New England and with Henderson.
2. Tyler Warren
In Indianapolis, Tyler Warren looks to make a big impact and help lead the Indianapolis Colts to a division title. Even though Warren may be coming into the NFL as a rookie, he established himself due to his talent and size, being six-foot-six and 256 pounds as a tight end at Penn State. In his last season in college, Warren had a breakout season where he recorded 104 catches for 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns, which made him a target for NFL franchises across the league. His amazing performance in college and at the draft led him to be the 14th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. At the 2025 NFL Combine, he ran a 4.75 40-yard dash. With the recent news of Daniel Jones being announced as the starting quarterback, this will give Warren the opportunity for checkdowns from his quarterback. Most defensive coaches raved about how Warren is super quick, and this will translate to juking out linebackers, which is a matchup nightmare for most of these defensive coaches.
3. Dak Prescott
As Dak Prescott enters his 10th season, he is looking to make a difference right from the start. In this offseason, the Dallas Cowboys acquired Pittsburgh Steelers star wide receiver George Pickens, Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams, and, on top of that, they also drafted University of Texas star running back Jaydon Blue in the 2025 NFL Draft. This is a phenomenally talented offense that will have all of their opponents' defenses on their toes because they not only have to worry about their star quarterback and receiver CeeDee Lamb, but additionally for Pickens. Furthermore, in the offseason, they also signed Jake Ferguson to a long-term deal. As Prescott is healthy from his recent hamstring injury, he looks to get back on track from the break season he had two years ago. This is the first time in Prescott's career that he has two elite wide receivers on the same roster. Their defense looks so poor in training camp, it will allow Prescott to put up large numbers. With the offensive weapons and the stable offensive line, this should allow Prescott to break out.
4. Tetairoa McMillan
The Carolina Panthers drafted Tetairoa McMillan with the eighth pick, and he has been soaring in training camp. This six-foot-five receiver is a great athlete and an even better route runner. With the need for a playmaker in their offense, McMillan is in a perfect situation for a breakout season. Going into the year, the Panthers have yet to solidify their go-to receiver, so it will give McMillian the chance to prove himself and become their guy early on in the season. McMillan is looking to make an impact from the start of the regular season. The Carolina Panthers are going to be struggling throughout the entirety of the 2025 regular season because their defense is a bottom-tier defense, so this will give McMillian many chances to catch the ball late in the game and make a difference. Additionally, their quarterback, Bryce Young, has looked better as the season progresses, and he has had a great connection in training camp. With McMillian having a minor hamstring injury, it will give any fantasy player a great chance to get him later in the draft.
It's likely that if you draft one of these four amazing players, you will have a good chance to win your league, and luckily, you'd be able to wait until one of the later rounds, as we know these four can be categorized as sleepers. When it comes to fantasy football, every player on your team matters and contributes to your overall success in the league. Even though your first pick is an elite guy, your drafts aren't won in the first round; they are won by every player you choose in every round of the draft, from the fourth round and on. The best way to ensure you will become victorious this January is by having depth and remembering that every round counts.
