Identifying fantasy football sleepers and under-the-radar players is one of the most fun parts of our fake game, but the process has changed over the last few years with so much information now at our disposal.

With a fresh new crop of rookies comes the opportunity to find draft-day bargains. When it comes to dynasty drafts and rookie sleepers for redraft/early best ball leagues, we have to dig pretty deep. That’s why I’ve embarked on a search for what I like to call “true sleepers” – small school and late third-round or Day 3 draft picks who could surprise early in the NFL.

After researching and putting the final touches on my 2025 rookie dynasty rankings, I’ve identified a handful of running backs who could be this year’s Bucky Irving or last year’s cover boy of this same article: Tyrone Tracy Jr.

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2025 NFL Draft Prospects: Dynasty Rookie RB Sleepers

Finding the Next Sleeper

One of the biggest indicators that led me to feature guys like Elijah Mitchell, Rhamondre Stevenson, Tyler Allgeier, Tyjae Spears, Keaton Mitchell, and Bucky Irving as draft-day sleepers in previous versions of this article was the prospect’s high average yards per snap or scrimmage play. Simply put, when the running back is on the field, he accumulates yards at a high rate.

Last year, Irving ranked fourth in the class with a 3.11 yards per snap rate.

Below you can find the top rates from this year’s class:

Yes, Ashton Jeanty is as advertised. For more on him and the top of the class, check out my article on the Top Dynasty Rookie Running Backs (2025 Fantasy Football).

2025 Rookie Running Backs College Average Yards Per Snap/Offensive Play

Marcus Yarns (RB – Delaware)

Hard to talk about sleepers in this year’s draft class and not mention Delaware’s Marcus Yarns.

He is by far my most drafted player through 35-plus in Origins best ball drafts on Fast Draft. He is an undersized RB at 5-foot-11 and 193 pounds. But he averaged nearly three yards per snap during his four-year career at Delaware. Averaged 3.20-plus yards per snap over the last two seasons.

Derek Brown’s NFL comp player for Yarns is James Cook, which I rather like. Thanks, DBro, I’m stealing it.

Yarns probably could have transferred to a bigger school during his senior year, but opted to stay at Delaware due to his “love of the program.”

The obvious concerns are about his real-life draft capital, as there is a chance that he goes undrafted or late on Day 3. Although I think some team will take a flier on the Delaware RB with explosiveness, juice, and pass-catching chops.

Yarns also dominated production at his small school, averaging a 25% dominator rating the last two seasons. That puts you on the radar of NFL teams along with 4.45 wheels and 75th percentile or better jumps.

RJ Harvey (RB – UCF)

R.J. Harvey isn’t as deep a sleeper as Yarns is, but he is a player you will want exposure to in your rookie drafts. Because when I watched him, he reminded me of all the RBs selected in Day 3 that drastically beat their real-life draft capital. Bucky Irving, Kyren Williams, Chase Brown, etc.

His career yards per snap of 2.95 ranks top 5 in the class, with his 3.15 yards per snap last season also one of the highest in the class.

The efficiency is worth chasing alongside an elite dominator rating at 43% – tied for second-best in the draft class. Finished top 10 in FBS in forced missed tackles, trailing only Jeanty in rushes of 10-plus yards.

In fact, according to Sports Info Solutions, Harvey led the entire class in boom percentage at 18%. Boom rate is SIS’s metric that captures the percentage of plays that result in an EPA greater than +1 (great play for the offense).

And all these accolades come with the context that Harvey’s start to his college RB career was tumultuous. He was a converted QB who also tore his ACL in 2021.

Because over the past two seasons, the counting stats are there. According to Dane Brugler of The Athletic, only Ashton Jeanty, Omarion Hampton, and Tahj Brooks had more rushing yards in the FBS since the start of 2023.

It’s not ideal that Harvey is 24 years old, but I’m less concerned about his older age, given most RBs hardly sniff second contracts in the NFL anyway.

Jordan James (RB – Oregon)

Jordan James is rumored to be a potential third-to-fourth-round pick, according to Tony Pauline, vastly surpassing his expected draft position. CBS and former PFF Draft Analyst, Mike Renner, is also a very big fan of James, citing that he has the best vision in the class on Kevin Clark’s This Is Football Podcast.

James also received a third-round grade from Dane Brugler in the Beast 2025 Draft Guide. Needless to say, the NFL seems to value James’ skill set, and I agree. I liked what I saw watching James, who I think plays more physically than his 5-foot-9 and 205-pound frame would suggest.

His yards per snap ranked top-5 in his lone year starting for the Oregon Ducks in 2024. In 2023, while splitting snaps with Bucky Irving, James led the FBS in PFF rushing grade.

James has only just turned 21 years old and posted one of the best rushing success rates in college football last season. Second in the class in positive run percentage (Sports Info Solutions). 36.5 percent of his 2024 carries resulted in a first down or touchdown, No. 2 in the FBS (Dane Brugler).

Simply put, even if he doesn’t break off the sexy 80-yard rushing TDs…James constantly moves the chains and holds the ball tightly (zero recorded fumbles).

NFL coaches gravitate toward these archetypes, and I think that’s why he is highly regarded as a sleeper.

Career Dominator Ratings (2025 Draft Classes)

Bhayshul Tuten (RB – Virginia Tech)

Bhayshul Tuten has been on an atomic rise since the NFL Combine, but we have been ahead of the curve on him. He was one of my favorite RB sleepers in this draft class pre-testing, so I was ecstatic to see him perform at such a high level.

The Virginia Tech running back put on an absolute spectacle, running the fastest 40-yard dash time among running backs at the NFL Scouting Combine. At 206 pounds, Bhayshul Tuten ran the same 40-yard dash as De’Von Achane, who weighed 188 pounds.

Unfortunately, the strong testing has lessened his “sleeper” appeal.

But even so, if he hits, nobody will remember the price you paid.

Tuten was a dominant producer at the college level with a career 30% dominator rating, highlighted by a 37% dominator rating last season. And that was despite him dealing with a mid-season ankle injury.

He finished the 2024 season top 10 in the FBS in yards after contact per attempt (4.4) among RBs with at least 100 carries. Also ranked 6th in the 2025 RB draft class in yards after contact per attempt and breakaway run percentage (54%).

According to Sports Info Solutions, Tuten finished 1^st in the class in broken tackle rate per 100 dropbacks.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt (RB – Arizona)

Jacory Croskey-Merritt had a very unusual finish to his college career, as eligibility limitations allowed him just one game played for the Wildcats in 2024. And this was after he came off a monster 2023 season with New Mexico when he posted a 33% dominator rating.

He was PFF’s 4^th-highest graded running back in 2023. JCM’s real-life draft capital after essentially missing all of 2024 without an NFL Combine invite (although he has pro day testing numbers) doesn’t project favorably, but his film and Shrine Bowl Offensive MVP honors suggest that somebody will take a shot at him.

However, I have to point out that his career yards per snap his poor, even if it was nearly three yards over his last 14 games played.

Croskey-Merritt has shades of Aaron Jones to his play style.

It’s a shame we couldn’t see more of him in 2024, as he came out of the gates red hot. On 13 carries in Arizona’s opener against New Mexico, Croskey-Merritt rushed for 106 yards on 13 carries with one rushing touchdown and seven forced missed tackles.

Single Season Dominator Ratings (2025 Draft Classes)

Tahj Brooks (RB – Texas Tech)

I was very impressed after watching some of Tahj Brooks‘ highlights from his long college career. The 5-foot-9 and 214-pound RB just seems to understand the major nuances of the running back position.

And when you check his stats, it’s hard to believe he’s not generating more buzz in the draft community. In 2024, he posted a 30% dominator rating AFTER forcing the most missed tackles (96) in the nation (PFF) the year before.

As already mentioned, he has been ultra productive in the last two seasons with 1500 yards in consecutive seasons.

The defining trait that film grinders gush over when it comes to Brooks is his ability to pass protect. That will help get him time on the field as a rookie. Brooks saw the third-most pass protection snaps per game among the RB class in 2024 (Sports Info Solutions).

Dylan Sampson (RB – Tennessee)

The Tennessee RB broke out in 2024 with a 34% dominator rating and is yet to turn 21 years old. Dylan Sampson is an undersized player at 5-foot-8 and 199 pounds soaking wet, but you can see him being an uber-efficient RB on a per-touch basis at the next level.

He looks like a slightly bigger version of Dion Lewis, who had his flashes of greatness in fantasy football. Although if you ask Sampson, according to the Athletic, Sampson models his game (and No.6 jersey number) after Alvin Kamara.

Put this guy in a backfield with a power runner, and you’ve got the perfect thunder/lightning combination. And chances are, he will always “look” better on his handful of touches.

As I noted in my “How to Value 2025 Rookies Pre-Draft,” finding this year’s De’Von Achane might be the key to finding the highest producers beyond the top dogs. I think Sampson has some similarities in his profile.

Especially if he ends up in an outside zone scheme that will put him in space. According to Sports Info Solutions, he ranks inside the top-3 in positive run percentage in both outside and zone scheme runs.

DJ Giddens (RB – Kansas State)

DJ Giddens is 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds with 4.43 wheels. He dominated at Kansas State the last two seasons after Deuce Vaughn left in 2022. Good for a 24% career dominator rating since the start of 2023. Career yards per play is solid at 2.7.

The production, combined with the size/speed profile, makes Giddens super enticing. And he could end up in a prime landing spot given his former offensive coordinator at Kansas State, Conor Reily, is the Cowboys’ new offensive line coach. Note that Reily already coached two currently rostered Cowboys: Cooper Beebe and Deuce Vaughn at the collegiate level.

Brashard Smith (RB – SMU)

There’s an NFL team that could have some fun with Brashard Smith. The WR-RB convert is following in the footsteps of Antonio Gibson, Tyrone Tracy, etc, as the latest pass-catcher to make the switch to the backfield one year ahead of professional level.

Smith exploded in his first year as a full-time running back for SMU, hanging a 32% dominator rating and a 2.82 yards per play. According to Dane Brugler of The Athletic, Smith totaled 1,977 all-purpose yards in 2024, No. 4 in the FBS behind only Ashton Jeanty, Cam Skattebo, and Omarion Hampton.

Smith stacks up at 5-foot-10 and sub-200 pounds, which makes him lighter than Tracy/Gibson.

This probably makes him destined for more of a third-down passing back role, more than an RB who can shoulder a massive load outside a spot start or two.

One of his Mockdraftable.com comparisons is Jayden Reed, and I think it’s spot on. Imagine Reed as a full-time RB. Rational? Probably not. But fun? Oh yes.

Smith can fly.

Honorable Mentions:

Jarquez Hunter (RB – Auburn)

Against SEC-level competition, Jarquez Hunter finished fifth in the class in total forced missed tackles and fifth in elusive rating (PFF) while leading the conference in yards per carry (The Athletic).

That led to a 24% dominator rating. Also, Hunter carved out a bit of a timeshare in his second season at Auburn behind future third-round pick, Tank Bigsby.

The numbers between the two RBs weren’t very drastic despite the experience difference, and that suggests Hunter won’t back down from a competitive NFL backfield.

Kyle Monangai (RB – Rutgers)

Back-to-back seasons with 1,200-plus rushing yards with a top 10 PFF rushing grade in 2023 (33% dominator rating).

Single Season Dominator Ratings (2021-2025 Draft Classes)

Career Dominator Ratings (2021-2025 Draft Classes)

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