Finding value late in fantasy football drafts can be the difference between a good team and a championship contender. That’s why we asked our Featured Pros — a trusted collection of industry-leading fantasy football analysts — to share their favorite late-round draft steals for the 2025 season. Specifically, we wanted to know: Which one running back outside the top 45 in half-PPR ADP do you plan to target in all drafts and why? Whether you’re looking to stash upside on your bench or hit big with a sleeper pick, this expert-driven list of fantasy football sleepers at RB is loaded with insights to help you win your draft in the later rounds.
Fantasy Football Sleepers
Which one RB outside the top 45 in half-PPR RB ADP do you plan to target in all drafts as a late-round fantasy football sleeper and why?
Jaylen Wright (RB – MIA)
“I still have faith in Jaylen Wright in Miami. I’ve said many times that De’Von Achane is a trade-away target due to his price of dynasty RB5. Achane’s RB7 ADP is still a little high and makes me worried. Enter the much cheaper Dolphins back in Wright as a much less risky option. RB53 (173 overall) makes him someone I’d gladly want to stash on my bench. His 2024 stats weren’t great, but what we saw was worth another look this year.”
– Andrew Hall (FantasyPros)
“Here’s a Ringo summer special: Buy one sleeper, get the second one free. Jaylen Wright takes over for Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson in the Dolphins’ running back by committee (RBBC), both of whom are no longer in Miami. Wright is an explosive threat to score every time he touches the rock. And when it comes to New York, Sports Illustrated insider Albert Breer thinks Braelon Allen’s role in the Jets’ offense could be “pretty significant” in 2025. Both Wright and Allen already have part-time roles in RBBCs, but if anything happens to the other part of their respective committees (De’Von Achane or Breece Hall), then their fantasy potential opens up like the Red Sea.”
– Mark Ringo (Sleepers and Busts)
“There was some excitement for Jaylen Wright this time last year when the Dolphins gave up a future third-round pick to move up and draft him in the fourth round, but his season was a bit disappointing. However, Raheem Mostert is out of the picture now, and coach Mike McDaniel loves using two backs in his system. This offense can support another fantasy-relevant running back alongside De’Von Achane; it’s just a matter of who between Wright and newcomers Alexander Mattison and Ollie Gordon II. I’m going to bank on the speedster in Wright to fill that role and make a huge leap in his sophomore year.”
– Joey Meinerding (Fantasy Dink)
Brashard Smith (RB – KC)
“We’ll see how training camp pans out, but if he’s heavily involved in the backfield rotation early, as I expect, I’ll be drafting Brashard Smith everywhere this season as a final-round pick. The Chiefs are no strangers to allowing a seventh-round running back a legit shot at starting (hi, Isiah Pacheco), so we can’t say that Smith has zero shot. I am enamored with Smith’s receiving ability as a converted wide receiver, his lightning quickness and his possible upside as a rusher for a player still getting acclimated to the position. Last year, Smith ranked 34th in breakaway percentage, second in receiving grade and 22nd in yards per route run, per Pro Football Focus (PFF). Smith’s skill set is different from every other back in this depth chart. He could easily carve out a stand-alone role as Kansas City’s new Jerick McKinnon, with the upside to be their every-down back if Pacheco proves unable to stay healthy again.”
– Derek Brown (FantasyPros)
Elijah Mitchell (RB – KC)
“This isn’t the safest of answers, but I’ll take some chances on Elijah Mitchell/Brashard Smith in case one of them becomes the next shiny toy in the Chiefs’ backfield. IaiH Pacheco and Kareem Hunt have had their time in the sun, to be sure, but they’ve also had plenty of time on the sidelines due to injuries. Mitchell and Smith are both worth late-round dart throws in what is still a dynamic Chiefs offense. Whoever wins the No. 3 RB battle is the one to keep an eye on heading into the new season.”
– Zach Greubel (Gridiron Experts)
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