Winning your fantasy football league often comes down to the players you grab in the final rounds of your draft. While early-round stars set the foundation, it’s the late-round steals who can deliver league-winning upside at a bargain. Our 2025 list of Fantasy Football Late-Round Draft Steals comes straight from the trusted insights of our Featured Pros experts. These undervalued sleepers could turn into weekly starters — or even this year’s breakout stars — if you play your draft right. Let’s break down the late-round picks you can target to outsmart your league mates this season.
Late-Round Fantasy Football Draft Steals
Which one RB outside the top 45 in half-PPR RB ADP do you plan to target in all drafts as a late-round steal and why?
Will Shipley (RB – PHI)
“Saquon Barkley is coming off a massive workload of nearly 500 touches, and history hasn’t been kind to these RBs in the following season. I think we could see Barkley either miss time or see a reduced workload to keep him upright for a full season. Both scenarios should see second-year RB, Will Shipley, see an expanded role in an ideal environment for fantasy scoring. The team moved on from Kenneth Gainwell, creating an opportunity for over 100 vacated touches in the Eagles’ offense.”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)
Kyle Monangai (RB – CHI)
“Kyle Monangai (RB74 in the ADP) is one of my favorite late-round picks. While D’Andre Swift should be the Bears’ lead running back this season, Monangai could push Roschon Johnson out of the No. 2 role in the backfield. The rookie had over 1,200 rushing yards and at least eight touchdowns in back-to-back years to end his college career at Rutgers, averaging 5.1 yards per attempt. Furthermore, his 66 missed tackles forced were the eighth-most in the draft class, totaling more than Bhayshul Tuten (62) and Quinshon Judkins (35). Monangai is a physical runner who could steal the David Montgomery role in this fantasy-friendly offense from Johnson, potentially scoring double-digit touchdowns as a rookie.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)
Jarquez Hunter (RB – LAR)
“Jarquez Hunter: We have seen the fantasy goodness a running back can have in a Sean McVay offense with Kyren Williams being the RB6 and RB7 the last two seasons, despite Williams being one of the least explosive backs in the NFL. Enter Hunter, who had one of the best breakaway run rates in college football last year. McVay doesn’t rotate backs between plays; he does it for series, and when McVay sees a Hunter drive immediately followed by a Williams one, the difference will be clear. Hunter’s role can easily grow as the season goes along and can smash his ADP even without an injury.”
– Jay Wood (Daily Dynasties)
Ray Davis (RB – BUF)
“This seems like the obvious choice, but I’m going with Ray Davis here. We’ve all heard the James Cook contract conversations, and we’re not really sure how that’s all going to play out. We’ve seen what Davis can do as the featured back with 20 rushes for 97 yards with 55 receiving yards in the one game Cook didn’t play last year. Even with Cook as the starter, Davis still managed to have three top 20 finishes for running backs. He’s shown he can be a great complementary back to Cook and also be the featured back if Cook doesn’t play.”
– Joey Meinerding (Fantasy Dink)
“Ray Davis barely qualifies but sits as a very high upside target. James Cook is in a public contract dispute with the Bills. While he has reported to offseason activities, the chance for a holdout looms. If Cook misses time, Davis immediately receives a volume role in one of the best offenses in the league, putting double-digit touchdown upside in play. In bestball formats, his role still creates opportunity for weeks that make starting lineups.”
– Jeff Bell (Footballguys)
“The longer James Cook goes without a contract, the more Ray Davis’ stock will rise. Cook is currently seeking a long-term extension with Buffalo, and if this contract situation becomes a problem, Buffalo can immediately turn to Davis. Cook missed Week 6 against the Jets, and Davis pulled up with over 150 yards from scrimmage. Davis is an elite handcuff at the worst as the RB47 and player overall 145, and at best is the Bills RB1 that would be a locked-in top-15 weekly play.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)
Jaylen Wright (RB – MIA)
“Jaylen Wright, Dolphins: Wright’s explosive skill set makes him one of my favorite RBs to stash. He enters camp as the RB2 behind De’Von Achane, whose injury history includes foot (2023), shoulder (2023), knee (2023), and ankle (2024) injuries. The 188-pounder also sustained a concussion last season.”
– Kevin English (Draft Sharks)
“If you’re looking for someone further down the draft rankings, don’t forget about Jaylen Wright. Wright takes over for Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson in the Dolphins’ RBBC, both of whom are no longer in Miami. Wright showed off his blistering speed at the NFL combine back in 2024 with a sizzling 4.38 forty time. He’s a threat to score every time he touches the rock. And, if anything happens to Devon Achane, Wright’s fantasy outlook would suddenly become very interesting. Ringo’s comp- Jaylen Wright reminds me of former Chiefs’ all-pro RB Jamaal Charles.”
– Mark Ringo (Sleepers and Busts)
Brashard Smith (RB – KC)
“Brashard Smith is the easiest click in the final round of drafts. Smith was another talented victim of this deep running back class. He dropped all the way to the seventh round of the NFL Draft, which was surprising. The Chiefs added him to their already overstocked backfield. 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 was enamored with Smith’s receiving ability as a converted wide receiver, his lightning quickness, and his possible upside as a rusher for a player who is 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 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.”
– Derek Brown (FantasyPros)
Isaac Guerendo (RB – SF)
“I want all of the Isaac Guerendo. If Christian McCaffrey goes down with injury (and he’s more likely than most), Guerendo will be the definitive lead back, getting 20+ touches a game with a good chance to finish in the top 10 on a weekly basis. You can find no more upside at this stage of the draft.”
– Ben Wasley (The Fantasy First Down)
“Isaac Guerendo. It’s not exactly a well-guarded secret in the fantasy community that the backup to Christian McCaffrey is a potentially lucrative lottery ticket, given CMC’s extensive injury history and the historical production of RBs in Kyle Shanahan’s system. Jordan Mason played in place of an injured CMC early last year and was averaging 120 yards from scrimmage per game over the first five games before getting hurt himself. We just need to make sure Guerendo has a firm grasp on the 49ers’ No. 2 RB job and isn’t being pushed by rookie Jordan James in training camp.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
Jacory Croskey-Merritt (RB – WAS)
“The Washington Commanders selected Jacory Croskey-Merritt in the 7th round of the NFL draft, which is not a position that excites fantasy owners, unless they are following Commanders media feeds and listening to what teammates and coaches are saying about him. Luckily for Croskey-Merritt, he has many factors that could lead to him earning a role in his first year and rewarding owners who take a risk on him. He has great size for an NFL RB at 5’11’ and 206 lbs, the backfield (Brian Robinson, Austin Ekeler, Jeremy McNichols, Chris Rodriguez, Jr.) isn’t overly solid without a 1,000-yard rusher in 2024 (or since 2021), and he has fresh legs after eligibility issues limited him to a single game in his last year at Arizona. If looking for a player to stash in the last round of redraft leagues, owners who take Croskey-Merritt could be rewarded with a player who has a larger role when the fantasy playoffs roll around.”
– Adam Dove (The Fantasy Couriers)
MarShawn Lloyd (RB – GB)
“MarShawn Lloyd is a forgotten man after an injury-wrecked rookie season. But he remains an intriguing prospect and has a clear path to the No. 2 job in Green Bay. That’d make him a high-upside handcuff behind Josh Jacobs. And Lloyd could even carve out a big enough role behind Jacobs to have some standalone value. HC Matt LaFleur tends to favor committee backfields.”
– Jared Smola (Draft Sharks)
Roschon Johnson (RB – CHI)
“With everything the Chicago Bears have done to revamp their offense this offseason, I’m shooting my shot on Roschon Johnson at an RB53 price point. His ADP is surprising given a completely retooled and now-impressive offensive line, a promising play caller as their new head coach in Ben Johnson, and, of course, few noteworthy additions to the backfield. Though I expect this team to be pass-first, Johnson has an incredible opportunity to take over the short-yardage and goal-line role while holding immense contingent upside if D’Andre Swift should succumb to injury. Give me Roschon late and give me the ship if he hits.”
– Jeremy Shulman (Fantasy Football Universe)
“Roschon Johnson, the Bears offense will feature both Swift and Johnson. With that in mind, I could say he is going to have a lot of red-zone touches.”
– Alejandro Orellana (Estadio Fantasy)
Which one WR outside the top 55 in half-PPR WR ADP do you plan to target in all drafts as a late-round steal and why?
Rashod Bateman (WR – BAL)
“Rashod Bateman finally stayed healthy in 2024 – and delivered his most productive NFL season yet with 51 catches for 846 yards and 11 touchdowns. He averaged 9.3 fantasy points per game (WR45) and quietly led the Ravens in end-zone targets while eclipsing 1,000 air yards. Bateman also flashed when Zay Flowers missed time late in the year, averaging 13.4 points per game in that stretch. He finished 12th in ESPN’s WR Open Score, signaling his skill set as a separator. The Ravens rewarded him after a career year with a contract extension instead of trading him. And with potential regression in overall offensive team health and an aging Mark Andrews, Bateman is a prime candidate for a true fifth-year breakout in 2025 should opportunities arise attached to Lamar Jackson.”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)
Cedric Tillman (WR – CLE)
“Many fantasy players will likely want to avoid drafting anyone on the Browns. Yet, Cedric Tillman (WR61 in the ADP) is one of my favorite sleeper candidates. While Jerry Jeudy was the WR15 last year, averaging 11.5 half-point PPR fantasy points per game, 18.4% of his production for the year came in one outing. More importantly, Tillman was the team’s top wide receiver following the Amari Cooper trade before suffering a season-ending concussion. According to Fantasy Points Data, he had a better target per route run rate (22% vs. 18%), yards per route run average (1.69 vs. 1.67), and first-round target share (25.7% vs. 23.5%) than Jeudy during the five weeks where both were healthy following the Cooper trade.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)
“When healthy last season, Cedric Tillman was a stud. The Browns relied on a pass-heavy game plan due to their poor pass defense last season, and there’s no reason to think that will change this year. Regardless of who’s at quarterback, Tillman will be one of their main targets.”
– Ben Wasley (The Fantasy First Down)
“Cedric Tillman had a brief but explosive flash in a full-time role last year, averaging 10.0 targets, 6.0 catches, 75.5 yards, and 0.8 TDs across four games. Only seven WRs averaged more PPR points per game over that stretch. Tillman is a good bet for a full-time role in 2025, making him an easy click late in fantasy drafts.”
– Jared Smola (Draft Sharks)
Pat Bryant (WR – DEN)
“Pat Bryant comes into the NFL a better prospect than most realize, ranking in this class 11th in 1D/RR, 10th in zone YPRR, 9th in Rec TD market share, and 11th in dominator rating. With the size that Sean Payton likes, Bryant is a solid all-around receiver. We expect a great year from Bo Nix, and the WR depth chart behind Cortland Sutton is wide open. Bryant is as likely to step into a large role as anyone else and has enough skill to turn a volume role into a fantasy-friendly one.”
– Jay Wood (Daily Dynasties)
Kyle Williams (WR – NE)
“I really liked the landing spot for Kyle Williams during the draft. Besides Stefon Diggs, who’s recovering from a torn ACL, there isn’t much competition in the WR room in New England. I could be wrong, but I don’t see New England being a great team this year. So Williams will be a great deep ball threat in an offense that will more than likely be playing from behind most of the season.”
– Joey Meinerding (Fantasy Dink)
“If there’s one word I would use to describe Kyle Williams, it’s explosive. Williams plays faster than his 4.40 forty time from the combine, which is impressive. And while Kyle probably won’t be a high-volume guy, his calling card is big plays. Remember Paul Revere’s fantasy ride…..one if by land, two if by sea, and you’re going to want to see Kyle Williams play. The Drake Maye and Kyle Williams connection could provide plenty of celebratory musket shots for Patriots’ Nation. Ringo’s comp- Kyle Williams reminds me of former Carolina all-pro WR Steve Smith.”
– Mark Ringo (Sleepers and Busts)
“Kyle Williams is going to be a steal at WR62 and player overall 154. Williams arrives in New England with a shot at immediate playing time in a Patriots offense void of offensive difference-makers. The Patriots signed Stefon Diggs to a deal this offseason, but questions abound as to how healthy Diggs will be to start the season after his ACL injury in 2024. If Williams can establish a connection with Drake Maye throughout the summer, he will be impossible to keep off the field with the big-play potential he possesses. Williams cannot be ignored; he must be rostered in all leagues.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)
Romeo Doubs (WR – GB)
“Romeo Doubs, Packers: Doubs could quietly lead Green Bay in receiving — at least early in the season. Christian Watson is set to miss 2+ months as he rehabs an ACL tear. And we’ll see how Matthew Golden performs as a 22-year-old rookie. While Doubs missed time with a pair of 2024 concussions, note that he tallied three top-20 fantasy finishes in 13 games.”
– Kevin English (Draft Sharks)
Tre Harris (WR – LAC)
“Tre Harris’s WR59 price tag won’t last. Once training camp opens, he’ll go zooming up boards, so I’ll take another opportunity to hype him up here. Harris, the soul-snatching route savant, landed with the Bolts in the second round of the NFL Draft. He should quickly become Justin Herbert‘s trusted second option in the passing game opposite Ladd McConkey. Yes, Harris will have to hop either Mike Williams or Quentin Johnston to crack the starting lineup, but I’m not worried about his ability to do so. We’re discussing a player who has ranked first and ninth in yards per route run over the last two years, stacked up against arguably a former first-round bust and a veteran who looked like he was running on empty last year (per PFF). If the Bolts remain a pass-happier team than people realize in 2025, Harris could be one of the best values in fantasy football drafts this season. Last year in Weeks 7-18, the Bolts ranked eighth in neutral passing rate and sixth-best in pass rate over expectation. If that continues and Harris can spread his wings in this offense, he could crush his ADP in 2025.”
– Derek Brown (FantasyPros)
Luther Burden (WR – CHI)
“Luther Burden. Some of your rivals will be turned off by Burden’s cluttered path to targets in a Bears offense with an abundance of pass-catching options. But at such a modest cost, it’s worth betting on the possibility that Burden assumes the Amon-Ra St. Brown role in Ben Johnson’s offense. Burden is so quick and explosive that he could thrive as Chicago’s slot man. His final college season wasn’t great (an injury to Missouri QB Brady Cook was a factor), but two seasons ago, Burden had 86 catches, 1212 yards, and nine TDs in 13 games while playing in the SEC. Drafters are focused on the possibility of a Rome Odunze breakthrough, but there might be better value with the Bears’ other young receiver.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
Quentin Johnston (WR – LAC)
“Quentin Johnston feels more like a punchline than the answer to a sleeper question, but he broke through in 2024. A former 1st round pick who the coaching staff has embraced, he is likely to receive the second-most targets from Justin Herbert and has the explosion to score on any opportunity. Sitting WR67 makes him a deep sleeper worth adding.”
– Jeff Bell (Footballguys)
Dont’e Thornton Jr. (WR – LV)
“Dont’e Thornton Jr. is a name that dynasty owners are aware of and will be a player that redraft owners need to keep an eye on, as he will probably be left on waivers in most redraft leagues. At 6’5″/205 lbs., he is the big-bodied wide receiver that the Raiders desperately need. He joins a team where Brock Bowers is basically the WR1 and his competition for targets are Jakobi Meyers, who is a consistent WR2/WR3, Tre Tucker, and fellow rookie Jack Bech. With a good training camp, Thornton could earn a starting spot opposite Meyers and reward savvy owners who stash him with their last bench spot.”
– Adam Dove (The Fantasy Couriers)
Adam Thielen (WR – CAR)
“Cedric Tillman and Kyle Williams are intriguing late values, but I’ll instead go with ageless wonder Adam Thielen. The 34-year-old had two top 10 finishes last season, but he also averaged more than 7 targets per game over the team’s last 7 games. First-round draft pick Tet McMillan will absolutely challenge Thielen’s dominance in Carolina, but it’s possible Thielen holds him off for half of the season. And if Tet experiences injury or ascending QB Bryce Young continues to have a target lock on him, Thielen could be the steal of fantasy drafts in 2025.”
– Jeremy Shulman (Fantasy Football Universe)
Devaughn Vele (WR – DEN)
“It’s Devaughn Vele szn. Last year, we saw glimpses of what he could do as the WR2 for the Broncos. I expect more opportunities for him.”
– Alejandro Orellana (Estadio Fantasy)
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