Winning your fantasy football league isn’t just about nailing your top picks. It’s about uncovering overlooked hidden gems that can give you a real competitive edge.
Check out these 10 deep fantasy football sleepers by position, all with an average draft position (ADP) beyond pick 250, perfect for queuing up in your fantasy drafts. Don’t miss these potential league winners.
10 Deep Fantasy Football Sleepers
Quarterbacks
Shedeur Sanders has had a wild start to his NFL career, going from a rocky fall in the 2025 NFL Draft to showing potential in his first NFL outing. He played decently, exceeding expectations, but some reports are acting like he’s already destined for a Hall of Fame jacket. Let’s pump the brakes on the narrative of Sanders proving everyone wrong based on one preseason performance.
Sanders started in the Browns’ preseason opener with Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel sidelined with hamstring injuries. Veteran Joe Flacco, the projected Week 1 starter, sat out the game. Sanders went 14-of-23 with 138 yards and two touchdowns, and added 19 rushing yards on four carries. He wasn’t flawless, but he held his own as he worked to climb the Browns’ quarterback depth chart.
The Browns’ most likely plan this season seems to be starting with Flacco at quarterback before transitioning to someone else, probably Sanders. There’s not much benefit in putting Pickett under center for a team that appears to be tanking with their focus on two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. Since Sanders has outperformed Gabriel in camp, why not give him a shot to prove he can be the Browns’ long-term solution at quarterback?
Sanders may not be a pick in redraft leagues, but he’s a popular target in dynasty formats with the hope he thrives in Cleveland. He has several weapons at his disposal, including wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, tight end David Njoku, rookie running back Quinshon Judkins and rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr.
Sanders has the skill and poise to thrive in Cleveland’s offensive system under Kevin Stefanski, which focuses on a strong running game and play-action. He delivers an accurate deep ball, a strength that should shine in the Browns’ offense. Sanders is expected to see snaps this season. The former Colorado quarterback could offer impactful performances as a bye-week fill-in option in Superflex leagues.
Tyler Shough is an interesting case. Despite playing six seasons in college, he only had one full season under his belt, and that came in his final year. Last season, he set a career-high with 23 passing touchdowns. The former Cardinal quarterback will be a 26-year-old rookie who is projected to be the Saints’ starting quarterback in Week 1.
Shough will be under the guidance of new head coach Kellen Moore, who brings years of experience in managing offenses throughout his coaching career. Shough is stepping into his NFL career with a strong group of offensive weapons at his side.
A healthy and determined Alvin Kamara will anchor the backfield. A dynamic wide receiver room features Chris Olave‘s return alongside Rashid Shaheed, Brandin Cooks and Donovan Peoples-Jones. The question is, can Shough bring it all together in his rookie season? And should fantasy managers care?
Not surprisingly, his current ADP is sitting at QB32. Shough will develop throughout the season and will have the weapons to provide fantasy managers with some spike weeks and a source of sneaky value during quarterback bye weeks in Superflex leagues.
Running Back
The seventh-round rookie is the buzz of Commanders camp and fantasy circles. Dynasty managers are eager to snag him in their rookie drafts. Jacory Croskey-Merritt has been turning heads in camp with his agility and sharp vision. His draft stock took a hit due to eligibility issues, but he still managed an impressive 7.2 yards per carry during his college career.
Croskey-Merritt is currently third on the Commanders’ running back depth chart, but that seems temporary. Ahead of him are Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler, both of whom have missed games in back-to-back seasons. Neither is particularly impressive. Robinson is solid but not exceptional. While Ekeler remains effective catching passes out of the backfield, he doesn’t pose much of a threat to defenses as a runner.
Commanders insider Ben Standig has a bold prediction that Robinson won’t make the Week 1 roster:
“I’m gonna guess Brian Robinson is not on the Week 1 roster. I have no insight into that … If Croskey-Merritt’s on this team, I just don’t know how you’re sitting him.”
The running back room is wide open in Washington. Croskey-Merritt is taking advantage, including earning reps with the Commanders’ first-team offense. Jump on the bandwagon now as his draft stock continues to soar.
The New York Jets have a trio of very talented running backs, led by Breece Hall (for now?), and sophomore running backs Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis. Hall is known for his breakaway speed and big-play ability. Allen is a 235-pound bruiser, while Davis makes plays as a runner and receiver with excellent vision and good hands in the passing game.
Davis had just 30 carries last season but managed an impressive 5.8 yards per carry (YPC), with eight of those runs going for 10+ yards, outperforming Hall (4.2 YPC) and Allen (3.6 YPC). Davis stood out even more in yards per carry after contact, averaging 3.6 compared to Hall and Allen, who both averaged 2.1. The Jets are planning to go with a committee approach in the backfield in a run-heavy offense, which will include dual-threat starting quarterback Justin Fields.
There’s a lot of talk in training camp about Hall being traded due to the talented running backs waiting in the wings. If Davis continues to impress, the Jets might consider trade offers for Hall to give Davis a chance to show off his explosive play potential. Hall could also be dealt midseason, sparking a waiver wire frenzy for Davis. Fantasy managers need to stay ahead of the competition. Drafting Davis as a sleeper poised for a breakout season could be a winning move.
Ollie Gordon, a sixth-round rookie from Oklahoma State, is gaining attention with his rising stock following an impressive preseason debut and the buzz surrounding his strong performance in training camp. Gordon is preparing for a bigger role and aiming to climb the running back depth chart following Alexander Mattison‘s season-ending neck surgery.
In 2023, Gordon earned the Doak Walker Award with an impressive 1,723 yards and 21 touchdowns. In 2024, his performance declined, recording 880 yards and 13 touchdowns, which caused Gordon to slip to the sixth round. Gordon showcases power, speed and impressive pass-catching skills, with 80 career collegiate receptions.
Gordon was already a rising rookie with his impressive performance in training camp. Now, with Mattison sidelined, his value is set to increase as he gains the trust of head coach Mike McDaniel. The Dolphins will rely on the dynamic De’Von Achane for primary running back duties, but he struggles with efficiency at the goal line.
This is where Gordon becomes a valuable option, particularly for goal-line work. Gordon could also see increased opportunities if Jaylen Wright continues to struggle. Recent news and his latest impressive performance are sure to boost Gordon’s ADP. Fantasy managers need to jump on the Gordon train now.
Sean Tucker shined in Saturday’s preseason opener after Rachaad White left the game with a groin injury in the first quarter. Tucker carried the ball 13 times for 50 yards and scored a touchdown in the first half. Tucker is getting a bunch of touches in training camp. Bucs coaches have been saying since last year that they need to get Tucker the ball more:
“Sean brings us another explosive runner,” said head coach Todd Bowles. “He’s a game-breaker for us. He’s got very good contact balance, he can break a lot of tackles, and he can naturally find holes. He has great vision, and every opportunity he’s gotten, he’s shown. Like I keep telling the guys on offense, we’ve got to give him the ball more.”
The former Syracuse running back finished last season with 308 yards on the ground on 50 rushing attempts with two touchdowns in 17 games. The Syracuse product is currently the third-string back in Tampa Bay behind budding superstar Bucky Irving and White.
However, when White was inactive in Week 6 last season, Tucker exploded for 192 total yards and two touchdowns while sharing time with Irving. Furthermore, Tucker finished first in true yards per carry (5.7) and ninth with a +20.6 expected points added (EPA) among all running backs, per PlayerProfiler.
It seems Tampa Bay might be planning to utilize all three backs. White has averaged 1,100 yards and seven touchdowns over his three-year career. Fortunately, it appears White has avoided a long-term injury, but Tucker is likely to see more touches while White recovers. Tucker seems ready to step in as the No. 2 RB, with White possibly moving on. Make sure to target Tucker in all of your fantasy football drafts and auctions.
Want to draft like a pro? The
FantasyPros Draft Kit features detailed positional primers, premium cheat sheets, and league-specific strategy to help you crush your redraft league.
Wide Receivers
Dyami Brown is a field-stretcher wide receiver who will be the Jaguars’ No. 3 WR behind Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter. Brown is an intriguing option who is free in drafts. Hunter appears set to start on offense this season, but it’s uncertain whether he’ll play full snaps at wide receiver. Brown will have a role in the Jaguars’ offense and is making impact plays and developing chemistry with quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
The Jaguars’ offense is set for a fresh look, with the fourth-most targets in the league now available after parting ways with Christian Kirk and Evan Engram. More importantly, Jacksonville brought in former Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Liam Coen as the new head coach to fix Lawrence and the Jaguars’ offense. Coen praised Brown this offseason as an explosive downfield threat and a valuable fit in a high-volume passing game.
Brown was electric for Washington in the playoffs last year with 14 catches for 229 yards and a touchdown in three playoff games. Lawrence thrives on throwing deep passes. Brown is poised to take advantage with enough spike weeks to surpass his current ADP, making him a valuable deep sleeper for fantasy managers this season.
Rookie wide receiver Tory Horton is having an outstanding camp. His stock keeps climbing. Horton has been generating consistent buzz throughout camp and made the most of his chance in the Seahawks’ preseason opener to live up to the hype. Horton had seven targets, with two of his three catches resulting in first downs, including an impressive highlight-reel touchdown. He wrapped up the game with three catches for 31 yards and an astounding 50% adjusted target rate.
Recent reports from Seahawks camp show Marquez Valdez-Scantling working with Drew Lock and the second-team offense. It seems Horton earned trust in Seattle to lock up the valuable role as the No. 3 WR. Horton was a standout at Colorado State, racking up eight touchdowns in back-to-back seasons and leading the team as its top wide receiver for three straight years.
Horton checks plenty of boxes to be a fantasy deep sleeper this season. He is seeing first-team reps in practice, displaying his elite burst and separation ability. He’s a true playmaker with impressive hands. He is making a lot of noise in camp and earning playing time by surpassing Valdez-Scantling. There’s no guarantee that Cooper Kupp will remain healthy throughout the season, which creates another golden opportunity for Horton to step up.
The Commanders’ wide receiver depth chart is getting plenty of attention in the early days of training camp. Terry McLaurin and the team are still in the process of resolving their contract dispute. Noah Brown is dealing with an ankle issue. Deebo Samuel isn’t the most dependable wide receiver. The Commanders will have to rely on a group of young wideouts.
A big opportunity is opening up for fourth-round rookie wide receiver Jaylin Lane to make a meaningful impact in his first season. Lane has been getting time with the first team. He has demonstrated his versatility and knack for making defenders miss in the open field. His test scores at the NFL Scouting Combine were super impressive with a 4.34 40-yard dash and an 11-inch broad jump.
Offensive coordinator Kliif Kingsbury and quarterback Jayden Daniels love his massive upside. Head coach Dan Quinn said, “I’ve been impressed with what I’ve seen from Jaylin Lane in the slot.” Lane may be pushed to the reserve role once McLaurin resolves their contract dispute, but the rookie has earned playing time.
The Commanders can’t rely on Brown and Samuel to be consistent contributors, creating an opportunity for Lane to showcase his speed and big-play potential beyond his role as a key special teams contributor.
Fantasy managers need to stop reading this, but only for a moment. Take a look at the Raiders’ current wide receiver depth chart. The rookie wideout has already earned a spot as a starter on the Raiders’ offense. Dont’e Thornton possesses many of the physical attributes that NFL teams find highly desirable. At 6-foot-5, the Tennessee product became the tallest player to run a sub-4.3 at the combine since 2003.
Last season for Tennessee, he led the FBS with an impressive 25.4 yards per reception, and 23% of his catches went for touchdowns. Thornton used his exceptional combination of speed and size to achieve a 3.72 yards per route run (YPRR) during his final season in Tennessee.
Thornton is turning heads in Raiders camp, as he works with the first-team offense. He is also receiving heavy praise from quarterback Geno Smith. Smith is excellent with the deep ball and should produce many splash plays with the former Volunteer wideout.
Thornton joins the Raiders’ wide receiver room with a clear path to bring much-needed vertical energy to the Raiders’ offense. Raiders No. 1 WR Jakobi Meyers is a reliable possession receiver, and neither Tre Tucker nor fellow rookie Jack Bech is getting in the way. Fantasy managers should buy the hype.
Subscribe: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeart | Castbox | Amazon Music | Podcast Addict | TuneIn
Dennis Sosic is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Dennis, check out his archive & follow him @CALL_ME_SOS.
