Survey 10 random fantasy players how they define what a sleeper is in fantasy football and chances are strong you’ll hear 10 different versions.
Playing Merriam-Webster, the buzzy word’s true definition should read as the following:
Sleeper - noun, a player in fantasy football available after pick No. 100 overall or outside a position's starting requirement in standard 12-team leagues.
Spread it far and wide throughout Fantasyland, #TeamHuevos.
Also known as ‘shocker specials’ in this alliteration lover’s mind, the names below need to be highlighted on draft day cheat sheets. Why? When you crack open that seventh beer in Round 11 of your annual fantasy exercise a proper reminder of who to target is highly recommended. And, yes, this fellow gamer speaks from nearly three decades of draft-boozing experience.
Here is my group of deeper league Rip Van Winkles who you can select and stash in the brain fuzzy rounds.
QB - Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars (ADP: 145.09, QB20) - For Lawrence, 2025 really feels like a make or break season. He's immersed in a pass-heavy scheme that detonated last year in Tampa. He's surrounded with explosive weapons. And his rather ineffective defense should thrust him into several shootout scenarios.
If everything synchronizes, the former No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick should finally live up to his top billing.
Earlier this summer, Coen praised his QB, commenting his footwork had "drastically improved" and that he was operating the offense "at a high level." Carving up defenses in the Preseason, Lawrence has visually supported his head coach's beliefs, completing 14-of-17 passes for 120 yard and one touchdown. Most encouraging, he's yet to absorb a sack.
The once coveted selection is the Cracker Barrel's new simplified logo incarnate. Not once in his four-year career has the supposed "generational passer" penetrated the QB top-10 on a per game basis. His best finish was QB12 in 2022, a season in which he tossed 25 TD passes. That uneventful history combined with his inexcusable QB26 standing in red-zone completion percentage last season will scare many suitors off. However, Coen is a numbers-pumping offensive mastermind. His play-calling presence combined with Jacksonville's attractive arsenal imply Lawrence could finally break out.
The nice price greatly minimizes the risk if he continues to live in mediocrity. Draft him as your second QB in 12-team formats and he could become your primary QB1 week to week.
RB - Chris Rodriguez, Commanders (ADP: 276.68, RB81) - But, what about Bill? Yes, Jacory Croskey-Merritt is all the rage in fantasy circles, but there's no guarantee he will be Dan Quinn's preferred choice.
Be a nonconformist. Austin Ekeler seems locked into a heavy pass-down role, but the overlooked Rodriguez could emerge as the primary early down and goal line option. Yes, that was written with no tongue planted in cheek.
Readers will scream "SAMPLE SIZE," but his 2024 per touch efficiency jumps off the screen. According to Pro Football Focus, Rodriguez checked in at RB5 in yards after contact per attempt (3.91). He also forced a missed tackle absurdly on 40% of his rush attempts. Again, it was only over 35 carries, but the power and productivity exhibited expands pupils.
With Brian Robinson now in San Francisco, bank on a full-blown RBBC in D.C. Kidney donors are sure to shell out high draft capital for Croskey-Merritt, but Rodriguez could be the one who benefits most from the opportunity presented. His 40-yard up-the-gut dash with the first team last Monday against Cincinnati certainly grabbed this viewer's attention. Most appealing, Quinn noted Thursday it's "likely" the young rusher will handle short-yardage and goal-line duties. Ooo, baby! Don't automatically write him off.
WR - Pat Bryant, Broncos (ADP: 205.74, WR72) - Whenever asked about his rookie wide receiver, Sean Payton openly gushes. Denver’s head coach has compared him to former Saints stud Michael Thomas and most recently praised his young wideout’s “unselfishness.”
Payton’s brewing love affair is apparent, but, of course, it doesn’t guarantee noteworthy numbers. Still, there is much to like about the former Illini’s offensive game.
As witnessed throughout his career in Champaign, Bryant has the route savvy, versatility and dependable mitts to move the meter. He often wins on contested catches and is comfortable whether sprinting outside the hashmarks or running quick slants over the middle.
Courtland Sutton is the default WR1 and TE Evan Engram is sure to command significant target share, but Bryant has favorable odds of emerging as the WR2. Devaughn Vele being dealt Wednesday to New Orleans only increased that chance.
Already making waves in the Preseason, he could match what Chicago’s Rome Odunze tallied last year as a rook. That may not seem sexy, but he’ll notch occasional WR3 returns in deeper formats. Buy a 55-700-5 first-year finish.
TE - Chig Okonkwo, Titans (ADP: 208.47 TE22) - Every year without fail fantasy drafters describe the tight end lot as "the deepest in recent memory." However, inevitably come Week 10, optimism about the position takes a backseat to surliness.
Okonkwo could possibly be this year's Jonnu Smith or Tucker Kraft. In other words, a late-round flier who conquers the general midseason TE glum.
Though the widely held perception "tight ends are a young QB's best friend" has repeatedly been disproven, the classic adage could actually apply in Nashville.
Calvin Ridley will unquestionably be rookie Cam Ward's flavor of choice, but his primary second option is completely up for grabs. Veteran Tyler Lockett will have his moments, but Okonkwo could earn surprising volume working underneath.
In three NFL seasons, he's yet to crack the TE top-25 in fantasy points per game. But the potential for a top-15 breakthrough is entirely there. When examining his advanced data from 2024, he finished top 10 among plus-sized weapons in average yards of separation per target and contested catch rate. Essentially, he owns the separation skills and physicality to occasionally produce.
On a Titans team destined to scoreboard chase, Okonkwo could be a late-round lottery ticket who cashes. A final 60-650-5 line is entirely doable.