Everyone’s chasing the next Puka Nacua, Tank Dell, or Tyrone Tracy Jr. because, let’s be honest, dynasty drafts are ultimately won in the crumbs. While the fantasy football world fixates on first-round rookie hype, the real value often lies in the overlooked, undervalued, and under-the-radar guys who slip through the cracks.
That’s where this list of 2025 Dynasty Rookie Sleepers comes in: a curated group of sneaky-good prospects who could pay off big time if you’re willing to take the leap before your league mates catch on.
We’re digging deeper than the consensus top targets—though if you want those, check out our full 2025 Dynasty Rookie Rankings and 2025 Dynasty Mock Drafts. This sleeper list highlights rookies I’m higher on than the Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR), the kind of prospects you have to scroll way down for, before the NFL Draft kicks off.
Whether you’re stashing talent on a rebuild or chasing value late in rookie drafts, these are the players you’ll want to remember.
2025 DYNASTY ROOKIE SLEEPERS
WILL HOWARD, QB OHIO STATE
RSJ Rookie Ranking: QB5 (+2 vs ECR)
Projected Draft Capital: Day 2-3
Height/Weight: 6’4″, 236 lbs
Notable Traits: Pro-ready frame, strong arm, dual-threat mobility
He’s not some mystery man from a G5 school, meaning you won’t need Google to know this name.
After transferring from Kansas State, Will Howard capped a breakout year by leading Ohio State to a national title and putting up video game numbers: 4,010 yards, 35 TDs, and a 73% completion rate in an offense littered with pro concepts. He’s built like an NFL quarterback (6’4″, 236 lbs), moves well, has the arm to make every throw, and is an alpha in the locker room (watch Jon Gruden’s QB Class below).
Howard’s not without streaky moments, but his late-season playoff heater showed serious growth after losing to rival Michigan. He’s accurate on timing throws, can go off-script when the pocket breaks down, and brings sneaky upside as a dual threat. With the tools, production, and pedigree, Howard’s a top-tier sleeper worth stashing in dynasty—especially in SuperFlex formats.
JAYDON BLUE, RB TEXAS
RSJ Rookie Ranking: RB19 (+2 vs ECR)
Projected Draft Capital: Day 3
Height/Weight: 5’9″, 196 lbs
Notable Traits: Elite speed, natural pass-catcher, home-run threat
Jaydon Blue might not be your deepest sleeper, but when the consensus has him hanging out in the RB20s, it’s time to swoop. The 21-year-old burner brings a true three-down skillset with legit PPR upside, posting 730 rushing yards, 42 receptions, and 17 total touchdowns in the SEC and CFP last season. He also scorched the Combine with a 4.38, suitable for the top of his RB class.
Blue’s a slasher with burst, but don’t box him into “just” a change-of-pace guy. His real weapon is his mismatch potential in the passing game, where he can roast linebackers and turn a dump-off or a wheel route into a chunk gain. He didn’t get a full workload at Texas, but that’s more a byproduct of being behind NFL backs than a lack of skill.
He’ll need to bulk up and prove he can handle inside work, but in the right offense, especially one that runs lots of spread and empty looks, Blue could turn into a fantasy cheat code. He’s the kind of late-round dart throw you won’t regret.
MARCUS YARNS, RB DELAWARE
RSJ Rookie Ranking: RB22 (+4 vs ECR)
Projected Draft Capital: Day 3 / Priority UDFA
Height/Weight: 5’11”, 193 lbs
Notable Traits: Versatile, great burst and speed, receiving upside
Don’t let the FCS helmet fool you because Marcus Yarns is bringing speed to the next level. The Delaware standout is a certified big-play threat with legit 4.4 wheels, burst for days, and the ability to flip a game on a single touch. He averaged over 6 yards per carry in back-to-back seasons and turned just 41 catches into 608 yards and eight touchdowns over the last two years.
Yarns never hit 1,000 rushing yards in a season, but the efficiency and versatility pop off the tape. He’s dangerous in space, slippery in traffic, and has a nice burst to leave defenders in the dust. He’s also shown steady growth as a receiver, thriving in spread looks and motion packages where his speed can be weaponized. Just ask Penn State—he roasted their defense for a 66-yard TD.
At 5’10”, 200 lbs, Yarns profiles best as a dynamic complement in an NFL backfield: a change-of-pace weapon who can stress defenses and rack up chunk plays. He won’t need 20 touches to make a fantasy impact, and after holding his own at the Combine, he could be a Day 3 steal with real dynasty juice.
Bookmark the former Blue Hen before he starts to fly up draft boards.
JACORY CROSKEY-MERRITT, RB ARIZONA
RSJ Rookie Ranking: RB28 (+1 vs ECR)
Projected Draft Capital: Day 3 / UDFA
Height/Weight: 5’11”, 208 lbs
Notable Traits: Elite deceleration, physical runner, plus-vision
Jacory Croskey-Merritt took the scenic route to the NFL, spending time at Alabama State, New Mexico, and Arizona. He only got 13 carries in Tucson before eligibility issues, but he turned those into 106 yards and a TD. Then he blew up at the East-West Shrine Bowl, rushing for 97 yards and two scores on just 11 carries to win MVP honors.
At 24, he’s on the older side, but the wear and tear isn’t. With a career-high of 189 touches, he’s fresher than most backs his age. His 4.41 forty and 41.5″ vert show serious explosion, and he backed that up with a record-setting -7.29 yds/sec² max deceleration at the Shrine Bowl. Translation? His stop-start ability is elite, and the tape gives Shady McCoy flashbacks.
Croskey-Merritt runs with vision, patience, and suddenness, making him dangerous on cutbacks and zone runs. He’s not much of a receiver, but he could improve in that area and could be a change-of-pace back.
He has taxi squad appeal, especially if he sneaks into the right RB-needy situation.
CHIMERE DIKE, WR FLORIDA
RSJ Rookie Ranking: WR20 (+15 vs ECR)
Projected Draft Capital: Day 3
Height/Weight: 6’1″, 196 lbs
Notable Traits: Blazing speed, early separator, deep ball weapon
Chimere Dike isn’t just flying under the radar, he’s blasting past it at 4.32 speed (9.72 RAS). I’m a full +15 over ECR on him, and I’m not backing down. After showing flashes at Wisconsin and transferring to Florida in 2024, Dike led the Gators with 783 yards on an impressive 18.6 yards per catch. He’s an energetic downfield technician who is built to stretch the field and take the top off the defense.
Dike is not a target hog or possession guy, but he consistently finds space at the second and third levels. While his hands should be more consistent, he attacks the ball when focused and isn’t afraid to take a hit. He’s already shown he can be a WR1 in the B1G and SEC, now he needs a creative offensive coordinator and a quarterback who can sling it.
If he hits early, Dike could be one of this class’s biggest value steals in dynasty formats.
ISAAC TESLAA, WR ARKANSAS
RSJ Rookie Ranking: WR23 (+8 vs ECR)
Projected Draft Capital: Day 3 / Priority UDFA
Height/Weight: 6’4″, 214 lbs
Notable Traits: Crazy athleticism and workout metrics, huge catch radius, big slot-X hybrid
No, he wasn’t built in Elon’s lab, but Isaac TeSlaa’s athletic profile might make you wonder. At 6’4″, 214 lbs with a 4.43 forty and a 98th percentile Catch Radius, he’s a downfield mismatch. His Speed Score, Burst Score, and College Dominator all hit elite marks on PlayerProfiler, and he broke out at 19.3 years old.
This dude is a walking metric machine.
After torching DII defenders at Hillsdale College, TeSlaa transferred to Arkansas, where the raw box score (62-896-5 over two years) didn’t exactly pop, but the flashes were there. He tracks deep balls like a pro, wins at the high point, and has the skill-set to line up inside or out. He’s not the most polished route runner, but in a vertical passing scheme that needs a size/speed mismatch? He could absolutely sneak onto a roster and into dynasty relevance.
Throw him on your taxi squad and let the upside charge up.
ORONDE GADSDEN II, TE SYRACUSE
RSJ Rookie Ranking: TE8 (0 vs ECR)
Projected Draft Capital: Day 3
Height/Weight: 6’5″, 243 lbs
Notable Traits: WR-to-TE convert, elite catch radius, NFL bloodlines
You know a tight end has juice when he used to be a wide receiver and has NFL pedigree. Oronde Gadsden II broke out in 2022 with nearly 1,000 receiving yards after switching from WR to TE, and followed it up in 2024 with another dominant season, racking up an ACC TE record 73 catches for 934 yards and seven scores. He’s not your throwback in-line blocking tight end, but as a big slot mismatch? He’s a defensive coordinator’s headache.
Gadsden wins with length, body control, and strong hands. He’s not outrunning man coverage downfield, but he’s excellent at creating throwing lanes on the move and finishing through contact. He needs become more useful as a blocker if he wants to be a three-down tight end, but the pass-catching upside is undeniable. In the right scheme, think modern TE usage à la Evan Engram or Mike Gesicki, he could carve out sneaky dynasty value as a flex-worthy TE with red zone pop.
