Overall, I’d say the 2025 NFL Draft was a decent draft class for dynasty fantasy football purposes. Two running backs in the first round gets everyone excited, and Travis Hunter focusing on wide receiver should give us another elite talent to work with on our rosters. The quarterback class leaves something to be desired. We had to wait 24 picks for QB2 Jaxson Dart. A pair of high draft-capital TEs (Colston Loveland, Tyler Warren) round out a solid class for those holding a Top 24 rookie pick.

But what about those of us who are hoarding a number of 3rd and 4th-round selections? What about those who sold out for the championship this past year and now aren’t picking until draft slot 32? This is for you.

These aren’t players I expect to make an instant impact, all of them (except two) were drafted on the third day of the draft, but they all have opportunity ahead of them and enough talent to take hold of a role within their offense.

Will Howard, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers

After only receiving six Power-Four offers out of high school, Will Howard has been working hard to prove his doubters wrong ever since. Now a National Champion, Will Howard got better as the season went on and finished with 4,003 passing yards and 35 touchdowns in his first year with the Ohio State Buckeyes. Now a sixth-round draft selection, Howard will have to continue to prove himself and carve out a role for himself at the pro level. Luckily, at the moment his only competition in the quarterback room is Mason Rudolph (pending an Aaron Rodgers signing). Howard posted a 72.8% completion rate in his final season and with a big arm and a 6’ 4” 235 pound frame, he has all the tools to win the quarterback battle in Pittsburgh.

Jaydon Blue, RB, Dallas Cowboys

I’m not sure what Jaydon’s nickname was in college but “Juice” seems pretty fitting for the 5’ 9” running back who ran a 4.38 second 40 yard dash at the NFL Combine. With some shades of Devon Achane in his game, Blue now finds himself in a backfield with Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders, both who have averaged under four yards per carry over the past two years. As the most explosive runner in the room, Blue’s fantasy upside could be just a couple plays away if he can break off some big runs early in the season. His immediate impact will likely come on passing downs as he caught 41 passes last year for the Longhorns and is already a polished route runner out of the backfield.

Devin Neal, RB, New Orleans Saints

Neal is one of my favorite running backs in this year’s draft class. What he may lack in explosiveness and long speed, he makes up with patience in the backfield and vision at the line of scrimmage. An advanced runner, Neal stacked three seasons in a row with over 1,000 yards rushing and finished his collegiate career with 49 rushing touchdowns, a Kansas football record. Alvin Kamara is entering his 9th NFL season with the Saints and will be 30 before the season begins. While Kamara is certainly on board this year, a release or a trade after the season could net the Saints up to $11.5 million in cap savings, significant numbers for a team already set up to be $32,000,000 over the cap in 2026. Meanwhile Neal’s biggest competition is Kendre Miller, who appeared in six games and averaged 3.8 yards per carry when he wasn’t in Dennis Allen’s doghouse. Neal could find himself a significant part of a committee backfield and a contributor in your flex spot by the end of the season.

Kyle Williams, WR, New England Patriots

Former Mountain West Freshman of the Year Kyle Williams spent three years at UNLV before transferring to Washington State for his final two years. Playing with Cam Ward last year, Williams had career highs in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. This past year, with now-Sooner-John Mateer, Williams once again set career highs in all major stat categories. Williams brings great straight line to get behind the defense and open up the offense for Drake Maye, a role that is not filled by anyone currently in that wide receiver room. Williams struggled with drops and may not be a nuanced route runner, but his 17.1 yards per reception and 14 touchdowns last year show that he’s able to create big plays down-the-field. The fifth pick in the third round may not qualify as a sleeper but, thanks to a late add on Sleeper, he’s buried in ADP.

Elic Ayomanor, WR, Tennessee Titans

I’m a big fan of Cam Ward, as is most of the NFL, but outside of a 30-year old Calvin Ridley the Titan’s receiving room looks bare. Enter fourth-round pick Elic Ayomanor. Ayomanor, who’s famous for a late night decimation of Travis Hunter back in 2023, brings a skillset that nobody else on that roster brings (besides the disappointing Treylon Burks). With his 6’2” frame, great long speed, and a varied release package Ayomanor could develop into Ward’s top threat at wide receiver. Ayomanor was an early declare and only played two years of college football after an injury forced him to miss his freshman season. He’s still a little raw, but the development he has already shown makes him a great candidate to surprise.

Terrance Ferguson, TE, Los Angeles Rams

Ferguson should quite honestly be the most obvious player in the article. Going to Sean McVay’s offense to be the heir to Tyler Higbee, the opportunity is right in front of him. Add in one of the fastest 40-yard dash times at the 2025 NFL Combine (4.63s), an NFL-ready 6’5” & 246 pound frame, and the most yards after catch per reception among tight ends last year and you get a star in the making. Higbee is 32 years old, on the last year of his contract, and only played in five games last year after recovering from a torn ACL and MCL. Ferguson was selected with the 46th pick in the draft yet is still consistently falling outside of the first two rounds in dynasty rookie drafts. If you’re looking to refresh your tight end room this year, there’s no better value in the draft.