Receivers and tight ends have seen an increase in Fantasy football value as offenses have become more passing oriented in the past couple decades. Recent huge seasons by running backs such as Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey, Derrick Henry and Jonathan Taylor, however, have reminded Fantasy players of the value of a high-end RB1. The latest 2025 Fantasy football ADP shows McCaffrey, Barkley, Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs and Ashton Jeanty all regularly going off the board in the first round in 2025 Fantasy football drafts.
Which one of these backs should be near the top of your 2025 Fantasy football rankings, and which other overlooked picks could be 2025 Fantasy football sleepers at running back and other positions? Before crafting your 2025 Fantasy football draft strategy, be sure to check out the 2025 Fantasy football rankings and cheat sheets from the proven computer model at SportsLine.
Last year, the model accurately predicted that Bills running back James Cook would comfortably outperform his ADP (RB14). The result: Cook rushed for 1,009 yards and 16 touchdowns while adding 32 receptions for 258 yards and two more scores as a receiver. He finished as RB8 in CBS Sports PPR leagues and his maturation into a scoring threat cemented his status as a Fantasy football superstar.
The same model has a proven track record providing Fantasy football tips, identifying A.J. Brown as a sleeper in 2020, nailing Jonathan Taylor’s monstrous season in 2021 and correctly predicting C.J. Stroud would take a step back in 2024. Additionally, it’s called past Fantasy football sleepers like Derrick Henry in 2019, Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara in 2018, and Davante Adams in 2017. Anybody who banked on players like those made a run at their league title.
Now, SportsLine has simulated the entire NFL season 10,000 times and released its latest Fantasy football rankings 2025, along with plenty of sleepers, breakouts and busts. Head to SportsLine now to see them.
Top 2025 Fantasy football sleepers
One of the 2025 Fantasy football sleepers the model is predicting: Steelers receiver DK Metcalf. It’ll be a completely new-look offense for Pittsburgh with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback and Metcalf taking over as the clear-cut No. 1 receiver after George Pickens was traded in the offseason. How well the two veterans mesh is a question mark, but Metcalf should see an enormous target share regardless.
Fantasy players have been hesitant thus far, waiting until midway through the sixth round to pick Metcalf. SportsLine’s model however, says he’ll outperform his current Fantasy football ADP. Metcalf is projected to score more than fifth-rounders such as Xavier Worthy and Marvin Harrison Jr., making Metcalf one of the 2025 Fantasy football sleepers to target in the mid-rounds.
Another sleeper that SportsLine’s Fantasy football rankings 2025 have identified: Bengals receiver Tee Higgins. He suited up for just 12 games each of the past two years as it appeared Higgins wasn’t in a rush to play banged up when angling for a new contract. He received that deal this offseason, and even in limited time a year ago, Higgins was at his best. His touchdowns (10) were a career high, as were his receptions per game (6.1), while his 75.9 yards per game were the second-most of his career.
The former Clemson star never sees a double team with Ja’Marr Chase on the other side, and he has an elite quarterback in Joe Burrow. Higgins finished 19th in Fantasy points amongst wideouts last year, but he ranked fourth in Fantasy points per game. SportsLine’s model splits the difference between those two rankings and has Higgins as the WR11 in its rankings. That makes him a Fantasy football sleeper as it has Higgins ahead of true No. 1 receivers on other teams, including A.J. Brown and Terry McLaurin. See which other Fantasy football sleepers 2025 to pick here.
How to find proven 2025 Fantasy football rankings
SportsLine is also extremely high on a veteran wide receiver to surprise with his production. The model says this wideout is a shocking top-10 option ahead of younger stars like A.J. Brown and Drake London. You can only see who it is, and the 2025 Fantasy football rankings for every player, at SportsLine.
So which 2025 Fantasy Football sleepers should you target? And which wide receiver shocks the NFL with a top-10 performance? Visit SportsLine now to get 2025 Fantasy Football cheat sheets for every single position, all from the model that called James Cook’s huge season, and find out.
2025 Fantasy football ADP
(PPR, via CBS)
1. Ja’Marr Chase (1.85)
2. Bijan Robinson (2.73)
3. Saquon Barkley (3.00)
4. Jahmyr Gibbs (4.52)
5. Justin Jefferson (7.22)
6. CeeDee Lamb (7.93)
7. Derrick Henry (10.13)
8. De’Von Achane (10.73)
9. Christian McCaffrey (11.34)
10. Malik Nabers (12.93)
