Fantasy football fans spend countless hours researching potential breakouts, sleepers, and ultimately league winners. Amidst the pursuit of finding a diamond in the rough, many get lost in the weeds. Bogged down by injury projection, data, and trying to foresee a future they simply cannot. Here are a couple of common-sense sleepers that fantasy managers should remain optimistic about heading into draft season.
After going in the third round of fantasy drafts last year, the Kansas City running back has plummeted in ADP heading into 2025. Suffering an early-season injury last year, his season was ultimately derailed despite his late-season return. His lack of involvement and productivity upon “recovery” has left the fantasy community doubting whether or not he’s still the lead back for the Chiefs.
While at first glance, Pacheco appears to be opposed by both the depth chart and his previous injury, taking an honest look at the situation reveals he’s a risky bet worth taking. After missing 10 games with a rib injury and a broken fibula last season, Pacheco returned to action, simply not looking the same. Who’s to say this offseason hasn’t given him the time he needed for his body to truly recover?
Despite the starting role not clearly being his (thanks to positional competition from Kareem Hunt), Pacheco is easily the best of the two running backs. At 30 years old, Hunt is past the age cliff that fantasy managers are usually wary of for running backs.
The Chiefs will put up points, run the ball efficiently, and ultimately be a good offense. If Pacheco emerges mid-season as the team’s workhorse back, he’ll be one of the hottest trade targets on the market.
The rookie out of Iowa was selected 83rd overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in this year’s draft. The combination of his talent, apparent role in the offense, and team outlook makes him a sleeper heading into the 2025 fantasy football season.
Johnson accounted for an astonishing 43% of Iowa’s total yardage last year. He’s one of the prospects where the tape simply speaks for itself.
Fantasy managers are sure to be given pause when reflecting on Johnson’s counterpart in Jaylen Warren. While Warren’s a solid asset for the team, he’s shown fantasy fans he is unable to lead a workhorse role. When Najee Harris was in Pittsburgh, he averaged 319 touches per season. The majority of that was coming alongside Warren. There are more than enough touches available for Johnson to ascend into a top 20 running back.
If by the end of the year, Johnson asserts himself as the standalone lead back for this team, he’ll finish much higher than his current ADP reflects.
Sometimes the best way to approach fantasy football is to keep things simple. Betting on talent and situation often gets you farther than betting on excitement & potential. Both of these running backs serve as high-upside players one won’t have to break the bank to acquire come draft day.
*The statistics used in this article are based on the half-PPR format provided by fantasypros.
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