Thunder Dan Palyo spotlights six late-round fantasy football sleepers for 2025 who could flip the backhalf of your roster into a weekly contributor. Braelon Allen (NYJ) stands out as a potential early-down hammer with breakout upside in a improved Jets’ run game, while Jaylen Wright (MIA) is presented as a high-leverage handcuff behind Devon Achane. At tight end, Zach Ertz (WSH) is framed as a durable veteran safety blanket, with Brenton Strange (JAX) intriguing as a Week 1 starter and two-tight-end pairing value. DeMario Douglas (NE) is pitched as a slot-win in Drake Maye’s offense, and Keaton Mitchell (BAL) is flagged as the ultimate Henry-style handcuff. ADPs anchor the hype, inviting managers to chase upside late rather than rely on stale rankings.

Boston Scott’s NFL comeback bid is gaining traction as the Baltimore Ravens hosted the veteran running back for a workout, aimed at mitigating a banged-up backfield. Scott, who earned the moniker Giant Killer with Philadelphia, is reportedly in terrific shape after missing most of 2024 due to injury. Baltimore’s interest comes as Keaton Mitchell and Rasheen Ali deal with undisclosed injuries and Marcus Major is in concussion protocol, creating an opening for veteran depth. Myles Gaskin has since joined the Ravens, signaling urgency to add reliable, multi-skilled options before Week 1. Scott’s track record as a runner, receiver, and return man makes him a versatile fit in a power-running system that could use a quick, elusive change-of-pace option behind a bruising backfield. Fantasy managers should watch whether Baltimore signs him, how quickly he learns the playbook, and how the backfield splits could shift if he lands with the Ravens.

Alabama produced four Heisman winners in a single era, a run that lines up with three national championships and a steady thread of explosive offenses. The quartet—Ingram, Henry, Smith, and Young—delivered seasons that redefined the ceiling for college stars translating to NFL fantasy value, underscoring how Tide offenses can flood box scores and fantasy rosters alike.

Mark Ingram II (2009) piled up 1,658 rushing yards and 334 receiving yards with 20 total TDs, a workhorse season highlighted by 246 rushing yards against South Carolina and 172 vs Ole Miss, plus a national-title MVP performance in Texas. Derrick Henry (2015) set SEC marks with 2,219 rushing yards, 28 TDs, and 395 attempts, edging Deshaun Watson and Christian McCaffrey in a tight Heisman race and capping the year with 158 yards and 3 scores in the Clemson title win. DeVonta Smith (2020) led FBS with 117 receptions, 1,856 yards, and 23 TDs, becoming the first WR since 1991 to win the trophy, and adding 12 catches for 217 yards and 3 TDs in the title game. Bryce Young (2021) became one of the youngest Heisman winners, throwing for 4,872 yards and 47 TDs with just 7 picks, while guiding Alabama to SEC supremacy and a title tilt, aided by injuries on the opponent side and a young Tide passing attack that foreshadowed his NFL front‑office buzz. Alabama’s Heisman lineage sits atop the Nick Saban era as a reminder that elite college production often translates to long-term fantasy appeal in the pros.

Cameron Ward’s camp critique has flipped from harsh to hopeful as the Titans rookie has seen his offense grow through practice and a preseason test against defenses. After calling his unit “very mid” early on, Ward now believes Tennessee can be a top-10 attack with a sustained, collective effort from every huddle member.

Ward emphasizes the surrounding playmakers and the offensive line, insisting the Titans can translate their practice tempo into game production. He highlights a rising receiving corps, buoyed by veteran presence, and frames confidence as a team-wide mission rather than individual heroics.

Buffalo’s 2024 away-game bracket crystallizes into a tight narrative: James Cook’s Lions TD vs Derrick Henry’s Ravens highlight Buffalo’s evolving rushing dynamic, while Taron Johnson’s Colts interception vs Ja’Marcus Ingram’s Dolphins pick-six frame the defense’s big-play upside. The AFC Championship heartbreak and the Josh Allen Patriots finale anchor the emotional arc, underscoring Buffalo’s climb from playoff hopeful to division frontrunner. Fantasy readers get a clear read: Cook could anchor a growing Bills backfield; Henry’s veteran burst remains a weekly ceiling floor in a committee; Johnson offers IDP upside in favorable matchups, and Ingram plus Geno Smith’s storyline provides broader context for how Buffalo’s rivals approach the season. Expect Week 1 implications, Week-by-Week pivots, and a blueprint for streaming rationales on both sides of the ball.

In fantasy terms, the bracket suggests target players who can leverage structure: Cook’s workload projection, Henry’s efficiency in split carries, and Johnson’s playmaking upside as Buffalo’s defense accelerates. Allen’s playoff-tested floor paired with Smith’s narrative arc among division rivals adds layers for both DFS and season-long planning. The piece reads like a brand-new preview: a road-map built from memorable plays that hints at real-season production, matchup-driven value, and a disciplined approach to rostering Bills pieces who can deliver streaming value and weekly upside.