Seven second-year fantasy sleepers and breakout targets headline 2025 draft prep: Benson, Allen, Odunze, Pearsall, Theo Johnson, Williams, and Penix Jr. Each profile leans into opportunity, youth, and offensive surroundings to identify late-round paths to upside. Benson could emerge as a starter in Arizona behind a stable line; Allen may seize meaningful Jets workload; Odunze and Pearsall stand to benefit from offense boosts in Chicago and San Francisco respectively. Williams, paired with a new coaching staff, looks poised to improve, and Penix Jr. is positioned for a late-round QB uplift with Bijan Robinson and new passing-game weapons. ADPs reflect upside generally trailing more established loads, making these names intriguing value picks with missing-piece potential for fantasy rosters.

The piece recommends targeting these sophomores as value picks with upside entering 2025, spotlighting roles and surrounding cast to justify why they could outperform their draft cost. The ADP anchors illustrate the gap between ceiling and current price, encouraging managers to lean into developmental leaps rather than chasing only proven veterans.

Overall, the focus is on overlooked, developmental futures who could deliver weekly fantasy points as the season unfolds, making them attractive late-round targets or watch-list stashes for leagues of all sizes.

Five late-round targets show intriguing upside for fantasy rosters this season. Mooney lands in Atlanta as the Falcons’ second wideout behind London, reuniting with a schemed offense that loves multiple-receiver looks and deep shots. Reports tie Penix Jr. to a higher deep-ball rate, boosting Mooney’s weekly upside even as he battles shoulder rehab and a Week 1 return timeline. J.J. McCarthy steps into Minnesota’s passing game with Jefferson, Hockenson, and a solid line, giving him a path to top-24 fantasy value in superflex while he learns the starting duties. Croskey-Merritt heads to Washington in Kliff Kingsbury’s system, where an emphasis on early-down workload could push him into backfield relevance as a potential insurance option behind Robinson. Marvin Mims Jr. has earned preseason buzz in Denver, where Payton’s scheme and a broad WR rotation could unlock weekly starter potential if he wins outside routes and sticks in two-TE packages. Braelon Allen lands with the Jets in a backfield that values short-yardage prowess; if the line blocks well and Fields avoids early short-yardage runs, Allen could emerge as a top late-round RB share of touches and TD opportunities.

Week 2 of the preseason brought fewer fireworks as teams leaned into joint practices, but fantasy implications still surfaced. Spencer Rattler’s efficiency for New Orleans positions him as a real Week 1 starter candidate, while the Saints’ quarterback room remains thin enough that every tweak matters. In New York, Braelon Allen pressed for a bigger role in the Jets’ backfield, hinting at a hot-hand approach even in a committee setup. Los Angeles saw Trey Lance surge in the Chargers’ QB2 race, with a 34-yard opening drive sequence and mobility upping his ceiling as Herbert’s copilot. Seattle’s backfield saw Zach Charbonnet shine, suggesting a potential lead role if Kenneth Walker III misses time. Finally, Jaxson Dart’s potential early-season path with the Giants adds an intriguing, mobile option in deep-league formats. These battles will shape Week 1 lineups and provide several viable streamer options at quarterback and running back across multiple teams.

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.