Five sneaky bench sleepers for 2025: Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Kyle Monangai, Trey Benson, Blake Corum, and Chig Okonkwo headline the late-round targets to stash. The strategy centers on last picks with high upside to beat the waiver wire when Week 1 breakout happens. Croskey-Merritt is highlighted by explosive flashes in Washington’s camp, Monangai draws praise for Rutgers’ yards after contact, Benson has a path to a bigger role in Arizona, Corum could carve into Williams’ touches with McVay seeking explosiveness, and Okonkwo looks primed to surge if Ward boosts Titans’ offense.

The piece leans into training-camp buzz, draft-day value, and the dual-threat appeal of Croskey-Merritt, a seventh-round rookie with first-team looks; Monangai’s late-round mobility; Benson’s spot-start upside in a clingy backfield; Corum’s post-hype potential as a more explosive option than Williams; and Okonkwo’s TE1 ceiling in a tighter Titans’ weapon pool. It treats these picks as strategic, season-long bets rather than one-week wonders, emphasizing upside, role progression, and the payoff of late-round depth in a crowded 2025 field.

Beyond the sleepers, the feature reinforces the philosophy that late picks should push the waiver wire in Week 1—where one breakout can swing the entire season. It leans on current rosters and coach commentary to map plausible paths for each sleeper, balancing risk with measurable upside as fantasy managers craft championship rosters for 2025.

The Eagles’ backfield behind Barkley is shaping up as a four-way battle with fantasy implications. Will Shipley looks like the clear No. 2 after Gainswell’s departure, flashing upside in limited opportunities and earning more touches in the playoffs and preseason. A.J. Dillon joined on a one-year deal, bringing downhill power and receiving work in camp, which could push him into a meaningful role if Barkley misses time. Keilan Robinson and ShunDerrick Powell, plus Montell Johnson Jr., are intriguing depth pieces who could surprise if injuries press Philadelphia deeper into the slate. Shipley’s current advantage as Barkley’s direct handcuff makes him a strong late-round target, while Dillon provides a flier with upside should Barkley be sidelined.

In dynasty and best-ball formats, Shipley and Dillon sit as appealing late-round bets, with Shipley offering broader-week-to-week ceiling in Philly’s run-heavy scheme and Dillon serving as a potential short-yardage and pass-protection asset. The depth chart is worth monitoring through the rest of the preseason, but Shipley is the safer stash with tangible immediate upside if Barkley flinches. Dillon, meanwhile, remains a speculative add with tier-two upside if Barkley goes down or workload management becomes a theme again.

Philadelphia’s 22-13 preseason loss to Cleveland trims the fat and leaves fantasy rosters with clear takeaways. With Jalen Hurts and the top offense sidelined, the Eagles produced a frugal 88 yards of total offense and 55 through the air, while the stress-testing second unit showed why roster decisions loom. The defense fought, yielding 15 first downs and 331 total Browns yards, but produced a pair of game-changing plays: Mukuba’s 75-yard interception return and Campbell’s first NFL sack, underscoring the value of young defensive depth.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s shaky showing for Cleveland—five completions on eight attempts for 17 yards and an INT—highlighted how the backups can swing outcomes in the dress rehearsal. Kyle McCord offered a glimmer with a late TD but otherwise struggled, while the Browns benefited from a disruptive pass rush. For fantasy and betting, the upshot is simple: monitor the health and performance of Philadelphia’s youth, as Andrew Mukuba, Jihaad Campbell, Smael Mondon Jr., and Patrick Johnson flashed upside in limited action; Cleveland’s depth chart remains unsettled but showed potential in the edge and turnover game. The last preseason tilt versus the Jets will be pivotal for final rosters and fantasy intrigue.

Cleveland’s Dillon Gabriel flashed the quick processing, accuracy, and offense understanding that made him a third-round pick, going 13 of 18 for 143 yards in a half and delivering an especially sharp first quarter (8 of 9). A rookie miscue—an under-thrown pass on a rollout that Andrew Mukuba returned 75 yards for a TD—tsunami-crashed the rookie glow, but Gabriel bounced back and led a TD drive plus two field-goal drives. He showed poised command and the Browns’ staff clearly values his big-picture fit, keeping him ahead of fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders on the depth chart for now.

Shedeur Sanders’ absence limited direct comparison in this outing, but the prior week’s showcase and the ongoing QB competition remain central to Browns fantasy angles. The Browns leaned into Gabriel’s quick decision-making and decisive throws, pairing it with productive rhythm from Jamari Thrash on multiple third downs. The matchup also highlighted Gabriel’s ability to thread passes to covered targets and convert on third-down DPIs; the rushing TD on the opening drive underlines potential scoring upside if he earns Week 1 snaps. The Eagles’ rookie defenders—Jihaad Campbell notably—made plays, including a long return off the interception, but Gabriel’s decision-making and accuracy stood out as a real fantasy signal for the Browns’ quarterback situation as August progresses.