Middle-round RB sleepers for 2025 have clear paths to meaningful touches: D'Andre Swift in Chicago leads a backfield with room to grow, Jordan Mason in Minnesota could seize carries as Jones scales back, Jaylen Warren in Pittsburgh stands to inherit work after Harris, Cam Skattebo in New York competes for goal-line touches, and RJ Harvey in Denver could secure early reps behind a strong run-blocking line. All five offer upside relative to late-draft costs, especially in best-ball formats.

In drafts, these targets provide a mix of proven receiving ability, youth, and favorable scheme fits. Improvements on the O-line and the coaching staff could push these players from sleeper status toward weekly FLEX or even RB3 floors. They’re the kind of mid-round bets that can anchor a fantasy squad when the core veterans land unpredictably.

Micah Parsons’ trade request has become the specter of the Dallas Cowboys’ 2025 season. Ahead of the finale to the preseason, Parsons walked past an AT&T Stadium tour group and signaled willingness to move, a stark symbol of a growing rift after Aug. 1’s trade flag went up. He’s been held out since camp, with a back injury cited, while talks with Dallas have soured and owner pressure has mounted. Fantasy players should monitor whether this drifts toward a resolution, a swap, or a franchise-tag standoff that could shape the defense’s production and risk in weekly lineups.

Jerry Jones has been vocal, casting blame at Parsons’ representation and even suggesting a twice-applied franchise tag. Parsons’ camp has pulled Cowboys from his social feeds, heightening uncertainty about his long-term home. The contract at stake would likely surpass any non-quarterback deal in NFL history, propelled by Parsons’ four Pro Bowls and age (26). The benchmark contracts—Nick Bosa at about 88 million guaranteed and TJ Watt at 108 million—frame a market where Parsons could redefine edge-player value, especially for fantasy managers eyeing sack upside and tackles in a changing Cowboys defense.

In this saga, Dallas’ defense is the center of gravity. If Parsons signs long-term or stays in Dallas under tag pressure, DL1 value remains strong; if he’s traded or locked in at a record payday elsewhere, fantasy drafters may need to pivot to complementary pass-rushers and adjust expected sack and tackle distributions. Either outcome reverberates across the NFC East and the defensive fantasy landscape, given Parsons’ ceiling and the franchise’s willingness to spend big on non-QB stars.

Derrick Harmon, Pittsburgh’s No. 21 overall pick, will miss time after sustaining a knee sprain that is described as an MCL injury. The Steelers expect several weeks of downtime, with activation possible after Week 4’s trip to Ireland to face Minnesota. Pittsburgh’s Week 5 bye offers a potential reset as Harmon works back, but the short-term IR avenue remains on the table depending on severity. Harmon’s absence could nudge the defensive line into a larger role for Keeanu Benton and Yahya Black while Cam Heyward adjusts his rhythm in the interim. The team’s schedule before the break — Jets, Seahawks, Patriots, Vikings — provides a challenging but telling early gauge of how the line adjusts without its first-round anchor.

Tomlin noted Harmon’s injury was still being evaluated after the Panthers game, with imaging later confirming the MCL sprain. Harmon had earned a starting role alongside Benton in the base defense, and the rookie’s absence could accelerate a bigger defensive- front contribution from fellow first-year player Yahya Black, who showcased upside with two sacks against Carolina. The ripple effects extend to Heyward’s own contract discussions, as the veteran seeks to maintain edge presence while the younger linemen absorb more reps. Fantasy angles shift as depth roles crystallize and week-to-week rotations tighten behind the star trio of Heyward, Benton, and Harmon.

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Cleveland taps Joe Flacco to start Week 1 versus Cincinnati, citing health, reliability and Stefanski’s system fit as reasons the veteran earns the job. Flacco’s Week 1 presence anchors a Browns attack while Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders recover and compete behind him. The Browns will lean on Flacco’s playoff pedigree as Watson returns from injury, using the early slate to evaluate how Gabriel and Sanders can grow behind a steady veteran at the controls.

Flacco brings a long NFL resume, including a Super Bowl XLVII MVP and a notable 2023 comeback run for Cleveland that helped secure a playoff berth. After stints with the Colts and a return to Cleveland, he enters 2025 as the anchor in a plan that prioritizes health, experience and a measured developmental path for Gabriel and Sanders. The early schedule—Cincinnati, Baltimore, Green Bay, Detroit, Minnesota—tests whether Cleveland’s veteran option can deliver steady production while the rookies learn the pro game.

Fantasy takeaway: Flacco’s Week 1 start dampens immediate upside for Browns pass-catchers but could steady the offense enough to keep them in the streamer mix in deeper leagues. If he maintains efficient spark and the rookies show growth behind him, Cleveland could unlock more upside in later weeks as Watson returns and the QB room matures.