The Scholar’s 2025 NFL Draft Sleepers

by John Laub · Featured
2025 NFL Draft Sleepers

Player Profiler is home to award-winning dynasty rankings and tools. Our Dynasty Deluxe package includes complete Dynasty Rankings, Rookie Rankings, Trade Analyzer, Draft Planner, Mock Drafts, and more. Check it out! Below, John Laub presents The Scholar’s 2025 NFL Draft Sleepers. 

Scholar’s 2025 NFL Draft Sleepers

Every Draft season, I conclude my research with a Sleepers’ column for Dynasty owners and fantasy fanatics. I have examined nearly 100 prospects on film and plugged them into my position models. I have featured 35 in previous profiles on PlayerProfiler. Finally, I spotlight players who may not be highlighted by the industrial scouting complex and are underrated players in Dynasty Rookie Drafts.

More importantly, I explore undervalued players in the Origins Fast Draft Tournament. All of the competitors are available in the fourth or fifth round of the contest except for one. I have included the Origins ADP for readers along with a Prospect Profile and Scouting Report. 

Good luck drafting in the Origins Tournament and Dynasty drafts to all the PlayerProfiler readers.  

WR Kyle Williams, Washington State

Origins FastDraft ADP: 54.5

Prospect Profile

I have waited patiently to profile Kyle Williams this spring. I enjoyed watching him in the fall and his numbers surprised me in the WR model in late December. The stats sparked my interest: He recorded a 71% catch rate, 33% aerial dominator and 3.01 Receiving Yards Per Team Pass Attempt (RYPTPA) last year for Washington State. In his career, he also recorded 248 catches and averaged 14.6 YPC. I value all the aforementioned categories and decided to watch more film in January. At the Combine in late February, he posted a 4.40 in the 40-yard dash and a 1.55 10-yard split. According to the Relative Athletic Score, Williams was graded as “good” for both speed and explosion composite scores. He was a deep sleeper in an underwhelming draft class. 

In 2020, as a California high schooler, Williams played quarterback and moved to wide receiver as a senior. A three-star recruit, he signed with UNLV and made an immediate impact with 35 catches for 541 yards and two touchdowns in six starts. He collected Second Team All-Freshman honors by The Athletic. As a sophomore, he performed even better with 42 catches for 601 yards and two scores. In 2022, he snagged 40 passes for 541 yards and five touchdowns.

Afterward, he transferred to Washington State in 2023 and finished the campaign second on the team with 61 receptions for 843 yards and six touchdowns. In each of his first four games as a Cougar, he recorded touchdown catches and had at least two receptions in all 12 games. He returned to campus for a fifth season and posted career bests across the board: 70 catches for 1,198 yards and 14 touchdowns. He finished his college career versus Syracuse in the Holiday Bowl, setting a bowl record with 172 receiving yards and a touchdown on 10 receptions. There is a good chance that Williams is selected on Day 2, which would elevate his Dynasty value.


Scouting Report

At 5-10 and 190 pounds, Williams is a slick and slippery playmaker who has the athletic tools to succeed at multiple positions. A versatile receiver, he can play inside and outside and run a diverse route tree from different spots. Isolated on the boundary in 4-receiver formations, he defeats backside press coverage in one-on-one battles. With quick feet, he easily releases off the line of scrimmage with good agility and explosiveness. 

Big-play ability. He tracks the ball well vertically, and when he reaches the top of the pattern, he employs stupendous late hands to corral the pass. Williams obliterates zone coverage and executes a great come-back route. With the ball in his hands, he runs to daylight and dodges tacklers with elusive run-after-the catch ability in space. Winning with leverage and savviness, he has a high football IQ and is a polished route runner.

On the smaller side with a lean frame, he is an older prospect after playing for five seasons. Williams occasionally struggles against press coverage and is not a refined route runner. He has subpar hands and allows the pigskin to get on top of him, dropping some easy passes. The former Cougar has a limited catch radius and is a poor run blocker. He has room for improvement as a professional with some refined route training. At Williams’ current ADP, I will have a high rostership of the rookie and bank on the sleek competitor improving his craft. 

Scholar’s Grade: C+

RB Tahj Brooks, Texas Tech

Origins FastDraft ADP: 45.9

Prospect Profile

Over the past decade, there have not been many running back prospects coming from Lubbock, TX. The Red Raiders have predominantly been a pass-first team, and the Air Raid attack has not produced a 1,000-yard rusher since DeAndre Washington in 2015. Enter Tahj Brooks, the workhorse runner who logged back-to-back 1,500-yard campaigns in the past two years.

Brooks entered college in 2020 as a three-star recruit at Texas Tech and played five seasons for the Red Raiders. He led the team in rushing each of the past four seasons, including 2021, when he missed four games. In 2023, he earned 290 carries for 1,538 yards with 10 touchdowns and was named First Team All-Big 12. Last year, the fifth-year back garnered 286 attempts for 1,505 rushing yards and 17 scores while collecting Second Team All-Big 12 honors. As a pass-catcher over the same two-year period, he logged 83 receptions for 435 yards and two touchdowns. He was a two-time semifinalist for both the Doak Walker and Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award.

Brooks leaves the school as the all-time leader with 4,557 rushing yards, second in yards from scrimmage with 5,105 and tied for second in rushing touchdowns with 45. He also posted 23 games with over 100 rushing yards. In the classroom, he was a First Team Academic All-American and finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy—the academic Heisman award. At the Combine, he showcased his athleticism with a 4.52 in the 40-yard dash, 1.56 in the 10-yard split, 4.06 in the 20-yard shuttle and a 6.90 in the 3-cone drill.


Scouting Report

At 5-9 and 214 pounds, Brooks has a compact and dense frame with an impressive Body Mass index (BMI) of 31.6. He is physical between the tackles with stupendous contact balance. A mudder, he rambles with a low center of gravity and bounces off tacklers. A gap runner with quick feet, the Red Raiders’ battering ram has good vision, scanning for an opening and blasting through cutback lanes with low pads. He has impressive lateral quickness and is decisive and elusive when hitting the hole. 

There are shortcomings in Brooks’ game: He is not a home run hitter, lacking a second gear with only green grass ahead. Brooks is not always patient and runs with a high pad level. He is not a quick-twitch runner on tape despite athleticism illustrated at the Combine. He has fumbled four times in the past two campaigns. In the passing game, Brooks ran mundane routes, mostly check downs and flares, and was inconsistent at blitz pickup. He will kick off his professional career with nearly 1,000 touches on the college resume. The bowling ball will be an effective short-yardage runner and goal-line back in the NFL. At current ADP, Brooks might be the best bargain in rookie drafts.

Scholar’s Grade: C+

QB Tyler Shough, Louisville

Origins FastDraft ADP: 53.2

Prospect Profile

I have to admit that I do not see the fascination with Tyler Shough as a pro prospect. There are flashes of greatness on the tape. Nevertheless, those are few and far between when breaking down the film. I might be on a dirt road all by myself, but I am okay with taking a contrarian stance. Yet, I cannot ignore the chatter in the industrial scouting complex regarding Shough, and he will likely be selected earlier than my grading suggests.

A four-star recruit in 2018, Shough was one of the top QB prospects in the nation coming out of high school. He began his college journey at Oregon, following Justin Herbert behind center for the Ducks and playing three seasons in Eugene, OR (2018-2020). As a Duck, he passed for 1,703 yards and 16 aerial strikes. In 2021, Shough transferred to Texas Tech and suited up for three campaigns (2021-2023) as a Red Raider. He registered 2,922 passing yards and 20 touchdowns.

With one year of eligibility, the redshirt senior moved over to Louisville to apply his trade under coach Jeff Brohm. Last year, he passed for career highs in yards with 3,195 and touchdowns with 23. It was the first time that he started over 10 games in a season: He never had more than seven starts before. He was named Honorable Mention All-ACC. After seven seasons on a college campus, Shough is ready to kick off his professional career.

Scouting Report

At 6-5 and 219 pounds, Shough is a classic pocket passer with prototypical height—looks like a 1990s field general. He has electric arm talent with a compact motion and flick of the wrist thrower. Shough, a gunslinger, throws a tight spiral and attacks at all levels of the field. A good deep thrower, and he excels at seam routes and crossers. The former Cardinals’ field general commands the pocket with good footwork and throws well off-platform. He moves around well in the pocket and can scramble when necessary to move the chains. During his career, he scampered for 733 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. With years of experience, Shough makes good pre-snap decisions.

An experienced prospect at 25 years old, Shough’s developmental ceiling might be limited in the NFL. He too often relies on arm strength to win and occasionally has poor lower body mechanics. When pressured in the pocket, he can be disrupted and thrown off his game. Unfortunately, he endured multiple injuries—broken collarbones and fibula—and played in only 42 games in seven seasons. Shough has skyrocketed up positional rankings, and there are reports that he could be selected in the second round of the Draft. I am lower than consensus on Shough, yet I will remain open-minded if draft capital and landing spot foreshadow an opportunity to lead an offense sooner rather than later.

Scholar’s Grade: C

RB Brashard Smith, SMU

Origins FastDraft ADP: 34.7

Prospect Profile

The transfer portal has dramatically changed college football and provided players with control over their careers. When the depth chart does not provide significant playing time to showcase their skills, players can now seek better opportunities. Brashard Smith is the poster competitor for the utility of the transfer portal. 

A four-star recruit in 2021, Smith signed with Miami as a receiver, and in three years at South Beach, he snatched 69 passes for 770 yards and four scores. He earned only 18 carries for 177 yards. He made his biggest impact on special teams, returning 39 kicks for 975 yards and a touchdown and collecting Second Team ACC Specialist in 2023. As a Hurricane, he finished with 1,946 all-purpose yards.

SMU

After three middling campaigns in Miami, he moved west to play for SMU and became the Mustangs’ primary runner last year. He garnered 235 carries for 1,332 yards and 14 scores. Additionally, he added 39 catches for 327 yards and four touchdowns and was named First Team All-ACC. He established the single-season SMU mark for all-purpose yards with 1,977, averaging 141.21 yards per game (ypg.). Smith also scampered for a team-high 1,332 rushing yards—the fourth most in school history and second in the ACC in 2024.

Scouting Report

At 5-10 and 194 pounds, Smith is a little undersized (27.8 BMI) to be a workhorse back in the NFL. Nevertheless, he is a quick mover laterally and rapid accelerator downfield. The former Mustang employs fruitful juke moves and footwork to make plays. In traffic, he has underrated vision and finds cutback lanes. A quick-twitch runner, he has very good burst through the hole and quickly hits another gear at the second level—electric speed in space. A mismatch against linebackers in the passing game, he shakes defenders and wields start-and-stop shiftiness in space to win. With great hands, Smith easily plucks the ball out of the air and reacts well to poorly thrown passes. He snatches the pass in stride and gets upfield with a tip-top spidey-sense.

On the smaller side, he does not physically overwhelm, yet he is scrappy. Can he earn consistent touches in the middle of the defense? He does not anchor well against pass rushers and needs to improve his technique. A one-year performer, he has some ball security issues, toting the pigskin haphazardly at times. A draft-and-play special teamer, Smith fulfills two roles immediately in the NFL—third-down pass catcher and kick returner. From a fantasy perspective, he is a developmental prospect and profiles as a rotational back with 10-14 touches weekly (hopefully, more in the passing game) as a professional.

Scholar’s Grade: C+

RB Jarquez Hunter, Auburn

Origins FastDraft ADP: 46.3

Prospect Profile

For over 40 years, I have enjoyed SEC running backs dominating on my fantasy football teams. How stacked is the 2025 RB Class? The second-leading rusher in the Conference ranks outside of the consensus top 12 prospects at the position. Jarquez Hunter finished last year with over 1,200 yards, trailing only Dylan Sampson in the SEC. When a four-year SEC competitor with over 2,100 rushing yards in the past two seasons enters the NFL, I am captivated and seek to acquire the former Auburn runner in Dynasty drafts.

In high school, Hunter was named Mississippi Mr. Football and was a highly recruited runner with three stars. As a senior, he sprinted for 1,687 rushing yards with 22 touchdowns and totaled 2,069 all-purpose yards. He also competed on the hardwood and at track, earning varsity letters in both.

Hunter enrolled at Auburn in 2021 and garnered SEC all-freshman team after rushing for 593 yards on 89 attempts with three touchdowns. He added 12 catches for 61 yards and a score. As a sophomore, the tailback shared duties with current Jaguars’ runner Tank Bigsby and dual-threat quarterback Robby Ashford. He scampered for 668 yards on 104 carries and crossed the finish line seven times.

As a junior, Hunter began to govern in backfield for the Tigers: He garnered 159 carries for 909 yards and seven scores. The coaches named him to the Second Team All-SEC, and he earned SEC academic honor roll. As a senior last year, he collected First Team All-SEC after grossing 187 carries for 1,201 yards and eight scores. He concluded his Auburn tenure as the fourth all-time leading rusher with 3,371 yards, scored 29 total touchdowns, and 12 times exceeded 100-yards rushing. As a receiver, Hunter snagged 68 passes for 558 yards and four scores in four seasons.


Scouting Report

At 5-9 and 204 pounds, Hunter is an underrated home run hitter who right away impacted the Tigers’ offense as a true freshman. A one-cut ball carrier, he is a very good zone runner between the tackles and swiftly bursts upfield through the hole. He has good vision and presses the line to find daylight. Running under his pad level, the former Tiger lowers his shoulder to pack a punch, ripping through arm tackles, and is excellent after contact. With lower leg strength, he is a shifty gap runner who has been consistent and productive. According to the PFF database, he recorded 42 carries over 10 yards.

A smaller frame, Hunter is not the most powerful ball carrier and does not push the pile. He has shown some ball security challenges and is an underdeveloped pass catcher. He is not a quick-twitch athlete and is more of a linear runner. Does he have a first–class trait to win in the NFL? Early in his career, Hunter likely remains lower on the depth chart and resembles a jack-of-all-trades as a professional. At his present-day ADP, I will leave many Dynasty rookie drafts with the former Auburn ball carrier on my roster.

Scholar’s Grade: C+

TE Terrance Ferguson, Oregon

Origins FastDraft ADP: 54.0

Prospect Profile

Terrance Ferguson has been a very productive tight end over the past two seasons for the Ducks. In 2023, he snagged 42 passes for 414 yards and six scores, being named First Team All-Pac-12 by the coaches. Last year, he logged 43 catches for 591 yards and three touchdowns, earning Third Team All-Big Ten accolades. He concluded his career as Oregon’s all-time leader among tight ends in receptions (134) and receiving touchdowns (16) while ranking second in receiving yards (1,537).

As a true freshman in Eugene, OR, he immediately saw action on the gridiron and led all tight ends with 17 catches for 141 yards and a score. The following campaign, he finished fourth on the club with 32 receptions for 391 yards and five touchdowns. At the Combine, Ferguson displayed excellent athleticism with a 4.63 in the 40-Yard Dash, 1.55 in the 10-Yard Split, a 39” Vertical Jump and 10’2” in the Broad Jump. According to the Relative Athletic Score (9.81) database, he ranked 24th among 1,202 tight end prospects since 1987. 

A consensus four-star high schooler, Ferguson was a top player in Colorado and a top 10 tight end prospect in the nation. He was a four-year letterman and captain as a senior. He was also a two-time letter winner on the basketball team. 

Scouting Report

At 6-5 and 247 pounds, Ferguson is a tall and fluid athlete with long strides. A smooth route runner, he is a versatile tight end who can be employed on the boundary, in slot, inline and in the backfield. He is quick in and out of breaks and has good lateral movement to create separation. The fourth-year tight end challenges defenses horizontally, attacking secondaries up the seam. He wins before and after the catch and has good ball-seeking skills on off-target throws. He is a willing blocker who uses leverage to win in the run game.

In the NFL Draft, Ferguson is likely a late third-round pick or fourth-round selection, which foreshows concerns regarding transitioning to the NFL. He has below average strength when run blocking and does not have the big butt that coaches like to seal the edge. The former Duck lacks elite lateral movement in the short area and, from time to time, is a slow starter off the line of scrimmage. He ran a simple route tree and is a poor contested pass catcher (only a 36% success rate). Regrettably, he endured too many drops in 2024. He must improve his technique and has inconsistent contact balance. Ferguson profiles as a rotational pass-catcher early in his career with a nice ceiling if he embraces hard coaching. In general, I prefer to wait to select rookie tight ends in Dynasty drafts, and Ferguson will be a target at his current ADP.

Scholar’s Grade: C+

WR Tory Horton, Colorado State

Origins FastDraft ADP: 44.5

Prospect Profile

I am always a little wary of wide receiver prospects from G5 programs, but Tory Horton warrants the spotlight as a possible outlier from the Mountain West Conference. He originally enrolled at Nevada in 2020 and followed coach Mike Norvell to Colorado State in 2022. In his Mountain West tenure, he registered 3,615 receiving yards, leaving him 35 yards short of breaking the Conference’s all-time mark held by Rashard Higgins. He also finished third all-time in receptions with 265. 

In high school, Horton was a three-sport star in football, basketball and baseball. As a junior, the Fresno, CA native earned second-team accolades, and as a senior, he was named league MVP and first team honors. He enrolled at Nevada and spent two seasons as a member of the Wolf Pack, appearing in 21 games and logging 72 receptions for 995 yards and 10 scores.

Colorado State

In 2022, Horton moved to Colorado State and recorded back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns for the Rams. In both seasons, he collected First Team All-Mountain West. Unfortunately, he suffered a season-ending knee injury last year and snatched only 26 passes for 353 yards and a touchdown. Leaving Fort Collins, he accumulated 2,620 receiving yards (sixth in school history) and 17 receiving touchdowns, adding three punt returns for scores and throwing a touchdown. The former Rams’ star was also a two-time team captain. 

\At the Combine, Horton flashed his speed, sprinting the 40-Yard Dash in 4.41 with a 1.53 10-Yard Split. According to the Relative Athletic Score, he achieved a 9.79 grade, which ranked 73rd of 3,445 receivers selected in the past 38 years. He undoubtedly has the resume and raw athleticism to succeed at the next level.

Scouting Report

At 6-2 and 196 pounds, Horton is a flashy five-year competitor from a non-P4 school and has the traits and skills to beat the odds as an NFL playmaker. Instinctive with good feet, he is excellent in and out of breaks, accelerating swiftly down the field. He finds green grass in zone coverage and secures the pass with very good body control and strong and fast mitts. He devours cushions and effortlessly stacks opponents vertically. A long strider who adjusts well to the ball in flight, Horton is a stupendous deep ball tracker with long arms, snatching passes outside of his frame. With the pigskin in his hands, he combines great vision after the catch and spatial awareness to gain additional yards. A versatile receiver, he lined up in the slot and on the boundary at Colorado State.

The former Ram has a lean frame and is not the most physical receiver. He occasionally loses battles at the catch point in one-on-one matchups and, at times, appears to lose concentration. Against press coverage, he has limited moves and an unimpressive route tree on film. Horton injured his knee against San Jose last October and missed the rest of the season. He participated in the Colorado State Pro Day and appeared healthy after surgery. Draft capital will help illuminate the results of the league’s medical reports. He profiles as a rotational receiver to kick off his professional career. If he gains some strength and improves his technique versus press coverage, Horton could develop into a very nice fantasy asset.

Scholar’s Grade: C

WR Chimere Dike, Florida

Origins FastDraft ADP: 60

Prospect Profile

Al Toon—the Jets’ first-round selection in 1985—was the first receiver from Wisconsin that I remember. Nineteen years later, the Buffalo Bills selected former Badgers’ receiver Lee Evans with the thirteenth pick overall. Needless to say, there have not been many highly-rated wide receiver prospects who learned their trade in Madison, WI. Chimere Dike might be the third former Badger to make a significant impact shortly.

In high school, Dike played basketball and baseball and ran track and field. On the gridiron, he recorded 206 receptions for 3,033 receiving yards and 27 touchdowns. As a senior in 2019, he was bestowed with the Al Toon Award as Wisconsin’s top receiver. A three-star recruit, the speedster enrolled at Wisconsin and saw action in seven games as a true freshman. 

In 2022, as a junior, Dike started all 13 games and led the team in catches (47), receiving yards (689), and receiving touchdowns (6). Following that, in 2023, he did not replicate his breakout campaign from the year before. In four seasons as a Badger, he seized 97 passes for 1,478 yards and nine touchdowns in a power-run scheme. He also earned a bachelor’s degree in Communications and was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. 

Florida

With one more year of eligibility, Dike moved south to play for the Gators and was named Team Captain his first year in an orange and blue uniform. He became Florida’s main punt returner with 14 for 187 yards. As a pass catcher, he paced the club in receptions with 42 and finished second in yards with 783 and touchdowns with two. After the season ended, he was invited to the Senior and Hula Bowls to showcase his skills. At the Combine, among all receivers, he tied for the third-fastest 40-yard Dash in 4.34 seconds and also finished seventh overall with an Athleticism score of 87 by NextGen Stats. Why is Dike being overlooked by so many Dynasty owners? 

Scouting Report

At 6-1 and 196 pounds, Dike is a master zone coverage beater and wins in the middle of the defense. He is a natural hands catcher, plucking the ball away from his frame, and he maintains top speed in and out of breaks. The former Gator breaks safeties ankles with double moves and excels on deep crosses. Stacking corners vertically, he leaves defenders in the dusk on go routes and employs a deadly combo of head fakes and tempo changes to shake corners. He is dangerous after the catch, with stupendous spatial awareness. He offers punt return utility and can be a gunner on special teams.

Not a quick-twitch football player, he does not explode off the snap and lacks elite explosiveness. He rarely makes defenders whiff in space with elusiveness, which limits his YAC totals. He might need pre-snap motion to separate from press coverage, and the ball can be dislodged upon contact by physical defenders. Dike will immediately step into a slot role as a possession receiver and help an offense that thrives on zone passes. He is currently underappreciated in the Dynasty community and worth a flier later in drafts this spring.

Scholar’s Grade: C

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