Fantasy Football 2025 Cheat Sheet for Sleepers and Busts Heading into Your Draft

The opening kick of the 2025 NFL season is fast approaching.

The start of your fantasy football draft is probably doing the same.

Over the coming couple of weeks, rosters will be filled with league-winning breakouts and sleepers and season-tanking busts. We're here to help you find more of the former than the latter, as we'll lay out cheat sheet rankings and then follow with sleeper and bust picks at the three marquee positions.

Cheat Sheet Position Rankings

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Quarterback

1. Josh Allen, BUF
2. Lamar Jackson, BAL
3. Jalen Hurts, PHI
4. Jayden Daniels, WAS
5. Patrick Mahomes, KC
6. Joe Burrow, CIN
7. Baker Mayfield, TB
8. Justin Fields, NYJ
9. Dak Prescott, DAL
10. Brock Purdy, SF

Running Back

1. Bijan Robinson, ATL
2. Saquon Barkley, PHI
3. Jahmyr Gibbs, DET
4. Christian McCaffrey, SF
5. Ashton Jeanty, LV
6. Derrick Henry, BAL
7. De'Von Achane, MIA
8. Chase Brown, CIN
9. Jonathan Taylor, IND
10. Bucky Irving, TB

Wide Receiver

1. Ja'Marr Chase, CIN
2. Justin Jefferson, MIN
3. CeeDee Lamb, DAL
4. Puka Nacua, LAR
5. Amon-Ra St. Brown, DET
6. Nico Colins, HOU
7. Malik Nabers, NYG
8. Brian Thomas Jr., JAX
9. A.J. Brown, PHI
10. Drake London, ATL

Tight End

1. Brock Bowers, LV
2. George Kittle, SF
3. Trey McBride, ARI
4. Sam LaPorta, DET
5. T.J. Hockenson, MIN
6. Travis Kelce, KC
7. David Njoku, CLE
8. Evan Engram, DEN
9. Mark Andrews, BAL
10. Dalton Kincaid, BUF

Defense/Special Teams

1. Denver Broncos
2. Philadelphia Eagles
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
4. Baltimore Ravens
5. Houston Texans
6. Minnesota Vikings
7. Buffalo Bills
8. Detroit Lions
9. Los Angeles Chargers
10. Kansas City Chiefs

Kicker

1. Brandon Aubrey, DAL
2. Cameron Dicker, LAC
3. Jake Bates, DET
4. Chase McLaughlin, TB
5. Harrison Butker, KC
6. Wil Lutz, DEN
7. Chris Boswell, PIT
8. Evan McPherson, CIN
9. Ka'imi Fairbairn, HOU
10. Tyler Bass, BUF

Sleepers

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Quarterback: Drake Maye, New England Patriots

New England's offense was a decidedly unfriendly fantasy environment last season, yet Maye still managed to post relatively decent numbers. He threw for 2,254 yards and 15 touchdowns in 12 starts, while adding another 216 yards and two scores on the ground.

He has since seen his situation dramatically improve with a new coaching staff, an upgraded offensive line and new playmakers like veteran receiver Stefon Diggs, second-round rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson and third-round rookie receiver Kyle Williams. The conditions are in place for Maye to become one of this campaign's breakout stars.

Running back: Jaydon Blue, Dallas Cowboys

Assuming Blue's bone bruise in his heel doesn't linger, he has a tremendous opportunity to earn a big role in what should be a high-scoring offense. The biggest obstacle in front of the fifth-round rookie appears to be underwhelming veteran Javonte Williams, who has averaged fewer than four yards per carry each of the past two seasons and managed just four touchdowns with two fumbles in 2024.

Blue offers a lot more burst, and his explosiveness could shine against defenses who have to worry about the downfield connections between Dak Prescott and receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. Blue has a non-zero chance of winning the starting job, and even if he doesn't, he'll likely work his way into a timeshare.

Wide receiver: Ricky Pearsall, San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers invested a 2024 first-round pick in Pearsall, and they'll be looking to see a big return on that selection. With Deebo Samuel off the roster, Brandon Aiyuk working his way back from an ACL injury and Jauan Jennings fighting a nagging calf injury, Pearsall has a path to become Brock Purdy's top target.

Pearsall wasn't heavily targeted as a rookie, but during the few games in which he was, good things happened. In his last two outings, he saw 18 targets and turned them into 14 receptions for 210 yards and two touchdowns.

Busts:

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Quarterback: Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Mayfield was, admittedly, wholly ridiculous last season, but his track record suggests he probably won't throw for 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns again. His previous highs were 4,044 and 28, respectively.

The offensive coordinator behind Mayfield's breakout is now the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars (Liam Coen), and there are availability concerns with Mayfield's top pass-catchers Chris Godwin (recovering from a dislocated ankle) and Mike Evans (turns 32 later this month). Mayfield's draft cost takes into account all of upside and none of his risks.

Running back: Breece Hall, New York Jets

Hall is talented enough to perform like a fantasy star, but his situation doesn't look great. Defenses won't respect New York's passing game until Justin Fields forces them to, and who knows if (or when) that will happen. Fields will also be a factor in the Jets' ground game, as could second-year running backs Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis.

Hall needs to be a can't-miss option to justify his draft cost, and there are scenarios in which he winds up missing.

Wide receiver: Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs

Rice can clearly do damage when he's operating as Patrick Mahomes' primary target, but there are myriad reasons to wonder whether Rice will ever fill that role this season. He is coming off of knee surgery, could face a fairly significant suspension and has plenty of competition for targets.

To be clear, there's a chance Rice makes this call look incredibly foolish, but this is all about avoiding risks. There are just too many red flags to ignore.