Biggest Sleepers at Every Position for Week 10 Fantasy Football 2025
Fantasy football managers are pushing for playoff spots, but they must do it without Patrick Mahomes, Ja'Marr Chase and CeeDee Lamb, who are on a bye week. Fortunately, a few sleepers can help fill those voids.
Our sleeper quarterbacks can't compare to Mahomes, but they're more than capable of racking up solid numbers against below-average pass defenses at home.
If you love big-play receivers, two undervalued pass-catchers can help you make up ground or get over the hump in a close matchup.
This week isn't a good one to need a running back, but there's a lead ball-carrier emerging as a result of a season-ending injury. Also, managers in point-per-reception leagues can find a pass-catching gem in a crowded backfield.
Check out our biggest sleeper options who are available in more than 50 percent of leagues, according to FantasyPros' roster consensus percentages. We also listed DraftKings' daily fantasy sports price for each player.
QB J.J. McCarthy vs. Baltimore Ravens (28 Percent Rostered)
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J.J. McCarthy earned enough trust to appear on the sleeper's list. He missed five games with a high ankle sprain and returned last week, throwing for two touchdowns and rushing for a score.
Though McCarthy struggles with inaccuracies, completing 57.6 percent of his passes in three starts, he's made it up for it in scoring flurries.
In his debut start against the Chicago Bears, McCarthy threw two touchdown passes and rushed for a score in the fourth quarter to propel the Minnesota Vikings to victory. Last week, he threw a couple of touchdown passes in the first quarter, which gave the Vikings an early cushion.
You may have to be patient for McCarthy's fantasy points to roll in, but he's in an ideal matchup with the Baltimore Ravens, who rank outside the top 20 in passing and rushing yards allowed per game. Following their Week 7 bye, the Ravens have allowed 521 passing yards.
McCarthy could use his arm and legs for a high-end fantasy output, building on last week's performance.
QB Davis Mills vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (1 Percent Rostered)
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Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans ruled out starting quarterback C.J. Stroud for Week 10. Davis Mills, who hasn't started a game since the 2022 season, will take over the helm.
Though it seems irrational to start a backup quarterback who's thrown more than 12 passes in a game just three times over the last two years, Mills isn't just any random No. 2 signal-caller. He started in 26 contests with the Texans between 2021 and 2022.
Mills should be ready for a favorable matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars, who field the 27th-ranked pass defense, allowing 19 touchdowns through the air in eight games. He'll have a healthy Nico Collins, an emerging pass-catching running back in Woody Marks and a reliable pass-catching tight end in Dalton Schultz.
This season, Houston's offense isn't appealing from a fantasy perspective, but Mills is in a matchup that's hard to pass up, given the pressure on the Texans to keep pace in the AFC South with a 3-5 record. He may put together one of his best pro performances in a critical game against a below-average pass defense.
RB Devin Singletary at Chicago Bears (14 Percent Rostered)
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In the New York Giants' first game since running back Cam Skattebo's season-ending ankle injury, Devin Singletary led the backfield with 10 touches. Tyrone Tracy Jr. logged eight touches. More importantly for fantasy purposes, Singletary handled the Giants' only goal-line carry.
Tracy is a more explosive running back who can rack up yards in space, but the Giants' coaching staff trusts Singletary with a slightly heavier workload.
Averaging nearly 5.4 yards per carry against the San Francisco 49ers' 15th-ranked run defense last week, Singletary could get going on the ground while facing one of the league's worst run defenses.
The Chicago Bears rank 25th against the run, and they're allowing the fourth-most yards per carry (5.1).
Assuming Singletary leads Big Blue's backfield for consecutive weeks, he'll have room to run the ball in Chicago. Don't discount his ability to serve as a third-down pass-catcher. In Week 9, he recorded two receptions.
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RB Jeremy McNichols vs. Detroit Lions (3 Percent Rostered)
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The Washington Commanders are preparing to start backup quarterback Marcus Mariota in their contest with the Detroit Lions, while Jayden Daniels seeks multiple opinions on his dislocated elbow.
In Mariota's previous start, Week 8 against the Kansas City Chiefs, he dinked and dunked his way down the field for most of the outing. The veteran signal-caller completed five out of six passes for 64 yards to Jeremy McNichols.
The Lions field a stout run defense, ranking 10th in yards allowed per game. Don't expect rookie seventh-rounder Jacory Croskey-Merritt to find much success on the ground. Additionally, this game could get out of hand in Detroit's favor.
With the possibility of a negative game script against an opponent with a strong run defense, Mariota could be dinking and dunking again because he won't have star wideout Terry McLaurin (quad) on the field. If that's the case, McNichols will have a busy day.
WR Darius Slayton at Chicago Bears (27 Percent Rostered)
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In Week 9, Jaxson Dart and Darius Slayton showed signs of a budding rapport in the passing game. The rookie quarterback connected with the seventh-year receiver five times for 62 yards. For Slayton, those were season-high numbers.
Dart and Slayton can build on last week's performance in a matchup with the Chicago Bears' 25th-ranked pass defense that's allowed the second-most touchdowns (20) through nine weeks.
Furthermore, the Bears have allowed 72 points over the last two weeks. Big Blue may be in store for a high-scoring game that will require Dart to air it out. Averaging nearly 15 yards per catch in his career, Slayton could be on the receiving end of a few deep passes for long gains in this contest.
Wan'Dale Robinson is the Giants' high-volume pass-catcher, though Slayton is their big-play receiver with boom potential in terms of fantasy production.
WR Christian Watson vs. Philadelphia Eagles (20 Percent Rostered)
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Two weeks ago, the Green Bay Packers activated Christian Watson from injured reserve. Coming off a torn ACL, he's already re-established himself as an explosive vertical threat.
In two games this season, Watson is averaging a jaw-dropping 23.8 yards per catch. He's hauled in six of his eight targets for 143 yards. The big-play receiver hasn't seen a high volume of targets, but that could change soon.
The Packers lost pass-catching tight end Tucker Kraft, who tore his ACL last week, which will free up targets for others.
Managers shouldn't be eager to insert Tucker's backup, Luke Musgrave, into starting lineups against the Philadelphia Eagles, who allow the third-fewest fantasy points to tight ends. Instead, start Watson in the WR2 or flex spot.
The Eagles rank 17th in passing yards allowed per game, and their No. 2 cornerback spot is in flux. Adoree' Jackson missed the team's previous outing before its Week 9 bye with a concussion, and he's been inconsistent in coverage. Kelee Ringo has also struggled in the secondary.
Philadelphia acquired cornerback Jaire Alexander from the Baltimore Ravens before the trade deadline, but it may be too quick a turnaround for him to make an impact. Watson can rack up 100-plus yards with four or five catches against the Eagles on Monday.
TE Cade Otton vs. New England Patriots (30 Percent Rostered)
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' banged-up receiver corps isn't much healthier following a Week 9 bye. Mike Evans is on injured reserve, and Chris Godwin (fibula) opened the week as a non-participant at practice.
If Godwin doesn't suit up, Cade Otton will be active in the passing game and may be the primary read in certain situations.
Sure, Emeka Egbuka looks impressive, and fellow rookie wideout Tez Johnson has emerged as a reliable perimeter threat. That said, Otton's rapport with quarterback Baker Mayfield could translate to fantasy gold in a matchup against a defense that's vulnerable to big-bodied pass-catchers.
The New England Patriots are tied for seventh in fantasy points allowed to tight ends. If Egbuka draws Patriots' lead cornerback Christian Gonzalez in coverage, Otton could have favorable one-on-one battles.
Also, the Patriots rank 21st in pressure rate at 18.9 percent. Mayfield should have plenty of time in the pocket to dissect New England's pass defense, which gave up 221 yards and three touchdowns to Michael Penix Jr. last week.
Otton has recorded at least four catches and 40 yards in four consecutive games. He'll continue to play a key role in the Buccaneers' passing attack with a couple of receivers on the mend.
TE Dalton Schultz vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (26 Percent Rostered)
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Last week, Dalton Schultz missed practices on Wednesday and Thursday, but he logged a full session on Friday and played in the following game, logging six catches for 77 yards. The banged-up tight end could go through a similar process leading up to game day this week.
On Wednesday, Schultz went through a limited practice with knee and shoulder injuries, which is a positive sign for his availability in a critical division matchup.
With backup quarterback Davis Mills under center, Schultz will likely serve as a sure-handed option in the passing game.
Schultz leads the Texans in catches (38), and he's second on the team in receiving yards (385). On Sunday, he'll face the Jacksonville Jaguars, who gave up 127 receiving yards and three touchdowns to tight end Brock Bowers last week.
Bowers is a dominant All-Pro pass-catcher, though the Jaguars have struggled to cover tight ends all season, giving up the second-most fantasy points to players at that position. If Schultz plays, it could be his turn to post gaudy receiving numbers against Jacksonville's 27th-ranked pass defense.
Fantasy points scored against statistics are provided by FantasyPros.
Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.
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