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Biggest Sleepers at Every Position for Week 17 Fantasy Football 2025
Fantasy football managers are preparing for their big game in the championship round. It's a week of high stakes, and you need league winners. So let's get to the sleepers who will help you take home the title.
The Week 17 slate features a tripleheader on Thursday. Surprisingly, a lead running back in one of those contests is still available in over 70 percent of leagues, and he's produced as a high-end sleeper in previous weeks.
In Week 16, the Las Vegas Raiders nearly pulled off an upset over the Houston Texans with their best offensive performance in two months. They're set up for another solid outing, particularly through the air, which draws attention to a Silver and Black sleeper stack.
There's a new RB1 in Cleveland, and one of the most versatile fantasy darlings re-emerged in New Orleans just in time to help fill the flex spot on your roster.
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 Tyler Shough at Tennessee Titans (15 Percent Rostered)
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Tyler Shough is garnering Offensive Rookie of the Year buzz. Yes, the award is up for grabs without a standout quarterback putting up gaudy stat lines, but he's progressing under head coach and former pro quarterback Kellen Moore.
In six consecutive weeks, Shough completed at least 65 percent of his passes. In Week 16, against the New York Jets, he threw for a career-high 308 yards and a touchdown.
Since taking over the starting job in Week 9, Shough has finished within the top 12 in fantasy scoring among quarterbacks in three out of eight starts. On Sunday, he gets a favorable matchup that puts him in the top-five fantasy quarterback discussion.
Three weeks ago, Cleveland Browns rookie signal-caller Shedeur Sanders put on a show against the Tennessee Titans defense, throwing for 364 yards, three touchdowns and an interception.
Like Sanders, Shough could post jaw-dropping passing numbers against a defensive unit giving up the eighth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks.
QB Geno Smith vs. New York Giants (10 Percent Rostered)
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We've avoided Geno Smith since Week 4 for good reason. For the season, he's 22nd in fantasy scoring among quarterbacks, with only two finishes in the top 12 at his position, the last in Week 9 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Since then, the Las Vegas Raiders fired offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, and Smith has shown slight improvement in efficiency, though he's still tied Tua Tagovailoa for a league-leading 15 interceptions.
Nonetheless, Smith has an appealing matchup coming up. The New York Giants are tied for fifth in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks, and they're 20th in passing yards allowed.
In two of his last three outings, Smith has thrown for multiple touchdowns. Going against a mediocre pass defense at home, he could crack the top 10 in fantasy scoring among quarterbacks for the third time this season.
RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. vs. Dallas Cowboys (37 Percent Rostered)
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Chris Rodriguez Jr. isn't rostered enough for a lead running back. Even though the Washington Commanders offense is one of the league's worst, it's still averaging 117.5 rushing yards over the last two weeks without dual-threat quarterback Jayden Daniels.
The Commanders may start third-string quarterback Josh Johnson in place of Marcus Mariota, who's dealing with quad and hand injuries, which may lead to a run-heavy game plan.
In four consecutive weeks, Rodriguez has recorded double-digit carries. Even in a lopsided Week 16 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, he logged 15 rush attempts for 63 yards and a touchdown and caught a pass for six yards.
Regardless of the game script or the Commanders' quarterback situation, Rodriguez should have a secure role with a decent volume of touches. He's scored in four of the team's last six outings, which bodes well for his fantasy outlook against a defense that's allowed the second-most rushing touchdowns.
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RB Raheim Sanders vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (1 Percent Rostered)
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Last week, running back Quinshon Judkins broke his leg, which opens up the lead position in the Cleveland Browns' backfield. In his absence, undrafted rookie Raheim Sanders handled the bulk of the rushing workload, logging 11 carries for 42 yards and a reception for four yards.
Sanders, a 6'0", 230-pound tailback, will likely see more action on early downs against the Pittsburgh Steelers. With a moderate volume of rush attempts, he could reach paydirt.
The Steelers field a middling defense that's stiffened up over the past couple of weeks, but this unit isn't far removed from allowing 217-plus rushing yards in back-to-back outings in Weeks 13 and 14.
In a typical physical AFC North matchup, Sanders could pick up yards on the ground and capitalize on short-yardage scoring opportunities near the goal line.
WR Tre Tucker vs. New York Giants (39 Percent Rostered)
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Tre Tucker completes the quarterback-receiver sleeper stack. He's the Las Vegas Raiders' lead wideout in catches (50), receiving yards (617) and touchdown receptions (five), which makes him a priority option in the team's plus passing matchup.
The New York Giants allow the fifth-most fantasy points to wide receivers. Three of Big Blue's starting defensive backs, Paulson Adebo, Tyler Nubin and Dane Belton, are allowing passer ratings above 100 (out of a possible 158.3 rating). The trio has surrendered nine touchdowns in coverage combined.
In Week 16, Tucker accumulated 43 receiving yards, his highest total since Week 11. He could see more targets if fellow wideout Tyler Lockett misses time with a wrist injury.
Tucker can rack up big numbers. In Week 3, against the Washington Commanders, he caught eight passes for 145 yards and three touchdowns. The Raiders trailed throughout that contest, though it's worth noting that Smith has a solid rapport with the speedy receiver.
WR Kyle Williams at New York Jets (3 Percent Rostered)
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Kayshon Boutte (concussion) and Mack Hollins (abdomen) haven't practiced this week. The New England Patriots have ruled out Hollins for this game.
As a result, rookie third-rounder Kyle Williams should see an expanded role, potentially as the No. 2 receiver behind Stefon Diggs.
Last week, Williams hauled in two of his three targets for 46 yards and a touchdown. Going against the New York Jets, who have allowed 658 passing yards over the last two weeks, he could have a breakout game.
Also, with quarterback Drake Maye in the running for league MVP, don't be surprised if he airs it out early to gain an early lead on the Jets. Williams would be a primary beneficiary of that game script.
TE Brenton Strange at Indianapolis Colts (38 Percent Rostered)
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In the first meeting between these teams, Brenton Strange only caught three passes for 27 yards, though it's worth noting that the Jacksonville Jaguars throttled the Indianapolis Colts 36-19. They didn't need to push the ball through the air. In the first quarter of that game, rookie sixth-rounder Riley Leonard took over for Daniel Jones, who tore his ACL.
This time around, the Jaguars could be in for a much closer battle on the road against a Philip Rivers-led offense. This past Monday, the 44-year-old signal-caller showed he can still sling it, throwing for 277 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in a loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
The Jaguars may need to keep their foot on the gas pedal in this game. If that's the case, Strange should be a featured pass-catcher in a matchup with a defensive unit that just gave up seven receptions for 115 yards and a touchdown to tight end George Kittle.
Kittle is one of the league's best pass-catchers, though the Colts also struggle to cover the position, tied for fifth in fantasy points allowed to tight ends.
TE Taysom Hill at Tennessee Titans (3 Percent Rostered)
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Taysom Hill is no stranger to the fantasy football sleeper circuit, though it took him 16 weeks to make a notable impact. He opened the season on injured reserve and has worked his way back into a versatile role on a young team that needs help in multiple areas.
Over the past week, New Orleans placed wide receiver Devaughn Vele and running back Devin Neal on injured reserve, which opens up opportunities for Hill to contribute in the passing game and on the ground. Don't forget that Hill can also line up under center.
Last week, Hill did a little bit of everything for the Saints offense. He led the team in rushing with 12 carries for 42 yards, caught four passes for 36 yards and threw a 38-yard touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter.
Listed as a tight end, Hill can help you win your league with a combination of passing, rushing and receiving production. He's an intriguing sleeper in a matchup with the Tennessee Titans, who rank in the bottom half of the league in passing and rushing yards allowed.
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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