With training camps in full swing, a few rookies are beginning to make a name for themselves. These three players offer significant upside and late-round value, making them intriguing targets for fantasy managers looking for end of draft sleepers. Let’s dive into why they deserve your attention.
Dont’e Thornton Jr. – WR, Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders 4th round pick out of Tennessee has impressed all offseason. So much so, that he was named a starter upon the team’s first unofficial depth chart release ahead of last night’s preseason tilt with the Seahawks. While he more than likely will not command a high target share, Thornton has the physical attributes to boom on any given week. One of only three players to ever run a 4.3 forty yard dash at 6’5 or taller, Thornton has the size and speed to take advantage of any one-on-one coverage he sees. The only two other receivers to run a 4.3 forty at 6’5? Calvin Johnson Jr. and DK Metcalf.
Raiders QB Geno Smith has had great success targeting receivers like Thornton in the past. Last year, Smith was first in overall catchable target rate among qualifying quarterbacks and sixth in downfield accuracy, per Fantasy Pros. After averaging 25.4 yards per catch in his final season at Tennessee, expect Raiders OC Chip Kelly to take full advantage of Thornton’s playmaking ability.
You can get Thornton in the last few rounds of drafts currently. The end of drafts is all about picking players with high upside and Thornton Jr. fits the bill better than most.
Jaydon Blue – RB, Dallas Cowboys
Despite being listed as the team’s third string running back on the Cowboys most recent unofficial depth chart, former Texas RB Jaydon Blue could easily make considerable fantasy contributions by the seasons’ end. After a rocky start to training camp, the fifth round pick has impressed lately with his speed and athleticism enough to see first team reps in the past week.
While RB Javonte Williams is currently listed as the team’s starter, Blue is clearly the most explosive running back on the roster, and Williams has been mediocre at best, averaging 3.7 YPC since a gruesome knee injury in 2022. While Blue is on the smaller side for an NFL running back (5’9, 196 lbs), he is a speedster, clocking a 4.38 forty time at the draft, and has elite lateral quickness in the open field.
“He reminds me of a larger version of Darren Sproles. I don’t use that lightly,” Cowboys HC Brian Schotteheimer said last week when asked about Blue earning first team practice reps. It’s fair to say that Blue stands out as the top pass-catching threat among the group, having led all SEC running backs in receiving yards (365) and receiving touchdowns (6) in 2024.
In a backfield open for the taking, Blue offers far too much upside to be ignored in the later rounds of drafts. He could easily overtake Williams and RB Miles Sanders for meaningful snaps late in games, and should contribute in the passing game immediately.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt – RB, Washington Commanders
Jacory Croskey-Merritt is quickly turning into one of the most intriguing late-round fantasy sleepers of 2025. A seventh-round pick by Washington, he fell in the draft largely due to an eligibility issue that limited him to just one game in 2024. His 2023 season at New Mexico tells the real story: over 1,200 total yards, 18 touchdowns, and a 33% dominator rating (per PFF). He also posted top-tier efficiency metrics, including a 7.2 YPC mark on inside zone runs—an ideal fit for a Commanders offense that ranks top-three in inside zone rate and operates heavily out of shotgun.
Since arriving in Washington, “Bill” has done nothing but impress. He’s been the star of training camp, earning first-team reps and drawing praise from HC Dan Quinn for his physical, no-nonsense running style. He makes quick cuts, gets downhill, and excels after contact—ranking top 20 in both YAC per attempt and elusive rating during his final college season.
With RB Austin Ekeler nearing the end of his career and RB Brian Robinson Jr. looking increasingly replaceable (bottom five in efficiency over his final 11 games last year), there’s a real path for JCM to climb the depth chart quickly. He could easily open the season as the RB2 and be one injury or breakout game away from taking over the backfield. In a high-scoring offense, he’s a free stash with legitimate upside.
