Fantasy football rankings 2025: Sleepers, breakouts, busts from NFL model that nailed C.J. Stroud's down year
SportsLine simulated the new NFL season 10,000 times and identified 2025 Fantasy football sleepers, breakouts and busts for upcoming drafts

Only two quarterbacks were taken in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and while both are expected to see playing time this season, fantasy managers should be cautious when investing in 2025 Fantasy football rookies. No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward has an opportunity to be the Week 1 starter for the Tennessee Titans, while New York Giants rookie Jaxson Dart is expected to start the season behind Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston. Where should Ward and Dart land in your 2025 fantasy football QB rankings, and are there any other rookie quarterbacks worth considering during your 2025 fantasy football draft prep?
A reliable set of 2025 Fantasy football rankings can help you target 2025 Fantasy football sleepers and 2025 Fantasy football breakouts while avoiding 2025 Fantasy football busts. Before setting your 2025 Fantasy football draft strategy, be sure to check out the 2025 Fantasy football rankings and cheat sheets from the proven computer model at SportsLine.
Last year, the model accurately predicted that Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud might take a step back in his second season. He finished as QB18 and anybody who avoided drafting him early dodged a major headache in their Fantasy football lineups. The same model has a proven track record providing Fantasy football tips, identifying A.J. Brown as a sleeper in 2020, nailing Jonathan Taylor's monstrous season in 2021 and calling Rachaad White's breakout in 2023. Additionally, it has called past Fantasy football sleepers like Derrick Henry in 2019, Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara in 2018, and Davante Adams in 2017. Anybody who banked on players like those made a run at their league title.
The model is powered by the same people who generated projections for all three major Fantasy sites, and it beat human experts last season when there was a big difference in ranking. The 2025 Fantasy football PPR rankings and 2024 Fantasy football standard projections update multiple times daily, so you're always getting the best Fantasy football advice.
Now, SportsLine has simulated the entire NFL season 10,000 times and released its latest 2025 Fantasy football rankings, along with plenty of sleepers, breakouts and busts. Head to SportsLine now to see them.
Top 2025 Fantasy football sleepers
One of the 2025 Fantasy football sleepers the model is predicting: Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. The 31-year-old only played eight games last year due to a season-ending hamstring injury, but when he takes the field this year, he'll have a game-changing new weapon to go alongside arguably the most talented receiver in the NFL. The Cowboys traded for George Pickens from the Steelers and Pickens has a big-play ability that could pair well with Prescott running alongside CeeDee Lamb, who will always demand additional defensive attention. Prescott was QB3 in Fantasy football in 2023 despite Lamb being the only Dallas wide receiver to reach 700 yards.
He was QB7 in Fantasy football in 2021, as he's been a consistent top Fantasy football quarterback option when healthy. Health has been the biggest concern though, as he's failed to complete three of his last five seasons. That injury risk has been built into his ADP, and the model has Prescott as a top-10 Fantasy football quarterback this season. He is currently being drafted outside the top 10 at his position and given his recent injuries and potential name fatigue, that's a trend that could continue. But the model views that as a mistake, making Prescott a top quarterback Fantasy football sleeper. See more Fantasy football sleepers 2025 here.
Top 2025 Fantasy football breakouts
One of the 2025 Fantasy football breakouts the model is predicting: Jaguars wide receiver Travis Hunter. Jacksonville hasn't made any official declarations on whether Hunter will focus on one position or continue playing two ways like he did at Colorado, but wide receiver certainly seems like a pressing need for the Jaguars. Brian Thomas Jr. is the only player on the roster who registered more than 32 receptions last season and veterans Dyami Brown and Parker Washington are ancillary targets at best.
Hunter caught 96 passes for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns despite routinely playing well over 100 snaps per game on both sides of the ball. The Heisman Trophy winner has elite body control and a healthy Trevor Lawrence should provide a significant boost to a Jacksonville offense that struggled in 2024. The model ranks Hunter ahead of established veterans like Stefon Diggs, Cooper Kupp and Michael Pittman Jr. See more Fantasy football breakouts 2025 here.
Top 2025 Fantasy football busts
As for players to avoid, the model lists Saints receiver Chris Olave as one of its 2025 Fantasy football busts. After posting back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons to start his NFL career, Olave's production fell sharply in 2024 due to injuries. He was limited to just 400 receiving yards over eight games after suffering two concussions. This comes on the heels of Olave sustaining concussions in both the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
Compounding matters is the uncertainty at quarterback in New Orleans. With Derek Carr no longer on the roster, the team lacks a proven starter, and whoever wins the job is likely to be a downgrade from Carr's steady presence. New head coach Kellen Moore may lean more on the run game in his first season on the job, as his offense in 2024 with the Philadelphia Eagles led the league in rushing attempts and ranked last in pass attempts. Because of this, the model projects a significant decline for Olave, who finished as a top-25 Fantasy receiver in each of his first two seasons. See more Fantasy football busts 2025 here.
How to find proven 2025 Fantasy football football rankings
SportsLine is also extremely high on a surprising wide receiver you aren't even thinking about being taken in the early rounds of 2025 Fantasy football drafts. This wide receiver is listed as a shocking top-15 option ahead of stars like A.J. Brown and Tyreek Hill. You can only see who it is, and the 2025 Fantasy football rankings for every player, at SportsLine.
So which 2025 Fantasy Football sleepers, breakouts and busts should you target and fade, and which WR shocks the NFL with a top-15 performance? Visit SportsLine now to get 2025 Fantasy Football cheat sheets for every single position, all from the model that called C.J. Stroud's disappointing sophomore season in 2024, and find out.