Every year, the NFL Combine puts future stars on display, but the real fun? Finding the 2025 dynasty rookie sleepers before the rest of your league does. This year’s class is stacked with under-the-radar talent—pass-catching tight ends ready to feast in the red zone, running backs poised to steal jobs from overpaid veterans, rock-solid-receivers flying under the radar, and a better-than-advertised quarterback group that could shake up SuperFlex leagues.
These aren’t just warm bodies running drills in Indy—they’re future dynasty goldmines waiting to be stolen in the later rounds. While everyone else obsesses over the top five picks, the real edge lies in grabbing the next PPR monster or goal-line vulture before your league mates even know their name.
READ: 2025 DYNASTY ROOKIE RANKINGS & BIG BOARD
Stay sharp, because this year’s sleeper class might just be the key to building a dynasty juggernaut.
2025 DYNASTY ROOKIE SLEEPERS: NFL COMBINE
QUARTERBACKS
TYLER SHOUGH, QB LOUISVILLE
Tyler Shough has pulled off the rare feat of making a seven-year college career look like an investment rather than an extended stay. After stints at Oregon, Texas Tech, and Louisville, he enters the NFL Draft with enough game tape to fill a documentary–even backing up Justin Herbert as a true freshman at Oregon.
Some scouts are even nudging him into the QB3-QB4 conversation, a meteoric rise for a guy who’s spent more time in college than some head coaches. But before he gets fitted for an NFL helmet, let’s see how he stacks up under the bright lights of Indianapolis against the draft’s top passers.
Shough brings a cannon arm and the kind of dropback-passing experience that only comes with surviving several different offensive systems—and three serious injuries. A broken collarbone, a shoulder injury, and a fractured fibula have tested his durability, but if he can stay upright, he’s got the tools to at least hold a clipboard in the NFL, if not sneak into a starting role in the right system. At the very least, he’ll be the most seasoned rookie quarterback since Florida State legend, Chris Weinke.
OTHER QBs TO WATCH: Will Howard (Ohio State), Kyle McCord (Syracuse), Dillon Gabriel (Oregon), Riley Leonard (Notre Dame)
RUNNING BACKS
LEQUINT ALLEN, RB SYRACUSE
LeQuint Allen might not be the flashiest name in this draft class, but he’s got dynasty drafters already planning their late-round heists. A natural pass-catcher with polished route-running, Allen is exactly the kind of back modern offenses love—one who can carve up defenses through the air just as easily as on the ground.
Questions about his top-end speed and frame might keep him out of the early fantasy rounds, but at just 20 years old, there’s plenty of room for physical growth. If he shines in Indy, teams hunting for the next great PPR cheat code will take notice.
Off the field, Allen’s background will get a thorough once-over from NFL decision-makers, though his assault charge has been dismissed. On the field, his résumé speaks for itself: back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and 100-plus receptions over his last two seasons.
The real question? Whether he can evolve into a true early-down workhorse. If he proves he can handle that role, he won’t just be a fun third-down specialist—he’ll be a fantasy football goldmine.
MARCUS YARNS, RB DELAWARE
Marcus Yarns might be coming from FCS Delaware, but he’s bringing big-league speed to the NFL Combine. With legit 4.4 wheels and a knack for making defenders look silly in space, Yarns is the kind of home-run threat who only needs a crease to flip the field.
He’s never had a 1,000-yard rushing season, but his steady development and flashes of NFL-caliber receiving ability make him a sneaky name to watch. If he lights up Indy, teams looking for an explosive change-of-pace back might start paying closer attention.
Yarns profiles as a dynamic complement in an NFL backfield, a big-play machine who can keep defenses on edge every time he touches the ball. His acceleration and pass-catching ability make him a nightmare in spread formations, where he can turn a routine checkdown into a house call. Just ask Penn State—he torched them for a 66-yard touchdown.
With the right opportunity, Yarns has the tools to outrun his draft stock and carve out a role at the next level.
OTHER RBs TO WATCH: Woody Marks (USC), Kyle Monangai (Rutgers), Trevor Etienne (Georgia), Jarquez Hunter (Auburn), Kalel Mullings (Michigan)
WIDE RECEIVERS
TAI FELTON, WR MARYLAND
Tai Felton’s NFL Draft stock is teetering on the edge of his pre-draft workouts—one explosive performance at the Combine, and suddenly, he’s on everyone’s radar.
While scouts debate his long speed, a strong showing in Indy could erase those doubts and boost his appeal. He may not be a future WR1, but Felton has the skill set to be a rock-solid possession receiver who keeps the chains moving and frustrates defenses with crisp routes and reliable hands.
His draft slot will likely come down to a balancing act between his production (96-1124-9 in 2024) and his perceived athletic ceiling. But in a league that constantly needs dependable route-runners, Felton could sneak into a valuable role faster than expected. If he proves he can separate and flashes a little more burst than anticipated, teams looking for a savvy, high-floor receiver might start circling his name.
PAT BRYANT, WR ILLINOIS
Pat Bryant might not dust defenders with blazing speed, but he wins the old-school way—through sharp technique, crafty body positioning, and sheer competitiveness. As a true X-receiver prospect, he thrives on contested catches and knows how to use his frame to keep defenders on his hip.
Likely a mid-rounder, Bryant isn’t projected to be a WR1, but his polished route-running and physical style make him a prime candidate for a reliable WR2 role. Drop him into the right system—one that plays to his strengths on the boundary—and he’ll be moving the chains and bullying corners in the red zone in no time.
Leading Illinois with 54 catches for 984 yards and 10 touchdowns (3 GW TDs in 2024), Bryant proved he doesn’t need elite athleticism to get the job done. His game likely won’t wow anyone in pre-draft testing, but he’s the type of receiver who sticks around longer than people expect.
OTHER WRs TO WATCH: Jalen Royals (Utah State), Kobe Hudson (UCF), Antwane Wells Jr. (Ole Miss), Tory Horton (Colorado St.), Arian Smith (Georgia), Ricky White III (UNLV)
TIGHT ENDS
TERRANCE FERGUSON, TE OREGON
Terrance Ferguson has been riding the post-Senior Bowl hype train, and for good reason. In a setting that played right into his strengths, he showcased his athleticism, crisp route-running, and ability to line up all over the field.
Offenses looking for a versatile tight end who can create mismatches at every level of the defense will be circling his name. While he’s not a top-tier prospect, Ferguson’s skill set makes him an intriguing late-round find who could carve out a role sooner than expected.
At Oregon, Ferguson thrived as a move tight end, splitting time in-line and in the slot while proving he’s a tough tackle in the open field—just ask the defenders bouncing off him in the screen game. His raw route-running and potential athletic limitations might cap his ceiling, but his blend of receiving ability and blocking chops should earn him time as a rookie. Ferguson’s testing will be key in a loaded tight end class.
JAKE BRININGSTOOL, TE CLEMSON
Jake Briningstool might not be a household name yet, but he’s got the tools to change that. A natural pass-catcher with soft hands and a massive catch radius, he’s a mismatch machine (6’5, 235 lbs)—especially in the red zone, where he feasted this past season.
His polished route-running and football IQ make him a quarterback’s best friend, and his ability to line up all over the formation only adds to his intrigue. If he tests well at the Combine, don’t be surprised if he climbs draft boards faster than a safety trying to contest one of his jump balls.
Clemson’s offense finally hit its stride, and Briningstool was a big part of the surge, hauling in seven touchdowns as the go-to target near the goal line. His blend of receiving chops and blocking potential makes him a classic mid-round sleeper. He’s not a Day 1 star, but in the right system, he could develop into a reliable pass-catching tight end who keeps the chains moving.
OTHER TEs TO WATCH: Oronde Gadsden II (Syracuse), Bryson Nesbit (UNC), Brant Kuithe (Utah), Luke Lachey (Iowa)
