When it comes to 2025 fantasy football sleepers, few names are as fascinating as rookie RB Brashard Smith. The Kansas City Chiefs took him in the seventh round of the draft, but his path to relevance feels eerily similar to Isiah Pacheco’s a few years ago.
Smith is a converted wide receiver who has already flashed as a running back, showing off the kind of versatile skill set that could make him dangerous in Andy Reid’s offense. Some scouts and analysts have even compared him to Alvin Kamara, and while that might be a lofty bar to clear, Smith’s early signs are promising enough to keep fantasy managers intrigued as a top sleeper running back target.
WIDE RECEIVER TURNED RUNNING BACK
Smith’s background makes him different from most late-round backs. In his first stop at Miami, he spent most of his college career as a wide receiver before transitioning to running back after transferring to SMU, where his natural route-running, reliable hands, and explosive athleticism immediately popped.
In his first season at SMU, he posted nearly 2,000 all-purpose yards and consistently looked like one of the most dangerous playmakers on the field. His 4.39-second 40-yard dash time confirmed the speed that shows up on tape, and his production as both a runner and a receiver highlighted just how rare his versatility really is.
That skill set translated seamlessly to the NFL scouting process. Smith led the 2025 rookie class in both yards per route run and targets per route run, which speaks to how easily he separates and how quarterbacks naturally look for him. For a Kansas City team that has leaned heavily on checkdowns and quick passes with Patrick Mahomes over the past two seasons, a player like Smith feels tailor-made for this offense.
CARVIN OUT A ROLE TO MAKE THE TEAM
The challenge, of course, is Kansas City’s crowded, yet unimpressive backfield. Isiah Pacheco is entrenched as the starter and remains the heartbeat of the run game, but he isn’t known for his pass-catching. The team brought back Kareem Hunt as a veteran presence, though he is clearly past his prime. Carson Steele has impressed in camp and looks like a roster lock as a bruiser. Elijah Mitchell was supposed to bring speed to the group, but he has struggled with injuries and has not proven he can hold up.
That leaves Smith fighting for one of the final roster spots. Reports out of camp and preseason have been mixed. He began the summer buried on the depth chart, often working with the third- and fourth-string units, but when he has gotten chances, he has looked electric.
In preseason Week 2, he was one of the bright spots, averaging 7.6 yards per touch and flashing both his speed and vision. He even earned more work when Hunt was sidelined, and offensive coordinator Matt Nagy has publicly praised his playmaking while emphasizing the need for consistency.
“What he showed last week, though, should earn him more chances with the first-team offense, starting with Friday’s preseason finale,” wrote The Athletic’s Jesse Newell. “At this point, he seems to fit a gadget-type role for Kansas City, which would showcase him as both a runner and receiver.”
A PERFECT FIT IN THE CHIEFS’ OFFENSE
What makes Smith appealing for fantasy purposes is how naturally his skill set meshes with Kansas City’s offense.
Mahomes has become more willing to check down to running backs as defenses continue to force him into shorter throws. The Chiefs have also leaned on their screen game heavily, and Smith is the kind of back who can turn those quick passes into explosive gains. He has already been spotted catching deep passes from Mahomes during OTAs, a reminder that he is not just a dump-off option but someone who can be moved around the formation like a true hybrid weapon.
This offense has thrived with pass-catching backs before. Jerick McKinnon won people leagues down the stretch in 2022 by catching check-downs and touchdowns in bunches. Smith has a similar profile but with younger legs and more burst. If he earns Mahomes’ trust, it is not hard to imagine him becoming a go-to weapon in high-leverage passing situations.
THE RISKS AND ROADBLOCKS
Of course, there are risks with any seventh-round rookie. Smith still has to secure a roster spot, and reports suggest the Chiefs have even been exploring adding another running back to the mix.
His usage so far has mostly come in garbage time or with second- and third-team units, which shows how far he has to climb. There is also the matter of consistency. As OC Matt Nagy pointed out, Smith needs to prove that he can build on strong practices and preseason flashes rather than riding a rollercoaster of ups and downs.
Still, it is hard to ignore the upside. The Chiefs lack a true playmaker at running back outside of Pacheco, and Smith’s ability to separate as a receiver gives him a unique edge over the rest of the depth chart.
BRASHARD SMITH FANTASY OUTLOOK
The Wolf has been higher than consensus on Smith all summer, slotting him at RB57, which is more than 20 spots ahead of ECR.
The logic is simple: the “McKinnon role” in Kansas City has been incredibly valuable in PPR formats, and Smith looks like the best candidate to inherit that usage. Even if he starts slow, the back half of the season could see him emerge as a late-round gem, particularly in Best Ball, where his spike weeks can win weeks.
In redraft leagues, Smith is more of a stash than a plug-and-play option. He is best suited for deeper benches where you can afford to wait on his role to develop. In dynasty formats, he is a much more appealing pick given his age (22), skill set, and potential long-term fit in Andy Reid’s offense.
Brashard Smith may not make an immediate splash, but his combination of speed, route-running, and versatility make him one of the most exciting late-round flyers in 2025 fantasy football. He is still fighting for his roster spot, but the upside is obvious: if he finds a role in Kansas City’s offense, he could become the kind of late-round cheat code who swings leagues when it matters most.
