The dog days of summer are behind us (no offense, diehard baseball fans), and NFL Preseason is underway. That means it’s time to start thinking about your Fantasy Football draft strategy — and not just who you’re taking with those first four or five round picks.
We all have those league mates who are either on auto-draft by round 10 or do not do enough research to know who’s worth grabbing once you get towards the end. This is where you can pick up a distinct advantage over your buddies come draft time over the next few weeks, by making wise Sleeper selections.
J.J. McCarthy, QB, Minnesota Vikings
We, of course, don’t have the luxury of any live game film from his rookie year, but J.J. is in a great spot with three top-tier receiving threats in Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison (after serving his suspension), and T.J. Hockenson. I’m not sure anyone saw a top-10 finish coming last year for then-Vikings QB Sam Darnold, given the rough start to his career that preceded 2024, but that goes to show you how QB-friendly coach Kevin O’Connell’s offensive schemes are.
McCarthy was highly efficient in college to boot, boasting a 72.3% completion rate and 9.0 Yards Per Attempt, leading Michigan to a National Title, so the potential is certainly there. Adjusting the professional level takes time, of course, but he was very active and engaged with the team last year despite not seeing a snap of regular-season action. And he is also a threat to scramble and pick up some points for your squad on the ground as well.
Jaydon Blue, RB, Dallas Cowboys
Keep an eye on Jaydon towards the latter stages of your draft knowing that if either vet ahead of him (Miles Sanders or Javonte Williams) on Dallas’ depth chart gets off to a slow start (well within the realm of possibility), he may suddenly be a lot more valuable than the 190 ADP he’s currently sitting at.
Blue has impressed in training camp, with his quick cuts and acceleration drawing comparisons to Darren Sproles. His 4.25-second 40-yard dash time at his Pro day was one of the fastest ever recorded, and his In-game Athleticism Score ranks among the top 1% of RBs in his draft class.
Blue is even more valuable in PPR leagues, posting 368 receiving yards and 6 TDs in addition to his 730 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on the ground last year in his final season at Texas. Look for him to be utilized more as the season wears on, as he is the most explosive option on the Cowboys’ RB depth chart.
Ricky Pearsall, WR, San Francisco 49ers
With fellow wideout Deebo Samuel moving over to the Washington Commanders this offseason and Brandon Aiyuk still sidelined for at least a third of the season, Pearsall should set up nicely to be a solid second or third option behind George Kittle and possibly Jauan Jennings. Ricky’s ADP on PFSN is currently 88, a bit higher than other sites, recognizing the potential for a breakout season.
Ricky Pearsall has looked like “the best 49ers wide receiver” during the time he’s been on the field, per @MaioccoNBCS.
Pearsall’s fantasy stock 📈 pic.twitter.com/jXPZpFIust
— Yahoo Fantasy Sports (@YahooFantasy) August 2, 2025
He will also benefit from a full offseason and training camp with Brock Purdy and the first team offense this year- something that did not happen last year due to injuries and a gunshot wound he had sustained. Even before OTAs, Purdy and Pearsall spent time together this offseason in Arizona and Florida to work on their timing and route-running execution. That should pay dividends once the regular season kicks off in just under a month.
Brenton Strange, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars
With the departure of Evan Engram this offseason, Strange is the guy in Jacksonville at the Tight end position. And to make matters even sweeter for those fortunate enough to steal him in their draft, new Jags coach Liam Coen is known to feature tight ends rather heavily.
In the eight games without Engram last season, Strange posted an average of 3.6 catches and 34.4 yards per game. He also finished in the top 10 among Tight Ends four times across that span. With exciting new phenom teammate Travis Hunter playing both sides of the ball, Strange should still see a healthy target share and be worth a late-round pick- especially if you happen to play in a keeper league.
