Traditionally, a sleeper was a player most people didn't know about. These days, everyone who puts in enough time can learn about every single player in the NFL.

That means a "sleeper" has to be defined differently. Let's say a sleeper is simply a player who will outperform expectations.

That means there can be high-priced sleepers. They are a bit pricy (a pick in your first six rounds), but they can also outperform that high pick and be every-week stars.

We asked our staff to name their favorite high-priced sleepers. Here are their answers.

Targets in Rounds 5 and 6

WR Ricky Pearsall, San Francisco 49ers

Andy Hicks: I am usually loathe to put too much faith in the stats from the last few games of the season. With rookies, it makes some sense. With rookies who survived a bullet wound to the chest on the eve of the season opener, any numbers should be judged accordingly. After a good few weeks to start his career, with his debut against the Chiefs in Week 7, Pearsall struggled until Week 16 with only two receptions in the five previous weeks. The final two games had 14 receptions for 210 yards and two touchdowns.

Deebo Samuel Sr. has been traded. Brandon Aiyuk is unlikely to be available in the early part of the season. George Kittle will turn 32 this year. The stage is set for Pearsall to be the number one receiver sooner than expected. Julia makes a nice call of Jauan Jennings, but one round later, Pearsall will be available, and he has a much higher upside. 

WR Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers

Julia Papworth: It seems like everyone has forgotten about Jauan Jennings. Currently the WR35 in Underdog ADP, Jennings could find himself the WR1 for the San Francisco 49ers when the season starts. Remember, the Niners sent Deebo Samuel Sr. to Washington, and Brandon Aiyuk tore his ACL and MCL last year and is hopeful for a midseason return. Sure, Ricky Pearsall looks promising, but Jennings will be the veteran on a team struggling to find their new identity. Jennings finished as the WR25 last season, even missing two games, and had almost 1000 yards receiving. I expect some positive touchdown regression from Brock Purdy this year, with his touchdown percentage dropping from 6.9% (2022) and 6.2% (2023) to 4.4% in 2024. Throw in the questionable bounce-back ability of Christian McCaffrey, and Jennings could play a massive part in the Niners’ offense in 2025 - he could significantly outperform his current ADP.

RB Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints

David Zacharias: Saints head coach Kellen Moore recently called Alvin Kamara a "premier player" and "a big part of our offense". Kamara parlayed 228 carries and 68 receptions into 106.7 yards/game in 2024, good enough for overall RB5 in PPR scoring.  Underdog isn't buying that Kamara, who turns 30 this summer, can sustain those numbers into the 2025 season. Kamara comes in at RB19 (60th player overall) in Underdog's latest ADP, implying Kamara will run into the proverbial wall. Footballguys 2025 Projections rank Kamara as PPR RB6 (12th player overall). Even if the Saints draft a rookie running back to compete with Kendre Miller for backup running back touches, a healthy Kamara's redraft ADP certainly shouldn't slide into the fifth round.

Targets in Rounds 3 and 4

WR Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions

Hutchinson Brown: Initially, in the 2024 season, Jameson Williams was relegated to a limited, deep-threat role. However, from week ten onward, his production exploded. He averaged 6.8 targets, 4.6 catches, and 71.1 yards per game, projecting to a 17-game pace of 1,207 yards and 8 touchdowns, placing him within top-15 fantasy WR territory.

This surge was partially caused by increased passing volume due to Detroit's defensive struggles, but it also was due to Williams' clear development as a wide receiver. His route tree diversified significantly, and his catch and target share percentage increased. The coaching staff's trust in him seemed to grow, making Williams a vital playmaker in crucial moments. The offense evolved into a true dual threat with Amon-Ra St. Brown and him rather than the offense being the St. Brown show. 

As the WR23 in Underdog ADP, the talented and gifted 24-year-old former first-round pick has significant upside following a WR19 finish in 2024. He is in a powerful Detroit offense with a secure role and is entering a contract year. With continued development and health, Williams has the potential to become a top-tier fantasy wide receiver and pay off for fantasy managers at his current cost.

RB Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals

Bob Harris: At the beginning of the 2024 season, Chase Brown split reps with Zack Moss, but after Moss went on injured reserve on Nov. 5 with a neck injury, Brown took over the backfield. From Week 9 on, he dominated the snap share, peaking at 98.5 percent in Week 15.

Thanks to the increased workload, Brown finished the season as RB10. But if you dig deeper, you'll find he was RB6 from Weeks 4 through 17 (he didn't play Week 18).  

Moss is still on the roster, and the Bengals could add to their backfield in the NFL Draft later this month. However, Cincinnati had the fifth-highest-scoring offense throughout the 2024 season. They just retained Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Expecting a significant slowdown would be overthinking it. I feel the same about Brown's workload -- at least until and unless we get information to the contrary.

He's currently RB13 and is going with the 36th pick overall. If you start receiver-heavy in your best-ball draft, Brown is a strong value pick at the Round 3/4 turn.

RB Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams

Jason Wood: Williams finished 2023 as the RB2 on a per-game basis and followed it up last year as RB9. Since the end of the 2024 season, the Rams have added center Coleman Shelton and will almost certainly prioritize the offensive line in the upcoming draft. Williams has done everything asked of him, showing an ability to be an every-down player—which is ultimately the key to unlocking elite fantasy value at the running back position. He’s produced nearly 3,000 yards from scrimmage and a jaw-dropping 31 touchdowns in less than two seasons as the lead back on an offense that should remain balanced thanks to Matthew Stafford’s extension and the Davante Adams acquisition. Ranking Williams to finish lower this year makes little sense unless you expect the team to add a competitor to the mix. But we all worried that Blake Corum would be a disruptor, yet Williams prevailed.

WR Garrett Wilson, New York Jets

Sigmund Bloom: Wilson was going around the 10th pick of drafts last year on the speculation that Aaron Rodgers would drive his value to new heights by being the first legitimate quarterback Wilson had played with in his career. Rodgers and the Jets offense flopped so badly that Wilson is now available at the 26th pick of early 2025 drafts. The midseason acquisition of Rodgers' favorite Davante Adams certainly didn't help, but the Jets getting Wilson's college teammate Justin Fields, who fueled DJ Moore to a career year in Chicago when Moore was the clear #1 option, should. Head coach Aaron Glenn also recently said the team will look to get Wilson the ball "as much as possible". You should look to get Wilson in the third round as much as possible as long as his ADP stays at that depressed level.