NFL Pro Bowl sleepers: Ten overlooked players quietly having standout 2025 seasons

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The NFL is filled with stars who garner headlines, grab attention and get all the glory. What about the other difference-making warriors who handle their business without getting the warranted notoriety?

A team sport to the core, success in the NFL isn’t achieved without the efforts of every man on the roster. So, while quarterbacks, sack artists and acrobatic pass catchers net most of the highlights, there are dozens upon dozens of other players worthy of attention.

Pro Bowl voting is generally overwhelmed by a select few highlight-makers. It’s often late to the party on deserving candidates who might not light up the scoreboard, win fantasy leagues, or be seen on NFL RedZone .

With Pro Bowl voting opening on Thanksgiving (Nov. 27), I’m here to submit 10 players who deserve your vote.

Before we get to the sleepers, there are a few rules to qualify for this list: No rookies, apologies to Carson Schwesinger, Grey Zabel, Emeka Egbuka, Tyler Warren, Nick Emmanwori, Chimere Dike, etc. Also, I’m not considering players who have already been to a Pro Bowl. And no other big names who regularly get their shine — i.e., QBs.

It’s difficult to call any player with fantasy football relevance a true “sleeper.” By the very nature of the game, those weapons will garner attention. However, in our exercise, given how the Dolphins’ season has gone, it’s worth using space to highlight just how good Achane has been — arguably the most vital player to the team’s ability to cling to relevance.

The third-year pro is set to smash his personal rushing record of 907 yards in a season. In 11 games, he’s already at 900 yards and is on pace for nearly 1,400 this season. Only MVP candidate   Jonathan Taylor   and   James Cook   average more than Achane’s 81.8 rushing yards per game. His 370 receiving yards are the third-most of any running back this season, and tops among AFC backs (Taylor is second with 260).

Achane gashes defenses on the edges, but it’s not as if all his yards come on free-range gallops. His 3.96 yards after contact per carry ranks fourth among qualifying running backs, per Pro Football Focus. His 36 missed tackles forced is tied for fourth in the NFL, and he ranks second among RBs with 18 MTF on receptions (behind only   Christian McCaffrey   ’s 19). Achane is rivaling Taylor in explosive runs. The Miami back has netted 29 runs of 10-plus yards and 16 of 15-plus, both tops among all backs. He’s second only to Taylor (497) with 413 breakaway yards.

It’s always excellent timing to enjoy a career season in the final year of a rookie contract. Pierce continues to be a big-play maven, leading the NFL with 20.9 yards per catch through Week 11 — the only player above the 19 YPC mark. His 20.4 average depth of target ranks No. 2 in the NFL. He’s the deep threat that keeps everything open underneath for   Daniel Jones   and the rest of an explosive Colts offense.

The 2022 second-round pick is on pace to blast past his career-high in receiving yards. Even missing two games earlier this season, Pierce is on pace for 1,097 yards in 2025. His 73.1 receiving yards per game ranks ninth among all pass catchers. He’s generated those numbers despite seeing far fewer targets than most in the top 10. Pierce (52) and   CeeDee Lamb   (61), who also has missed time due to injury, are the only players in the top 10 in yards per game with fewer than 80 targets. His 28 catches are the fewest among any player averaging more than 70 yards per game.

Pro Bowl wide receiver is a tough nut to crack, with big names and big games littering the league, but Pierce has proven his value heading into free agency.

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