If there’s one thing fantasy managers love, it’s a good sleeper. But in today’s fantasy football landscape, finding one is more complicated than ever. Leaving no stone unturned, we’re going through every NFC East team to pinpoint the best sleeper running back candidate on each roster.
1 Sleeper Running Back From Every NFC East Team
Dallas Cowboys: Jaydon Blue
No team has embraced the “RBs don’t matter” mindset more than the Dallas Cowboys. It’s funny, given that they spent the No. 4 overall pick on Ezekiel Elliott in 2016, and for a while, it worked.
However, since then, they’ve become affordable. Last year, Rico Dowdle was the RB1. Now, after letting him walk, they waited until Round 5 to draft Jaydon Blue. Yet, despite bringing fifth-round draft capital, he has a great opportunity in a backfield that includes Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders.
Cowboys RB1 Javonte Williams last season pic.twitter.com/d1l0ooz70x
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) May 11, 2025
Williams was once promising, but since his injury, he’s struggled. Behind him, Sanders has averaged just 3.7 and 3.4 yards per carry the last two years and saw a 28.9% opportunity share with the Carolina Panthers.
Why not Blue? Both vets are on one-year deals. At just 21, Blue should get a shot eventually. His RB50 ADP is fair; you’ll just have to wait.
New York Giants: Devin Singletary
The sleeper here probably should be “none.” Tyrone Tracy Jr. has already passed Devin Singletary. Then Cam Skattebo was drafted in the fourth round, giving him more capital than Tracy had last year.
Now Skattebo’s ADP is just three spots behind Tracy’s. On some sites, he’s even going ahead.
But don’t forget about Singletary. He has history with Brian Daboll, and if one of the young backs stumbles and the other gets hurt, Singletary could step in.
At RB89, you don’t need to draft him, but don’t forget he’s still there.
Philadelphia Eagles: Will Shipley
If Saquon Barkley stays healthy, no one else in this backfield matters. He played 75.8% of snaps and had a 78.7% opportunity share last season. He led the league in carries, rushing yards, and fantasy points per game (22.2).
With Kenneth Gainwell gone, the Philadelphia Eagles’ only notable addition was A.J. Dillon, who missed all of last year with a neck injury. When we last saw him, Dillon was inefficient and slow.
Will Shipley, meanwhile, has real upside. He’s got the speed and pass-catching chops to fill the void. That’s why his ADP is RB58 — 33 spots ahead of Dillon.
If Barkley gets hurt, Shipley’s the backup you want on your roster.
Washington Commanders: Austin Ekeler
Austin Ekeler’s RB53 ADP makes sense — he’s 30, was banged up last year, and is no longer the RB1. But is he not a lock to outperform that price?
Ekeler had a 12% target share and still averaged 11.0 fantasy points per game, good for RB29. Who wouldn’t take that return from a guy being drafted outside the top 50?
There’s buzz around Jacory Croskey-Merritt, but he’s a seventh-round pick who wasn’t even invited to the NFL Combine.
Brian Robinson Jr. is the starter, while Ekeler will handle passing downs. Meanwhile, Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez Jr. round out the room. Ekeler has a safe role and floor, yet is being overlooked.
