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 AFC South team to pinpoint the best sleeper running back candidate on each roster.
1 Sleeper Running Back From Every AFC South Team
Houston Texans: Nick Chubb
The Houston Texans plan to ride Joe Mixon. But at 29, he’s nearing the end.
Mixon is still productive, but he missed three games last year. And when he was out, Houston struggled. Dameon Pierce and Dare Ogunbowale weren’t the answer. And this time around, Pierce may not even make the team.
Enter Nick Chubb. Yes, he’s also 29 and looked washed after returning from injury last year. And yes, he’s not the 15+ fantasy-points-per-game guy he was in his prime. But he’s still a capable runner and should handle early-down work if Mixon gets hurt.
Behind Chubb isn’t much that worries you, but rookie Woody Marks has a strong receiving profile and could carve out the passing-down role.
Chubb has an RB60 ADP and could have short-term value. He’ll get carries early, and we’ll find out fast if he has anything left.
Indianapolis Colts: DJ Giddens
The Indianapolis Colts have tried and failed with backups like Trey Sermon and Tyler Goodson. Now, they’ve added fifth-round rookie DJ Giddens.
As things stand, Giddens is technically behind Khalil Herbert, who barely played for Chicago and then managed just four carries in six games with the Cincinnati Bengals.
If Jonathan Taylor misses time, Herbert likely starts, but not as a three-down back. Giddens would get opportunities and could take over if he outplays Herbert.
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Giddens has a lead-back’s size (212 pounds), a 92nd-percentile speed score, and target shares of 9.9% and 9.5% in his final two seasons at Kansas State. That’s the stuff sleepers turned league winners are made of.
His RB52 ADP is steep, but Giddens is still a better stash than Herbert or Goodson.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Bhayshul Tuten
Is Bhayshul Tuten even a sleeper, seeing as he, Travis Etienne Jr., and Tank Bigsby all have ADPs within five spots? Yes, he is.
Tuten qualifies the most because he’s a rookie fourth-round pick. In comparison, Etienne was an RB1 in 2023, but regressed, while Bigsby looked like the best back in Jacksonville last year. That’s all to say, Tuten has two players ahead of him who have either been highly invested in or have solid production on tape.
What Tuten has going for him is that the current staff drafted him, while Etienne and Bigsby weren’t. And by season’s end last year, Etienne looked like he didn’t belong on the field.
Jaguars run game was tough late last year pic.twitter.com/hIQrnumevW
— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) May 30, 2025
Bigsby is one-dimensional and weak in the passing game (2.4% target share). Meanwhile, Tuten had a 12.1% target share in 2023 at Virginia Tech and an elite 98th-percentile speed score.
If you’re betting on a Jacksonville Jaguars RB to beat his ADP, Tuten is your guy.
Tennessee Titans: Tyjae Spears
The Tennessee Titans nearly earned a “none,” but Tyjae Spears’ RB41 ADP is too low.
Tony Pollard had a 73% opportunity share last year. Head coach Brian Callahan says he wants that closer to a 60/40 split, meaning Spears could have real standalone value.
In Week 17, Spears handled 20 carries and saw four targets on a 65% snap share before exiting with a concussion. If that 60/40 split happens, Spears is an RB3. If Pollard gets hurt, Spears is a must-start RB2, and there’s no one behind them worth mentioning.
