The preseason is always a chance to determine which players could have long-term fantasy football upside in dynasty leagues. Identifying and stashing underrated players is a quick way to build a deep dynasty roster or acquire draft capital. Take the meteoric rise of 2025 seventh-round pick Jacory Croskey-Merritt as an example.
Croskey-Merritt doesn’t qualify as a stash in dynasty anymore, but plenty of players are worth hanging on to on the bench or a taxi squad going forward. Check out PFSN’s trade analyzer to see how to acquire these dynasty stashes for 2025 and beyond.
Jalen Milore, QB, Seattle Seahawks
Regarding physical tools, few quarterbacks from the 2025 NFL Draft class stacked up with Jalen Milroe. Milroe measured in at 6-foot-2, 217 pounds at the NFL Combine and ran a 4.51 40-yard dash at his Pro Day. He also has arguably the strongest arm in the rookie class.
However, his time at Alabama was very inconsistent. In his final two seasons as a starter, Milroe completed 65.0% of his passes for 5,678 yards, 39 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions. He was even more impactful as a rusher, carrying the ball 329 times for 1,257 yards and 32 touchdowns in two seasons.
Milroe struggled with accuracy throughout college and was viewed as a highly raw prospect. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the third round as a developmental prospect behind Sam Darnold.
The rookie’s preseason performance showed the full range of his promise and his flaws. Milroe completed just 54.2% of his passes for 148 yards and a touchdown. He also added 15 carries for 87 yards, with two of his carries going for 15+ yards.
Oh and of course Jalen Milroe can also do this https://t.co/pDrGqIfxhq pic.twitter.com/mZCIP2WLod
— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) August 11, 2025
Milroe has a long way to go as a passer, but the Seahawks have already stated that they will have a package of plays for Milroe, thanks to his dynamism as a rusher.
Rushing quarterbacks have a higher floor in fantasy. Milroe is not only a dynamic rusher but also has all the physical tools to develop into an NFL passer. More importantly, the Seahawks seem committed to developing those tools instead of throwing him into the fire (unlike Anthony Richardson on the Colts).
Many strong-armed athletes have failed to develop into successful NFL quarterbacks. For every Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson, there are dozens of players like Richardson, Trey Lance, and Malik Willis.
However, the upside of landing a player with those traits is too great to ignore. Milroe is worth stashing in dynasty, even if his chances of reaching his full potential are low.
Dillon Gabriel, QB, Cleveland Browns
Joe Flacco will be the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback for the 2025 season. Rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders will back him up after Cleveland traded Kenny Pickett to the Las Vegas Raiders.
After Deshaun Watson’s colossal failure, Cleveland is in a transitional phase at quarterback. Odds are one of those rookies will start in 2025 and could even be under center beyond that. Based on the preseason, the likely bet is third-round pick Dillon Gabriel.
Gabriel was a prolific college quarterback during his six seasons at UCF, Oklahoma, and Oregon. He threw for at least 3,100 yards and 25 touchdowns in five of six seasons. Over his final three years (two at Oklahoma and one at Oregon), Gabriel completed 68.6% of his passes for 10,685 yards and 85 touchdowns with just 18 interceptions.
Not only does Gabriel hold the NCAA record for passing touchdowns (158), but he also averaged a 7.3% touchdown rate with a meager 1.5% interception rate. Gabriel doesn’t have a strong arm, but he’s highly accurate and can play on schedule to pick apart defenses.
That has mostly played out this preseason. Gabriel missed a decent part of training camp with a hamstring injury but still completed 67.6% of his passes for 272 yards and a touchdown with one interception this preseason. By all accounts, he is the clubhouse leader to be Flacco’s backup quarterback in 2025.
The Browns will likely use one of their two first-round picks on a quarterback in 2026. However, if one of their young quarterbacks can show the ability to be an NFL-caliber quarterback, it would allow the Browns to bolster other aging positions (like the offensive line or the secondary) to build a winning team.
Cleveland will be stuck with Deshaun Watson’s contract for the foreseeable future, so hitting on a rookie quarterback will be essential for the team as they navigate that cap hit. At this point, Gabriel is worth stashing to earn an extended look under center.
DJ Giddens, RB, Indianapolis Colts
A player like DJ Giddens would have been a Day 2 pick in most years. Giddens was the focal point of Kansas State’s offense the last two seasons, handling 428 carries for 2,569 yards and 17 touchdowns while adding 50 receptions for 581 yards and four touchdowns. He backed up his strong production by measuring 6-foot-0 and 212 pounds with a 4.43 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.
However, this prolific running back class pushed Giddens into the fifth round, where the Indianapolis Colts drafted him. That means that at best, Giddens will be the RB2 in his rookie season with the potential of a pass-catching role.
Taylor has struggled to stay healthy in recent seasons (16 games missed over the last three years), so he also has the potential to start some games as a rookie. The Colts’ quarterback position is up in the air, but they should still have an above-average offensive line to open rushing lanes.
Indianapolis can get out of Taylor’s contract after the 2025 season with just a $2.5 million dead cap hit, which opens the possibility of a larger role as soon as next season. Even if the Colts elect to keep Taylor, they will unlikely give him another big contract after his age-28 season. Giddens could quickly be in line for a starting job if he can maximize his opportunities.
Isaiah Davis, RB, New York Jets
Isaiah Davis surprisingly saw playing time as a fifth-round rookie in 2024 despite being behind Breece Hall and fellow rookie Braelon Allen on the depth chart. Davis handled 30 carries for 174 yards and a touchdown and caught nine of 12 targets for 75 yards and a touchdown.
Davis was a high-level producer during his final two seasons at South Dakota State, handling 485 carries for 3,056 yards and 27 touchdowns while adding 44 receptions for 372 yards. He had at least 6.7 yards per carry in three of his four college seasons.
The new Jets coaching staff already said they wanted a split backfield. Unfortunately, Davis suffered an injury in his first preseason game, which ended his training camp early. Still, he received snaps with the first team during that game on third downs, suggesting he could have a role in 2025.
More importantly, the Jets haven’t shown interest in giving veteran running back a contract extension. That means that Allen and Davis could be the two backs for this team as soon as 2026. The Jets should have a strong offensive line and hopefully be able to settle on a quarterback by then. That could mean big things for Davis as a dynasty asset in the near future.
Malik Washington, WR, Miami Dolphins
Malik Washington, Miami’s sixth-round pick in 2024, has had a great preseason and seemingly locked down the WR3 role for the Dolphins. Washington caught all seven of his targets for 59 yards and a touchdown this preseason, but his work with the first team offense in the last preseason game (three receptions for 41 yards) likely sealed the deal.
Washington had a prolific final season at Virginia in 2023, catching 110 passes for 1,426 yards and nine touchdowns. He led the ACC in both receptions and receiving yards, consistently flashing the ability to generate yards after the catch.
Malik Washington (still don’t know how/why he fell to the 6th round) is primed for a breakout season. He started to impress towards the end of 2024, and he’s continue to build on that in training camp and preseason.
1st Play: Maintains the catch through contact and shows… pic.twitter.com/wbK0HMYLLy
— Charles “Chux” Maranan (@ChuxMaranan) August 25, 2025
His status as the team’s WR3 may not amount to much to start in 2025, but the continued struggles of Tyreek Hill from a health and locker room perspective mean that a larger role is not far away. Washington is 24 years old and has shown he can be a dependable route runner with big-play ability after the catch.
The second-year receiver has seemingly earned a role in Miami in 2025. If Hill continues to be unreliable, that role could become much bigger than anticipated very soon.
Isaac TeSlaa, WR, Detroit Lions
Isaac TeSlaa was one of the most ridiculed picks in the 2025 NFL Draft after being selected by the Detroit Lions in the third round. TeSlaa had excellent measurables at the combine (6-foot-4, 214 pounds with a 4.43 40-yard dash), but didn’t have much production during his two seasons with Arkansas (62 receptions for 896 yards and five touchdowns).
So far, it looks like the Lions were right about the rookie.
TeSlaa has made the most of his preseason opportunities, catching 10 of 13 targets for 146 yards and three touchdowns. There is even a belief that TeSlaa could challenge veterans Tim Patrick and Kalif Raymond for snaps in three receiver sets.
Watch the TD, stay for the WORM celebration from Isaac TeSlaa 😭🪱
(via @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/HJoKhtayra— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 23, 2025
Even if that does happen, it is hard to see a path to fantasy relevance for the rookie in his first season. The Lions have legitimate target earners in Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Sam LaPorta, and Jahmyr Gibbs. Even David Montgomery has shown himself to be a reliable pass catcher.
However, the Lions will need to decide on Williams’s contract soon, and continued strong play from TeSlaa could make the team opt for a cost-controlled rookie contract over paying big money for Williams.
Currently, the cost to trade for TeSlaa in dynasty is too high. However, if he starts slow and struggles to get consistent work in Detroit’s passing attack, he could be acquired for much cheaper. Despite his modest college production, the rookie has done enough to show that he belongs at the NFL level.
Michael Mayer, TE, Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders selected Michael Mayer with the 35th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft after an excellent collegiate career at Notre Dame. Mayer caught 180 passes for 2,099 yards and 18 touchdowns in three seasons while averaging 11.7 yards per reception. He was viewed as the most complete tight end in his class.
Unfortunately, the Raiders’ passing offense was awful in his first season. The combination of Aidan O’Connell, Jimmy Garoppolo, and Brian Hoyer threw for 3,380 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions. Mayer struggled to earn targets over Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers, finishing with just 40 targets, 27 receptions, 304 receiving yards, and two touchdowns. He was the TE31 in PPR points per game (5.7).
The following season, the Raiders drafted Brock Bowers in the first round, and the rest was history.
Mayer missed six games in his second season, dealing with a personal issue, but could only muster 21 receptions for 156 yards, while Bowers set every rookie tight end record. The second-year tight end posted a respectable snap share (62.8%) but was trapped as the blocking tight end. It’s hard to imagine that changing if Bowers is around.
Mayer is still a talented tight end with enough college production to suggest he can be a good player in the NFL. He was also the subject of trade rumors throughout the offseason, a possibility that could become more realistic as his rookie contract nears expiration.
Fantasy managers will need to wait for Mayer to land in a depth chart that doesn’t feature the best rookie tight end in NFL history to be fantasy relevant. However, that could happen sooner than later, making him an excellent stash.
Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Cleveland Browns
Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland got all the love during the 2025 draft cycle, but Bowling Green’s Harold Fannin Jr. was the most productive tight end in football last season. Fannin caught 117 passes for 1,555 yards and 10 touchdowns in his final college season. He led all of college football in both receptions and yards.
It would be easy to write off Fannin’s production as weak competition, but he played against Penn State and Texas A&M in his final season. He combined for 19 receptions, 282 receiving yards, and two touchdowns in those two games. Fannin consistently got open against higher-level competition and made big plays. He flashed those same skills at the Senior Bowl as well.
Unfortunately, his poor measurements (6-foot-3, 241 pounds with a 4.71 40-yard dash) at the NFL Combine caused him to fall to the third round of the draft, where the Cleveland Browns selected him.
By all accounts, Fannin has impressed throughout the offseason. The Browns sat him with the starters throughout the preseason and gave him snaps with the first team in their last game, where he caught two targets for 16 yards and a touchdown.
David Njoku will be Cleveland’s starting tight end in 2025, but by all accounts, Fannin will play in two-tight-end sets. Njoku is also in the final year of his deal, which means Fannin could be a starter as soon as 2026.
Fannin’s price likely won’t get lower, especially once fantasy managers see him get playing time early in his rookie season. He’s shown he can be a playmaker against NFL talent over the past year and is worth waiting on in fantasy. Fannin could be in line for a big 2026 in an offense that will presumably have a first-round pick at quarterback.
