Everyone always wants to know…who are your sleepers this year? And it’s always a tough question to answer for anyone. Simply because each individual person defines a sleeper differently.
Some define it as anyone after Round 8 in your draft. Others say that a sleeper is someone no one knows about, not even their name. Others say that a sleeper is a player projected to do absolutely nothing, go un-drafted, then blow up and and take your team to be victorious in the fantasy championship!…A reach? Probably. Unless you “knew” before your draft that Odell Beckham would be so amazing his rookie year coming off an injury.
To me, a sleeper is any player whom you’ve invested in during the draft, who you believe will return large dividends to your team during the season. Or by general definition: A player that significantly out-performs their draft value. They come in many forms: unheard of rookies, simple handcuffs, and vets returning to relevance. Its dynamic, and can vary from fantasy player to fantasy player.
Here are 5 sleepers for each important position in most leagues that I feel are very undervalued and are worth an investment on your team earlier than their current ADP.
Quarterbacks
Phillip Rivers – Current ADP: 113
Matthew Stafford – Current ADP: 124
Andy Dalton – Current ADP: 133
Carson Palmer: Current ADP: 156
Blake Bortles – Current ADP: 163
All 5 listed above are currently being drafted outside of the Top 12, and after the 10th round turn in 12 team leagues. I believe all 5 have Top 10 potential. Waiting on QB this year is more important than ever. Wait until every team has their starting QB already, while you load up on WRs, RBs and other fantasy play-makers.
Running Backs
Frank Gore – Current ADP: 83
Don’t let his age fool you. This guy is a perennial Top 20 RB, year in and year out. He never gets hurt, and has showed no signs of slowing down. Hes the safest RB2 you can have, especially in Standard scoring….but hes currently being drafted as RB34….NO RESPECT. Grab Gore a round or two earlier than his ADP and you will be happy with his production.
James White – Current ADP: 109
He’s the pass catcher for the patriots. A position that always has big time fantasy relevance in PPR. And if watched last year’s Superbowl, you know why. Dion Lewis shouldn’t scare you away from Whites value this late in the draft. He has high end RB2/Weekly Flex upside every week regardless of match up.
Duke Johnson – Current ADP: 134
Currently being drafted as RB49…. And finished as a top 30 RB last year. We know he has skill set to be a Giovanni Bernard type contributor in PPR, but will he get the usage we expect? Yes. This year. Hue Jackson says Duke needs to be on the field and get more work. Not only do Iagree with him, but I also believe him. Kessler or Kizer, either or, will target duke often this year. And I wouldn’t be surprised if they put him in the slot somewhat as well.
Jamaal Williams – Current ADP: 148
Ty Montgomery can’t run the rock every time and he isn’t a great option at the goal line. Put some stock into Williams taking over that hard nose Lacy running style at some point this year.
Joe Williams – Current ADP: 150
Lets face it. Carlos Hyde has been a bust. And with the new coaching regime in SF, Hyde is on a short leash. One that will be yanked back, once he inevitably gets hurt and misses time. He will barely see the field after that. Making Joe Williams a RB flyer late in your drafts.
Wide Receivers
Willie Snead – Current ADP: 70
Brandin Cooks is out. Insert Willie Snead. The guy had nearly 900 yards last year and 4 TDs as the 3rd wide receiver on the team. Now hes the WR2, and the Saints strength of schedule (SOS) for Brees and their offense is much easier than last year. Snead could easily be a Top 20 WR, and is currently being drafted outside the top 30. Currently a great value. However, his ADP is rising and I can only hope he stays where he is when most drafts take place in August.
Quincy Enunwa – Current ADP: 132
Enunwa…the only guy who can catch a football on the jets…a team very likely to be forced to throw the ball often because they will be playing from behind a lot. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him to get over 150 targets this year, hopefully from McCown. Enunwa is currently being drafted as WR51, which is just insane in my opinion, for a guy who should get that many targets.
Tyrell Williams – Current ADP: 136
We saw how he excelled last year in Keenan Allen’s absence. Which, based on history, has a high probability of happening again. Even if Allen doesn’t go down, Williams should still be the #2 WR in that high powered offense. Mike Williams suffered an injury in OTAs which is a huge handicap for a rookie WRs development. Currently being drafted as WR53, I will be owning Tyrell in most of my leagues as a surefire WR3/Flex play with WR2 upside if Allen gets hurt for an extended period of time.
Corey Coleman/Kenny Britt – Current ADP: 104/158
If you’re gonna own one, id really try to get the other. One of them is gonna be a WR3 or higher after all is said and done. If you have the room on your bench, stash them, wait, and see who is going to be “the guy” in Cleveland, then drop the other. Thank me later.
Robert Woods – Current ADP: 171
Woods is taking over the Kenny Britt role in the Ram’s offense and Britt was a top 30 WR a year ago. Shockingly, Woods is currently being drafted as WR61. He will most certainly pay you back with what your going to spend on him come draft day, and more. Easy win here.
Tight Ends
Kyle Rudolph – Current ADP: 95
Something that seems to be going unnoticed, is that Kyle Rudolph was TE2 last year in PPR. Bradford loves him and hes their best red-zone target. Where his current ADP is, is where you should start considering drafting a TE. I personally wouldn’t take any TEs before the 8th round.
Hunter Henry – Current ADP: 97
I love Henry this year, and as much as the Chargers did a year ago. Last year, as the 2nd TE on the team, and getting injured, he put up 8 TDs. Gates is old and only needs 1 more TD to break the TE TD Career record. I think once he gets that record, Gates will sit back and let Henry take over the main TE duties. Gates has also been very injury prone, and not just recently. About time right? Phillip Rivers loves TEs in the red-zone. And with Danny Woodhead’s departure, I think nearly all of their red-zone targets will be Henry and Gates unless Gordon runs it in.
Jack Doyle – Current ADP: 133
Doyle quietly was the TE13 last year. His ADP has the exact same value… except 1 thing….Dwayne Allen is out of the picture now. Doyle should move into that TE no mans land between TE6-TE10 this year, but his upside in that Colts offense without Dwayne Allen is thru the roof.
Cameron Brate – Current ADP: 187
OJ Howard won’t be relevant this year until late in the season….so then why is Brate currently being drafted as TE22? He was TE7 just last year and one of Winston’s favorite targets in the red-zone. Don’t believe the hype on Howard this year unless it is in dynasty. He’s fools gold.
Ben Watson – Current ADP: Undrafted
Pitta is done for the year, maybe even his career. Steve Smith is gone. Kamar Aikens is gone. Who gets all those missing targets in Baltimore? 3 names. Maclin, Woodhead, and Watson. Flacco loves throwing to his starting TEs, they just can’t seem to stay on the field. If healthy, I see no reason why Watson can’t be a Top 12 TE.
