The term “sleeper” is tough to live up to nowadays, considering there is no offseason anymore. We have information readily available to us, depth charts constantly updated, and plenty of sharp writers pumping out content. But there are some players who seem to fall through the cracks. How many writers did you hear talking about Tyreek Hill or Rob Kelley last year in the preseason? Well, they wound up on a majority of championship rosters, so sleepers do in fact still exist.
Finding them is the tough part, but that’s why I’m here. I’ve combed through all 32 teams, looking for a potential breakout candidate further down the list. All of them are being drafted outside the top 120 players, but most of them are outside the top-150 or undrafted.
10. Erik Swoope (IND – TE) – Current ADP: Undrafted
If you’re looking for a late-round tight end that could wind up a league-winner, Swoope should be on your radar. For the same reason I love Jack Doyle, Swoope is playing in an offense with Andrew Luck, who loves to target his tight ends, regardless of their skill level. Swoope himself has been with the Colts for two years, but saw his first game action in 2016 when he caught 15 of 22 targets for 297 yards and a touchdown. He’s 6’5″ and 220 pounds, so built more like a wide receiver, while Doyle is built more like a traditional in-line tight end at 6’6″ and 253 pounds. If Doyle is kept in to block, Swoope might just be the guy taking the tight end targets. The No. 2 tight end on the Colts over the last five years has totaled at least 48 targets three different times. With Luck targeting tight ends an average of 135 times per year, Swoope can make an impression in 2017.