Just like the NFL, fantasy football has evolved as its popularity has soared. You can find on any number of ‘fantasy sleeper’ articles online or even on the newsstand and see wildly different views of what that word “sleepers” even means.
Often, these coveted ‘deep sleeper’ articles are nothing more than lazily written pieces that include players that are being drafted in the top-eight rounds of nearly every fantasy draft. To really qualify as a true late-round gem in these days of ubiquitous websites and value articles, well-prepared fantasy fans know they have to dig a lot deeper. Our own Mike Tagliere offers up some excellent candidates for this list with his own article, which makes it even more challenging for me to come up with some potential difference makers to consider targeting as your fantasy football draft or auction winds down.
For our purposes, we’re going to define a sleeper as a player that is currently being selected outside of the top 150 in accumulative ADP rankings. These are the deep sleepers that are likely to go undrafted in most leagues and the type of potential contributors that should be targeted with the final pick of fantasy drafts.
Just like the NFL, fantasy football has evolved as its popularity has soared. You can find on any number of ‘fantasy sleeper’ articles online or even on the newsstand and see wildly different views of what that word “sleepers” even means.
Often, these coveted ‘deep sleeper’ articles are nothing more than lazily written pieces that include players that are being drafted in the top-eight rounds of nearly every fantasy draft. To really qualify as a true late-round gem in these days of ubiquitous websites and value articles, well-prepared fantasy fans know they have to dig a lot deeper. Our own Mike Tagliere offers up some excellent candidates for this list with his own article, which makes it even more challenging for me to come up with some potential difference makers to consider targeting as your fantasy football draft or auction winds down.
For our purposes, we’re going to define a sleeper as a player that is currently being selected outside of the top 150 in accumulative ADP rankings. These are the deep sleepers that are likely to go undrafted in most leagues and the type of potential contributors that should be targeted with the final pick of fantasy drafts.
10. Blake Jarwin (TE – DAL)Current ADP: undrafted Look no further than the current depth chart to see just how unprepared the Cowboys were for the unexpected retirement of future Hall-of-Fame TE Jason Witten. Witten’s departure leaves QB Dak Prescott without his favorite target and the Cowboys in need of an immediate solution from a group of unproven players. During OTAs, sophomore Jarwin was taking the majority of first-team offensive reps and looked to be ahead of Rico Gathers and rookie Dalton Schultz. Geoff Swaim is also in the mix, leading to the potential of a frustrating committee, but Jarwin has potential as a pass-catching tight end and could be the best choice to emerge as the top fantasy option and be worth a very late look in deep drafts.
9. Jordan Matthews (WR – NE)Current ADP: 207 One of the league’s premier slot receivers, Matthews landed in an ideal spot with a team that utilizes its inside receivers like no other. Julian Edelman’s four-game suspension to open the 2018 season opens the door for Matthews to start inside for the Patriots, a role that has been conducive to a ton of fantasy production. Matthews, 6-3, 215, is much bigger than New England’s typical slot receiver, which adds an interesting wrinkle that Bill Belichick and company could take advantage of. Boston beat writers are expecting Matthews to have a sizable role to open the season, which makes Matthews an intriguing name to consider at the end of your fantasy draft.
8. Chris Ivory (RB – BUF)Current ADP: 214 Depending on the resolution of the current investigation into LeSean McCoy, Ivory could either be a late-round gem or a simple handcuff pick, exactly the kinds of players to consider with the last pick of a draft. Even if McCoy is cleared to open the season as Buffalo’s starter, Ivory is a decent bet to mix in as a potential short-yardage option. Ivory is also an underrated pass catcher that could fill a change-of-pace role behind an aging runner with 2,626 career touches who comes off of a career-worst 4.0 yards-per-carry average last season and is going to face a ton of loaded boxes.
7. DeSean Jackson (WR – TB)Current ADP: 175 Fun fact: In a “down” 2017 season for Jackson in which he dipped to 50 receptions for 668 yards and three scores, he still finished as the PPR WR44, ahead of players like DeVante Parker, Jordy Nelson, and Kelvin Benjamin. All three of those players are being selected several rounds ahead of Jackson’s deflated ADP. While D-Jax certainly has injury concerns, he still possesses elite speed and is going to have some huge games in a loaded Tampa Bay offense that didn’t see much of a dropoff when Ryan Fitzpatrick subbed in for Jameis Winston. Just two years removed from a 1,000-yard campaign, Jackson offers enough big-play ability to be a factor in best ball formats and still commands a target share worthy of consideration in standard and PPR drafts.
6. Nyheim Hines (RB – IND)Current ADP: 188 Assuming QB Andrew Luck is fully recovered from a shoulder ailment that forced him to miss the entire 2017 season, the Colts offense is going to be one of the most improved units in the league, and fourth-round rookie Hines has the potential to be a versatile weapon in the attack. Indy’s backfield is far from settled with Marlon Mack and fellow rookie Jordan Wilkins, another late-round gem, all vying for touches. With Hines, it was apparent during OTAs and minicamp that the new Colts’ brass has every intention of lining up the former NC State rusher in a variety of ways, including in the backfield, out of the slot, and even as an outside receiver. Hines has the potential to be a multi-faceted weapon and could have a big impact in the passing game starting in Week 1.
5. Christian Kirk (WR – ARI)Current ADP: 197 Kirk made a lot of big plays at Texas A&M and has an easy path to an immediate starting gig in the pros if he can beat out an underwhelming group of wideouts that includes Brice Butler, Chad Williams, and J.J. Nelson. Taken with the No. 47 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, the Cardinals recognized the potential in Kirk, who many analysts had as the draft’s top wide receiver. During June minicamps, Kirk was already commanding first-team reps and flashed some strong chemistry with starting QB Sam Bradford.
4. T.J. Yeldon (RB – JAC)Current ADP: undrafted Despite playing just 10 games behind both Leonard Fournette and Ivory, Yeldon played a solid role for the Jaguars, catching 30 of 41 targets for 224 yards and averaging a gaudy 5.2 yards per tote and scoring a pair of touchdowns. With Ivory now in Buffalo, Yeldon will be the primary change-of-pace option behind Fournette and should see a big increase in opportunities, especially in the passing game. In 2016, Yeldon caught 50 balls and has been a dependable receiver throughout his three seasons. Fournette also has some injury concerns, and if he were to miss time, Yeldon would be a superb waiver-wire add that would be assured of high usage in DFS and PPR lineups. Yeldon has appeal as a PPR roster stash with potential weekly value that will appeal even to owners not looking to simply handcuff Fournette.
3. Josh Doctson (WR – WAS)Current ADP: 166 Finally healthy, Doctson started to show some flashes last season, turning six of his 35 grabs into touchdowns despite facing a horrendous slate of shutdown cornerbacks throughout the 2017 campaign. With newly-signed Paul Richardson starting on the opposite side and Jamison Crowder in the slot, Doctson should see more favorable coverage and remain the primary red-zone target for new QB Alex Smith. Smith’s pinpoint accuracy is going to help Doctson use his big frame to capitalize on tight-window throws, especially in and around the goal line. Doctson has the potential to double his target share from last season, and that could lead to breakout numbers from the third-year wideout.
2. Benjamin Watson (TE – NO)Current ADP: 205 Watson quietly hauled in 61 of his 79 targets last season en route to an overall TE11 finish in PPR leagues last season. Now, the dependable 37-year-old veteran moves on to a far superior situation in New Orleans, where he’ll replace Coby Fleener as the starting tight end in a Drew Brees-led offense. Watson played for the Saints from 2013-2015 and produced an outstanding 74-825-6 line during his final season in the Big Easy, good enough numbers for PPR TE6. The upgrade from Joe Flacco to Drew Brees is not to be understated, and Watson should have a sizable role in a potent New Orleans offense. He’s got top-10 TE potential and is largely going undrafted in most fantasy leagues.
1. Rishard Matthews (WR – TEN)Current ADP: 156 The perennially-undervalued Matthews once again looks like an outstanding target with the final pick of your fantasy draft. Despite being limited to 14 games last season, Matthews still finished as the WR37 in PPR leagues, meaning he was a solid weekly starter in nearly every fantasy league or format. Matthews has been a dependable fantasy option for three consecutive seasons and quietly put up top-10 numbers just two years ago, where he racked up 108 targets and scored nine touchdowns. He’s proven he can play and has an excellent rapport with QB Marcus Mariota. Now that the Titans have hired Matt LaFluer as their play-caller, Matthews will once again be a solid weekly contributor that is completely under the radar.
2012 Most Accurate Expert here at FantasyPros. Member of the Pro Football Writer's of America who covers the Texans for USAToday's Texans Wire. I also contribute to GridironExperts, Fanball, and FantasySharks. Past work includes Pro Football Focus and had articles featured on NFL.com, Yahoo and many other sites and magazines. I live in Houston and also host a podcast.
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