Winning your fantasy draft comes down to selecting the guys who end up returning a positive ROI relative to their draft cost. What’s great is that once you get to the middle and late rounds, you don’t need to hit on every player (or even half of them) to wind up with a league-winning squad. You just need to be right enough so that the value your picks provide is greater than that of your competition.

Part of the difficulty built into this game we love is that no two sleepers are created equal. You can’t just nab a bunch of upside players in the late rounds and expect to dominate your draft. You need to know which sleepers are the most undervalued and offer the most upside compared to their price. To help you figure out which mid-to-late rounders stand out from the pack, we have polled 76 experts on who the best sleepers are at every position in half-PPR heading into the new season. Check out who they chose below.

Want to see all the votes? Click here to view which experts participated and who they voted for.

Note: All ADP and ECR values are as of August 15

Check out more Fantasy Football Sleepers

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Top Consensus Sleepers

Click here to view which experts participated and whom they voted for.

Running Backs

_{Running backs who received votes were: Melvin Gordon (2), Miles Sanders (2), Rashaad Penny (2), Darrel Williams (1), Nyheim Hines (1), Kareem Hunt (1), James Robinson (1), Rex Burkhead (1), Hassan Haskins (1), Tyler Allgeier (1), Raheem Mostert (1), D’Ernest Johnson (1), Devin Singletary (1), Isiah Pacheco (1), Brian Robinson (1), Mike Davis (1), Marlon Mack (1)}

Wide Receivers

_{Wide receivers who received votes were: Romeo Doubs (2), Wan’Dale Robinson (2), Treylon Burks (2), George Pickens (2), Jalen Tolbert (2), Julio Jones (2), James Proche (1), Chase Claypool (1), Rondale Moore (1), Skyy Moore (1), Nico Collins (1), Rashod Bateman (1), Jakobi Meyers (1), K.J. Hamler (1), Isaiah McKenzie (1), Laviska Shenault (1), DeVante Parker (1), Mecole Hardman (1), Tyler Lockett (1), Elijah Moore (1), Russell Gage (1), Christian Kirk (1), Christian Watson (1)}

Quarterbacks

_{Quarterbacks who received votes were: Tua Tagovailoa (2), Zach Wilson (1). Ryan Tannehill (1), Baker Mayfield (1)}

Tight Ends

_{Tight ends who received votes: Noah Fant (2), Hunter Henry (2), Donald Parham (1), Logan Thomas (1), Greg Dulcich (1), Jonnu Smith (1)}

Beyond our fantasy football content, be sure to check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you prepare for your draft this season. From our free mock Draft Simulator, which allows you to mock draft against realistic opponents, to our Draft Assistant, which optimizes your picks with expert advice, we’ve got you covered this fantasy football draft season.

Q. Who is the player you expect to be this year’s biggest fantasy sleeper and why?

Running Backs

Rhamondre Stevenson (NE) 
“Rhamondre Stevenson experienced a very successful rookie season that should not be overlooked. After fully escaping the Bill Belichick doghouse in Week 9, Stevenson earned top grades across the board. He was PFF’s third-highest-graded running back (84.2). Stevenson also ranked 13th in rushing yards and in yards per route run (1.41). For fantasy, the rookie running back was the RB25 in total points scored, eight spots behind his backfield teammate Damien Harris. There’s a high ceiling for Stevenson, especially if you ask former Patriots linebacker Rob Ninkovich. The ESPN analyst went as far as saying that Stevenson “…will be one of the better, if not one of the top three, running backs in the league based on what I saw with his strength, explosion and catch-and-run ability.”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)

“Rhamondre Stevenson is currently the consensus RB36 and the 88th-ranked player overall in 0.5 PPR formats. While the Patriots backfield is normally a fantasy headache, Stevenson is the one to long for. Not only have we heard rumors of a potential trade of walk-year rusher Damien Harris, but Harris is a one-trick pony while Stevenson brings some pass-catching chops. His pass-catching upside is that much more valuable in the wake of James White’s retirement. Per PFF, Stevenson managed 1.54 yards per route run, good for eighth in that category amongst running backs. If Stevenson does, in fact, take over the coveted third-down role for the Pats, he is poised to outperform his ADP and pop as one of the best sleeper backs in 2022. I will also remain in on Stevenson if the earth stands still and the Pats retain Harris. Stevenson was more efficient than Harris on a per-touch basis last season and is poised to take a step forward in his second year as a pro.”
– Anthony Cervino (FF Faceoff)

“Rhamondre Stevenson will VASTLY outproduce his RB37 ADP this season. Over his final eight games of the 2021-22 season, the Oklahoma product totaled 532 rushing yards (4.9 Y/A) and four touchdowns, which put him on a per-17 game pace of 1,130 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. It’s tough trusting a Patriot running back playing under Bill Belichick in fantasy, but don’t pass on a potential weekly FLEX option with RB2 upside in round nine-plus!”
– Jacob W. Dunne (Triple Play Fantasy)

“Rhamondre Stevenson climbed out of Bill Belichick’s doghouse to finish a promising rookie campaign with over 500 yards and 4.92 YPC in his last eight games. He’s set to make a significant leap in 2022, as it appears likely he will be more involved in the passing game given James White’s recent retirement announcement. If the Patriots end up trading away Damien Harris (rumors abound on that front), Stevenson could find himself in a position to be a legitimate bell cow running back. Even if he splits the work with Harris, Stevenson is far and away the best athlete in New England’s backfield, so he should have no trouble blowing past his consensus ninth-round ADP.”
– Jason Kamlowsky (FantasyPros)

Dameon Pierce (HOU)
“Dameon Pierce had a limited college workload, totaling only two games last season at Florida with more than nine rushing attempts. Yet, he had 54 or more rushing yards in over half the games. More importantly, Pierce has shined during training camp and in the Texans’ first preseason game, totaling 49 yards on five rushing attempts (9.8 yards per attempt). Marlon Mack and Rex Burkhead are little threat to take the starting job from Pierce. Draft the fourth-round rookie now, as his ADP will only rise from here.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)

“Every so often we find a player whose output doesn’t seem to match the product. In Dameon Pierce’s case, that output is the lack of volume and usage. It makes you wonder if it was something with the player, the coaching, the personnel, or a little bit of everything. After all, if Pierce had a full workload of RB1 carries (250 seems fair), he would have finished his senior season somewhere around 1,400 rush yards, 30 TD, 40 receptions, 450 receiving yards, and we would be talking about a first-round NFL Draft pick like we did Najee Harris last year. Film + production clearly do not point to the player in this instance, but coaching and surrounding staff. Make no mistake, Dameon Pierce was clearly the lead RB for Florida. However, parts of Pitts, Toney, Jefferson and Emory Jones being almost a run first QB, led to this output. The depth of talent the Gators have had, and Dan Mullen never having been a coach who funnels carries to a workhorse RB, contributed to the lessened wear and tear on Pierce. It also lessened his exposure, which is good for us. We truly have a sleeper emerging.”
– Andy Singleton (Expand The Boxscore)

Ken Walker III (SEA) 
“Ken Walker III averaged 136.3 rushing yards and 1.6 TDs a game at Michigan State last season, then ran a 4.38 at the Combine. And we think this remarkable prospect is going to be marginalized by the oft-injured Rashaad Penny, a first-round draft pick who was never able to overtake former seventh-round draft pick Chris Carson? Take advantage of the generous discount on Walker and buy him in the middle rounds.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)

Chase Edmonds (MIA) 
“Chase Edmonds is one of the guys I’m excited to watch this season, as he finally has a real opportunity as a featured back. Is the running back room crowded? Sure, but Edmonds is easily the highest paid guy in said room and probably possesses the best overall skill set. In four campaigns with the Cardinals, he averaged 5.8 yards on 333 carries and tallied 96 catches over his last 28 games. With an up-and-coming offense and an improved offensive line, RB2 status is absolutely achievable for Edmonds in his new attire.”
– Zach Greubel (Gridiron Experts)

Brian Robinson Jr. (WAS) 
“Commanders HC Ron Rivera has basically been telling us to draft Robinson all offseason. He compared Brian Robinson/Antonio Gibson to the Jonathan Stewart/De’Angelo Williams committee backfields he had in Carolina and has talked up Robinson’s power-running ability. It’s been a rough month for Gibson, who missed time early in camp with a hamstring injury and then lost a fumble in the preseason opener. Robinson, meanwhile, tallied 41 yards and a score in his preseason debut. He’s at least a high-value handcuff to Gibson. But it’s looking more and more likely that Robinson will have standalone fantasy value.”
– Jared Smola (Draft Sharks)

Rashaad Penny (SEA) 
“The Seahawks’ starting running back, Rashaad Penny, has played in only 37 out of 65 regular season games, and only once has he played more than 10 games in a season. So Ken Walker should have opportunities to start at some point during the 2022 season. While not likely to be a huge threat in the passing game, Walker runs decisively and has electric, home run speed. The Seahawks’ offensive line will be better than the fantasy community anticipates, and Walker will be an RB2 for any games that he starts … which will likely be a handful.”
– Neema Hodjat (Real GM)

Isiah Pacheco (KC) 
“Pacheco is big (215 pounds) and has burst (4.37 speed). Andy Reid prefers to use one RB in a bell cow role (see Brian Westbrook and Kareem Hunt). Clyde Edwards-Helaire is undersized for either a heavy workload or a short-yardage role. CEH has also had a difficult time staying healthy in the past, and if he goes down, things could get very interesting in Kansas City. If Pacheco gets an opportunity in the Chiefs’ high-octane offense, he’s a potential league winner. Ringo’s comp: a combination of former Bills RB Mike Gillislee and Jamaal Charles.”
– Mark Ringo (Sleepers and Busts)

Wide Receivers

JuJu Smith-Schuster (KC)
“It’s rare to find a former 1,400-yard wide receiver playing with one of the best quarterbacks in the league in the eighth round of your fantasy draft, but here we are with Smith-Schuster. Of course, that happened in 2018, but don’t let a few years of injuries and poor QB play deter you from drafting him. The Chiefs have vacated over 53% of their target share from last year, and aside from JuJu, the only players they brought in to replace it are a rookie and MVS, who has never hit 40 receptions in any season despite playing with Aaron Rodgers for his entire career. JuJu and Kansas City are a match made in heaven.”
– Nick Spencer (Fantasy Six Pack)

“2018 may feel like a distant memory, but we have seen a dominant season from JuJu Smith-Schuster before. (110 receptions, 8 TD, 1,400 yards). JuJu enters one of the most prolific offenses in the NFL, paired with Patrick Mahomes. With Tyreek Hill traded in the off-season, ample targets are available in the Chiefs’ offense. JuJu will have to compete with Skyy Moore and MVS, but he remains a screaming value after the top 25 receivers are off the board.”
– Matt MacCoy (Fantasy Team Advice)

Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET)
“Jared Goff was eighth in ADJ% last year and is perfectly capable of supporting multiple fantasy WRs. Matt Harmon’s new collaborated study confirmed that beating man coverage is obviously the single greatest indicator of future success, but the study also pointed toward the ability to crush zone as one of the most important factors for slot wide receivers. Enter Amon-Ra St. Brown, and his 65th percentile win rate against zone as a rookie. None of Detroit’s offseason additions are even close to threatening St. Brown’s slot work, which I typically don’t love in terms of a ceiling play, but Amon-Ra is being drafted as a high-end WR3. I’m on board with that price and would be comfortable rolling him out as my WR2.”
– Seth Miller (Crossroads Fantasy Football)

Allen Lazard (GB) 
“Vacated targets don’t automatically go to any one player, but the departure of Davante Adams opens the door to almost 170 targets. Will Allen Lazard get all of that volume? No, but he already got 60 targets last year, turning them into 40 catches and eight scores in just 13 starts. Lazard has the size and athleticism to blossom in a larger role — one that Aaron Rodgers has publicly backed him for. This is a “don’t get cute” situation. Nobody is saying Lazard can replace Adams by himself, but he’s currently the 41st WR off the board in 12-team PPR drafts. Given his solid production and potential role, he’s easily one of the top sleepers to target for 2022 (and without much risk).”
– Kevin Roberts (Breaking Football)

“Davante Adams (169 targets) and Marquez Valdes-Scantling (55 targets) are no longer in Green Bay. That makes for 224 targets, or about 40% of the team’s total targets vacant. With Allen Lazard being in his fifth season catching passes from Rodgers, and having already drawn praise from the future Hall of Fame quarterback, Lazard is in line to be the go-to guy and No. 1 receiver. It seems crazy that Lazard is still being drafted as a WR4, with an ADP in the eighth round, which is close to where he finished the 2021 season with both Adams and MVS there. There is potentially great value in drafting Lazard at his ADP.”
– Rich Piazza (Fantasy Shed)

Nico Collins (HOU) 
“Collins’ rookie season a year ago could be considered underwhelming as he ranked very low across the board in key metrics like snap share (61.9%) and target share (17.8%). Coming into his sophomore season, there have positive reports coming out of camp about his progression through the offseason training programs. If these progressions are any indication, Collins could be in line to provide fantasy managers with solid production that can be found late in drafts (ADP: 152 overall). The big-bodied receiver could see plenty of scoring opportunities on a Texans offense that will be in passing situations quite often.”
– Brandon Murchison (RotoBaller)

Christian Watson (GB) 
“If you watched Green Bay’s first preseason game, you’d know Romeo Doubs was the standout. However, that’s only because Christian Watson (my WR11 on the year) didn’t play. Watson is the 6-4 rookie who was 97th percentile in his draft class for catch radius, 96th percentile for speed (running a 4.36 40-yard dash) and averaged about 19 yards per reception in college. Imagine a taller Ja’Marr Chase, with Aaron Rodgers throwing to him. You’ll want to be early in the hype train, not late.”
– Bradlee Kilgore (Fantrax)

Robert Woods (TEN) 
“The situation may not look ideal for Woods on paper. He’s 30, coming off an ACL tear and learning a new system. However, I’m not ready to give up on this crafty veteran. Since 2017, Woods has averaged 13 or more PPR points per game (15 or more from 2018-2021). With A.J. Brown out of the picture and rookie Treylon Burks still adjusting to the NFL, Woods is in a position to be Ryan Tannehill‘s go-to wideout. If this is the case, he will undoubtedly crush his current ADP.”
– Lee Wehry (FantasyPros)

Brandon Aiyuk (SF) 
“Brandon Aiyuk had a rough start to the 2021 season, ranking WR68 weeks one through nine. The remainder of the season was a different story, where Aiyuk ranked WR14 weeks 10 through 17. Now he has a quarterback in Trey Lance who is willing to push the ball downfield, raising Aiyuk’s profile and making him a strong candidate for a top-20 finish, well above his ADP of WR40.”
– Austin Amandolia (Club Fantasy FFL)

Quarterbacks

Davis Mills (HOU) 
“By the end of 2022, Davis Mills will surprise a few people in the fantasy community. Mills statically was the best 2021 drafted quarterback, especially in his accuracy. Mills was QB11 during the final six games of the regular season with a poor supporting cast. If Mills continues to grow as a passer with a much-improved offense surrounding him, that could jump him into a weekly streaming quarterback in fantasy.”
– Steven Pintado (The Fantasy Coaches)

“In his final five games last season, Davis Mills completed 68% of his passes, averaged 251 passing yards per game and had nine touchdown passes to only two interceptions. The Texans are going to give him a full season to find his groove, and Brandin Cooks is probably the quietest stud on the WR market, finishing as a top-10 WR in each of the final four weeks when Mills was his QB. With an ADP of 235, fantasy managers are risking nothing while gaining a possible mid-QB2 option late in the draft to complement any QB1. Davis Mills will absolutely provide value to those who are willing to take a shot.”
– Kelly Kirby (FantasyPros)

“Is Davis Mills the future at quarterback for the Texans? Probably not. Is he the quarterback to start the 2022 campaign? Absolutely. Look, the numbers weren’t terrible in 2021. Mills threw for 2,664 yards and 16 TDs while completing 66.8% of his attempts. We know the Texans game scripts will more often than not include Mills having to throw plenty late in games. Accuracy, volume and some underrated targets — including Brandin Cooks, Nico Collins and Brevin Jordan — should breed fantasy production this season. Not to mention the Texans may have found themselves a running game with Dameon Pierce, who has looked good early in the preseason. Pierce also happens to also be able to catch the ball out of the backfield, which with help Mills outperform his current ADP.”
– Matt Donnelly (Dynasty Vipers)

Trevor Lawrence (JAC)
“Lawrence will undoubtedly see some improvements from his change from Urban Meyer to Doug Pederson at head coach. But independent of his coaching, Lawrence has major room for improvement from better touchdown luck. Last year, he threw just 12 touchdowns but had 22.9 expected passing touchdowns. That 10.9-touchdown shortfall was the most among quarterbacks. Lawrence’s 55 passes thrown to within 5 yards of the end zone were tied for 15th most with Russell Wilson and just behind Kirk Cousins (56) and Joe Burrow (56).”
– Scott Spratt (FTN)

“The Jaguars moved on from Urban Meyer and brought in Doug Pederson. That bodes well for the QB who saw the seventh most pass attempts last year, given the Meyer regime couldn’t agree on an offensive scheme for Jacksonville. The Jaguars have upgraded at nearly every offensive position to give Trevor Lawrence the weapons he needs to succeed; he also gets back former Clemon teammate Travis Etienne, who had 48 receptions and 588 yards in his last collegiate season. Add in Lawrence’s sneaky rush ability — 73 rushes for 334 yards and 2 TDs last year — and you have a QB primed to put it all together in year two.”
– Matt Olson (The Pigskin Pow Wow)

Justin Fields (CHI) 
“Justin Fields. There is a lot left to be desired in the sophomore signal-caller’s offense. However, his legs provide a reasonable floor that is often coveted when it comes to QB scoring for fantasy. Fields averaged 35 rushing yards per game last season in an offense that was not built to suit his strengths. If there is any rational coaching to look forward to, Fields is a candidate to outperform his QB17 price tag.”
– John Hesterman (Dynasty League Football)

Tight Ends

Cole Kmet (CHI)
“Cole Kmet has a chance to have a huge breakout season in 2022. Kmet was tied for eighth among tight ends last year in targets with 93, yet thanks to the team’s lack of wide receiver depth and the Bears having 218 vacated targets (ninth most in the NFL), he should see a large increase in targets this year. Kmet also had 0 touchdowns last year despite 12 red-zone targets, in his rookie season Kmet had two touchdowns with just six red zone targets, so his red zone efficiency will be much improved. It is rare to get the second receiving option of a team at this sort of ADP, and drafting him in the later rounds could save you the hassle of using an early pick on a tight end, which could result in him being a league winner.”
– Ricky Lemon (The Fantasy Champions)

“Over the last 10 NFL seasons there have been 96 TEs who saw between 80 and 106 targets. Cole Kmet in 2021 was the only tight end in the data set to have 0 TDs, whereas a league average touchdown rate would have seen him score five TDs and a fringe TE1 finish. With no clear target competition aside from Darnell Mooney, Kmet is a clear candidate to finish as a low-end TE1 despite being drafted outside the top 10 at the position.”
– Schuyler Malak (JWB Fantasy Football)

Albert Okwuegbunam (DEN) 
“Albert Okwuegbunam last year had just 40 targets, but among tight ends to hit that threshold he was seventh and ninth in yards per route (2.0) and routes per target (4.2). The target competition will be tough with WRs Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton and K.J. Hamler — but if Okwuegbunam becomes a regular contributor, he will likely smash market expectations, and rookie TE Greg Dulcich seems unlikely to challenge Okwuegbunam in a serious way this year given his third-round draft capital.”
– Matthew Freedman (FantasyPros)

Evan Engram (JAC) 
“Evan Engram is yet-another example of extreme talent looking to benefit from a change of scenery. It isn’t just the location move that will help him, though. The Jaguars named Doug Pederson as their head coach, and in his five seasons with the Eagles, Pederson’s offense ranked in the top four in the league for tight end target percentage all five times. Engram’s glaring flaw has been too many drops, but he is built like a wide receiver, led the Giants in receptions last year and will be given another chance to develop in an offense that heavily features passes thrown in his direction.”
– Mario Mergola (Sporfolio)

Mo Alie-Cox (IND) 
“If you like waiting for your tight end, Alie-Cox is worth a shot. Matt Ryan is expected to provide a boost for the Colts offense, and Michael Pittman can’t catch every pass. Given the unknowns outside of Pittman at wide receiver, it only makes sense that Alie-Cox will see more looks than he has at any other point in his career. He barely hit 50 percent of Indy’s snaps last season, a number that could come close to 80 following Jack Doyle’s retirement, which is reason enough to see what he can do in a bigger role with a new quarterback.”
– Adam Zdroik (RotoWire)

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Thank you to all the experts for naming their consensus sleepers. You can view each expert’s picks above and be sure to give them a follow on Twitter for more great advice. Also, please check out our latest podcast episode below.

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