Fantasy Football Draft Sleepers: Michael Mayer, Keenan Allen, James Conner (2024)

Now that we’re through NFL Free Agency, let’s dive into a few early fantasy football draft sleepers you can keep in mind as you prepare for your leagues.

Way-Too-Early Sleepers

James Conner (RB – ARI)

James Conner could be at the top of this perpetually. While this may be the last year I feel comfortable doing that, he belongs here as we head into the 2024 season. Conner is one of the few workhorse running backs left in the NFL. The Cardinals added only DeeJay Dallas during free agency and he profiles much more as a special teams asset than a threat to Conner’s workload. He has consistently made an impact on the ground and through the air, averaging over 40 targets a season in his career. Not only that, but he has yet to lose a step, even as he enters his age-29 season. In 2023, Conner logged his first 1,000-yard rushing season while playing in just 13 games. He wasn’t just racking up year-end stats. He was also efficient, landing himself in the top five in rushing yards over expected. Now he gets Kyler Murray back and the likely addition of an elite young wide receiver to go along with Trey McBride. This offense is on the up and Conner’s scoring opportunity should be as well. He is a legitimate threat to score double-digit touchdowns in 2024.

Keenan Allen (WR – CHI)

In one of the more shocking moves of the offseason, the Chicago Bears traded a fourth-round pick to acquire star pass-catcher Keenan Allen. Let’s get the obvious out of the way: Allen is coming off two shortened seasons due to injury and is now entering his age-32 season. But when he was on the field last season, he showed he was still one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. In 2023, Allen was on pace for over 140 targets and 1,600 receiving yards. He also eclipsed the 2.5 yards per route run marker, which keeps him in rarified air. The Bears have stiff competition for targets with DJ Moore, Cole Kmet and multiple pass-catching running backs. Still, Allen is, at worst, going to be the second option for whoever it is (Caleb Williams, it’s Caleb Williams) that will be leading the offense. The reason you should buy Allen as a sleeper in 2024 is that even if Chicago double-taps and selects a wide receiver at nine, he should see 100-120 targets. Allen has the skill set to continue to be a dominant player. He doesn’t win on pure athleticism. He wins with elite route running. He fits the mold of Larry Fitzgerald, although that is often slept on because he was a Charger for his entire career thus far. As we get closer to the season, Allen’s average draft position (ADP) will drop. That is where you can lock down a WR2 with upside in the mid-to-late rounds of your fantasy drafts.

Michael Mayer (TE – LV)

In 2023, we saw the emergence of young elite talent at tight end. One player who was left off that list was rookie Michael Mayer. It wasn’t too long ago fantasy managers knew rookie tight ends were more of a long-term asset than a redraft investment. While Mayer didn’t put up the numbers Sam LaPorta did, he is a player you should pay attention to. In a limited role with the Raiders, he showed the ability to win in contested catch situations and recorded an impressive six yards after catch per reception. In 2024, he is stepping into a full-time role and could be an integral part of the Las Vegas offense that may be in a state of flux to start the year. Mayer was in the conversation as the top rookie tight end last preseason and we could be on the verge of a Trey McBride-like emergence in his sophomore season.