https://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy/article/fantasy-football-sleepers-rest-easy-knowing-youre-about-to-find-some-major-draft-values-outside-the-top-100-picks-163111210.html
We’re all looking for that hidden gem to give our fantasy football team an edge, so we can kick back and relax on Sundays while gleefully watching our squad march to victory. Let Scott Pianowski help you rest easy this draft season with his top sleepers.
The term sleeper has taken on many definitions as fantasy football has become a mainstream thing. Once upon a time, a sleeper was a largely unknown player who emerged from obscurity to grab fantasy glory. I’m not sure that type of player exists in the same way today, given the massive amounts of public information.
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So let’s simplify things. For the purpose of my All-Sleeper Team, I’m focusing on fantasy picks outside the top 100 who have a chance to comfortably beat — and perhaps smash — their ADP. If some of these sleepers wake up, we’ll be smiling — maybe even laughing — in December.
J.J. McCarthy, QB, Vikings (122.1 ADP)
It might take some time for the McCarthy story to develop — it’s likely the Vikings won’t overload him in the early weeks. But head coach Kevin O’Connell is probably the sharpest quarterback whisperer in the league, someone who’s consistently been able to coax juicy YPAs from a motley crew of quarterbacks. McCarthy obviously comes with pedigree — he was a rated prospect entering the University of Michigan and the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Minnesota has a slew of established pass-catchers at every position, which means this offense should be humming by October. Just give it a little time.
Braelon Allen, RB, Jets (110.3 Yahoo ADP)
It’s a new day with the Jets — new head coach, new offensive coordinator, new quarterback. Alas, the running backs are essentially the same, but perhaps the pecking order is about to change. The 235-pound Allen has a strong chance to open the year as New York’s goal-line back, and although Allen’s per-touch metrics were ordinary last year, he did have a higher success rate than Breece Hall on both runs and passes. Allen is merely entering his age-21 season — I’m excited to see what his upside might be.
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Chris Rodriguez, RB, Commanders (160.8 ADP over last 7 days)
To be fair, we could call this section “Washington running back” and the advice wouldn’t change much. The Commanders shipped Brian Robinson Jr., 2024’s starter, to San Francisco last week. Changes are coming in the backfield, which is manned by Austin Ekeler, rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Rodriguez.
Those that like to focus on pass-catching chops and experience would gravitate towards Ekeler, and JCM offers the upside of the unknown — he only played one game at Arizona last year, and was a seventh-round pick. But don’t lose track of Rodriguez, the team’s biggest back and probably the best fit for goal-line work. He’s managed a strong 4.9 yards per carry in his two NFL seasons, and he’s scored four times on his modest 86 attempts.
Marvin Mims Jr., WR, Broncos (131.8 ADP)
Mims has been a part-time player in his two NFL seasons, but perhaps it’s time for the Broncos to increase his workload. Denver enjoyed a 127.3 passer rating when Mims was targeted last year, and six of his 39 catches went for touchdowns. It’s telling that Mims picked up his game in the second half, when rookie QB Bo Nix began to cook — Mims posted a 28-434-6 line over the final seven games of the year. The timing feels right for a Year 3 breakout.
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Rashid Shaheed, WR, Saints (129.9 ADP)
New Orleans has a shaky situation at quarterback, so this pick requires some faith. But Shaheed was having a breakout season last year before a Week 6 meniscus tear, a nifty 20-349-3 line off 41 targets. The Saints primarily used Shaheed as a deep threat early in his career, but the new coaching staff has given him more routes to run this summer. We’ll gladly trade some of that juicy YPC if it means Shaheed can command more targets and catches each week. Everyone accepts Chris Olave is the most talented receiver in the New Orleans huddle, but it won’t surprise me if Shaheed is the best fantasy value on this offense.
Tyler Warren, TE, Colts (112.8 ADP)
Perhaps it’s a mild stretch to fit Warren into a sleeper piece, given that he was a first-round pick and he caught 104 passes at Penn State last year. But so long as his Yahoo ADP lags outside the top 100, it makes sense to shine a light on him.
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The Colts offense has a better chance to stay on schedule now that Daniel Jones is the starting quarterback — Anthony Richardson occasionally hit a home run, but had trouble with the shorter, drive-extending throws — and Warren has been running with the starters during the preseason. Fantasy managers used to ignore the potential of rookie tight ends, but after Sam LaPorta and Brock Bowers clicked the past two seasons, the rules have changed. Keep an open mind with Warren.
TE Chig Okonkwo, Titans (129.6 ADP)
Okonkwo has given us fantasy-relevant moments the last two years, catching 106 passes on a couple of bad Tennessee teams. But it’s likely the Titans have an improved offense this year, with No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward taking over. Okonkwo’s game was more downfield-oriented as a rookie (14.1 YPC); it’s come down significantly since then. But that dip is probably a strike against the past quarterbacks who played here; Ward will attack the intermediate and deep portions of the field. If your format allows you to draft a second tight end with upside, Okonkwo is a perfect target.
https://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy/article/fantasy-football-sleepers-rest-easy-knowing-youre-about-to-find-some-major-draft-values-outside-the-top-100-picks-163111210.html
