As the NFL Draft approaches, fantasy football managers are keeping a close eye on potential sleepers who could make a significant impact in their rookie seasons. One such position to watch is the running back spot, where the right landing could propel a talented college player into the limelight. Evan Hull (RB – Northwestern) is gaining traction for his impressive pass-catching skills, and with the right opportunity, he could become a valuable committee back or priority handcuff. Similarly, Roschon Johnson (RB – Texas) and Israel Abanikanda (RB – Pitt) have both demonstrated athletic prowess and could emerge as contenders for early-down carries or even starting positions depending on their landing spots in the draft.

Another position of interest is wide receiver, where potential breakout candidates could become fantasy football sleepers with the right team. Marvin Mims (WR – Oklahoma) is a promising prospect with explosive playmaking abilities and impressive speed, making him a potential vertical threat on any team. Jayden Reed (WR – Michigan State) checks all the boxes for a Day 3 sleeper WR, boasting high-end college production, a solid breakout age, and exceptional return skills. Meanwhile, Xavier Hutchinson (WR – Iowa State), Jonathan Mingo (WR – Ole Miss) and other prospects are garnering significant attention from NFL teams, setting the stage for intriguing WR options in this year’s draft.

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Fantasy Football Rookie Landing Spot Sleepers

Which RB are you monitoring heading into the NFL Draft because you feel the right landing spot could make them a sleeper in fantasy football leagues this season?

Evan Hull (RB – Northwestern)
“I’m monitoring where former Northwestern RB Evan Hull lands via the draft. Hull is a grinder as a runner, but he also contributed heavily through the passing game in college and possesses the skill set to be a reliable third-down option at first. He caught 55 balls in his final collegiate season, and while Northwestern’s offense wasn’t particularly good, Hull shined at times, with five games of more than 100 rushing yards as well as four games of at least 44 receiving yards.”
– Sam Wagman (Footballguys)

“Give me a discount Bijan Robinson going in round four of the NFL Draft. Yes, the name on the tip of your tongue is Evan Hull. Hull tested almost identically to Robinson and has a similar top-shelf pass-catching pedigree to flaunt at the NFL level. If Hull gets even early Day 3 capital, he could be a committee back with upside or a priority handcuff this season. ”
– Derek Brown (FantasyPros)

Roschon Johnson (RB – Texas)
“Roschon Johnson posted an absurd 49% missed tackle rate in 2022 while also finishing fourth in yards after contact per attempt among the 2023 draft class. Simply put, he would be talked about much more had he not been seated on the depth chart behind college football’s best running back, Bijan Robinson. Johnson started only five of the 47 total games he played at Texas, but the former second fiddle possesses bell-cow size at 6-0 and 219 pounds, with the tenacity to boot. If RJ lands on a weak RB depth chart (nearly every current NFL starter is a downgrade compared to Bijan), he will vault into the team’s starting lineup. ”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)

Israel Abanikanda (RB – PITT)
“Israel Abanikanda registered the highest Relative Athletic Score (RAS) in this class of running backs, earning 9.61 of 10.0 possible points. He’s garnered a ton of buzz, especially in dynasty circles. I’d love to see Abanikanda land in Atlanta or Tampa Bay, where he can take early-down carries away from Tyler Allgeier or Rachaad White, perhaps even supplanting them as the main back.”
– Frank Ammirante (The Game Day)

“Israel Abanikanda, an exceptional running back prospect from Pittsburgh, is making waves in this year’s NFL draft. Registering a swift 4.50-second 40-yard dash, an impressive college yards per carry average of 6.0, and a college dominator rating in the 97th percentile, Abanikanda embodies both speed and efficiency on the field. At a mere 20.5 years of age, Abanikanda’s outstanding PlayerProfiler Athleticism Score places him at the top of his position for the 2023 class. As a rising star with remarkable speed and burst, Abanikanda is poised to be a game-changer in the right landing spot.”
– Billy Muzio (FullTime Fantasy)

Devon Achane (RB – Texas A&M)
“Devon Achane is one of my favorite fantasy prospects in this year’s rookie crop, and I don’t think a lot of people share my enthusiasm. Achane is an electric runner with 4.3 speed and a bagful of cuts, jump stops and stutter steps. He’s also a good pass catcher. The hang-up for some fantasy managers (and perhaps for some NFL teams, too) is that Achane is 5-9 and 188 pounds. His smaller frame is going to keep him from becoming a workhorse, but Achane has impressive contact balance and tackle-breaking ability for a smaller back and was surprisingly successful running between the tackles at Texas A&M. Achane reminds me a lot of Warrick Dunn, who was an undersized but valuable fantasy performer for more than a decade. In the right spot, Achane could provide the same sort of fantasy value that Jerick McKinnon provided last year as a rotational back for the Chiefs, with the potential for even more. ”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)

Which WR has the best shot of having a breakout year in 2022 and why?

Which WR are you monitoring heading into the NFL Draft because you feel the right landing spot could make them a sleeper in fantasy football leagues this season?

Marvin Mims (WR – Oklahoma)
“Marvin Mims has been steadily moving up draft boards lately but still is off many people’s radar currently. The former Oklahoma standout is an explosive playmaker who averaged more than 20 yards per reception in each of the past two seasons and is extremely well-versed in creating vertical separation as well as tracking the football through the air. He does not have many focus drops at all, and while he probably starts out in the slot for the team that drafts him, watch out if he makes a move to the Z receiver area of the field, because he can fly with his 4.38 speed. He plays well above his 183-pound frame and can climb the ladder to go up for the contested catch if needed.”
– Sam Wagman (Footballguys)

“Marvin Mims is a deep threat who can take the top off an opposing defense. I’d love to see him selected by a team that desperately needs a complimentary wideout. Imagine Mims catching bombs from Justin Herbert or Matthew Stafford. That would give him some appeal as a rookie, especially in best-ball formats.”
– Frank Ammirante (The Game Day)

“Marvin Mims, a wide receiver prospect from Oklahoma, could be the hidden gem of this year’s NFL draft. With an impressive 4.38-second 40-yard dash and a college YPR of 20.1 (94th percentile), Mims boasts both speed and performance. At just 21 years old, his breakout age of 18.5 showcases his early talent, and his athleticism hints at the potential for great success in the NFL. Don’t miss the chance to draft this rising star, who might just outshine his contemporaries in the coming years on the right team.”
– Billy Muzio (FullTime Fantasy)

Jayden Reed (WR – Michigan State)
“When it comes to rookie WRs, I look for a few specific requisites: high-end college production, a solid breakout age, kick/punt return ability and/or a vertical element to their game. Michigan State’s Jayden Reed has all of these in his arsenal. He broke out at an early age at 18 years old while playing alongside NFL talent at Western Michigan. In 2021, Reed blew up as a junior with 1,026 yards and 10 receiving touchdowns en route to a career-high 34% dominator rating with a top-5 deep target rate (29%). The 5-11, 187-pound wide receiver led the FBS in yards per punt return (19.8) and all 2023 draft-eligible returners in PFF punt return grade. Reed checks off all the boxes of a Day 3 sleeper WR, and he might get drafted even earlier when it is all said and done. ”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)

Xavier Hutchinson (WR – Iowa State)
“Xavier Hutchinson has been a man-crush item for me since reviewing his profile and film before the Senior Bowl. Hutchinson has already had a reported 30 visits with NFL teams. The interest meter is spiking for a talented prospect who ranked 24th in yards per route run (minimum 50 targets) with solid marks against both zone and man coverage. Hutchinson can be an immediate target earner in the NFL who could skyrocket if he’s let loose as a power slot. ”
– Derek Brown (FantasyPros)

Jonathan Mingo (WR – Ole Miss)
“Rumor has it that Ole Miss WR Jonathan Mingo is going to come off the board earlier than a lot of draft enthusiasts are expecting. Mingo’s size (6-1, 226) and physicality reminds me of Anquan Boldin, a second-round pick who had one of the most productive rookie seasons of any receiver in NFL history. Not that I expect Mingo to equal Boldin’s 101 rookie-year receptions, but Mingo could be an instant fantasy contributor if he lands on a team that endeavors to scheme him targets and let him rampage through defenses after the catch, which is where he’s at his best. But the Boldin comparison isn’t entirely apt, because Boldin had a 40 time of 4.71 when he went to the NFL Scouting Combine 20 years ago, while Mingo ran a 4.46, giving him a 96th percentile speed score, according to PlayerProfiler.com. Mingo also has meaty 10 3/8-inch hands. He’s going to be a problem for NFL cornerbacks.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)

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