Winning the offseason is as vital as winning every week in your dynasty fantasy football leagues. This is the time for dynasty managers to start thinking about which players they should target for their rosters.
One strategy that can pay off big in the long run is looking for players who are currently undervalued but have the potential to become valuable assets. These “buy-low” targets can be players who have been overlooked due to injuries or a lack of playing time but have the talent and opportunity to break out in the coming seasons.
Here are three WRs that could prove to be sleepers you can acquire for cheap in your dynasty leagues:
Rankings based on FantasyPros Dynasty Rankings
Parris Campbell (WR – NYG) ECR 195 | WR79
It’s understandable to be cautious about a player like Parris Campbell. The fifth-year WR out of Ohio State hasn’t entirely lived up to the hype when he came into the league in 2019. A myriad of injuries has mostly kept the talented pass catcher on the sidelines, with him seeing a total of 53 targets in his first three seasons.
However, in 2022, Campbell played a full slate of games, catching 63 passes for 623 yards and three touchdowns. While those stats aren’t especially eye-catching, the Colts’ offense was a mess. The combination of Matt Ryan, Sam Ehlinger, and Nick Foles at QB didn’t give the offense any continuity, not to mention Campbell was competing with fellow WR Michael Pittman Jr. for targets.
In 2023, Campbell has a new team and a fresh start with the New York Giants. As of now, he appears to be the WR1 in the Daniel Jones-led offense, and given his skill set, he could easily outperform expectations. His biggest competition for targets will be newly-acquired TE Darren Waller and second-year WR Wan’Dale Robinson. With more consistent QB play and more opportunity on his new squad, now is the time to kick the tires on trading for Campbell in your dynasty leagues. You should be able to acquire him for a mid-to-late fourth-round rookie draft pick with WR2 upside in 2023 and beyond.
Robert Woods (WR – HOU) ECR 219 | WR85
The curious case of Robert Woods got even more curious this offseason, with the veteran WR signing on to play for the rebuilding Houston Texans. While at first glance it seems like a bad situation for any pass catcher, things could be turning around for the mediocre team in the AFC South. Holding the second pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, it’s a foregone conclusion the team will walk away with either C.J. Stroud or Bryce Young, a massive upgrade for the team at QB.
Woods has been the king of the middle of the field and short routes, with 95.1% of his targets coming inside 20 yards and 34.1% of those in the middle of the field. Combined with his reliable hands — his catch rate over the middle was an astounding 79.2% last season — Woods provides a safe outlet for whichever young QB the team decides to roll with in 2023.
This is an excellent opportunity to get a solid WR3/Flex asset that has seen his value plummet over the last few seasons due to injury and playing in a run-heavy offense in Tennessee in 2022. However, all signs point to him far exceeding his current ranking as a WR7, and you can acquire him for a late fourth-round rookie pick or a role player with minimal upside, such as Colts WR Isaiah McKenzie.
Tim Patrick (WR – DEN) ECR 223 | WR87
When WR Tim Patrick tore his ACL in training camp last season, dynasty managers who were high on the talented veteran were forced to pivot elsewhere. It was disappointing, to say the least, as Patrick was coming off a stellar 2021 campaign. He eclipsed 10 fantasy points eight times despite a rotating door of mediocre QBs on a lousy team.
Heading into the 2023 season, the Denver Broncos look more like a contender than the sideshow they were in 2022. New head coach Sean Payton is serious about competing in one of the toughest divisions in football, and Patrick appears to be a big part of that plan. He will work primarily outside, along with WR Courtland Sutton, and figures to be involved heavily in Payton’s game plan that usually favors big, physical receivers like 6-foot-2, 212-pound Patrick.
Many dynasty managers are concerned about a player returning from a torn ACL, as they usually lack explosiveness in their first year back. However, Patrick is more of a grinder, favoring short to intermediate routes, accounting for 79.5% of his routes in 2021. This works well with QB Russell Wilson, who saw over half of his pass attempts land in this range in 2022. At his current valuation of WR88, now is the time to snag Patrick from a nervous manager looking to unload the veteran pass catcher. His ceiling is in the WR2 tier range, and you can get him for a late-round rookie pick.
Nate Polvogt is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Nate, check out his archive and follow him @NatePolvogt.
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