As dedicated fantasy enthusiasts know, the quest for league dominance is a year-round journey. Uncovering hidden gems, or “sleepers,” who outperform their draft position can be the difference between being a contender and a champion. Finding sleepers is an art that requires you to stay ahead of the trends, anticipate changes and seek value where others may not. This becomes even more critical in dynasty leagues, where longevity and future performance are crucial considerations, and your fellow managers are likely more knowledgeable than the average redraft fantasy manager.
That brings us to deep sleepers. We asked our featured dynasty experts to break down some of their favorite deep sleeper running backs and wide receivers. Their responses are below.
Remember that the key to success in fantasy football is not just recognizing talent but also about understanding the changing dynamics of the NFL. Stay tuned to our expert analysis for the best chance to dominate your dynasty league this season. And be sure to check out our 2023 Dynasty Fantasy Football Draft Kit for a comprehensive resource ahead of the 2023 season.
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- Dynasty Rookie Primers: QB | RB | WR | TE
- 2023 Dynasty Fantasy Football Draft Kit
Deep RB & WR Sleepers to Target in Dynasty Fantasy Football Leagues
Which RB outside of the top 250 in our Dynasty Consensus Superflex Rankings are you targeting either in startup dynasty drafts or via trade and why?
Chris Evans (RB – CIN)
“Chris Evans (RB90, 274 overall) is a deep sleeper I’ve been targeting in trades lately. The Bengals let Samaje Perine walk, who later signed with the Broncos, and then drafted Chase Brown (RB48, 160 overall) in the fifth round of the NFL draft. However, Evans has been on the roster longer and might be the actual handcuff to roster in dynasty. Starting RB, Joe Mixon (RB23, 83 overall), has some injury concerns, and Brown will have to adjust to the NFL game, but Evans might be the best to slot into carries quickest. He’s almost free in some leagues and could be flex-worthy for a few weeks this year alone.”
– Andrew Hall (FantasyPros)
Malik Davis (RB – DAL)
“I am drafting Malik Davis in as many dynasty and best-ball leagues as possible. The Cowboys released Ezekiel Elliott this offseason, creating an opening behind Tony Pollard on the depth chart. Since Mike McCarthy joined the team in 2020, the No. 2 running back has averaged 141.3 rushing attempts per year, seeing at least 101 every season. Meanwhile, Davis showed potential as an undrafted free agent last year, averaging 4.2 yards per rushing attempt and 2.1 yards after contact per attempt. Furthermore, over 10% of his rushing attempts went for more than 10 yards as a rookie. Davis should have low-end standalone flex value this season unless Dallas brings back Zeke.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)
Ty Chandler (RB – MIN)
“The Vikings’ release of Dalvin Cook makes Ty Chandler an intriguing later-round dart throw in dynasty startups. Alexander Mattison figures to be Minnesota’s lead running back with Cook out of the picture, but Mattison has never logged more than 134 carries in a season or had a snap share greater than 35%, so there will be other contributors, too. A fifth-round pick from North Carolina, Chandler showed some exciting flashes last year in the preseason, rushing for 113 yards and a TD on 15 carries. He had only six carries as a rookie, in part because of a broken thumb that landed him on IR for much of the 2022 season. Chandler was a far more accomplished pass catcher in college than DeWayne McBride or Kene Nwangwu, the other contenders for work in the Minnesota backfield. Chandler’s 4.38 speed at 204 pounds gives him a 93rd percentile speed score, according to PlayerProfiler.com. That speed and pass-catching ability gives Chandler a chance to carve out a significant role in an unsettled backfield.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
“This is the ultimate dart throw, but I’m looking at Minnesota Vikings running back Ty Chandler, who is ranked 277th in our dynasty rankings. The 2022 fifth-round pick out of North Carolina carried the ball just six times for 20 yards in his rookie campaign. But with Dalvin Cook gone, Chandler could be in prime position to earn a critical backup role behind Alexander Mattison, who has yet to prove he can truly handle a full workload. I’m willing to stash Chandler for cheap and see how things play out, as Mattison isn’t a lock to become a bellcow back with Cook gone. ”
– Matt Barbato (BettingPros)
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Which WR outside of the top 250 in our Dynasty Consensus Superflex Rankings are you targeting either in startup dynasty drafts or via trade and why?
DeVante Parker (WR – NE)
“Deep WRs are always fun to speculate on during the offseason, and I feel like I’ve been a fan of DeVante Parker (WR104, 258 overall) for a while now. Parker could be the WR2 on the Patriots behind JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR49, 123 overall), and even with Mac Jones (QB26, 115 overall) at the helm, someone’s gotta catch the ball. Parker could be in line for 100 targets, and his cost is so low that that’s almost criminal. I’m adding him as a throw-in wherever possible before people catch on.”
– Andrew Hall (FantasyPros)
Puka Nacua (WR – LAR)
“Cooper Kupp will once again be the focal point of the Los Angeles offense. Unfortunately, the rest of the team’s receiving core is underwhelming. Yet, the Rams waited until the fifth round of the NFL Draft to select a wide receiver — Puka Nacua. The former BYU star reminds many of Robert Woods, thus potentially giving him a leg up on the other young wide receivers on the roster. Furthermore, Nacua can make an impact in the run game. He had 23.7% of his attempts at BYU go for 10 or more yards. Sean McVay is too creative not to find a way to make Nacua a consistent part of the offense as a rookie.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)
Kyle Philips (WR – TEN)
“Kyle Philips is flying under the radar after an injury-marred rookie season, but he could end up being a significant contributor for the Titans, who are woefully thin on proven pass-catching talent. Philips had six catches for 66 yards in Tennessee’s 2022 opener but injured his shoulder in that game, played sparingly over the next several weeks, then went on IR for the rest of the season after sustaining a hamstring injury during an October practice. A fifth-round pick from UCLA, Philips is a shifty slot receiver with quick feet and ankle-breaking change-of-direction ability. WR Treylon Burks and TE Chig Okonkwo are expected to see ample targets for Tennessee, but Philips has a chance to be a prominent target-earner as well, and it’s not terribly far-fetched to think that he could have a season comparable to the one that similarly sized, similarly skilled slot receiver Hunter Renfrow had for the Raiders two years ago (103-1038-9).”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
“Tennessee Titans wideout Kyle Phillips could be a player worth buying in 2023. Phillips is another 2022 fifth-round pick who saw very limited action as a rookie. But he could wind up being a starter in three-wide sets for an insanely inexperienced Tennessee receiving group. Treylon Burks and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine appear to be the “top” receivers on the depth chart. But that’s hardly set in stone. We know next to nothing about Phillips and this entire Titans receiving group at large, but at 259th in our dynasty rankings, Phillips should have a cheap enough price tag to be a minimal risk with the potential for at least modest reward. ”
– Matt Barbato (BettingPros)
For more dynasty trade advice, check out our Dynasty Trade Value Chart
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