When it comes to fantasy football, sleepers is a loaded term that is sure to generate plenty of discourse. Everyone has their own definition of what is considered a sleeper, so there’s no winning that argument. For our purposes, sleepers are players who have a strong chance to exceed expectations and can become surprise difference-makers for fantasy football managers.
By now, you know the saying. “You don’t win your league in the first round of your fantasy football draft.” With a deep pool of talent still available, most people get a competent starter for their fantasy team unless there’s a major injury or they really botch the pick. Instead, leagues are won in the middle and late rounds. That’s where you start to find players the consensus disagrees on for one reason or another, and it’s where you can find what are called “sleepers.”
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Fantasy Football Sleeper RBs
What one RB outside the top 30 in the expert consensus are you hoping to end up with in all your leagues and why?
Jonathon Brooks (RB – CAR)
“The situation is not great in Carolina right now, with the team being a ways off from competing. Yet newly hired head coach Dave Canales has done a great job of rebuilding Carolina on the offensive side of the ball, with three new additions on the offensive line and more weapons for Bryce Young. Jonathon Brooks, selected 46th overall in April’s draft, is destined to become the starter there in no time. Miles Sanders was an unmitigated disaster last season after signing from Philadelphia, and Chuba Hubbard is not a franchise running back. Brooks will have to prove himself from the jump after tearing his ACL last year at Texas but has the talent to make an immediate impact in his rookie season for the Panthers and for fantasy managers. ”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)
Kendre Miller (RB – NO)
“Kendre Miller was hurt during his entire rookie campaign after rehabbing a college injury, so he never got much chance to showcase his skill set. However, he did show up in Week 18 with Alvin Kamara inactive. With Kamara entering his age 29 season, Miller may take on a larger role, specifically as a rusher in-between the tackles. The long-time Saints running back still can post receiving numbers with the best of them, but his rushing efficiency is starting to dwindle. Last year, Kamara ranked 40th out of 49 qualifying backs in missed tackles forced per attempt and fourth-worst in rushing yards above expectation per attempt. The Saints need to improve their ground attack, and the 22-year-old Miller could be the answer in Klint Kubiak’s new offensive scheme, which could be similar to the 49ers’.”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)
“Kendre Miller at RB49 is a player I am targeting. Last season, he dealt with an injury during the preseason and an ankle injury during the regular season. However, his best game came in Week 18, where he ran for 5.62 yards per carry. At TCU, he displayed elusiveness and ability to gain a multitude of yards after contact. A healthy Miller should be the RB2 of the team. Plus, he is a younger back, only 21 currently. If he is able to stay healthy throughout the preseason, he could see a jump in his usage this season.”
– Miguel ‘SC’ Romero (Fantasy Football Universe)
Blake Corum (RB – LAR)
“There are some intriguing options in RB3-RB4 range, and perhaps none more intriguing than Blake Corum, whose current ECR is RB43. The 5-8, 205-pound Corum lacks ideal size and doesn’t have blazing speed, but I think he’s the best pure runner in this rookie class. Corum used his exceptional vision and contact balance to pile up 2,708 rushing yards and 47 touchdowns over his final two college seasons at Michigan. At worst, Corum will be a valuable lottery ticket as the backup to undersized Kyren Williams, who missed five games last year. But it’s possible Corum, a third-round draft pick, carves out a role that gives him weekly stand-alone value in a fantasy-friendly Sean McVay offense.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
“Blake Corum routinely falls in the RB40 range but is arguably the highest upside handcuff in the league. On top of having one of the highest PFF grades given to an RB ever in his Junior year, he is already receiving rave reviews in camp. Kyren Williams is only 194 pounds, which is lacking for a running back that can withstand a full season workload, which was shown by his 12 games played last year. Kyren is also a poor athlete, as shown by his 4.64 40-yard dash and 116-inch broad jump. McVay has shown he can make any running back work so Corum should be next in line through injury or play.”
– Justin Weigal (FantasySharks)
Trey Benson (RB – ARI)
“I love Trey Benson’s talent. If something happens to Conner, I think Trey will be a fantasy star. As for Corum, the recent news of Kyren Williams injuring his foot has made me rethink my stance on his 2024 outlook. The Rams are grooming Corum to handle a full workload if Kyren can’t hold up. If that happens, Corum suddenly becomes very interesting in a good offense like the Rams. I guess that makes this a “Blake or break” sleeper pick? However, one thing that’s never interesting are Mark Ringo’s terrible jokes in which he shows no “deCorum” whatsoever. Ha ha!”
– Mark Ringo (Sleepers and Busts)
“Trey Benson comes in at RB40 right now. If James Conner went down, this guy would be a top-15 RB selection. This is the last year of Conner’s deal, his Age 29 season, and he has a long history of missing time. Benson should see time as the primary backup and should see more touches as the year goes on. I always like to get running backs on good offenses, Benson has league winning upside.”
– David Heilman (Sports Gambling Podcast Network)
Chase Brown (RB – CIN)
“In a limited sample size last year, Chase Brown showed his potential as a big-play RB. He excelled in breaking big plays in the passing game. The Bengals signed Zack Moss in the off-season to be their RB1, but Brown should also be heavily involved. Brown should have a significant role as a change of pace/passing down back with league-winning upside should something happen to Moss. With improvements to the Bengals offensive line and an off-season to adjust to NFL play, Brown is set up to excel if the opportunity presents itself.”
– Scott Smith (RotoViz)
Jerome Ford (RB – CLE)
“Last season, Jerome Ford ranked 23rd in FPPG, and he is currently ranked as the RB 41 in FantasyPros expert consensus rankings. Ford had 248 touches last year; it is looking like Nick Chubb will miss a good chunk, if not the entire season. Ford is in for another heavy workload and could easily be an RB2 again this year who has an RB1 weekly upside.”
– Nick Penticoff (Fantasy Football Astronauts)
Devin Singletary (RB – NYG)
“Devin Singletary as RB32 in ECR? I don’t understand it. Singletary is in line to get all the work he can handle in 2024, and he was quite good last year as the Texans’ starter. In Weeks 9-18, he averaged 19 touches and 86.6 total yards as the RB21 in fantasy points per game. Last year, he was 19th in explosive run rate and 22nd in missed tackles forced per attempt (per Fantasy Points Data). He should be ranked as a top-24 back and drafted everywhere. ”
– Derek Brown (FantasyPros)
James Conner (RB – ARI)
“James Conner is the easy answer at RB21 and 66th overall. Conner is a perennial value, as some early-career injuries led to him being labeled as injury-prone. Even in the season where he did miss some time, he was still a top-20 running back. Now, with Arizona drafting Trey Benson and Marcin Harrison Jr, his ADP has fallen even further. Outside of a season-ending injury, there just aren’t any scenarios in which Conner underperforms on this ADP.”
– Aaron St Denis (Fantasy Football Universe)
Zack Moss (RB – CIN)
“I’ve been screaming Zack Moss’s name from the rooftops this offseason… so let’s do it again here. Moss, as the consensus half-ppr RB33, is absolutely ridiculous. What may be more ridiculous is the fact that he’s the first RB drafted in a high-flying Cincy offense. We generally agree that Joe Mixon is not a special talent. But Mixon was still the half-par RB5 last season, and he hasn’t finished below as anything but an RB1 in a Joe Burrow-led offense when healthy. Enter Moss, who thrived when he and Anthony Richardson were healthy last year in Indy. As the presumed 1A now in Cincinnati, Moss can replace the majority of Mixon’s vacated production – especially the touchdowns – and has the potential to finish as an RB1.”
– Jeremy Shulman (Fantasy Football Universe)
Fantasy Football Sleeper WRs
What one WR outside the top 30 in the expert consensus are you hoping to end up with in all your leagues and why?
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR – SEA)
“On the surface, it may seem like Jaxon Smith-Njigba was a bust in year one for the Seattle Seahawks. But realistically, was he ever going to replace DK Metcalf or Tyler Lockett in his rookie season? Entering year two, JSN absolutely can take over for Lockett and potentially push Metcalf if he dismantles his projected ceiling. He could be a true 75+ catch receiver in year two, and for a player who is the WR41 in the ECR, give me that all day long.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)
“Jaxon Smith-Njigba is easy money as the consensus half-ppr WR41. Geno Smith is already singing the praises of new OC Ryan Grubb, who came over from the Washington Huskies. If we are to take what we’ve heard Grubb say already and match it with what we saw in Washington last season, 11 personnel should be the norm, allowing JSN to see the field more than the paltry 64% of snaps he was given in 2023. Smith-Njigba flashed his elite upside and is now set to become the #2 target in Grubb’s scheme. With the Seahawks defense also undergoing a massive overhaul this offseason, I’m banking on Seattle airing it out to stay in plenty of high-scoring affairs. JSN could easily finish the season as a WR2, but also has a safe WR3 floor.”
– Jeremy Shulman (Fantasy Football Universe)
Chris Godwin (WR – TB)
“Chris Godwin fits the criteria of an older WR who has been written off but still has plenty to offer. Godwin led the Buccaneers with 91 catches for 1,1109 receiving yards in 2023, but he only caught three TDs…in 19 games played versus Mike Evans‘ 14 scores. Still, Godwin’s target share (23%) was nearly identical to Mike Evans’ (25%). No player scored fewer TDs with more receiving yards than Godwin. Based on the sheer volume/usage Godwin has seen, he should be closer to a total of double-digit scores versus the average of 3 TDs he has had over the past two years. It also works in the 28-year-old’s favor that new Bucs OC Liam Coen has suggested this offseason, putting Godwin back into the slot in a full-time role after he played his lowest slot snap rate (37%) since 2018 during the 2023 season.”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)
Diontae Johnson (WR – CAR)
“Diontae Johnson. He’s been a high-volume target earner, averaging 9.0 targets a game over the last four years. Johnson is poised to become the alpha receiver in Carolina, where the arrival of new head coach and noted quarterback whisperer Dave Canales could mean a significant step forward for second-year QB Bryce Young. And let’s not forget that despite a bumpy rookie year, Young helped make one Panthers receiver a valuable fantasy asset last year. Adam Thielen was WR10 in half-point PPR fantasy scoring through Week 11, averaging 9.7 targets and 7.6 catches per game. Johnson has that sort of target and reception upside for 2024, and he’ll do more damage on those receptions than did Thielen, who averaged 9.8 yards per catch last year. It’s silly that Johnson’s ECR is in WR4 range.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
“I don’t see a scenario outside of injury in which Diontae Johnson doesn’t return value at his current ranking. Bryce Young was horrible as a rookie, but the addition of HC Dave Canales should allow Young to make significant improvements in his sophomore campaign. Johnson’s current price doesn’t account for the possibility of Young making that jump in year 2. With minimal competition for targets and a Carolina team that projects to be playing from behind a lot, Johnson easily has top-24 upside.”
– Scott Smith (RotoViz)
“Diontae Johnson is currently 37th in the FantasyPros expert consensus rankings, and I think he can easily smash that value this season. Dave Canales helped resurrect Baker Mayfield‘s career, and he is going to bring life to the Carolina Panthers’ offense. Johnson has been top 5 in ESPN’s Open Rating in four of the last five seasons. Carolina desperately needed a player who could create separation, and they got that when they signed him. I would not be surprised if he is a top 15 WR this year.”
– Nick Penticoff (Fantasy Football Astronauts)
“Give me all the Diontae Johnson I can handle. He is currently going as WR38 and 81st overall. He has only finished lower than WR30 twice in his career, once as a rookie and last season with Kenny Pickett and injuries getting the better of him. In 2024, he finds himself as the easy WR1 on the Carolina Panthers with little to no serious competition for targets. Even if the Panthers’ offense isn’t greatly improved, he will again be a top 30 receiver.”
– Aaron St Denis (Fantasy Football Universe)
Jermaine Burton (WR – CIN)
“I will continue to pound the table for Jermaine Burton regardless of Tee Higgins‘ status. Burton could push for 100-plus targets in his rookie season, tied to one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL on a pass-happy offense. When Joe Burrow was healthy last year, the Bengals ranked third in neutral passing rate. Based on talent alone, Burton is a strong bet to make in 2024. In his final season at Alabama, Burton was in the 90th percentile against single coverage and 82nd percentile in YPRR (per PFF). Burton can be had near the end of most drafts this year, and he could easily be a stout WR3 this season. ”
– Derek Brown (FantasyPros)
Jameson Williams (WR – DET) | Keon Coleman (WR – BUF)
“NFL Senior Writer Nick Baumgardner (who is based in Michigan) reported, “Something I heard this week (NFL combine week) more than a few times: Detroit believes Jameson Williams is going to be a dude next year. And uh, to be clear: That’s the first time I’ve heard that type of firm optimism about Williams from Lions people in honest moments since he got there.” As for Keon Coleman, for the last four years, Josh Allen has thrown for over 4,200 yards. In three of those years, he threw for at least 35 TDs, which helped carry Stefon Diggs to finishes at 3rd, 7th, 4th, and 10th ranked WR in fantasy. Someone has to catch passes and TDs from Josh Allen in 2024 now that Davis and Diggs are gone. And remember, the Bills didn’t burn their first pick in the draft (#33 overall) on Coleman to keep him on the bench. ”
– Mark Ringo (Sleepers and Busts)
Jayden Reed (WR – GB)
“Jayden Reed showed out at the end of the 2023 season. The team made it a point to game plan for Reed in the second half of the season, and he broke out. He finished top-12 in 33% of his games in 2023. The Packers have the 2nd best WR strength of schedule, and Reed is currently WR34 in the ECR. Rankings 4th in fantasy points per snap per Andrew Erickson. Hope the price stays down!”
– David Heilman (Sports Gambling Podcast Network)
Brian Thomas Jr. (WR – JAC)
“Brian Thomas Jr. at WR52 is too low for him. I do believe they use Christian Kirk more in the slot, but Thomas Jr. should become the X WR for the Jaguars. There are multiple receivers in Jacksonville, but Thomas Jr. actually has a path at WR1 for the team. He is falling to end the first or early second round in rookie drafts. To me, that is a steal because I think he helps stretch the field for the Jaguars and will become a top target for QB Trevor Lawrence. At the very least he should see his fair share of touchdowns this season using his ability to bring down contested catches to the NFL.”
– Miguel ‘SC’ Romero (Fantasy Football Universe)
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