Fantasy Football Sleepers: Rome Odunze, Keon Coleman, Brian Thomas Jr., Jameson Williams

When preparing for your fantasy football drafts, knowing which players to target and others to avoid is important. The amount of information available can be overwhelming, so a great way to condense the data and determine players to draft and others to leave for your leaguemates is to use our expert consensus fantasy football rankings compared to fantasy football average draft position (ADP). In this way, you can identify players the experts are willing to reach for at ADP and others they are not drafting until much later than average. Let’s dive into a few notable fantasy football sleepers to consider below.

Fantasy Football Draft Sleepers

Rome Odunze (CHI)

No one should question Odunze’s talent. In his final season in college, Odunze ranked 18th in YPRR and 8th in PFF receiving grade. It is fair to wonder about his ability to earn targets in year one, as D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen will flank him. There are reasons to be hopeful for Odunze, though. Unlike Jaxon Smith-Njigba last year, Odunze can still have splash weeks this year because of his ability to stretch the field, as his 15.5 aDOT in 2023 attests, so he can maximize some lost volume with big plays. The volume of this passing attack could surprise us as well, though. In 2021-2023, under new Bears’ offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, Seattle ranked seventh in neutral pace and ninth in neutral passing rate. If the passing volume shocks the world and/or Keenan Allen or D.J. Moore misses any time, Odunze could outplay his ADP.
– Derek Brown

Keon Coleman (BUF)

Keon Coleman, a second-round pick for the Buffalo Bills, boasts impressive physical attributes at 6’4″ and 215 lbs, fitting the mold of an outside X-receiver. His collegiate career showcased consistent improvement, highlighted by a notable junior year at Florida State with 50 receptions, 658 yards, and 11 touchdowns. Despite his youth, Coleman demonstrated dominance, outperforming future NFL prospect Jayden Reed in key metrics. With the Bills, he enters a favorable situation with a talented quarterback and opportunities to rise in the depth chart, setting the stage for a promising start to his NFL journey.
– Andrew Erickson

Brian Thomas Jr. (JAC)

Brian Thomas Jr. emerged as a force in his junior year at LSU, boasting a 33% dominator rating and leading the FBS with 17 touchdowns. Standing at 6’4″ and 205 lbs, he possesses the size and speed of a boundary X-receiver, evidenced by his impressive college production. Despite not being the primary target, Thomas still earned a 24% dominator rating, competing for catches with fellow standout Malik Nabers. Drafted by the Jaguars in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Thomas has the opportunity to absorb a significant portion of targets left by departing players, potentially exceeding 100 targets. While he offers high-end splash week potential, his weekly consistency may vary due to Jacksonville’s diverse offensive weapons.
– Andrew Erickson

Jameson Williams (DET)

Jameson Williams has faced challenges in his first two years in the NFL, including a torn ACL in his rookie season and a slow start due to a suspension in his second year. While he has displayed flashes of big-play potential, injuries and inconsistencies have hampered his progress. Heading into his third year, Williams is expected to take on a larger role in the Lions’ offense with the WR2 position likely up for grabs. However, his limited target share and inconsistent performance in 2023 raise questions about his potential breakout. Williams may be overrated based on his draft capital, and he faces competition for targets in a crowded receiving corps in Detroit. Still, it’s noteworthy that his HC has already labeled Jamo as the team’s most improved player this offseason. Year 3 seems like it will be a career-best for the former Alabama product.
– Andrew Erickson