Fantasy Football draft lottery tickets and sleepers can make or break your season. While safer players may have a higher hit rate, targeting players with upside late in fantasy football drafts is how you can truly DOMINATE your league. Here are fantasy football draft lottery tickets and sleepers to target.
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Fantasy Football Draft Lottery Tickets
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 draft lottery tickets to consider below.
McConkey could become the Bolts’ WR1 in short order. McConkey has a clear path to volume this year, with only Joshua Palmer and Quentin Johnston pushing him weekly. Is the passing volume in a Greg Roman offense a concern? Absolutely, but that’s why his ADP is this low. During Roman’s final four seasons with Baltimore, his offenses averaged 496 passing attempts. If McConkey can earn at least a 21% target share, then we’re talking 102 targets, which might not sound like much, but that would have been tied for 32nd among wide receivers last season. There’s plenty of upside for McConkey to earn an even larger slice of the target pie in 2024, considering the other pass catchers that are running opposite him and his inherent talent level. Last year at Georgia, McConkey was in the 98th percentile in receiving grade and receiving grade versus single coverage. He was also in the 91st percentile or higher in separation percentage and YPRR. If the Bolts’ throw even more than I’m projecting, McConkey could be one of the best values of the fantasy draft season.
– Derek Brown
Texas’ Xavier Worthy has quickly made a name for himself with his standout speed and playmaking prowess. At 6 feet 1 inch and 172 pounds, Worthy distinguished himself early, notching 62 receptions for 981 yards and 12 touchdowns in his freshman year. He capped off his college career with over 1,000 yards and 5 touchdowns in his junior year, securing a 30% career dominator rating-the second highest in his class-and the youngest breakout age at 18. His abilities have drawn comparisons to DeSean Jackson, both from Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid and draft analyst Thor, underscoring his potential impact. Set to join the Chiefs as a 1st-rounder, Worthy is expected to compete for a significant role, particularly with the possibility of an expanded opportunity if teammate Rashee Rice faces a suspension.
– Andrew Erickson
Smith-Njigba’s usage last year was comical. The team neutered him into a low aDOT player when he has the skills to be so much more. When he was aligned outside, he flashed the talent that had plenty of Fantasy GMs drafting him aggressively last year. Among 81 qualifying wide receivers last season, when he was running routes on the perimeter, Smith-Njigba ranked 15th in YPRR and fourth in TPRR. Among 61 qualifying receivers with at least 40 perimeter targets, he also ranked 14th in FD/RR. With a new head coach and offensive coordinator to revamp this offense and a retooled offensive line, Smith-Njigba should flourish in his sophomore season.
– Derek Brown
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, 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. 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 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
Khalil Shakir concluded his second season on a high note, shining in the absence of Gabe Davis with impressive performances. Over the last three games, he caught 16 of 17 targets for 180 yards and 2 touchdowns, showcasing his reliability and big-play ability. Shakir topped the NFL in catch rate (88%) and generated the highest passer rating (141.5), while leading the Bills in receiving EPA and ranking 16th overall in the league. Despite earning a larger role in the offense for 2024, he faces competition for targets from second-round rookie Keon Coleman and veteran slot WR Curtis Samuel.
– Andrew Erickson
Joshua Palmer emerged as a significant contributor for the Chargers last season, especially when Mike Williams and Keenan Allen were sidelined. His performance, particularly in games without Williams, showcased his potential, averaging 10.6 fantasy points per game. Even in the absence of both WRs and QB1 Justin Herbert, Palmer maintained a strong target share and production, averaging 11.5 points per game. While the Chargers are likely to draft a wide receiver, Palmer remains a solid in-house option.
– Andrew Erickson
Rashid Shaheed enjoyed a solid 2nd season, as a boom-or-bust option. He totaled over 1,000 air yards on just 75 targets (14% target share). Shaheed excelled in making big plays, as seen in his 31 catches of over 20 yards (14th). He scored 132.6 fantasy points, averaging 8.3 points per game. Shaheed was ranked 49th among wide receivers in points per game.
– Andrew Erickson
Dontayvion Wicks made significant contributions to the Packers’ offense during Christian Watson‘s absence, showcasing his big-play ability and reliability as a target. With 39 receptions for 581 yards and 5 touchdowns, Wicks demonstrated his potential to be a valuable asset in the passing game. Despite being a fifth-round rookie, he ranked among the top rookies in yards per route run, hinting at his promising future in an offense led by Jordan Love. As a deep sleeper, Wicks has the opportunity to emerge as a key playmaker in the Packers’ ascending offense.
– Andrew Erickson
Fantasy Football Draft Rankings
Check out the consensus 2024 fantasy football draft rankings from our experts.
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