In the ever-evolving world of fantasy football, identifying sleepers can make or break your season. But with so much hype around certain players, how do you know which ones are worth the gamble? In this article, we dive into some of the most talked-about sleepers for 2024 and get the inside scoop from Featured Pros experts on whether they’re buying or selling the hype. Whether you’re looking for the next breakout star or trying to avoid a potential bust, our analysts’ insights will help you make the right call.

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Popular Sleepers: Buy the Hype

Which of the players listed in our consensus sleepers article has the best chance to outperform his ECR and ADP?

Trevor Lawrence (QB – JAC)

“Your best sleeper in 2024 is Trevor Lawrence. Lawrence has a plethora of pass-catching options that can help elevate his draft stock. Lawrence is not just a strong arm but an above-average runner who can be a sneaky Konami Code for your team. With Lawrence facing the fastest strength of schedule this year, expect him to put up massive fantasy points for your team this season.”
– Joe Pepe (Beyond The Gridiron)

Sam Darnold (QB – MIN)

“BEAST DOME had everyone rush over to grab Sam Darnold as comeback player of the year once McCarthy went down with the knee injury. Darnold has the weapons to finish as a solid QB2 while he is being drafted as a player that will end up on the Waiver Wire. It is the Sam Darnold show in Minnesota, and he can still sling it based on what we saw in practice and preseason.”
– Muntradamus (Beast Dome)

Justin Herbert (QB – LAC)

“Justin Herbert. I keep seeing the red flags (new offense, less talent, foot injury). All true, but this guy has never been worse than QB11 in a season he finished healthy. He’s not even risk at his current QB17 ADP, so you’re getting a steep discount for a guy with proven top-10 ability.”
– Kevin Roberts (Breaking Football)

Diontae Johnson (WR – CAR)

“Diontae Johnson has the best chance to outperform his ECR and ADP this season. Bryce Young was really bad last year and a lot of that wasn’t his fault. Although the Carolina Panthers still aren’t a great team, new head coach Dave Canales has a way with quarterbacks and should be able to work his magic with Young as well. With Johnson as his top target this year, he’ll reap the rewards from Young’s improved play.”
– Trevor Land (FlurrySports)

“I’ll continue to bang the drum for Diontae Johnson, who should be a target hog in Carolina this season. New head coach Dave Canales has proven to be a quarterback whisperer, and if he gets even average play out of former number-one pick Bryce Young, Johnson’s fantasy upside is huge. With little competition for targets in a potentially ascending offense, Diontae could smash an ECR of WR34 and an ADP that typically sees him selected in the seventh or eighth round of PPR drafts. ”
– Jason Willan (Gridiron Experts)

Jonathon Brooks (RB – CAR)

“While Diontae Johnson simply needs to stay healthy to smash in fantasy based on his ADP, I have come to believe the Jonathon Brooks will be a league-winner as soon as he is physically capable. It was always expected that he would miss the early part of the season but his placement on PUP will drive his draft price even lower. Once he returns close to full strength and gains his coach’s trust, he should have no trouble supplanting Chuba Hubbard. New coach Dave Canales will have this offense looking completely different in 2024, and Brooks will be a major factor by the time fantasy playoffs roll around.”
– Pierre Camus (Fantasy Endgame)

Jerome Ford (RB – CLE)

“Jerome Ford (RB-CLE) has a clear path to outperform his ECR and ADP. Nick Chubb will begin the season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list and miss the first four games of the regular season. Even upon his return, there is no guarantee that Chubb will ever return to his former self. The Browns recently released D’Onta Foreman, leaving only Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong Jr. in the Browns backfield to start the season. Ford could run away with the starting job in the first month of the regular season. He’s a steal at RB37 and an ADP of 115.0.”
– Jeff Boggis (Fantasy Football Empire)

Brandin Cooks (WR – DAL)

“I believe Brandin Cooks is highly likely to exceed his ECR and ADP this season. His ECR and ADP are both currently at WR57. Last year, Cooks finished as the overall WR36 in total scoring and WR44 on a per-game basis. He also got better as the year went on. In his first season in Dallas, Cooks suffered a sprained MCL in Week 1 and missed Week 2. He returned the following week but struggled to acclimate himself to the Cowboys offense. However, we turned things around after Dallas’ Week 7 bye. Cooks was the overall WR15 (WR28 on a per-game basis) from Week 8 on. I would not expect that level of production over an entire season. However, he is the clear third option on a pass-heavy offense. That should keep him in the weekly Flex conversation in most formats.”
– Mick Ciallela (Fantrax)

Gus Edwards (RB – BAL)

“Gus Edwards should have no issue outperforming his RB38 ADP. Despite not being a flashy, big-play threat, Edwards has averaged nearly five yards per carry for his career while scoring or getting a first down on a third of his career carries. He is a trustworthy early-down back who will also get his number called on the goal line. Edwards finished as RB20 in Half PPR scoring through 18 weeks last season, and given his role in the Chargers’ backfield, he has a strong chance to finish around the same area.”
– Zach Brunner (FlurrySports)

Brian Robinson Jr. (RB – WAS)

“It gets overlooked, but Brian Robinson was 20th overall in fantasy running back scoring last year. He had a solid season for fantasy teams, posting consistent numbers in an offense that was up and down throughout the season. He gets to start in a new offense with a new franchise quarterback at the helm. Things are looking up for the Commanders and Robinson. Sure, Austin Ekeler is around, but he isn’t near the back of past years and should be more of a third-down back than a three-down option. Robinson has a chance to improve on his numbers from last year.”
– Jeff Paur (RTSports)

Popular Sleepers: Sell the Hype

Which of the players listed in our consensus sleepers article are you least interested in drafting?

Aaron Rodgers (QB – NYJ)

“There is nothing that excites me about Aaron Rodgers. We have a limited-mobility quarterback coming off an injury that will hamper his mobility even more. Past Garrett Wilson, there aren’t many options that can separate on the team. This offense belongs to Breece Hall, as Rodgers just runs back the later career highlights of his Packers predecessor, Brett Favre. ”
– Joe Pepe (Beyond The Gridiron)

Pat Freiermuth (TE – PIT)

“Pat Freiermuth. He’s not the value everyone is hyping him up to be. Russell Wilson is washed, and Justin Fields may not be much better, but trusting Arthur Smith to feature anyone is not something I’d like to do. Pitt has said they want to get all of their TEs involved, so it’s a pass for me.”
– Kevin Roberts (Breaking Football)

Gus Edwards (RB – LAC)

“I am least interested in drafting Gus Edwards. There are so many solid running backs available late in fantasy drafts this year that can be counted on to produce. With so many question marks surrounding the Chargers’ offense and a crowded backfield, I’m looking elsewhere for a late-round flier.”
– Trevor Land (FlurrySports)

Keon Coleman (WR – BUF)

“Rookie receivers are just expected to perform right away these days, but I have serious doubts about Keon Coleman. I understand the appeal of a receiver catching passes from Josh Allen, but the logic doesn’t add up. If All-Pro Stefon Diggs was terrible throughout the end of last season under a new OC, why would we assume that a rookie who isn’t particularly good at getting separation will perform nearly as well as Diggs? This team will funnel targets through the TE position (hello, Dalton Kincaid = TE1), slot, and backfield. No Buffalo WR will be reliable on a weekly basis, least of all Coleman.”
– Pierre Camus (Fantasy Endgame)

Dontayvion Wicks (WR – GB)

“Dontayvion Wicks is just in a very crowded receiving group. He may be a great wide receiver, but Green Bay is stacked with them. Green Bay also has no reason to change up their offense from last year; if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it. Jordan Love had a great season spreading the ball around. On top of that, Green Bay added two good pass-catching backs in Josh Jacobs and MarShawn Lloyd. I just don’t see the volume being there for regular success.”
– Matt Olson (32 Beat Writers)

Justin Fields (QB – PIT)

“Justin Fields (QB-PIT) has looked mediocre in preseason games. Plus, Russell Wilson is the better QB. Head coach Mike Tomlin prefers experience over potential, and Wilson will start the season as Pittsburgh’s starting QB. If they need a spark, Fields will see playing time, but not enough to make him fantasy-relevent this season. Let this QB battle be someone else’s headache.”
– Jeff Boggis (Fantasy Football Empire)

Matthew Stafford (QB – LAR)

“Matthew Stafford had a nice rebound season for the Rams but still finished just 15th overall in fantasy quarterback scoring. He finished just shy of 4,000 passing yards and scored 24 touchdowns. Stafford did struggle with accuracy at times, having the third-worst bad throw percentage in football. Stafford is 36 years old and has a bit of an injury history. We wouldn’t expect his numbers to suddenly get much better, even in this offense. There are younger, more exciting fantasy quarterbacks for me to target come draft day.”
– Jeff Paur (RTSports)

Ladd McConkey (WR – LAC)

“I don’t understand the Ladd McConkey hype. He’s currently rated as the WR43 in ECR, ahead of guys like Christian Watson, Brian Thomas, and Khalil Shakir, all of whom I strongly prefer in 2024. The Chargers offense is poised to be methodical and run-heavy under Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman, and McConkey will be fighting for targets with Joshua Palmer, DJ Chark, Quentin Johnston, and even fellow rookie Brenden Rice. I project Palmer to be the best fantasy option in the group, and he is typically ranked and drafted later than McConkey. Given the other options, I have little to no interest in drafting McConkey at his current price tag. ”
– Jason Willan (Gridiron Experts)

The Jaylen Wright Debate

Occasionally, analysts disagree on which side of the Buy/Sell argument a player belongs. Here are their arguments, and you can decide for yourself which opinion you agree with.

Buy the Hype

“Jaylen Wright is the first guy that comes to mind. He’s sitting behind a 32-year-old, Raheem Mostert, and a highly efficient, possibly injury-prone, De’Von Achane, who isn’t made to handle every down duty. One slip for either of these guys, and you have a very valuable RB who showed explosiveness in the preseason.”
– Matt Olson (32 Beat Writers)

Sell the Hype

“Jaylen Wright. The price is not Wright with Jaylen. Mostert is the All-Time Dolphins Single Season TD leader, a record he set last year. They also have an overhyped De’Von Achane. I cannot forget Jeff Wilson, who still proved he has pep left in his step this preseason, which leaves absolutely no room for Wright to get any playing time in 2024.”
– Muntradamus (Beast Dome)

“I am going to say Jaylen Wright. Not because I don’t believe in his talent. I just do not see him getting enough touches every week. Miami already has two outstanding running backs, Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane. They also have two elite receivers (Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle). Keep in mind that last season, Achane was hardly a consistent fantasy performer. He only scored 10 or more fantasy points (half-PPR) in six of 11 games. How much room will there be for a third Dolphins running back to make an impact? I don’t mind stashing him if you have a lot of room on your bench. But for the most part, I will let someone take him in Redraft leagues.”
– Mick Ciallela (Fantrax)

“I have zero interest in drafting Jaylen Wright in redraft leagues this season. We know the Dolphins will continue to use a committee approach in their backfield. With Wright being the RB3, at best, there is almost zero path to consistency. If the best-case scenario is an inconsistent option, there will never be a week when I feel comfortable starting him, so there is no need to draft him. ”
– Zach Brunner (FlurrySports)

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