Fantasy football sleepers. In 2014 they were your golden ticket to fantasy glory. Itās fake football law that early-round decisions can ruin a fantasy season, middle-rounds determine who will ultimately make the playoffs, and late-rounds are where you stake your claim for a championship.
Mike Evans (WR13, ADP 101), DeAndre Hopkins (WR 14, ADP 112), Steve Smith (WR 18, ADP 125), Anquan Boldin (WR 19, ADP 119), and Jordan Matthews (WR 25, ADP 126) are all prime examples of this. And, if weāre being honest here, probably the gems that the more savvy owners gobbled up while you were still giggling like a school girl over āstealingā Zac Stacy in the third-round. But we wonāt dwell on that.
Luckily, when you look at the names above, itās easy to notice some trends. One, that veterans ā although theyāre not always sexy picks ā are generally a sound investment. Two, that young, talented, play-makers thrive when they are placed in the right system.
Recognizing this, there are a few players that have jumped off the page this offseason. And no, these arenāt the obvious guys like Brandin Cooks, Jarvis Landry or Kevin White. Because while these are all solid options, they are known commodities. Generally meaning they have ADPās that suit that.
My guys, on the other hand, can be had at a much cheaper price ā coming in with an ADP over 100. Minimal risk, maximum return ā now who doesnāt like the sound of that? On the other hand, there are some players that appear cheap, but come with a fair share of baggage. We can let the suckers after you fight over them.
Next: Who Are The Best Sleepers At WR This Year?
Nov 9, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver John Brown (12) catches a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter against the St. Louis Rams at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Rams 31-14. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
John Brown (WR 45, ADP 102)
Question: What do you get when you combine a healthy Carson Palmer and a high-powered Bruce Arians vertical offense? Answer: An outstanding opportunity for John Brown ā a young, dynamic receiver out of Pittsburgh State who quietly amassed 48 receptions and five touchdowns on over 100 targets last season. This kid has the talent and work ethic to supplant Larry Fitzgerald as the Cards go-to receiver.
Oh, by the way, Palmer and Brown are currently roommates and Palmer is expecting āhuge things from him this yearā. That doesnāt hurt.
Kendall Wright (WR 47, ADP 111)
I canāt lie here. I was a Wright buyer last year after āflexingā him to a title in 2013. Hell, anyone who posts 90-plus receptions and 1,000-plus yards in a season on my roster has earned a soft spot. That said, 2014 did happen. Yikes. And while he wasnāt a total bust with 57 receptions and six touchdowns,Ā he certainly wasnāt the return you would hope for with a sixth-round ADP.
Enter Marcus Mariota. Rookie quarterbacks need a safety valve. And while I do believe Delanie Walker steals a look or two from Wright, itās not enough to deter me from a mouth-watering ADP and a situation where the rookie might be leaning on some veteran guidance. After all, heās shown us what heās capable of in the past. New quarterback, new outlook.
Devin Funchess (WR 59, ADP 144)
Funchess is a match-up nightmare with mediocre hands and huge upside. Sound familiar? Not only will he be joining Kelvin Benjamin, he might be stealing quite a bit of the limelight this year at half the cost. Now yes, I do realize the the Panthers donāt have the most high powered offense in the world. I also realize that Newtonās ability to feed anyone more than Benjamin and Greg Olsen can certainly be called into question. But this is a guy with major red-zone chops.
Youāre not looking at him quite as hard in PPR leagues because the targets could be limited. But donāt be surprised if this guy finishes the year with eight-plus touchdowns. You could do worse in rounds 13-15.
Next: Who Should You Avoid?
Dec 8, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams (17) is tackled by Atlanta Falcons safety Dwight Lowery (20) in the second quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Davante Adams (WR 44, ADP 100)
Iāll keep this short and sweet. At 100, his ADP is way too high for me. Iād much rather roll the dice on John Brown or Pierre Garcon if Iām looking to shore up my bench, but Iād be remiss if I didnāt mention him here. One, because heās got Aaron Rodgers throwing him the ball. And two, because if Randall Cobb or Jordy Nelson goes down, youāre sitting on fantasy gold. That said, youāll be hard-pressed to find flex value, even in friendly matchups, here.
Philip DorsettĀ (WR 65, ADP 169)
His ADP might not reflect it yet, but I firmly believe Dorsett will emerge as this yearās Justin Hunter. He should be a hot commodity coming out of training camp and even hotter after he tears it up in the preseason. Just remember that there are a lot of mouths to feed in this offense. So despite Andrew Luckās considerable talent and propensity to chuck the ball downfield, itās probably going to take an injury or an Andre Johnson retirement for Dorsett to get his share.
That said, keep an eye on this guy. If his ADP doesnāt move too much and he manages to have a lackluster preaseason keeping him off he radar, thereās certainly value here on the waiver wire or in deeper drafts. Those of you in dynasty leagues should be all over him though.
Kenny StillsĀ (WR 48, ADP 112)
Iām surprised to see his ADP so low here, as heās being taken much higher in most mocks Iāve participated in. Nevertheless, Iām calling buyer beware on this guy. Ryan Tannehillās deep ball is still pedestrian, and Stills is entering a new system in which two other pass-catchers (Jarvis Landry and Jordan Cameron) are likely ahead of him in the pecking order. Also, there is a guy namedĀ Mike Wallace floating around down there. Maybe youāve heard of him?
Be sure to let me know who your sleepers are in the comment section below. Or just tell me why Iām an idiot for sticking to my guns on Kendall Wright. That works too.
*All stats are via FFToday. All ADPs are via Fantasy Pros.
Stay ahead of the competition and follow Fantasy CPR on Twitter and Facebook.
Next: Top 100 RB Rankings In PPR Leagues
More from FanSided
- Joe Burrow owes Justin Herbert a thank you note after new contract
- Chiefs gamble at wide receiver could already be biting them back
- Braves-Red Sox start time: Braves rain delay in Boston on July 25
- Yankees: Aaron Boone gives optimistic return date for Aaron Judge
- MLB Rumors: Yankees-Phillies trade showdown, Mariners swoop, India goes to Seattle