Finding Deep Sleepers For Fantasy Football
In today’s age there really is no such thing as a true “sleeper” for fantasy football. With so much access to advanced statistics, matchup data, and detailed scouting reports, a compelling case can be made for almost any player on an NFL roster to be a fantasy-relevant asset. Yet, this oversaturation of information can sometimes be a bit of a burden, as the never-ending supply of input regarding these sleeper candidates can often bury those with the most legitimate claims to the label. Moreover, the true upside of a “sleeper” often has that player maxing out their utility at the same level as others who you may call disappointments, though the “sleeper” will be praised for their output due to the unexpectedness of their supposed breakout, which in reality has them going from below average to average. In this sense, finding an average talent in a pool filled with fringe players makes the fantasy manager look smart when in reality their team is not really much better off. Rather than focusing on these types of deep sleepers, this article will be geared towards finding players from those brackets who could legitimately win your fantasy team some games.
Damien Harris, New England Patriots
Yes, the Patriots backfield is an absolute mess right now. The team has recently added veteran Lamar Miller to a backfield that already featured Harris, 2018 first-round pick Sony Michel, receiving back James White, Rex Burkhead, and undrafted rookie J.J Taylor. Considering Harris logged only four carries in his rookie campaign, it would be hard to blame anyone for being apprehensive about spending a draft pick on him, particularly in a shallower league. However, if we look a bit further into the context of Harris’s situation, the former Alabama star actually has a legitimate path to RB2 status this season if a few things go in his favor.
Many draftniks viewed Harris as the top running back in the 2019 draft class, as his sturdy frame and relatively well-rounded skillset led many to believe that he had plug-and-play starter potential. It was very telling that the Patriots elected to use their third-round pick in that draft to take Harris, as the team had taken Michel in the first round just one year earlier. With Michel (foot) and Miller (ACL) both on the PUP list, Harris has been seeing a large share of the workload thus far in training camp, reportedly impressing in that capacity. If Harris can hold onto his role as the lead power back for New England he could be in-line for a very heavy workload this season, particularly with the team presumably transitioning to a more run-heavy, option-style playbook with Cam Newton under center. Depending on what happens with Michel and Miller, it could very well be Damien Harris’s time to shine, and you can grab him as the RB55 in non-PPR formats.
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Miles Boykin, Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore’s offense is one of the most confusing in the NFL, as the Ravens somehow managed to field a record-setting attack without the benefit of any legitimate wide receivers. While rookie Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and veteran slot receiver Willie Snead were fine as the team’s top options at the position, much of the receiving burden fell on the shoulders on TE Mark Andrews. Even if Brown and Snead manage to improve upon their performances from last season, NFL defenses will most certainly adapt to prevent Baltimore from running wild on them, so the emergence of a true threat on the boundary is a necessity. Enter Boykin, a second-year wideout with 4.42 speed and a 6’4, 220 lb frame. Though the former Notre Dame standout caught only 13 passes last season despite starting 11 games, he did reel in three touchdown passes, showcasing his playmaking skills on various occasions. Outside of Andrews, the Ravens offense is devoid of big-bodied pass-catchers like Boykin, which leads me to believe that his role in the offense can only increase following another offseason training with Lamar Jackson. As inconsistent as he was during his rookie campaign, Boykin could be poised to take over as the Ravens WR2 this season, offering a decent upside in that capacity due to his knack for finding the endzone as well as his ability to pick up yards after the catch.
Joshua Kelley, Los Angeles Chargers
Melvin Gordon is gone. And while Austin Ekeler is an outstanding pass-catching back, the former undrafted free agent struggled mightily at times as a runner last season. Ekeler averaged only 4.2 YPC while topping 50 yards rushing in only five games. In order to balance their run game, the Chargers will almost certainly need to pair Ekeler with a back who can operate as a grinder between the ’20s, while also checking in for short-yardage and red-zone situations. Kelley, the team’s fourth-round pick from this year’s NFL Draft, is a perfect fit for this role, as his function for UCLA’s football team was exactly this. At 5’11, 220 lbs, Kelley is a bigger back who can be the battering ram that Gordon was for the team in this past half-decade, checking in to games when Ekeler’s skillset won’t quite fit the situation. While his upside could be very touchdown-dependent, Kelley could be a major steal as the RB73 in redraft leagues, particularly if Ekeler were to suffer an injury.
Greg Ward, Philadelphia Eagles
It’s no secret that the Eagles receiving core was decimated by injuries and ineffectiveness in 2019. The additions of rookie Jalen Reagor and veteran speedster Marquise Goodwin were supposed to improve this situation, though with Goodwin opting out and Reagor missing out on valuable preseason experience, that may no longer be the case. Ward was the glue guy for Philadelphia in the final stretch of last season, catching 28 passes for 254 yards in the final six games of the season, operating primarily out of the slot. Assuming Ward holds onto that role this season, he could very well finish as the top receiver for the Eagles. With Alshon Jeffery set to miss time with a Lisfranc injury and DeSean Jackson entering his age 34 season as a one-dimensional deep threat, Ward could easily pace the team in targets as a chain-mover on short and intermediate throws. Ward can be had for free in most leagues, so he’s well worth a late-round flier.
Jordan Reed, San Francisco 49ers
Unlike everyone else who has been mentioned in this article, Reed has been an elite fantasy option before. The veteran tight end peaked during the 2015 season when he finished as the TE3 in PPR, operating as the primary receiver for an upstart Washington team. Though Reed has since been hit with countless injury issues, the athletic tight end may very well have found himself in a perfect spot with the 49ers. The 49ers used 12 personnel on only 11% of their plays last season, yet with the addition of Reed — a far superior pass-catcher compared to the Ross Dwelley — that may very well change. With Deebo Samuel set to miss time with a foot injury and Emmanuel Sanders now wearing black and gold, San Francisco is sorely in need of receiving talent behind George Kittle and rookie Brandon Aiyuk. We’ve seen Washington use Reed as a jumbo-sized slot receiver in the past, a role that he thrived in when working with Kirk Cousins whose strengths and tendencies as a passer are quite similar to those of Jimmy Garoppolo. Considering how run-heavy the 49ers offense was last season, it may even be to their advantage to mix more two-tight end sets into the playbook, at least until Samuel returns to the lineup. If he can carve out a role in San Francisco’s passing game and stay healthy — a big if — Jordan Reed could easily finish as a top-15 tight end this season.
