2014-5 Fantasy Football Sleepers

Q1. Who is your top RB sleeper (ADP beyond 120) and why should fantasy owners target him?

Andre Williams (RB) Giants

Overall ADP: #151

“Heading into the summer there was some thought that the 230-pounder, who scored 17 rushing touchdowns at Boston College last year, could take on the goal-line role with the Giants. Now with David Wilson
‘s latest injury, Williams moves into the backup role behind Rashad Jennings
. Note that Jennings has never played a full 16-game season, and that the talented Williams rushed for over 2,100 yards last season. Don’t be surprised if the rookie’s role expands into leading man territory at some point this season.”
– Ben Standig (CSN Washington)

“Even before David Wilson
‘s season, and likely career, came to an end, we were targeting Giants running back Andre Williams
in the late rounds. The rookie has performed well this summer and is slated for goal line duties. There is a growing sense that the Giants want to bring back the smash-mouth ground game, and Williams’s downhill skill set fits that description better than any other back on the roster.”
– Sablich Brothers (The New York Times)

Lance Dunbar (RB) Cowyboys

Overall ADP: #170

“The Cowboys boast one of the NFL’s best offensive lines and new offensive coordinator, Scott Linehan, will heavily utilize the running backs in the passing game. The starting running back, DeMarco Murray
, has missed 11 games over the past three years due to injury. Lance Dunbar
may seem undersized, but would fit seamlessly into the role that both Jahvid Best
and Reggie Bush
held under Linehan in the recent past. In the event that Murray does suffer an injury, Dunbar would instantly elevate to an RB2, even bordering on RB1 territory in PPR leagues.”
– Kyle Wachtel (Forensic Fantasy)

“Lance Dunbar
is entering his third season at age 24 and is still flying a little low because he’s missed 11 games to begin his first two seasons. In his college career at North Texas, he caught 97 passes and amassed over 5,200 yards from scrimmage. On a very small sample a season ago, he also showed off some of the magic he possesses with the ball in his hands, forcing 11 missed tackles on 37 touches. While Scott Linehan was in the Motor City, running backs accounted for 46.8% of all receptions and the second back averaged 51 targets per season.”
– Rich Hribar (XN Sports)

Carlos Hyde (RB) 49ers

Overall ADP: #144

“There are several RBs, mostly rookies, that I considered here, but Hyde was my top-ranked running back in the draft even though he seemed to land in a less-than-ideal situation from a re-draft standpoint. Since then, however, injuries have made the 49ers backfield much less congested and Hyde is clearly the team’s No. 2 option behind 31-year-old Frank Gore
. While Gore has been durable over the past three seasons, his age and cumulative workload could work against him as he posted a career-low 4.1 YPC last season. Hyde should get plenty of opportunities as the Niners begin to scale back Gore’s workload in one of the league’s most run-oriented offenses.”
– Kevin Hanson (EDSFootball)

Christine Michael (RB) Seahawks

Overall ADP: #141

“My choice here is by far Christine Michael
. While a healthy Marshawn Lynch
won’t be unseated, he has close to 2,000 touches to his name and is one aggressive rusher. Michael has the skill set to produce top 5-10 fantasy running back numbers per-start — That’s the kind of stash that could win a league.”
– Smitty (Fantasy Football Starters)

Q2. Who is your top WR sleeper (ADP beyond 120) and why should fantasy owners target him?

Justin Hunter (WR) Titans

Overall ADP: #168

“A tremendous athlete that appeared on Bruce Feldman’s annual “freaks” list in 2012, Hunter is 6-foot-4 with 4.4 speed and jumps 40-plus inches. Dangerous as a vertical receiver, he has shown flashes of his potential as a rookie with a couple of 100-yard games late last season and averaged 19.7 yards per catch. Not only has Hunter added 15 pounds to his (previously) thin frame this offseason, but he has received plenty of praise from his coaching staff as well. Hunter is oozing with breakout potential and upside heading into his second season.”
– Kevin Hanson (EDSFootball)

“At 22-years old, Justin Hunter
is a big play option. 39 percent of his targets were on passes over 20 yards downfield, and he turned three of those targets into scores. He also posted the tenth best touchdown per snap ratio out of all receivers in the entire NFL last season, scoring once per 85 plays on the field. For 2014, the Titans have brought in Ken Whisenhunt who has had no issue going vertical with the football in nearly all of the stops he’s made in the NFL. He’s also been around some pretty good young receivers such as Santonio Holmes
, Larry Fitzgerald
, Anquan Boldin
and just recently, Keenan Allen
, and has been effective at getting them the ball.”
– Rich Hribar (XN Sports)

Markus Wheaton (WR) Steelers

Overall ADP: #180

“So many interesting options here including Marvin Jones
, Justin Hunter
and Kenny Stills
, but let me go with Markus Wheaton
. A broken pinkie essentially ruined his rookie season in Pittsburgh. The departures of Emmanuel Sanders
and Jerricho Cotchery
open the door for a starting gig opposite Antonio Brown
. The Steelers drafted the 5-foot-11 speedster in the third round for a reason. Based on the team’s history of swapping out one good WR for another, expect to see why this season.”
– Ben Standig (CSN Washington)

“Pittsburgh’s third round draft pick in 2013 was buried behind Emmanuel Sanders
and Jerricho Cotchery
on the depth chart, and as a result, we rarely got a chance to see him on the field. With both of those guys now working for different teams, Wheaton’s path for a prominent role as the WR2 option in the passing game has now been paved.”
– Sablich Brothers (The New York Times)

Kenny Britt (WR) Rams

Overall ADP: #224

“I love the value of Kenny Britt
in the 14th-round right now. While he could certainly disappoint, there is just about zero risk at that range, and he has an elite skill set despite never being able to stay on the field. Britt is young, about the same age as AJ Green and Julio Jones
, so he has nice dynasty appeal as well. Don’t count on him as your WR3 in 2014, and you certainly won’t have to draft him at that value… but, don’t be shocked if he bounces back in a big way now that he is happy in his new home (St. Louis).”
– Smitty (Fantasy Football Starters)

Rueben Randle (WR) Giants

Overall ADP: #128

“In the driver’s seat to start opposite Victor Cruz
, Rueben Randle
is eyeing a breakout season. As the team’s best vertical threat and also the best red zone wide receiver, he should tally quite a few big plays as well as his share of targets in the red zone. A low-end WR3 with upside, Randle is currently being drafted three rounds later than he should be.”
– Kyle Wachtel (Forensic Fantasy)

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Q3. Who is your top TE sleeper (ADP beyond 140) and why should fantasy owners target him?

Charles Clay (TE) Dolphins

Overall ADP: #151

“The guy is 25 and ready to reach that next level. He pulled in a line of 69/759/6TDs last year, and I see no reason why he can’t top that by a decent margin this upcoming season. Multiple reports this off-season have described Clay as a “nightmare matchup.” He is a huge, huge sleeper TE in that 140+ range.”
– Smitty (Fantasy Football Starters)

“Clay posted a career-best 69 receptions, 759 yards and 6 touchdowns on 102 targets in 2013, which was good enough to be the seventh best tight end overall, yet here he is, still sitting on the board near the end of the 12th round. A solid TE1 play this late only proves just how deep the position has become over the last few years.”
– Sablich Brothers (The New York Times)

Heath Miller (TE) Steelers

Overall ADP: #157

“Heath Miller
tore his ACL late in the 2012 season and then returned to action less than a year later. Rushing his recovery may have led to him posting the lowest yards-per-reception of his career. He did total 58 receptions in just 14 games played, which ranked 11th among tight ends. Now a year-and-a-half removed from his surgery, there are reports that he resembles his pre-ACL tear self and offers low-end TE1 potential for the price of a late round flier.”
– Kyle Wachtel (Forensic Fantasy)

Ladarius Green (TE) Chargers

Overall ADP: #160

“Perhaps the obvious choice here, Green gave us a glimpse of his breakout potential with 206 yards and two touchdowns over a three-game span in the second half of last season. Not only is Antonio Gates
another year north of 30, but his production really slowed in the second half last season. With Green’s speed (4.53 forty at combine) and ability to create mismatches, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he emerges as the team’s No. 2 option in the passing game behind wide receiver Keenan Allen
.”
– Kevin Hanson (EDSFootball)

Delanie Walker (TE) Titans

Overall ADP: #219

“Rather surprised to see Walker’s ADP as TE25. The guy caught 60 passes for 571 yards and six touchdowns for the Titans last season with his biggest games coming during the second half. Now Walker will play in Ken Whisenhunt’s TE friendly offense. Even if the number of receptions stays in the same range, look for an improved yards per catch average. Walker is a mid-level TE2 on my list.”
– Ben Standig (CSN Washington)

Garrett Graham (TE) Texans

Overall ADP: #236

“My favorite late TE is Garrett Graham
, who’ll play the versatile role Aaron Hernandez
was in under Bill O’Brien. Graham’s no Hernandez on the field (and thankfully off), but this system paired with mid range bomber Ryan Fitzpatrick
should see him peppered with targets frequently. Delanie Walker
averaged two whole targets per game more with Fitzpatrick under center a season ago. Tight end is really top heavy this year, then has a pretty dynamic fall off. As much as I like guys like Dennis Pitta
and Kyle Rudolph
, they’re unlikely to run real far away from the later round TE options like Graham.”
– Rich Hribar (XN Sports)