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Identifying sleepers is one of the most fun aspects of playing fantasy football. However, the odds of hitting on one are low. If you do manage to find one, it can give you a nice edge right out of the gates. The best thing about taking sleepers late in your draft? If they don’t work out, just throw them back on waivers. The price of acquisition is so cheap that there's zero downside. So why not swing for the fences?
What exactly qualifies as a “late-round” sleeper? For our exercise today, we will look at players going outside the top 150 picks in average draft position (ADP) in FFPC (Fantasy Football Players Championship) leagues.
Make sure you keep up to date with all your fantasy football needs by following RotoBaller on X and checking out RotoBaller.com. Here are six sleepers going outside the top 150 picks to target in your 2024 fantasy football draft.
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Dontayvion Wicks, WR, Green Bay Packers - FFPC ADP: 152.53
Wicks flashed potential in his debut season with the Packers. He certainly looked the part as his route-running acumen turned heads throughout the year.
37 seconds of Dontayvion Wicks shredding defenders 😮💨
(via @ReallyRichx2)
pic.twitter.com/z7BvVu3SHp— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) February 6, 2024
In limited action, Wicks posted some impressive advanced metrics. He checked in with a .23 Targets Per Route Run (TPRR) along with a 2.31 Yards Per Route Run (YPRR) per Fantasy Points Data Suite. This comes in a small sample, but it’s the kind of data you love seeing from a rookie.
Green Bay’s receiving room is crowded, and it’s unclear who will eventually emerge as the top receiver. Wicks is a good flier pick at the end of drafts. He should only improve going forward and can become a go-to option in this offense. With a little luck, he can become Jordan Love’s top target.
Deshaun Watson, QB, Cleveland Browns - FFPC ADP: 154.8
While he struggled with injuries and overall lousy play, Watson still found a way to be productive for fantasy football last year.
One of the top sleeper options at QB in #FantasyFootball drafts?#Browns QB Deshaun Watson.
His finishes in games he started and finished last year:
QB5
QB27
QB10
QB8There’s still upside here for fantasy football. #NFL
— The Fantasy Football Stallion (@FF_Stallion) May 4, 2024
There are still many concerns surrounding Watson. He’s only started 12 games in the last three seasons. However, these concerns are baked into the price. If he stays on the field, Watson can smash his current ADP and be a massive value. He’s a good option for managers who prefer to wait on quarterbacks.
Jaleel McLaughlin, RB, Denver Broncos - FFPC ADP: 166.27
McLaughlin displayed impressive burst and quickness whenever he touched the football as a rookie.
Broncos rookie Jaleel McLaughlin opens the scoring vs the Bears.
pic.twitter.com/RRhXnaXVLA— Arye Pulli (@AryePulli) October 1, 2023
Once again, McLaughlin is turning heads this offseason.
#Broncos HC Sean Payton on Jaleel McLaughlin:
“He’s here at 5:15, even in the offseason. First one here, running in the weight room, and by the time he’s at breakfast and most people are arriving, he’s put in a good hour and a half’s worth of work. It’s just the way he’s wired,… pic.twitter.com/qMk17cfd6h
— The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex) June 5, 2024
He graded out very well across several metrics as a rookie. Pro Football Focus (PFF) graded McLaughlin as their 16th-highest rusher in 2023, and he also finished 7th in PFF’s Elusive Rating. Among backs with 65 attempts, McLaughlin finished fifth in Missed Tackles Forced Per Attempt (MTF/ATT) per Fantasy Points Data Suite. There is serious upside here if he is given more opportunities. Running backs have always been heavily involved in Sean Payton’s offense. After a disappointing season from Javonte Williams, McLaughlin may command more touches this year.
Listed at 5’7 and 180 lbs, it’s unlikely McLaughlin ever becomes a featured back. However, he can still be a useful asset in PPR leagues if he can carve out a Reggie Bush/Darren Sproles-type role. At his current cost, he is the exact type of player who can help win your league if he hits.
Khalil Herbert, RB, Chicago Bears - FFPC ADP: 179.2
Herbert was hoping to become the Bears’ lead rusher for the 2024 season. Instead, the team signed D’Andre Swift to a three-year, $24 million contract in free agency. It’s understandable as Swift is coming off a career year, and Herbert has never totaled more than 731 rushing yards in a season. However, Herbert’s underlying data paints a different picture.
Herbert finished higher than Swift in MTF/ATT, Next Gen Stats Rush Yards Over Expectation (RYOE), PFF’s Elusive Rating, and PFF’s Rushing Grade. If Swift struggles, or injuries plague him, don’t be surprised if Herbert wrestles the starting job away. Consider him one of the top handcuffs available in drafts. He can be a major asset to fantasy managers in all leagues if the opportunity presents itself.
Demario Douglas, WR, New England Patriots - FFPC ADP: 215.33
As a rookie, Douglas flashed play-making ability and at times served as New England’s WR1. It looked like the Patriots may have found another late-round gem at the position.
Look at this catch by Demario Douglas.
He’s got a bright future.
pic.twitter.com/SBIElHOJnU— Pats Buzz (@PatsBuzz) December 25, 2023
New England’s receiving room is completely wide open. The team added rookies Javon Baker and Ja’Lynn Polk in April’s draft, and there are also several incumbent veterans still in the mix. There’s a lot of target competition, but Douglas is as good a bet as any to emerge as rookie Drake Maye’s WR1.
Day Three Rookie Wide Receivers to post a 22%+ Target Rate and 1.50+ Yards per Route Run on 300+ Routes
[ Amon-Ra St Brown ]
[ Puka Nacua ]
[ Marques Colston ]
[ Mike Williams ]
[ Denarius Moore ]
[ DEMARIO DOUGLAS ]Pop Douglas is the BEST BET to be Drake Maye’s WR1 pic.twitter.com/XYm5opRHjN
— DynastyIM (@dynasty_im) May 7, 2024
Douglas makes for a good late-round flier on the off chance he emerges as the top option in New England’s passing game. He is a sneaky second-year breakout candidate.
Will Levis, QB, Tennessee Titans - FFPC ADP: 225.87
Tennessee has shown its commitment to building around its young quarterback this offseason. With the seventh pick in the NFL Draft, the Titans selected tackle JC Latham to protect Levis' blindside. The team also signed Tony Pollard, Calvin Ridley, and Tyler Boyd in free agency to beef up the skill players surrounding Levis. He had an up-and-down rookie season, but the 2023 second-round pick flashed upside throughout the year.
Will Levis’ first NFL touchdown! #TitanUp ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/8L0Mtd9fsC
— KSR (@KSRonX) October 29, 2023
Levis only ranked 40th in PFF’s Adjusted Completion Percentage. He will need to make improvements in Year 2. New head coach Brian Callahan does have experience working with young quarterbacks as he was instrumental in Joe Burrow’s development in Cincinnati. With a plethora of weapons at Levis’ disposal, Tennessee has done everything it can to set him up for success. He’s an intriguing name to monitor in the run-up to the season.
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