Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Packer Plus
Every team has one sleeper not to snooze on
It’s time to start your fantasy football research now that it’s August and NFL training camps have begun.
Here’s a list with one sleeper per NFL team, 32 names you should be thinking about in those later rounds while you’re searching for players to queue up and draft.
Last year, this list included Michael Gallup, Jameis Winston, Chris Carson, Deebo Samuel, Tyler Boyd, Dionte Johnson and others.
So here are a few names — some of them are repeats from last year who are still sleepers! — to keep in mind.
Philadelphia Eagles RB Boston Scott: I love what Miles Sanders did last year. But let’s not forget that Scott caught 23 passes in his final four regular-season games in 2019. He may be in line for a bigger role this year. PPR leaguers, especially take note.
Dallas Cowboys TE Blake Jarwin: A REALLY deep sleeper here, especially when the red zone touches will be distributed to Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, CeeDee Lamb and Ezekiel Elliott. Plus, Dak Prescott is good for a few scores on the ground. All of that said, Jason Witten is gone … so maybe he’s in for more playing time?
New York Giants WR Sterling Shepard: He lost a bunch of games to injuries last year, but when he did play? He didn’t have a game with fewer than six targets. Don’t forget about him on draft day.
Washington Football Team WR Steven Sims: He scored four times in his final three weeks, in games where he had five or more catches. So why’s he so buried on rankings charts?
Green Bay Packers WR Allen Lazard: Marquez Valdes-Scantling was supposed to be the WR2 in this offense, and he fizzled. Even though the Packers run more than they used to, I wonder if the training camp buzz around Lazard could mean he’ll get more looks from Aaron Rodgers.
Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson: It’s tricky with rookie wideouts who didn’t have a full offseason of work to get acclimated to the NFL. But I’m willing to make an exception here with the first-rounder given that the Vikes need someone to fill in for what they lost with Stefon Diggs getting dealt.
Chicago Bears WR Anthony Miller: Maybe if Nick Foles is his QB, he’ll have more games like he had against the Lions (nine catches, 140 yards).
Detroit Lions RB D'Andre Swift: Maybe Kerryon Johnson isn’t the answer for the Lions, and if so, he’s an intriguing name as a rookie.
New Orleans Saints WR Emmanuel Sanders: Doesn’t it feel like forever since the Saints had a second WR behind Michael Thomas? There’s so much value with the former Bronco and Niner.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Ronald
Jones: Let me be on the record that I’m grumpy about this selection. Bruce Arians stated that he’s “the main guy, he’ll carry the load.” I want to believe him, but I really don’t want to invest a ton into a player who might once again have just a piece of the running back pie in Tampa. So if he’s there in some later rounds and drops, I’d be okay with taking him. But no reaching!
Carolina Panthers QB Teddy Bridgewater: Bridgewater getting his opportunity in Carolina.
San Francisco 49ers WR Jalen Hurd: The Deebo Samuel injury opens things up for the 2019 third-round pick even after the Niners took Brandon Aiyuk.
Seattle Seahawks RB Carlos Hyde: We know how much the Hawks like to
run the ball, and even though Chris Carson is still RB1 there, maybe the veteran who had a solid 2019 gets some playing time. Volume counts!
Los Angeles Rams QB Jared Goff: He threw 10 fewer touchdowns in 2019 than in 2018 and four more interceptions. But he also threw around the same amount of yardage. If he lands somewhere in the middle of those numbers with the same passing yards, he’ll be undervalued at his current ADP.
Arizona Cardinals WR Christian Kirk: Had Larry Fitzgerald called it on a Hall of Fame career, we’d be talking about Kirk as a top-25 WR option even behind DeAndre Hopkins. And yet, I’m still interested to take a flier.
Atlanta Falcons TE Hayden Hurst: Austin Hooper and his 75 receptions last season are now in Cleveland. The Falcons acquired the former promising first-round from the Ravens, and he’s oozing with upside in this spot.