When it comes to winning your Fantasy Football league drafting is less than half the battle. Drafts use preseason rankings and projections, they do not represent actual totals of players. To dominate your league, you’ll need to remain active and post fantasy draft acquisitions (PDFAs) are the most important towards winning your league. When weighing your options on your waiver wires, you want to consider several Sleepers.
Sleepers are players that will perform better than their average draft position (ADP). For example, Cooper Kupp’s considered one of 2021’s sleepers, while drafted in mid-4th to 5th rounds, he finished as the top WR option. For undrafted players, Elijah Mitchell is an excellent of a PDFA that was a hidden sleeper. In this article, we will focus on players that have gone undrafted and if they’ll listed as one of 2022’s sleepers.
Quarterback Sleepers
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Davis Mills, Houston Texans
- Rostership – Yahoo: 6% ESPN: 2.9%
Mills’ faces an uphill challenge beginning this year as QB1. With the Texans moving on from star-QB Deshaun Watson, amid recent legal concerns, second year QB Mills gets the starting nod from HC Lovie Smith. While the expectations on him to be a productive QB are tempered, he’ll be competing to keep his starting position for the foreseeable future.
With Houston’s recent rebuild and massive draft compensation from the Cleveland Browns, if Mills struggles to keep the Texans relevant upper management may opt to tank the rest of the season. Under pressure, due to next year’s rookies in: CJ Stroud, Bryce Young and co., Mills aims to remain competitive this season.
Mills’ receiving core shows great promise sporting top-15 WR option in Brandin Cooks, second year stand-out Nico Collins and recently acquired (via waivers) Tyler Johnson. Mills projects to be a great bye-week filler for weeks 7 & 8, playing the Las Vegas Raiders and Tennessee Titans.
Next three opponents: vs Indianapolis, @Denver, @Chicago
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Carson Wentz, Washington Commanders
- Rostership – Yahoo: 12% ESPN: 16.4%
Wentz faired well for the Colts in 2021, along with Michael Pittman and Jonathan Taylor were a big reason the Colts had a playoff aspirations. The Colts decided to cash-in on Wentz’ turnaround season and sent him, along with a 2nd round pick in the 2022 draft, to the Washington Commanders for their 2nd and 3rd picks in this year’s draft.
The Commanders haven’t established their footing outside of Terry McLaurin. They are unsure if Antonio Gibson will be their main RB, no closer to determining the WR2 in this offense with an array of players and TEs that cannot stay healthy. Although, the Commanders did select Penn St standout Jahan Dotson in the 1st round of this year’s draft.
Given the current questions that sounds the Commanders, this does give Wentz’ a perfect opportunity to be this year’s hidden sleepers. He may start out as a streaming option and/or a bye-week filler, but offers enough upside to becoming an every week starter for managers that selected a QB late.
Next three opponents: vs Jacksonville, @Detroit, vs Philadelphia
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Malik Willis – Tennessee Titans
- Rostership – Yahoo: 2% ESPN: 1.3%
Malik Wills can be considered as a one of this year’s deep sleepers. To be fair, he’s definitely a dynasty stash, but he does offer a second-look in redraft leagues. There were questions about his NFL-readiness with him coming from Liberty and not playing against quality talent to accurately determine his value. Those individuals probably forgot that Carson Wentz (2nd overall pick and a former MVP candidate) and Trey Lance (3rd overall pick) both played at North Dakota State in the FCS. Wills got to flash his arm strength at the Combine sending shockwaves across NFL Twitter (pictured):
https://twitter.com/ch_skysports/status/1499656929274208256?s=20&t=FQjrlgFYA9yWKD01TzenlQ
At the moment, the question is “how long before he starts?” a fair question with Ryan Tannehill under center. Tannehill’s stats dropped from 2020 to 2021, though he had a higher completion rate over more attempts, he dipped in: passing yards, touchdown, yards per game, and QBR while seeing and doubling his interceptions and number times sacked.
Given the Titans schedule which ranked 10th in Strength of Schedule, barring an injury or a disastrous start to the season, Willis may be using this as a growth year into 2023. It’s best to continue to keep an eye on Willis as the season rolls on.
Next three opponents: vs NY Giants, @Buffalo, vs Las Vegas
Running Back Sleepers
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Jeff Wilson Jr. – San Francisco 49ers
- Rostership – Yahoo: 12% ESPN: 2.8%
Jeff Wilson Jr is only rostered in 12% of Yahoo leagues and 2.8% in ESPN leagues. This is shocking to see as the 49ers know how to run the football, as they tied for 5th for most rushing attempts in 2021. In 2021, these detractors can attribute to his descension to UDFA in fantasy: having missed 9 games and the use of Deebo Samuel as a hybrid-RB.
Wilson ranks amongst the top RB handcuff options. In a backfield that houses two rookies, Wilson is the unquestioned RB2. In the event Elijah Mitchell were to miss any time, Wilson would assume his duties as RB1. If you’re holding on hope to Sony Michel, Mark Ingram and Isiah Pacheco; I’d recommend dropping them for Wilson.
Next three opponents: @ Chicago, vs Seattle, @ Denver
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D’Onta Foreman – Carolina Panthers
- Rostership – Yahoo: 10% ESPN: 6.2%
https://twitter.com/4WhomJBellTolls/status/1517605896418906114?s=20&t=Ajs1TFG0M9raqfG-KSR3PQ
Next three opponents: vs Cleveland, @NY Giants, vs New Orleans
Wide Receiver Sleepers
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Equanimeous St. Brown – Chicago Bears
- Rostership – Yahoo: 0% ESPN: 0.2%
Equanimeous (EQ) St. Brown, elder brother to Amon-Ra St. Brown, has not been given the opportunity to showcase his abilities as he was buried on the Packers depth chart. EQ did show flashes of something special during his tenure in Green Bay, but never could quite get his footing in an established role.
https://twitter.com/BearsNationCHI/status/1504615407210180609?s=20&t=JXh0srN1-GSYZpWxGRsrCg
In March 2022, EQ signed a one- year deal with the Chicago Bears. The Bears under 1st year coaches: HC Matt Eberflus and OC Luke Getsy look to revamp this offense. After losing Allen Robinson in free agency, the Bears signed Byron Pringle (KC) and Dante Pettis (NYG) along with EQ (GB), they drafted Velus Jones Jr (3rd round, Tennessee) and recently claimed Ihmir Smith-Marsette (MIN) off waivers.
EQ’s listed the Bears WR2, he opens with immediate opportunities with Justin Fields and this young offense. Given that EQ is sitting atop of depth charts and not rostered makes him an excellent candidate for an over-performing sleeper pick. Be sure to roster him before week 1 rolls around!
Next three opponents: vs San Francisco, @Green Bay, vs Houston
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Bryan Edwards – Atlanta Falcons
- Rostership – Yahoo: 1% ESPN: 0.8%
Bryan Edwards and EQ show many similarities as they are big-bodied highlight receivers. Both showing flashes of potential, but were buried on their respective depth charts. Like EQ, Edwards was destined for a fresh start as in May 2022, the Atlanta Falcons traded for Edwards and a 2023 7th round pick for a 2023 5th round pick.
Edwards joins the Falcons other massive targets in: Cordarelle Patterson (6’2″), Drake London (6’4″) and Kyle Pitts (6’6″). In the passing game, Edwards projects as the third receiving option to: Pitts and London. With Edwards in-line for more opportunities with the Falcons and, currently, listed as WR2 he has the making of one of this 2022’s sleepers as well. Given his current rostership, if you do not have a “drop-option” yet, he should be on your rosters by week 2.
Next three opponents: vs New Orleans, @LA Rams, @Seattle
Tight End Sleepers
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Hayden Hurst – Cincinnati Bengals
- Rostership – Yahoo: 10% ESPN: 19%
Incoming hot take: Hayden Hurst will be a top-10 TE in 2022.
Hayden Hurst joined the Bengals in the offseason on a one-year deal. Over his 4 year tenure with the Ravens and Falcons, Hurst has caught the attention of many viewers. Attributes that come to mind are: his speed and athleticism, strong blocker, sticky hands (0 dropped passes in 4 years) and ability to stretch the field.
https://twitter.com/FOX19Jeremy/status/1552743055115051008?s=20&t=JXh0srN1-GSYZpWxGRsrCg
Hurst joins a high-powered Bengals offense that made a trip to the Super Bowl. Hurst can serve as Burrow’s security blanket when his superstar WRs: Chase and Higgins are unavailable. With defenses becoming preoccupied in not allowing Chase and Higgins make big plays, they’ll give up many targets to Hurst in 1-on-1 coverage. If you did not select one of the top rated options at TE such as: Andrews, Kelce or Pitts, you’d consider picking up Hurst.
For other related Fantasy Football Articles
Check out the below articles for more post-draft content:
- Players to Add BEFORE They Shine Week One By Gabriel Martinez
- Wide Receivers to Target Late in your Fantasy Football Draft By Gabriel Martinez
- Three Sleepers In 2022 That Will Win Your Fantasy Football Leagues By Roger Martinez
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1 Comment
Love this. Such a good read.