Fantasy football frenzy is sweeping the nation. To prepare this season’s players for their upcoming drafts, we’ve compiled a list of the biggest fantasy football sleepers, as seen by some of the most well-respected fantasy football experts in the land.
Don’t forget to check out our lists of fantasy football’s top wide receivers and running backs, and read on to see which unheralded players can help you win your fantasy league this season. If you’re looking to get some bets down, create a betting account (links around the page and below) and check out our fantasy football betting odds.
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Top Fantasy Football Sleeper Picks
To get you set for the season, we’ve surveyed the big guns in fantasy sports. Below, you’ll find our thoughts on some of the major surprises and trends within these picks.
ESPN
The dozen-strong army of fantasy experts over at the World Wide Leader gave one possible sleeper in each of the four key positions – quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end – and here’s what they came up with. Check out the list below and then see ESPN’s full fantasy arsenal here.
Analyst
QB
RB
WR
TE
Matthew Berry
Johnny Manziel
David Wilson
Aaron Dobson
Ladarius Green
Tristan Cockcroft
Mike Glennon
Lamar Miller
Justin Hunter
Ladarius Green
Ken Daube
Jay Cutler
Stevan Ridley
Hakeem Nicks
Ladarius Green
Brian Gramling
EJ Manuel
Khiry Robinson
DeAndre Hopkins
Jace Amaro
Christopher Harris
Philip Rivers
Khiry Robinson
Danny Amendola
Heath Miller
KC Joyner
Johnny Manziel
Andre Ellington
Jeremy Maclin
Eric Ebron
Eric Karabell
Josh McCown
Khiry Robinson
Terrance Williams
Ladarius Green
Tim Kavanagh
Jake Locker
Latavius Murray
Hakeem Nicks
Jared Cook
Keith Lipscomb
Ryan Fitzpatrick
Jeremy Hill
Cecil Shorts
Dwayne Allen
Jim McCormick
Carson Palmer
Tre Mason
Markus Wheaton
Tyler Eifert
James Quintong
EJ Manuel
Carlos Hyde
Robert Woods
Ladarius Green
Bill Williamson
Ryan Tannehill
Mark Ingram
Terrance Williams
Travis Kelce
Field Yates
Jay Cutler
Tre Mason
Hakeem Nicks
Eric Ebron
[sc:NFL240banner ]They didn’t come up with a clear consensus at quarterback, with only three names coming up more than once – Jay Cutler, EJ Manuel and Johnny Manziel. It’s easy to see where they were coming from with Cutler, who has perhaps the best receiving tandem in the league with Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery. As for Manuel and Manziel, who are in their second and first years, respectively, the jury’s still out if they’re even starting-caliber QBs, much less fantasy studs.
At running back, three of the 12 experts see the New Orleans Saints’ Khiry Robinson to be a possible sleeper. There are more than a few touches up for grabs after Darren Sproles’ departure in the offseason, with three backs – Pierre Thomas, Mark Ingram and Robinson – vying for a bigger role in the Saints offense. Robinson, the youngest of the three, had a decent 4.1 yards/carry in limited touches as a rookie last year, and is the big favorite of the three to take a step forward in his second year.
New Indianapolis Colts receiver Hakeem Nicks was also mentioned thrice to be a sleeper at wide receiver, the most out of anyone on the list. Despite being in his first year on a new team that already has some decent receivers in T.Y. Hilton and Reggie Wayne, the experts believe Nicks will get enough targets from Andrew Luck to make him an impact fantasy player.
And finally, tight end had the biggest consensus among the experts, with five out of 12 believing that the San Diego Chargers’ Ladarius Green is a name to watch out for. Green averaged just a reception a game in his second year in the NFL last season, but with Antonio Gates (34 years old) getting up there in age, this may just be the year where Green takes over from Gates at that position.
Instead of picking one player per position, the four experts over at NFL.com’s fantasy department just presented their list of top 10 fantasy sleepers regardless of position. Once again, Robinson’s name appeared from a couple of experts, as did Johnny Football’s.
Adam Rank
Michael Fabiano
Marcas Grant
Jason Smith
CJ Anderson (RB)
Johnny Manziel (QB)
Toby Gerhart (RB)
Jake Locker (QB)
Stepfan Taylor (RB)
Toby Gerhart (RB)
Cordarrelle Patterson (WR)
Josh McCown (QB)
Bishop Sankey (RB)
Bishop Sankey (RB)
Andre Ellington (RB)
Shonn Greene (RB)
Khiry Robinson (RB)
Shane Vereen (RB)
EJ Manuel (QB)
Tavon Austin (WR)
Robert Woods (WR)
DeAndre Hopkins (WR)
Doug Baldwin (WR)
Brandon LaFell (WR)
Toby Gerhart (RB)
Jeremy Maclin (WR)
Zach Ertz (TE)
DeAndre Hopkins (WR)
Christine Michael (RB)
Golden Tate (WR)
Roy Helu (RB)
Rueben Randle (WR)
Mike Evans (WR)
Terrance Williams (WR)
Dwayne Allen (TE)
Emmanuel Sanders (WR)
Johnny Manziel (QB)
Jordan Reed (TE)
Justin Hunter (WR)
Terrance Williams (WR)
Terrance West (RB)
Kyle Rudolph (TE)
Khiry Robinson (RB)
Robert Woods (WR)
The Tennessee Titans’ Bishop Sankey and the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Toby Gerhart also received a couple of votes, in large part because both are projected to be the featured backs on their respective teams. Their increased workload should bring them their fair share of fantasy points this year.
A couple of Texas-based, second-year wide receivers in the Houston Texans’ DeAndre Hopkins and the Dallas Cowboys’ Terrance Williams are also expected to have much bigger roles in their teams this season. Although they still have some established receivers in Andre Johnson and Dez Bryant in front of them, they should see a good number of targets as the No. 2 options.
Speaking of No. 2 options, the Minnesota Vikings’ Cordarrelle Patterson figures to grow into a solid No. 2 after a promising rookie campaign. Not only did Marcas Grant have him on his list of top 10 fantasy sleepers, we also had Patterson in our own list of top 10 breakout stars for this season.
CBS
And last but not least, Dave Richard over at CBSSports.com added his list of potential sleepers broken down into positions.
RB
WR
TE
Travaris Cadet
Devonta Freeman
Carlos Hyde
Christine Michael
Charles Sims
Brandon LaFell
Jordan Matthews
Hakeem Nicks
Robert Woods
Greg Olsen
Kyle Rudolph
Of the five running backs Richard touted as sleepers, three of them are just rookies – the Falcons’ Devonta Freeman, the 49ers’ Carlos Hyde and the Buccaneers’ Charles Sims. Freeman and Hyde will be backing up two battle-weary veterans in Steven Jackson and Frank Gore, which should see them get their share of carries. Sims, though, will be behind 25-year old Doug Martin, who’ll be coming back from an injury-plagued 2013 with much to prove. Buyer beware when it comes to Sims.
Richards also selected as two of his four sleeper wide receivers a couple of guys with new teams in the New England Patriots’ Brandon LaFell and the Indianapolis Colts’ Hakeem Nicks. Their new situations, not to mention elite quarterbacks in Tom Brady and Andrew Luck passing them the ball, have them primed for a possible big year.
Finally, Kyle Rudolph is touted to have a breakout year in Minnesota, in large part due to new offensive coordinator Norv Turner, who likes to utilize tight ends in the offense. He, along with the Panthers’ Greg Olsen, is Richards’ pick at tight end.
