Finding sleepers in the fantasy football draft isn’t the most difficult task for fantasy owners.
Sleepers are all around. The hardest part is holding on to those late-drafted players, even if they don’t play for the first part of the season. NFL teams are working through their roster just like fantasy owners in that first four-game stretch.
That may mean great sleepers won’t see much of the field during that time, but that doesn’t mean you should just ship him off to the waiver wire. The fantasy football season is a long a season, filled with plenty of hills, valleys and injuries.
Being patient is the key to success and these sleepers will offer late-round value for any fantasy roster.
Brock Osweiler, Houston Texans, QB
I hate taking quarterbacks early. In today’s NFL, quarterbacks can fit into a system and put up big numbers, despite a lack of elite talent.
Osweiler should fit that mold this year. He was a major signing for the Texans in the offseason and head coach Bill O’Brien is supposed to be some sort of quarterback whisperer.
If that’s even close to true, then Osweiler could be an ultimate steal in fantasy football drafts.
Osweiler steps into a situation where they are ready to win now and should be much improved on offense. All he has to do is not screw it up. DeAndre Hopkins is a beast on the outside and Cecil Shorts can provide complimentary help as the second wideout.
Add in Lamar Miller as the running back and the Texans should have no trouble moving the ball this season.
That should bode well for any fantasy football owner looking for a steal at the quarterback position. Osweiler is currently ranked as the 21st quarterback by FantasyPros, which evaluates several fantasy sites’ rankings.
His average draft position is 168, putting him in the 14th round in standard 12-team leagues.
Don’t waste an early pick on Osweiler, but he’s worth a flier in the late rounds as a sleeper candidate.
Cameron Artis-Payne, Carolina, RB
I believed in Artis-Payne last season as a rookie. That didn’t quite come to fruition.
He rushed for 183 yards on only 45 carries last year, but the majority of that production came in the final three games when starter Jonathan Stewart sat out with an injury.
Both running backs are another year older, meaning Stewart is in line for more injury problems, while Artis-Payne should get more cracks at carries this season.
What’s significant about Artis-Payne seeing more time in the backfield is that the Panthers are a run-first team. Sure, quarterback Cam Newton is going to steal some of those carries, but if Artis-Payne sees the field, which it’s anticipated that he will, then he should reap the benefits of Carolina’s stellar ground game.
Even with missing three weeks last year, Stewart still tallied 989 yards and nine touchdowns. Expect those numbers to dwindle a bit, while Artis-Payne gets more involved.
His ADP is 173 and he’s ranked as the 61st-best running back. Patience is paramount with him since he may not see many touches in the first few weeks, but you’ll be happy you stashed him away on your bench as the season progresses.
Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Tampa Bay, TE
If you miss out on one of the top tight ends, there’s no reason to reach for a middle-of-the-road option.
Sleepers are available at the tight end position, albeit at a different production level from those top four or five tight ends.
Seferian-Jenkins should be one of those sleepers.
The biggest issue with him, though, is staying healthy. He’s played in only 16 games in his two pro seasons. However, when he’s on the field, he produces. He registered four touchdowns in only seven games last season.
Quarterback Jameis Winston should have a better year this season and will likely look to his 6-foot-5 weapon as a failsafe this season.
He won’t jump off your fantasy football draft board, as he’s currently ranked 14th among tight ends and 149th overall.
Just because his past two years has been filled with injuries doesn’t mean this year will be the same. He’s a safe late-round pick for any fantasy football owner.
