25 fantasy football sleepers to target at your draft

Prime fantasy fantasy draft season begins in late August, and it's not too late to get prepared. The 25 players are excellent sleepers to target in your draft heading into 2024.

De'Von Achane, RB, Dolphins (1 of 25)

Achane is your proverbial feast or famine running back picking coming into 2024. On one hand, he averaged an astounding 7.8 yards per carry in his rookie season and is in Mike McDaniel's explosive offense. On the other hand, he played only 11 games due to injury and was an unreliable option while fighting injuries. His average draft position has put him at as the eighth running back early in drafts, but the home run upside makes him worth the risk.

Trey Benson, RB, Cardinals (2 of 25)

Running backs accompanying mobile quarterbacks typically prosper, and Benson has the chance to do that behind Kyler Murray. The rookie was highly productive over the last two seasons at Florida State, and is biding his time behind the not-so-durable James Conner. If Conner hits the age cliff at age 29, Benson is set to pounce at an RB3/RB4 draft stock.

Brock Bowers, TE, Raiders (3 of 25)

Bowers joins a crowded receiving corps in Vegas alongside Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers. That could limit his opportunities, especially in his rookie season, but remember that the bar isn't very high for fantasy impact at tight end. Bowers was an other-worldly receiving option during his career at Georgia, and could be an immediate Red Zone threat for a Raiders team that could be routinely trailing again. There's minimal risk in drafting Bowers around pick 100.

Tyler Conklin, TE, Jets (4 of 25)

A bet on Conklin is very much a bet on Aaron Rodgers' rebound in New York. The tight end has shown consistency as a receiver over the last three seasons, averaging 60 catches for 589 yards, but he's been a non-factor in the Red Zone on some bad offenses. That's likely to change if Rodgers shows he has something left, yet the floor is still relatively high for a tight end going outside the top 20 at his position.

Jayden Daniels, QB, Commanders (5 of 25)

Betting on a rookie quarterback is as risky for fantasy managers as it is for real-life teams, but Daniels has some factors going for him. He showed elite mobility in college, including 1,134 yards rushing last season, which raises his weekly floor. Daniels also has strong receiving weapons, including Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, and Austin Ekeler. Few quarterbacks outside the top 12 have as much upside.

Rico Dowdle, RB, Cowboys (6 of 25)

The Cowboys were limited by the cap in the offseason, but it was still a surprise they didn't do more than add the aged Ezekiel Elliott to their backfield. While Elliott enters the season as the likely starter, it will almost certainly be a committee situation in Dallas, as the veteran has averaged fewer than four yards per carry in consecutive seasons. Dowdle has limited experience, but he saw 106 touches last season and could quickly emerge as the team's go-to option in the backfield. His price outside the top 45 running backs taken makes Dowdle a major bargain.

Gus Edwards, RB, Chargers (7 of 25)

New head coach Jim Harbaugh claimed after getting hired that the Chargers would lean on the run, and their offseason has strengthened that claim. The team added to the backfield, including Edwards, and gutted their wide receiver corps that included Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. The Chargers also hired former 49ers and Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman, a huge proponent of the run. Along with fellow veteran J.K. Dobbins, LA is set to run early and often, yet Edwards is still being drafted outside the top 100.

Justin Fields, QB, Steelers (8 of 25)

Fields has arguably been a better fantasy option than real quarterback during his brief career, and he presents the Steelers with intriguing upside if Russell Wilson's career trajectory continues to slope downward. The former first-round pick has been an excellent runner, and also shown improving accuracy despite his overall struggles. With a better supporting cast in Pittsburgh, Fields can be a viable fantasy starter if and when he gets the call.

Pat Freiermuth, TE, Steelers (9 of 25)

Betting on offensive weapons in coordinator Arthur Smith's offense can be a fool's errand, as the Falcons showed last season, but Freiermuth is in great position to succeed. The hard-nosed receiving tight end regressed last season between injury and poor quarterback play, but the Steelers seem likely to throw the ball around more often. With limited options at wideout after trading Diontae Johnson, Freiermuth shouldn't have much trouble bouncing back to fantasy relevance despite a price tag outside the top 12 at his position.

Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Lions (10 of 25)

Gibbs doesn't arrive without warning, making the Pro Bowl as a rookie. Still, given the upside, he could be undervalued as a low-end first-round pick. Gibbs had 1,261 yards and 11 touchdowns last season despite missing two games and failing to see consistent work until Week 7. He also split time with David Montgomery in the Lions' backfield. Gibbs' comfort in the offense and impressive talent could make Montgomery an afterthought, and an extra 50-100 touches could make Gibbs the top fantasy earner in 2024.

Derrick Henry, RB, Ravens (11 of 25)

Henry has a history as The King in the Titans backfield and fantasy circles during his career. However, he's been in clear decline since injuring his foot in 2021. The good news is that the workload never slowed down in Tennessee, and Henry has shown that he has plenty left in the tank. Baltimore will likely keep balance in the offense after being criticized for forgetting about the run during the playoffs, and the dual threat with Lamar Jackson can only help Henry's opportunities. He appears undervalued in the lower tier of RB1s.

T.J. Hockenson, TE, Vikings (12 of 25)

Hockenson emerged as a fantasy star over the last two seasons, falling just short of 1,000 yards receiving in each season. Unfortunately, a torn ACL ended his 2023 season early and threatens to keep him out for the start of 2024. That's a tough break for fantasy managers, but a midseason return would be a huge bonus for fantasy managers. Rookie quarterbacks often rely on tight ends as a safety net, and Hockenson is likely to be a clear TE1 option whenever he takes the field. If you have designs on winning a fantasy championship late in the year, Hockenson's upside outside the top 12 tight ends drafted is tough to beat.

Diontae Johnson, WR, Panthers (13 of 25)

Johnson was a frustrating receiver who wore out his welcome in five years with the Steelers after topping 1,100 yards receiving in 2021. After missing four games last season, he enters a favorable situation in Carolina with a chance to be the team's No. 1 receiver as Adam Thielen tries to hang on. There's some anxiety about the team's offense after Bryce Young's struggles last season, but the throws must go somewhere.

Dalton Kincaid, TE, Bills (14 of 25)

The salary cap required the Bills to rethink their wideout room after paying Josh Allen. As a result, Khalil Shakir is the only major holdover at wideout from last year's squad, but the team is still comfortable at tight end with Kincaid and Dawson Knox. While upstaged at the position by fellow rookie Sam LaPorta last season, Kincaid had a strong first year with 73 catches for 673 yards. He's likely to see far more opportunities this year, particularly with Stefon Diggs gone.

Will Levis, QB, Titans (15 of 25)

It remains to be seen if Levis is Tennessee's long-term answer at quarterback. The current situation appears bright following the team's offseason in any case. The Titans clearly prioritized helping their young quarterback, hiring former Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan, fixing the offensive line, and adding weapons like Calvin Ridley, Tyler Boyd, and Tony Pollard to DeAndre Hopkins. There's huge upside with Levis outside the top 20 quarterbacks drafted.

Drake London, WR, Falcons (16 of 25)

London ascended in his second season despite shaky quarterback play and uneven game planning from Arthur Smith in Atlanta. It all lines up for a breakout season in his third year, with a more aggressive offense and proven quarterback in Kirk Cousins. London is just the 12th wideout drafted early this offseason, but shows elite upside in his situation.

Jordan Love, QB, Packers (17 of 25)

Love improved as the year progressed in his first year as the Packers starter and was a different quarterback down the stretch. Over his last nine regular season games, Love showed more accuracy and had an elite 20/3 TD/INT with over 2,400 yards passing. The strong performance continued into the playoffs, and his young receiving corps should be that much better with Jayden Reed, Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and Luke Musgrave having another year under their belts. The trajectory is clearly ascending, though Love is still relatively cheap as the 10th quarterback dropped.

Kyler Murray, QB, Cardinals (18 of 25)

Murray's 2023 season was overshadowed by his return from a torn ACL, as he played only eight games and had a career-low 47.2 QBR. It's not a surprise the Murray struggled, especially after losing DeAndre Hopkins, but his weapons are revamped this season with rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. and veteran Zay Jones. The inexperience working with the receivers around Murray does create risk, though he still has plenty of mobility and will be on an Arizona squad that might need to remain aggressive in the difficult NFC West. An expectation of elite performance would be a stretch, but Murray is a potentially nice value as the ninth quarterback drafted.

George Pickens, WR, Steelers (19 of 25)

The Steelers are expected to lean on the run this season with the tandem of Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, though the quarterback play should also be incrementally improved over last season. That's good news for Pickens, the clear No. 1 option in his third season after the Steelers traded Diontae Johnson. Pickens has shown highlight-reel ability in his first two seasons and led the league with 18.1 yards per catch last season. Despite the dangerous bet relying on coordinator Arthur Smith's play calling, Pickens is a breakout candidate who should be able to build on last season's 106 targets.

Tony Pollard, RB, Titans (20 of 25)

Pollard was a bust for fantasy managers last season as he struggled to recover from a leg injury, but his opportunity in Tennessee is just as enticing as it was in Dallas. He has big shoes to fill replacing Derrick Henry, but the Titans are betting on it after signing him in free agency. Second-year back Tyjae Spears is a bit of a threat, but a healthy Pollard could show his old explosion and be a solid value as an RB3 draft value.

Rashee Rice, WR, Chiefs (21 of 25)

Despite some offseason legal issues, Rice heads into training camp without immediate threat of missing game time. He has more competition for targets this year after the Chiefs added speedsters Hollywood Brown and Xavier Worthy, but Rice carved out an extremely valuable role down the stretch. He was a viable fantasy starter over his last six regular season games, averaging seven catches for 86 yards with three total scores. The strong production continued into the playoffs, and Rice's role should only grow as the Chiefs YAC specialist alongside Travis Kelce. He enters draft season with a WR3/WR4 draft value and much more upside.

Anthony Richardson, QB, Colts (22 of 25)

Richardson is a popular sleeper entering draft season, and yet he could still be undervalued. The second-year quarterback showed elite fantasy ability before a season-ending shoulder injury, with four rushing scores and three passing touchdowns over an abbreviated four games. It became clear the Colts would rely on Richardson's wheels in the offense, to the point that he's a threat to be the top fantasy quarterback per game. The real question is whether Richardson's style can keep him on the field, but quarterback is one of the easiest positions to replace if he misses more time.

Curtis Samuel, WR, Bills (23 of 25)

Buffalo has a new selection of weapons after moving on from Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis. The value proposition for tight end Dalton Kincaid is massive, but Samuel also has a chance to revitalize his career with his new team. The undersized wideout has usually been reliable when on the field, and has seen at least 90 targets in each of his last four healthy seasons. There could be opportunity for an uptick, especially with better quarterback play than he's seen in the past with Carolina and Washington.

Christian Watson, WR, Packers (24 of 25)

Watson has shown huge upside in his two NFL seasons, totaling 1,033 receiving yards and 14 scores over 23 games. Unfortunately, his hamstring issues have become chronic, but also something he worked on fixing in the offseason. Improvement from Jordan Love makes Watson even more intriguing, and the price is right with an early draft value outside the top 40 wideouts.

Garrett Wilson, WR, Jets (25 of 25)

Wilson's value is well established as one of the elite wideouts in football in his first two seasons, yet there's still reason to believe he will improve. Consider that Wilson's productive has been almost entirely with terrible quarterback play in New York, and Aaron Rodgers is set to be an improvement even if he's a shell of his former self at age 40. Wilson can't build much on last year's 168 targets, but he could be a bigger Red Zone threat if the Jets offense makes strides. The floor is extremely high despite being the eighth wideout selected.