By With the NFL season quickly approaching, it means that it is officially time to start thinking about drafting your fantasy teams. Everyone likes to think that they are an expert when it comes to fantasy football, but, very few of us
are. In fact, really none of us are. It seems as if every year there are players that enter drafts ranked way too low that end up bursting onto the scene during the season and racking up major fantasy points. Well, I’m here to help point some of those players out, as I give 10 of my fantasy sleepers that can help win you your leagues this season.
*For this article, fantasy rankings and projections used come from fantasypros.com*
Quarterbacks
Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
Hurts is a second-year guy, finally taking over at the helm in Philly after the Eagles officially moved on from Carson Wentz this past spring. Currently listed as the 12 best Quarterback in fantasy value this season, Hurts should be
much higher. With his dual-threat ability, Hurts has the potential to gain points both through the air, and on the ground. Also, let’s face it, this Eagles team is far from ready to compete, meaning they will be playing from behind a lot. The more they play from behind, the more Hurts will be airing the ball out. Hurts averaged 20.8 points per game in his 4 starts a season ago, and with another NFL Training Camp under his belt, he is poised to take another step
further and that is why he is one of the biggest fantasy sleepers this season.
Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings
Cousins is a guy who really gets a lot of hate from fans of football, the media, etc. But when it comes to fantasy football, he doesn’t deserve it. Cousins comes into this season as the 18th best ranked Quarterback, despite finishing last season as QB11. My reason for having my eye on Cousins as a key fantasy contributor in 2021 may not be so much based on him, as it is based on the amount of talent, he has surrounding him. Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson are both top WRs in the NFL, and there is no denying that after the rookie campaign Jefferson put together in 2020. Oh, and don’t forget about the ability of Pro-Bowl RB Dalvin Cook when it comes to catching passes out of the backfield.
Running backs
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs
Edwards-Helaire may be a bit of a stretch to call a sleeper. But after the season he put together as a rookie last year, I’m shocked by his ranking as the RB15 this season. I can guarantee that he will finish higher than that. The rookie finished as just the RB22 a season ago, but in only 13 games. A lot of people were let down in his fantasy performance a season ago, but that’s because fantasy experts had him listed as a First/Second round pick. A little unfair to a rookie, no? His ability to catch the ball is one of the best among RBs. Not to mention it sure does help when Patrick Mahomes is the one dishing it out. I expect a big season out of the second year back. If you steal him at his average draft position (ADP) of 25, props to you.
134 total yards for Clyde Edwards-Helaire on Monday Night! @Clydro_22@Chiefs | #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/Y200moJlRX
— NFL (@NFL) September 30, 2020
Mike Davis, Atlanta Falcons
After serving as a fill-in for Christian McCaffrey in 2020, Davis joins the division-rival Falcons and looks set to be their lead back in 2021. It’s not often that you can draft a lead back in the 5th or 6th round. If he looks like he did in his time last year, he may be the steal of the draft. In his 14 games a season ago, Davis put up 14.5 points a game in the absence of McCaffrey. He is poised to serve as a fantasy star in 2021. I’m buying into the Mike Davis hype as one of the biggest fantasy sleepers in 2021.
Michael Carter, New York Jets
The first of two rookies on this list of sleepers is Michael Carter. Carter is coming into a Jets RB room that is led by Veteran Tevin Coleman (who carries a riddled injury history). The room also contains second year RB LaMichael Perine. Carter comes in as the Jets 4th round pick from UNC and was apart of a dominant 1-2 bunch with fellow rookie RB Javonte Williams in the ACC. Carter sees himself going in rounds 7-8 in fantasy drafts. Why is he on my radar? He is the rookie of a non-impressive room of RBs for one. Also, he will be on a Jets team that I believe will struggle early and often in 2021. By doing so the doors will open for younger players, like himself, making him one of the biggest fantasy sleepers this season.
This video still lives in my head rent free…
— Matt FF Dynasty 🏈 (@MattFFDynasty) August 7, 2021
And I absolutely love it!
Michael Carter SZN 🔥pic.twitter.com/OuxhkMZ9OV
Wide Receivers
Amari Cooper, Dallas Cowboys
It seems like people have honestly forgotten just how good Amari Cooper is. After the gruesome injury to QB Dak Prescott a season ago, the numbers dipped a little bit from Cooper, which is to be expected. And because of that, Cooper comes in as WR17 for this season with an ADP around 48.3. The craziest part? Even without his QB for much of the season, Cooper still closed out as WR15 a season ago. Yet somehow he is still lower coming into this season, even below teammate Ceedee Lamb. Let us not forget who the Cowboys #1 WR STILL is. Cooper is a WR with potential to finish in the top 10 of wideouts this season in fantasy points, and you can grab him in the 4th or 5th round. I’m all over Amari Cooper in 2021.
#Cowboys WR Amari Cooper is one of @evansilva's favorite receivers in fantasy this season.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) August 12, 2020
Full show with Evan 👉 https://t.co/21uZUJP4zNpic.twitter.com/r9fNncJMpw
Cole Beasley, Buffalo Bills
The fact that Cole Beasley in listed as WR54 heading into the 2021 season seems criminal. Beasley finished last season as WR27 in fantasy football. Not to mention he was selected to the NFL’s 3rd Team as an “All-Pro”. The guy is a PPR (Point-Per-Reception) machine when it comes to fantasy and serves as QB Josh Allen’s security blanket. (And when talking about Allen, feel free to check out our NFL Awards Predictions) Beasley is a solid FLEX piece that can start in your lineup and can be found in the 13th or 14th round (144 ADP). I’d be ecstatic if I came out with Beasley as a depth WR for my team in 2021, undoubtably one of the biggest fantasy sleepers this season.
Cole Beasley is nasty 🔥 🔥 pic.twitter.com/kD3ZfT7VYA
— Footballism™ (@FootbaIIism) April 24, 2021
Josh Palmer, Los Angeles Chargers
The final sleeper on the list is the 2nd of the two rookies, and he is a guy that you probably haven’t heard too much about. As a 3rd round pick out of Tennessee, the rookie wideout is poised to play a key role in an offense that loves to air out the ball behind gunslinger Justin Herbert. Palmer has been turning heads in camp. He may be depth behind big names like Keenan Allen and Mike Williams on the outside, but I cannot emphasize enough how often this team is going to throw. Palmer comes in as WR86 ahead of the season with an ADP of 200. So in a 10-man league, he is going undrafted. Take my word when I say the rookie is worth a stab in the late rounds, and you can get him before everyone else is looking for him after his early season breakout.
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