Every fantasy manager knows that to truly assemble a championship-caliber roster, they need to find fantasy roster value later in the draft. The term “sleeper” is often tossed around during draft season, but the term has changed over the years as the average fantasy player has become more informed heading into the season, making true sleepers harder to find. At the very least, in the modern draft, sleepers are typically drafted in the later rounds and have a chance to perform, but they face hurdles to get there, including opportunity, scheme, and team situation.
In the Aug. 20 episode, Andy, Mike and Jason each gave us a glimpse at their sleeper picks heading into the 2024 season, and you can listen wherever you get your podcasts.
To see every football player sleeper, breakout, bust and more, grab your 2024 Ultimate Draft Kit ahead of the draft.
Andy: WR48 | Jason: WR58 | Mike: WR51
ADP: 8.12 | WR43
Andy starts with Keown Coleman, one of the most intriguing rookie WRs in the 2024 draft class. Coleman was a mixed bag prospect before being drafted 33rd overall by the Bills, but let's not forget Buffalo selected him as a WR over Ladd McConkie, Adonai Mitchell, and Jalyn Polk. The offseason has been a bit quieter than fantasy managers would like for a rookie WR, but Coleman is on the brink of a regular season with 241 targets vacant since last season and a WR room currently with injuries to Curtis Samuel and Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
Through two preseason games, Coleman has played 100% of the snaps with the starters and looks to be the Bills' outside X receiver. The challenge for fantasy managers to get any production out of Coleman will be to be patient and see him have the good weeks we expect from him. After all, Coleman will have a ton of opportunities to eat up targets in the Bills' offense and could be invaluable once he's fully comfortable.
Andy: RB57 | Jason: RB46 | Mike: RB39
ADP: 12.01 | RB44
Jason wants to bet on JK Dobbins this season, as he could be the main running back in Jim Harbaugh's offense. Dobbins was part of the “West Coast Ravens” movement seen in the offseason since Harbaugh became the new head coach of the Chargers. The Chargers released running back Austin Ekeler in free agency, leaving Dobbins and Gus Edwards as the only veteran running backs on the team. With Greg Roman leading the Chargers offense, fantasy managers should have a pretty good idea of what Dobbins can do when he's on the field. Dobbins averaged 5.9 yards per carry during the two's time together in Baltimore, including the 2022 season when Dobbins was recovering from ACL complications.
Fantasy managers are taking a bit of a risk in drafting Dobbins because he will return from an Achilles injury early in the 2023 season, but that risk may already be factored into the 12th round draft position. If Dobbins is the lead back of an offense that runs the ball a lot, has the 12th-best offensive line according to PFF, and has the second-easiest strength of schedule, he will be a big hit. On the other hand, if Dobbins doesn't excel or shares time with Edwards, costing him in the later rounds won't sink your fantasy roster. Overall, Dobbins' upside outweighs the risk of having him on your team this season.
Andy: RB71 | Jason: RB61 | Mike: RB69
ADP: 14.06 | RB46
Mike views Dolphins rookie running back Jalen Wright as a potential sleeper due to his potential to join one of the best backfields in fantasy leagues. Wright has shown explosive playmaking ability this preseason, which led Mike McDaniel to want to move up to acquire Wright in the fourth round of this year's draft. McDaniel even commented that the Dolphins don't want to limit themselves to just two running backs, which could give Wright even more room to work his way up into the backfield rotation.
Fantasy managers know that investing in a quality offensive line like the Dolphins' pays off. Miami's backfield was the best to acquire in 2023, finishing as the top team in fantasy points scored from the running back position. Miami obviously has a dynamic duo in Raheem Mostert and Devon Acchane, but both players have had injury issues and their absence again this year could open up opportunities for Wright. Wright is like a high-potential double insurance that could benefit if either Mostert or Acchane misses a game.
