Everyone is looking for ‘sleepers’ for their fantasy football draft and you hopefully find one on your favorite team. Here are my fantasy football sleepers for every NFL team.
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens
Marquise Brown, WR – Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown has spent much of his offseason working out with quarterback Lamar Jackson, which has to help him in 2020. But he is also healthy. Brown spent much of the 2019 season playing through, and dealing with, injuries. With an offseason to rest and recover, Brown is set for a big year in 2020.
Cincinnati Bengals
Auden Tate, WR – The Joe Burrow led offense should take a step forward with the new quarterback in place. Say what you want about Burrow, but he was the most pro-ready quarterback we’ve seen in years. AJ Green and Tyler Boyd are both back in 2020, but how long will AJ Green stay healthy? How will Tyler Boyd handle seeing the No. 1 corner every week all season? Auden Tate can benefit from the increased attention and use his big body for more red zone targets.
Cleveland Browns
Austin Hooper, TE – It’s no secret the Browns want to get their tight ends involved more. Hooper, can do the same thing for the Browns that he did for the Falcons. Take advantage of all the attention being given on the outside, and rake over the middle. Baker Mayfield struggled to get the ball to Landry and Beckham, but now he has a big target in the middle of the field.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Diontae Johnson, WR – Johnson quietly led the Steelers in receptions in 2019 and should again in 2020 with Big Ben coming back from injury. Johnson can use his speed to win deep and will quickly establish himself as a favorite target in the Steelers offense, again.
AFC East
Buffalo Bills
Devin Singletary, RB – With Frank Gore gone, Singletary is THE guy in the Bills backfield and will have to show he can carry the load as RB1. Singletary rushed for 775 yards as a rookie in 2019 and will take even more carries in 2020 as the Bills continue to break in quarterback Josh Allen.
Miami Dolphins
Matt Breida, RB – The home run threat comes over from a crowded 49ers backfield but will still have to prove he is the top back over Jordan Howard. Brieda offers more in the receiving game and should be able to win more time on the field, resulting in more receptions for your PPR leagues.
New England Patriots
N’Keal Harry, WR – My No. 1 receiver in the 2019 draft got off to a slow start with just 12 catches over seven games. However, it is no secret that the Patriots playbook is one of the more complicated playbooks for receivers. Expect Harry to have a big year in the 2020 Patriots offense and remind everyone why he was a first round pick.
New York Jets
Jamison Crowder, WR – Quarterback Sam Darnold desperately needs a true No. 1 receiver, but for 2020 that is going to be Jamison Crowder. Crowder saw 122 targets in 2019 and has a healthy Sam Darnold back for the 2020 season. With Darnold and Crowder returning to the offense, Crowder should see the most targets and with Darnold, he should see more opportunities after the catch.
AFC South
Houston Texans
Jordan Akins, TE – The Texans have replaced their best receiving target in De’Andre Hopkins and replaced him with marginal players. That could mean a surplus of targets are coming the way of tight end Jordan Akins. Akins has the ability to stretch the field and also get open underneath as Deshaun Watson looks to establish a new No. 1 target.
Indianapolis Colts
Parris Campbell, WR – Parris Campbell also had a rough start to his career but is in a great situation in Indianapolis. The Colts now have weapons at running back, receiver and quarterback for the first time in years. Campbell can benefit from taking carries on jet sweeps, work underneath in screens, or using his speed to take the top off the defense. Papa Phil has a lot of options but Campbell and his athleticism should be open early and often.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Dede Westbrook, WR – Leonard Fournette and DJ Chark are becoming more and more known after great seasons in 2019. But Dede Westbrook could see more targets in 2020 with more defenses focusing on Fournette and Chark. Westbrook saw 101 targets in 2020 but is in a contract year and looking to breakout before getting paid.
Tennessee Titans
Ryan Tannehill, QB – Not a starter for your fantasy team but definitely someone to eye VERY late in the draft or free agency. Tannehill had a very good season and you can count on people only remembering what the Titans did in the playoffs. Don’t forget about Tannehill getting the Titans to the playoffs before Derrick Henry took over.
AFC West
Denver Broncos
Noah Fant, TE – Drew Lock needs a big target in the middle of the field and Fant can be that. Fant is a complete receiving tight end and will have a big year with Lock under center. Cortland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy are going to see their targets, but so will Fant as the rookie receiver catches on and Sutton sees No. 1 corners.
Kansas City Chiefs
Mecole Hardman, WR – Behind Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce, Mecole Hardman is in for a big year. A year that will see Hardman establish a role in the Chiefs offense opposite Hill and Kelce. Remember, Hardman left Georgia early and has only played receiver for four years now. Year five at the position will be his best yet.
Las Vegas Raiders
Lynn Bowden, ATH – Lynn Bowen played all over the field at Kentucky and looked like a star receiver before being forced to play quarterback. Now he is playing running back in the NFL. Bowden can be a do-it-all back while also be dangerous on special teams and already an impressive receiving threat.
Los Angeles Chargers
Josh Kelley, RB – I’m not sold on Austin Ekler being able to take a bulk of carries just yet. Enter rookie Josh Kelley. Kelley has the body type to take a chuck of carries and work his way into the role Melvin Gordan had before leaving for Denver. Kelley will be undrafted in most drafts but is definitely a name to remember.
NFC North
Chicago Bears
David Montgomery, RB – Montgomery was the perfect fit in the Bears offense but the Bears offense never got going. With Nick Foles challenging, and lets be real he’s going to take over that job, Mitchell Trubisky I think we see a better Bears offense in 2020. That means more touches for the second year back and more fantasy points.
Detroit Lions
Kenny Golladay, WR – Maybe he’s not a sleeper but he’s definitely not getting the respect he deserves. Golladay had a great year in 2019 with 1,190 yards and 11 touchdowns and looks like a true No. 1 receiver in Detroit. With Matt Stafford returning from injury, Golladay should be in for an even bigger year in 2020.
Green Bay Packers
Allen Lazard, WR – Green Bay desperately needed a receiver in the draft but they didn’t take one. At all. Therefore, they must be confident in what they have. Lazard had 35 catches for 477 yards in 2019 but is going to take on a much bigger role in 2020, opposite Davante Adams.
Minnesota Vikings
Irv Smith, TE – The Vikes love their two tight end sets and with an aging Kyle Rudolph, Irv Smith is bound to have a big year after a solid rookie season. Even with Kyle Rudolph on the field, Smith compliments the big tight end well and they should help free each other up.
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys
Michael Gallup, WR – Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb are getting the bulk of the attention in Dallas but Michael Gallup is still a force to be reckoned with. After an impressive 1,107 season, Gallup is now up to speed with the NFL and could even become WR1 in Dallas with everyone worried about Cooper and Lamb.
New York Giants
Darius Slayton, WR – There are not many receiving options for Big Blue after Saquon Barkley. But someone has to take those targets and Evan Engram is already well known and a popular option among tight ends. At receiver Slayton is looking to build something special with quarterback Daniel Jones and could be in for a big season after a solid rookie campaign.
Philadelphia Eagles
Jalen Reagor, WR – Again, someone has to take the targets and the rookie might be the best option. There is no question that Reagor can separate and get open, but can he catch? It’s worth taking a late risk on the young speedster. You also have to wonder if coach Doug Peterson can get the ball in his hands without him catching the ball.
Washington Redskins
Antonio Gibson, ATH – Played college ball as a receiver but was drafted to play running back. So what position is he? I don’t think the Redskins know and I don’t think it matters. Gibson is going to be used as a slot receiver and a running back. Perfect for a PPR league if you can get him as a running back. Washington is also in need of a No. 2 receiver behind Terry McLaurin and Gibson could be that guy going forward.
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons
Hayden Hurst, TE – Atlanta traded for the young veteran to replace Austin Hooper and he should be a great fit in that spot. Hooper is coming off a career year in 2019 and Hurst is hoping to replicate that for himself. And now that he isn’t buried on a crowded Baltimore depth chart, he should have a breakout year.
Carolina Panthers
Curtis Samuel, WR – With new head coach Matt Rhule and OC Joe Brady there is no telling what the Panthers offense will look like. But if what LSU did last year is any indication, I’m targeting the Carolina receivers early! Samuel will also take carries at running back and from the slot and will be a great chess piece for the new coaching staff.
New Orleans Saints
Adam Trautman, TE – Emmanuel Sanders was a great addition this offseason, but everyone knows that and everyone is going to overdraft him. Michael Thomas is still going to see his targets and Sanders will get his, but rookie Adam Trautman is a great candidate for dynasty leagues or to stach on your bench. Trautman fits very well into the Saints offense and will do a lot of damage underneath in a George Kittle type role. He may not be TE1 but he could help you in a pinch if you’re looking for help at the position.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Ronald Jones, RB – I don’t know if you’ve heard this but Tampa Bay has a new quarterback. A quarterback that loves to throw to his running backs and that will also open up the running game with prolific passing. His name is Tom Brady (I think? Let me double check on that) and he sounds pretty good. Ronald Jones should see less attention from defenses worried about stopping the passing game and be able to use his speed to eclipse the 1,000 yard mark.
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals
Christian Kirk, WR – The Cardinals have the best receiver corp in the NFL, and I don’t think it’s close. With Hopkins and Fitzgerald on the outside, Kirk should reap the benefits in the middle of the field. As well as growing and developing a better relationship with Kyler Murray while Hopkins has not been able to.
Los Angeles Rams
Van Jefferson, WR – Van Jefferson is the new guy on campus in LA but he’s a very polished rookie and possibly one of the best route runners from the 2020 draft. Cooper Kupp is coming off his first full 16 game season and Robert Woods only caught two touchdowns in 2019. Jefferson is going to be a solid option in the slot and will be ready to go for week one of the NFL season.
San Francisco 49ers
Kendrick Bourne, WR – Deebo Samuel will most likely establish himself as WR1 in the offense next year, if he hasn’t already, and George Kittle is going to be George Kittle. But San Francisco is going to need another target with Emmanuel Sanders now in New Orleans. Kendrick Bourne is on the roster and had a solid year in 2019. I like Bourne over rookie Brandon Aiyuk in 2020 and think the young receiver could thrive in Kyle Shanahan’s offense.
Seattle Seahawks
Tyler Lockett, WR – Lockett may be the most disrespected receiver in the league. Everyone at your fantasy draft is going to jump on DK Metcalf, and probably much earlier than they should, but Lockett has been THE guy in Seattle for years. Lockett led the Seahawks in targets, receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns in 2019 and is still under appreciated by too many.