Everyone in your league has a type. You know it. The boomer in your league is not taking any chances that Derrick Henry is going to come back in the 2nd round. Fantasy Sleepers to him is believing that Aaron Jones might come back from the dead this year. He’s also going to be the first guy to take a defense and a kicker. The “podcast bro” is going to draft training camp darlings, such as Cyrus Allen and Ja’Kobi Lane, way too early.
Your cousin CANNOT stop drafting Mike Evans since he helped win him that championship five years ago. This year, let YOU get the group chat buzzing by drafting fantasy sleepers your group isn’t keen on yet. Here are 3 guys that will make your league mates go nuts with anger, thinking they were about to get the guy you just sniped from them:
KC Concepcion – Cleveland Browns
I just don’t understand why Concepcion isn’t seeing the same rise as the aforementioned training camp studs and fantasy sleepers, Allen and Lane. Sure, he had a higher ADP, so his rise would be less severe than guys who were basically free a few weeks ago. Yet he hasn’t moved up much, even though the Browns are giving us every reason to believe he’ll be a huge part of this offense. Sure, it is the Browns’ offense. But already in the first preseason game, he scored a rushing TD, something they are sure to use more of during the season.
He has no real competition for wide receiver targets outside of early-season trade candidate Jerry Jeudy and fellow rookie Denzel Boston (who was drafted a round later than Concepcion). Throw in the fact that the Browns will be playing from behind most of the time, and Concepcion has a pretty high floor and an unlimited ceiling, which is the perfect recipe for fantasy sleepers. When you hit submit, someone will be reminding you about Brown’s failures of the past. “Classic Browns dud, bro. Good luck with that”, he says as he crosses Concepcion off the top of his list.
Jalen Nailor- Las Vegas Raiders
“Oh shoot, I was really hoping to get the Raiders 3rd best wide receiver.” That will be a text you’ll get from the angry bro who missed out on this late-round steal. I am on record as saying Kirk Cousins will start 17 games this year for the Raiders, and they will just miss the playoffs. Nailor was the only WR in the league last year to record a 100% catch rate on catchable pass attempts of 15+ yards downfield with a minimum of 10 targets, according to Fantasy Points Data. Sure, there are a lot of outliers there to make my point.
I don’t care. My point. My rules. The case for Nailor is easy, as there is no one at the position outside of Tre Tucker (who could also be a sneaky steal) and the lore of Jack Bech. He should be the clear-cut number 2 in targets after he avoided any free agent acquisitions. The guys left on the market wouldn’t really scare me off Nailor. The pick will cause the group chat to go hard, but the good thing is you’ll have the screenshots to show later in the year.
Devaughn Vele- New Orleans Saints
I’m not going to let a little Jordan Tyson injury keep me from staying excited about the Saints. I have written multiple times that I expect them to be a top 5 offense this season. At the end of last season, Devaughn Vele shined after the Rashid Shaheed trade to the Seahawks, from weeks 13-15, when an injury shortened his season. He was WR 19 during that time, right behind Ja’Marr Chase, his partner Chris Olave, and Davante Adams. Ever hear of them?
Now, just like when Shaheed left, he’s got a great opportunity with the Tyson injury. Sure, your league mates will hit you with the “I was today day’s old when I found out who Devaughn Vele was” texts. Sorry you don’t know ball, bro. If Vele can avoid a Brandin Cooks reunion or Keyshon Boutte trade, his stock should rise big time over the next couple of weeks. Forget the haters, make a splash.
