Every site has their sleepers, values, and draft darlings. ESPN has five players that stick out like sore thumbs in early ADP, and are sleepers to the general public in fantasy football. These aren’t deep, deep sleepers, but are values nonetheless.
Five Early Sleepers on ESPN Fantasy Football
Amari Cooper, WR30
As the world embraces more and more zero-RB teams, Amari Cooper is a rare WR value. He was on pace for over 1300 yards last year if he had played all 17 games, and had over 17 PPG in PPR formats with Watson playing. If Watson is even 80% of his former self, Cooper is going to seriously help out fantasy teams. He’s a WR2 going at WR3 prices.
Steelers RBs, RB26/27
They’re back to back in ADP, but are both going outside the top 24. In PPR leagues, Warren profiles more as a checkdown type RB with explosive upside. In standard or half-PPR leagues, Harris is going to get the goal line which is oh so important for TD spikes. With a bolstered OL, an OC that wants to establish the run, and not much going on at the WR position, one or both of these players is going to outperform their ADP handsomely.
Diontae Johnnson, WR37
What if you could get 110+ targets in the ninth round of your draft? Johnson is a career 20% target share player in a Shanahan scheme with minimal target competition. What’s not to love? He’ll provide a safe PPR floor with some spike weeks from bigger plays.
Read More: Full Diontae Johnson 2024 Fantasy Football Outlook
Kyle Pitts, TE8
Drake London got a QB upgrade, has posted some encouraging YPRR and target share numbers, and got gassed up to top 24 in ADP. Kyle Pitts got a QB upgrade, has posted some encouraging YPRR and target share numbers, and fell in ADP. If almost a quarter of Cousins targets doesn’t excite fantasy managers, they need to reevaluate what they look for in a tight end. It’s important to get a player at that position who can be the number two option in an offense, and the former number four overall pick has all the talent in the world to help fantasy teams in 2024.
Kyler Murray, QB10
Murray has played more games, has a higher PPG over his career, and is further away from injury than Joe Burrow. Yet Burrow goes about 40 picks earlier than Murray. This one is a homerun sleeper pick, with fantasy managers able to fill out the rest of their roster before addressing QB late. This used to be fantasy football 101, but now teams are taking Richardson and Stroud in the fourth and fifth rounds but Kyler Murray just keeps falling. Having a WR like Marvin Harrison Jr. can do wonders for a QB, and even if he doesn’t, Murray has the rushing ability to score plenty of fantasy points.
Bonus – Deep Sleeper Braelon Allen, Undrafted
Almost 20% of ACL tears happen to someone that has had it happen before. Breece Hall is electric and should be wrapped in bubble wrap, but if he goes down Braelon Allen is the clear lead back in an ascending offense. He won’t have the same long runs that Hall can have, but he’s reliable between the tackles and doesn’t go down without a fight. Whether it’s goal line spike weeks or checkdowns, in Hall has even a small injury and misses a couple weeks, Allen is a plug and play RB2 with upside.
Watch: Braelon Allen Film Study
Last Word on ESPN Fantasy Football Sleepers
If managers leave their drafts with three or more of these players, they’ll be able to accrue value earlier in their draft to have the best team possible. Or they can reach on players that will likely score about the same PPG, the choice is theirs.
Main Image: Bob Donnan – USA Today Sports
