In the dog days of the NFL off-season, it’s easy to get caught up in the myriad of manufactured storylines. With off-season chatter dying down and meaningful games around the corner, the ideal fantasy football window is rapidly approaching.
Every drafter wants to land the late-round steal to propel them to a deep playoff run. With everyone having access to draft previews and podcasts, the under-the-radar fliers become discussed so much that they become known commodities.
It’s time to block out the noise and hunt for the true sleepers who can elevate your squad into a genuine title contender.
The Sleeping Giant
TE Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys
At some point, Jerry Jones will give in and ink CeeDee Lamb to a massive deal to keep the superstar wideout in Dallas for the foreseeable future. Even with Lamb back in the fold, the Cowboys’ offensive weaponry is thin at best.
Brandin Cooks has been a model of consistency throughout his time in the NFL, but at 30 years old with four straight seasons of declining production, it appears father time is knocking at his door. Jalen Tolbert has an intriguing athletic profile but has not shown many flashes in limited action. Ezekiel Elliott returns as the lead tailback after a brief stint in New England but has never been less effective and more of an injury risk.
Jake Ferguson is the clear-cut second-best offensive skill position player in this high-powered offense. During his breakout 2023 campaign, the tight end amassed 761 yards and tallied five touchdowns. Ferguson got more opportunities as the season progressed and developed into Dak Prescott’s security blanket.
With Lamb drawing most of the opposition’s attention, the third-year pro will take another leap under new offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. Expect Ferguson to flirt with being a top-five fantasy tight end.
The Undervalued Bounce-Back
WR Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions
Of all the wide receivers drafted in the first round the past few years, none have been lost in the shuffle as much as Jameson Williams. The speedster had to enter the league recovering from a torn ACL he suffered while at Alabama and missed the first four games of his sophomore campaign due to a gambling suspension.
With Amon-Ra St.Brown, Sam LaPorta, and Jahmyr Gibbs all expected to have large workloads, it could be challenging to imagine how Williams fits into the equation. St.Brown’s dominance allows Williams to slot in as a lethal deep threat who will consistently face favorable leverage or a dynamic playmaker in the flat who can use his track speed to generate yards after the catch.
Detroit scores in bunches, so even in a crowded kitchen, there are plenty of mouths to feed. Williams is a dynamic playmaker with the ball in his hands, and given the opportunity, he can turn some heads this fall.
The Forgotten Rookie
WR Jalen McMillan, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The 2023 Washington Huskies were oozing with talent. Signal caller Michael Penix Jr. was a Heisman finalist and was drafted eighth overall by the Atlanta Falcons. X receiver Rome Odunze was a finalist for the Biletnikoff award and went a pick later to the Chicago Bears. Z receiver Ja’Lynn Polk went in the second round to the New England Patriots and has been the talk of training camp. The team’s slot receiver, Jalen McMillan, seems to have been completely forgotten about since turning pro and landing in Tampa Bay.
The 22-year-old was a monster for the purple and gold, dominating the middle of the field. Injuries and a loaded roster impacted his production as a senior, but that didn’t stop the Buccaneers from trading up for him in the third round. With elite route running and a nice burst off the line, all the traits of a modern ball-magnet are there.
Many important figures around the organization have already endorsed McMillan, and he is the favorite to beat out Trey Palmer for the WR3 role. With Mike Evans and Chris Godwin another year older, it’s hard not to imagine the rookie carving out a spot for himself within the offense.
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