X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

2014 Fantasy Football Sleepers: PPR Wide Receivers & Running Backs

Uncle Leo analyzes 2014 fantasy football sleepers for PPR leagues. NFL running backs (RBs) and wide receivers (WRs) to target in the later rounds of fantasy football drafts.

In this article, we look around the NFL and provide analysis on some fantasy football PPR sleepers for both running backs and wide receivers.

A majority of the fantasy football leagues that I'm a part of each year are Point Per Reception (PPR) leagues, where fantasy owners are rewarded with extra points for each reception that a player makes.  I recently wrapped up a few drafts, including a 14-team PPR league draft, and wanted to share some of my observations and potential PPR sleepers/value picks.

 

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

2014 Fantasy Football Sleepers – PPR Leagues

Based on what I've been seeing in my various drafts, most of the NFL players listed below should be available in the mid-to-late rounds of your fantasy football drafts, and have relatively low ADPs based on their potential upside in PPR leagues.

Reading up on pre-season player analysis, analyzing ADPs, identifying 2014 risers/fallers and potential draft day busts, following the pre-season team outlooks and identifying draft day sleepers are all key components for your fantasy football draft strategy. Today I'm here to help out with wide receivers and running backs, and make sure your PPR teams are prepared to win.

I’ve considered these RBs and WRs because of their potential fantasy football returns, in comparison to the draft-day investment in these players and their current draft ADPs. Hopefully we can find some high-upside players that can provide significant fantasy value based on where they’re being drafted.

 

Editor’s Note: You read about even more fantasy football sleepers & ADP draft values for running backs, wide receivers and all other positions - make sure to bookmark our running list of players to consider targeting in your fantasy football drafts for all positions. Also be sure to check out our nifty fantasy football sleepers analysis recap to see a rundown and summary of all our sleepers articles. 

 

Running Back Sleepers & Draft Values

Pierre Thomas - RB, New Orleans Saints

pierre-thomas-ppr-sleepers-2014-fantasy-football

After participating in various fantasy football drafts this year with PPR formats, I was a little surprised to see where Pierre Thomas was being taken on average. His current ADP of 54, or the 25th running back drafted overall, puts him around the 6th-7th round in ten-team leagues, or something around an RB3/FLEX option.

Playing in the prolific Saints offense, centered around the passing game led by Drew Brees, gives Thomas to be a high-upside RB2 option in PPR leagues. Darren Sproles is no longer in town, and Thomas racked up 77 catches last year. Expected to be the lead running back receiver on the Saints, Thomas has the upside to surpass the pass total and then some.

Don't sleep on Pierre Thomas if you are still drafting in PPR leagues. His current ADP makes him a great running back target in the middle rounds, and makes him a sleeper on draft day based on the potential return he can provide on your investment.

 

Darren Sproles - RB, Philadelphia Eagles

Speaking of Sproles, this is another running back that I've seen slipping very late in fantasy football drafts for PPR leagues. I understand that he comes with some risk, being on a new team with a new offense and playing behind stud running back LeSean McCoy.

But we should not forget the dynamic skill set that Sproles possesses, especially in the passing game coming out of the backfield. The Eagles' offense is creative, so they are going to find ways to get Sproles the ball in open space. His current ADP of 89, or the 39th running back drafted overall, puts him around the 10th-11th round in ten-team leagues, or something around an RB4/RB3 option.

Playing in the high-powered Philadelphia offense, with defenses keyed in on McCoy and other offensive options (Jeremy Maclin, Riley Cooper, Zach Ertz among others) can make Sproles more of a high-upside FLEX/RB2 option in PPR leagues. This type of draft day value makes Sproles a low-risk running back option to draft, with plenty of sleeper potential to deliver on his cheap ADP draft price.

 

Other Potential PPR Sleeper Running Backs: Dexter McCluster (current ADP: 159), Roy Helu (current ADP: 152)

 

Wide Receiver Sleepers & Draft Values

Jarrett Boykin - WR, Green Bay Packers

Boykin has been nearly a forgotten man in 2014 fantasy football drafts, as depicted by his ADP of 129, or the 54th wide receiver drafted overall, which puts him around the 13th-14th round of 10-team PPR leagues. With the Packers looking strong in 2014, including a healthy Aaron Rodgers, Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson, the offense looks poised to put up some explosive numbers.

Even though there are plenty of wide receivers and offensive options for the Packers, Boykin is coming into the year as their WR3 and has WR3 upside as well for PPR leagues. He may not be a consistent force this year with everyone healthy, but the Packers don't have a strong tight end option, and both Cobb and Nelson should receive plenty of attention on defense. This should open up passing targets for Boykin, and the Packers offense has enough passing volume to keep a talented WR3 on the fantasy football radar all season long. So Boykin is a perfect draft sleeper to target in the later rounds of your drafts.

Playing a significant role last year for the Packers, Boykin had a few monster weeks for PPR formats and averaged a solid 13.9 yards per reception. His 2013 game log included seven games with at least five catches, and two games with eight receptions, all coming from Week 7 onwards. His extremely low draft price makes him a low-risk potentially high-reward wide receiver sleeper for your teams.

 

Jordan Matthews - WR, Philadelphia Eagles

Rookie Jordan Matthews is an intriguing name for me in PPR leagues for a few reasons. Given his talent, and the other wide receiver options in Philadelphia, Matthews may be a sneaky option to receive a consistent amount of passing targets on a game-to-game basis. Jeremy Maclin and Riley Cooper are the WR1 and WR2 options on the high-upside Eagles offense, but are we really so confident in the ability of those receivers to remain healthy and produce for fantasy football owners all season long?

Maclin has an injury history, and hasn't produced for fantasy owners for some time now. He certainly has upside in the offense if he can stay on the field, but that's a big "if" right now. Riley Cooper showed good chemistry with Nick Foles last year, but he may not be receiving a consistent amount of pass targets from game to game, making him a potentially boom-or-bust option.

Matthews has been lining up in three-wide receiver sets, which is a great sign for his 2014 fantasy football outlook, and may be the beneficiary of some short passes in the slot or even out of the backfield. It'll be interesting to see how he's utilized in Week 1, but given his extremely low ADP of 127, or the 53rd wide receiver drafted overall, Matthews has the potential to be a PPR sleeper wide receiver for your fantasy football teams, at a very low draft day cost.

 

Other Potential PPR Sleeper Wide Receivers: Kenny Britt (current ADP: 141), Aaron Dobson (current ADP: 131)

 




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Trey Yesavage

Sets Franchise Strikeout Record On Monday
Yordan Alvarez

To Receive MRI For Sprained Left Ankle On Tuesday
Willson Contreras

Exits Early Monday With Right-Biceps Tightness
Yordan Alvarez

Exits With Ankle Sprain
Brock Bowers

Officially Active on Monday Night
Jauan Jennings

Day-to-Day With Ankle Injury
Logan O'Hoppe

Activated Off Seven-Day Injured List
CBJ

Denton Mateychuk Dealing With Groin Issue
Bo Horvat

Fine for Training Camp
Kirby Dach

on Track to Be Ready for Opening Night
Jose Altuve

Returns Against Rangers
J.J. McCarthy

Expected to Miss 2-4 Weeks With High-Ankle Sprain
J.J. McCarthy

Likely Out for Week 3 With High-Ankle Sprain
Jean Silva

Gets Finished For The First Time In His Career
Aaron Jones Sr.

Unlikely to Play in Week 3 Due to Hamstring Injury
Diego Lopes

Returns To The Win Column
Jayden Daniels

' Week 3 Status in Doubt
Rob Font

Outclassed In The Noche UFC 3 Co-Main Event
David Martinez

Wins His Second UFC Fight
Jared Gordon

Suffers Brutal TKO Loss At Noche UFC 3
Rafa Garcia

Wins Back-To-Back Fights
Brian Thomas Jr.

Dealing with Wrist Injury
Dustin Stoltzfus

Drops A Decision At Noche UFC 3
Kelvin Gastelum

Gets Back In The Win Column
Diego Ferreira

Suffers Second-Round TKO
Alexander Hernandez

Extends His Win Streak With A Brutal TKO
Quang Le

Suffers First-Round Knockout
Santiago Luna

Shines In His UFC Debut
Christopher Bell

Earns his First Bristol Cup Series Victory
Alex Bowman

Falls Short of Advancing Through Cup Series Playoffs
Chase Briscoe

Collects his Third Top-10 Finish at Bristol
Ryan Blaney

Strong Top-Five Bristol Performance Advances him to the Playoffs
Corey Heim

Earns his First Career Cup Series Top-10 Finish at Bristol
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Leads Greece to Bronze Medal
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Drops 28 Points in EuroBasket Finals
CFB

Indiana's Lee Beebe Jr. Out for Season with Knee Injury
Dennis Schröder

Dennis Schroder Named EuroBasket MVP
Bryce Eldridge

Giants to Promote Bryce Eldridge
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Progressing in Recovery
Jonathan Kuminga

Receives New Offer From Warriors
Kenneth Walker III

Bounces Back with Big Week 2 Performance
Bijan Robinson

Rushes for 143 Yards in Week 2
Justin Fields

Currently in Concussion Protocol
Cincinnati Bengals

Bengals Calling Around to Available Free-Agent Quarterbacks
Joe Burrow

to Undergo Surgery, Out at Least Three Months
Emil Heineman

Aiming to Take the "Next Step" This Season
Braeden Cootes

Good to Go for Camp
Ivan Fedotov

Blue Jackets Acquire Ivan Fedotov From Flyers
Aaron Jones Sr.

Injures Hamstring During Sunday Night Football
Darren Waller

Not Expected to Play in Week 3
Garrett Crochet

Punches Out 12 in Win
Cole Ragans

to Return on Wednesday
Jameson Williams

Records Long Touchdown in Week 2, Still Limited to Downfield Role?
George Kirby

Strikes Out 14 in Win
Jayden Daniels

Considered "Day-to-Day" with Knee Injury
Carlos Estévez

Carlos Estevez Exits with Back Tightness
Jonathan Taylor

Tops 200 Yards From Scrimmage in Week 2 Win
Joe Burrow

Could Miss Three Months if he Requires Toe Surgery
Davante Adams

Headlines Rams Receiving Corps Sunday
Wan'Dale Robinson

Explodes for 142 Yards, Touchdown in Overtime Thriller
Joe Flacco

Browns Not Considering Benching Joe Flacco After Week 2
Quentin Grimes

Still Not Close to a New Contract Agreement
Joel Embiid

"Looking Slender, Spry and in Positive Spirits"
Ty Gibbs

Has Arguably his Best Career Drive, but Only Finishes 10th
Chase Elliott

Despite Crashing Out at Bristol, Chase Elliott Advances to Round of 12
Austin Dillon

Misses Round of 12 After Extremely Mediocre Bristol Run
Shane Van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen Fails to Advance to Round of 12
Josh Berry

Finishes Last in All Three Round of 16 Races to Fail to Advance
Luis Arraez

Takes a Seat on Sunday With Head Injury
Adolis García

Adolis Garcia Activated, Starting on Sunday
CFB

Ryan Williams Explodes In Return To Field
CFB

Drew Allar Plays Mediocre Game In Blowout Win
CFB

LaNorris Sellers Exits Game In Blowout Loss
CFB

DJ Lagway Tosses Five Interceptions In Loss
CFB

Garrett Nussmeier Plays Game Manager in Saturday's Win
CFB

CJ Carr Remains Poised In Narrow Loss
CFB

John Mateer Leads Oklahoma In Rout
CFB

Arch Manning Struggles Against UTEP
CFB

Jeremiah Smith Impresses In Win
Bryan Woo

Records Career-High 13 Strikeouts
Max Muncy

Exits Early on Saturday
CFB

Sam Leavitt Shines As Arizona State Rebounds From Week 2 Loss
Salvador Perez

Reaches 300 Home Runs, 1,000 RBI
Jose Altuve

Exits Early With Foot Discomfort
Trey Yesavage

Heading to Big Leagues
Will Smith

Placed on 10-Day Injured List
Ivan Demidov

Turning Heads in Rookie Camp
NHL

Calvin de Haan Signs With Swedish Team
Samuel Girard

Skates With Non-Contact Jersey
Mackenzie Blackwood

Dealing With Injury Ahead of Training Camp
Spencer Knight

Signs Three-Year Extension With Blackhawks
Chris Buescher

May have Another Solid Run at Bristol
Corey Perry

Out 6-8 Weeks Following Surgery
Kyle Busch

Should DFS Managers Roster Kyle Busch at Bristol?
Ricky Stenhouse Jr

Is Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Too Risky to Consider Rostering at Bristol?
Michael McDowell

Could be A Solid Value Option For Bristol DFS Lineups
Chase Elliott

Probably Won't Factor in for Bristol Win
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Not as Strong at Bristol as Other Short Tracks
Alex Bowman

Needs to Win to Make Round of 12
Ross Chastain

has Never Led at Bristol but Has Been Pretty Consistent
Austin Dillon

Richmond Speed Unlikely to Carry Over to Bristol
Josh Berry

Might Run Well at Bristol, but Almost Certainly Won't Win to Advance
Justin Haley

Bristol One of Justin Haley's Few Recent Bright Spots
Tarik Skubal

Avoids Serious Injury, Expected to Make Next Start
CFB

Austin Simmons Listed As Game-Time Decision Against Arkansas
CFB

Nico Iamaleava Struggles In Fourth Straight Loss
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Dealing With a "Tweak"
BUF

Alexandar Georgiev Joins Sabres on One-Year Deal
Corey Perry

Injured During Pre-Camp Skate
Tanner Bibee

Fans 10 in Two-Hit Shutout
CFB

Antonio Williams Out Against Georgia Tech
CFB

CJ Bailey Flashes Again in Win Over Wake Forest
CFB

Jaxson Moi a Game-Time Decision for Tennessee on Saturday
Jean Silva

A Favorite At Noche UFC 3
Diego Lopes

Set For Noche UFC 3 Main Event
Rob Font

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
David Martinez

Set For Noche UFC 3 Co-Main Event
Rafa Garcia

An Underdog At Noche UFC 3
Jared Gordon

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Dustin Stoltzfus

Looks To Return To The Win Column
Kelvin Gastelum

In Dire Need Of Victory
Diego Ferreira

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Malcolm Brogdon

Heading to Knicks on One-Year Deal
CFB

David Sanders Jr. Won't Play Against Georgia
Landry Shamet

Staying with the Knicks
CFB

Dylan Edwards Slated to Return on Friday
Adam Lowry

Aims for Early-Season Return
CFB

Ryan Williams Expected to Play Against Wisconsin
CFB

Billy Edwards Jr. Unlikely to Play on Saturday
P.J. Washington

Officially Signs Contract Extension
CFB

David Sanders Jr. Questionable to Make Debut Against Georgia
Lauri Markkanen

Big at Both Ends as Finland Books Place in EuroBasket Semis
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Notches 39 Points in Losing Effort
NBA

Cam Reddish Expected to Move to Europe
NBA

Trey Lyles Joins Real Madrid
Charles Bassey

Signs Exhibit 10 Deal With Hawks
Sacramento Kings

Terence Davis Waived by Kings
Matthew Knies

Ready for Bigger Role With Maple Leafs
Jack Eichel

Unbothered by Lack of Extension
Sidney Crosby

Not Thinking About Leaving Pittsburgh
SJ

Michael Misa Signs Entry-Level Contract With Sharks
Rutger McGroarty

Nursing an Injury
Cameron Champ

the Ultimate Wild Card at Procore
Cameron Young

Looks to Extend Momentum in Napa
Davis Thompson

Searching for a Spark at Procore
Sahith Theegala

Looking to Reignite Form at Procore
Mackenzie Hughes

Aims for Another Strong Showing at Procore
Luke Clanton

Brings Ball-Striking Upside to Napa
Seamus Power

Looking to Overcome Poor Course History at Procore
Joe Highsmith

Hoping to Find Form in Napa
Kristaps Porzingis

Reportedly Still Not Completely Healthy
Kelly Oubre Jr.

Reportedly on the Trade Block
Andre Drummond

Future in Philadelphia in Doubt
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Helps Greece Reach Semis at EuroBasket
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Posts Historic Triple-Double

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP