Sammie Coates (WR, PIT) - 2016 Fantasy Football Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target ~150

CURRENT ADP: 161.7

ANALYSIS: Sammie Coates was drafted by the Steelers in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft out of Auburn University. He was notorious for not finishing his routes on deep passes in college, as well as relying too heavily on his natural physical ability to make plays. His route running needed improvement, but he was still able to average 20.9 yards per reception in his time at Auburn. Coates finished first in the bench press (23 repetitions) and second in the 20-yard shuttle (4.06) at the NFL combine, and his 4.43 40-yard dash time left him just outside the top 10.

Coates appeared in just six games in 2015, and instead spent most of the season working on his route running and learning to control his body. He saw the field in the postseason after Antonio Brown went down with a concussion, and in the divisional round against the Broncos, he caught two of his three targets for 61 yards.

With Martavis Bryant suspended for the entirety of the 2016 season and Heath Miller hanging it up in the offseason, Coates should slide right into a bigger role in the offense. His competition for targets includes Markus Wheaton, Ladarius Green, Darrius Heyward-Bey.

Coates is currently being drafted as the WR55, according Fantasy Football Calculator. If he doesn’t work his way up the board, Coates could potentially be picked up off of waivers in some leagues.