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Kacey Kasem looks at 2024 fantasy football deep sleepers at wide receiver. Four top sleeper wide receivers are examined.
Finding deep sleepers in the ever-evolving landscape of fantasy football can give you an edge in your fantasy football drafts. Using the latest FFPC ADP (Average Draft Position) data and RotoBaller rankings, let's examine four wideouts who could emerge as fantasy stars in 2024.
Hidden gems at the WR position can provide a competitive advantage. This article discusses receivers Greg Dortch, Noah Brown, Jalen Tolbert, and Jermaine Burton as breakout contenders.
These players rank outside the top 80 wideouts in the RotoBaller rankings. Each of these players is in a situation where they can contribute to your fantasy teams in 2024. What kind of impact can each of these athletes make on your fantasy roster?
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Greg Dortch, Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals wide receiver returns for one year as a depth wideout. The exclusive rights free agent had a 2023 season consisting of 24 receptions on 41 targets, gaining 280 yards and two touchdowns in his 16 games with Arizona.
Exciting changes are on the horizon for the Cardinals. The departures of wide receivers Marquise Brown and Rondale Moore will create more chances for Greg Dortch. And the team's acquisition of Marvin Harrison Jr., the top wide receiver in the 2024 NFL Draft, adds a new dynamic.
With Harrison Jr. and tight end Trey McBride drawing coverage, Dortch can take a substantial leap forward in the 2024 season. As a fourth-year Cardinal, he is poised to see more playing time, particularly if crucial pass-catchers miss time.
🔥LIGHT THE DORTCH🔥
GREG DORTCH FOR SIX pic.twitter.com/XzF8Gr3OOJ
— PHNX Cardinals (@PHNX_Cardinals) December 25, 2023
A healthy Kyler Murray will further help Dortch's value in 2024. The Arizona quarterback missed the start of the 2023 season due to an ACL injury. He returned in November 2023, 11 months after suffering the knee injury. With a healthy Murray under center, Dortch will have a consistent quarterback known to get the ball to his playmakers.
The undrafted wideout will face competition from either Zay Jones or Michael Wilson, but he has the skill to surpass these players. Jones will see his share of targets, but Dortch will get his.
The undrafted wideout, with an FFPC average draft pick (ADP) of 341 in classic leagues, is a possible sleeper pick in fantasy football. He is ranked WR101 in RotoBaller WR PPR Rankings, indicating his potential to exceed expectations.
If you have a deep bench, Dortch is a player who could produce some significant weeks. And if any of the top wideouts on the roster find themselves injured in 2024, the 26-year-old would be a valuable addition to your starting lineup.
Noah Brown, Houston Texans
A player who can be a sleeper gem in 2024 is Houston Texans' wide receiver Noah Brown. The wideout ended 2023 as the WR67 in PPR leagues after joining the Texans from the Cowboys in 2023. He had some impressive weeks when Nico Collins and Tank Dell missed games due to injury.
In 2023, Brown saw action in 10 games, logging 33 receptions on 55 targets while posting 567 yards and two scores. He had an average of 17.2 yards per catch last season. The Ohio State alum has witnessed an uptick in yards per reception each season since coming into the league in 2017.
Brown had the best game of his NFL career in 2023, grabbing seven passes for 172 yards in the Week 10 win against the Cincinnati Bengals. Collins was out for this game with a calf injury. With the absence of Collins, Brown was able to shine. He obtained eight targets that week, second behind Dell with 14.
Stroud is looking more comfortable today than in NE. Also Noah Brown could be an interesting last round pic in your fantasy drafts pic.twitter.com/towCkAwVzB
— Jeremy (@PopesFFH) August 19, 2023
The 2017 seventh-round draft pick saw injuries over the season. Brown was put on injured reserve after Week 1 with a groin injury. The wideout was absent in Weeks 11 and 12 with a knee injury. He didn't play in Week 18 because of a back injury and also sustained a shoulder injury on January 15th of this year.
The Texans added Stefon Diggs to the wide receiver room, moving Brown to WR4 on the offense. Brown is only essential for fantasy football if injuries occur to one or more wideouts in front of him. The 28-year-old also needs to stay healthy this season as well.
Robert Woods is a veteran presence vying for the WR4 job. Woods is currently 32 years old and missed time last season due to injury. Brown should do enough to be WR4 to start the season. Houston doesn't need Woods' veteran presence on the field since they already have that in the more effective Diggs.
The veteran wide receiver is only worth drafting if you have a super deep bench, but he would be helpful to fantasy rosters if a Houston pass-catcher goes down. Watch for spike weeks from the New Jersey-born wideout, but he won't be someone to count on consistently.
Brown is going undrafted in FPPC leagues and is ranked WR103 in RotoBaller rankings. Given how far down Houston's depth chart he is, keeping him undrafted and picking him up from waivers is ideal.
Jalen Tolbert, Dallas Cowboys
CeeDee Lamb is far and away the WR1 on the Dallas Cowboys roster. Brandin Cook is there as a veteran presence who sneakily scored eight touchdowns last season. Michael Gallup inked a one-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders. Gallup's release allows Tolbert to be WR3 on the Cowboys' offense, which should improve his stats in the future.
Tolbert struggled in his first season with Dallas. He played in eight games and caught two balls for 12 yards. The 2022 third-round pick improved in 2023, playing in all 17 games and catching 22 balls for 268 yards and two touchdowns. The University of South Alabama product started six of those games.
Jalen Tolbert Sighting! #Cowboys #NFLPreseason
— DD (@DestinationDevy) August 12, 2023
Lamb was the most targeted player on the team in 2023, with 181. He was also the most targeted player in the league. Tolbert gained 36 targets in 2023 as the WR4 and was behind Lamb, tight end Jake Ferguson (102), Cooks (81), Tony Pollard (67), and Gallup (57). Pollard is now a Tennessee Titan. Ezekiel Elliott is back with the Cowboys but is not the player he once was.
Tolbert will encounter more targets as he's bumped to WR3. The third-year player could eat into some of Ferguson and Cooks' targets. Dallas is a pass-heavy offense, with 614 passing attempts and 468 rushing attempts last season.
The 25-year-old wideout does not have the injury concerns that Gallup had while on the roster. The Dallas wideout will be suitable for fantasy football if Lamb or Cooks miss any time.
The receiver has an ADP of 321.9 in FFPC drafts and is ranked WR106 in the RotoBaller rankings. Tolbert could have a third-year breakout, so taking a flyer on him late is worth a shot.
Jermaine Burton, Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals opted to draft wide receiver Jermaine Burton in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Burton had been considered one of the best wide receivers in the draft, but character concerns plummetted his stock.
The youngster will see volume behind wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Wideout Tyler Boyd has signed with the Tennessee Titans, creating a path for Burton to be WR3 in the Cincinnati offense. Boyd tallied 98 targets in 2023 and was the second-most targeted player on the team.
Running back Joe Mixon is now in Houston, vacating 64 targets. Zack Moss takes over as RB1 in Cincinnati and isn't much of a threat in the passing game. He totaled 27 receptions for 192 yards and two scores last season. Most of his work was done on the ground, rushing for 794 yards on 183 attempts and an additional five touchdowns.
Jalen Milroe 🎯 Jermaine Burton
The Alabama duo connect on a 49-yard strike to give the Crimson Tide a 16-13 lead over the Longhorns heading into the fourth quarter.
🎥 @SECpic.twitter.com/va0ALMWkYH
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) September 10, 2023
With a healthy Joe Burrow at the helm, look for all receivers to see an abundance of throws in their directions. Burton should see high double-digit receptions this season.
He is the sleeper in this article, with the best shot of being fantasy-relevant in 2024. The 80th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft has an ADP of 169.87 in FFPC leagues. He ranks as the WR86 in the RotoBaller rankings.
Burton is a viable wide receiver for this year's fantasy football drafts and will be valuable in the future. Higgins recently signed his one-year franchise tender for 2024. Who knows where he will be in 2024? The Bengals knew they were drafting Higgins' replacement when taking Burton in the draft, making the rookie a good dynasty target.
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