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Joe Nicely analyzes five fantasy football sleepers that will likely go overlooked in "home leagues" drafts. Target these fantasy football breakouts in late rounds.
As we head into the heart of fantasy football draft season, most of us are probably juggling multiple drafts for a plethora of leagues. From dynasty to best ball to Superflex, there's a fantasy football format for almost anyone. Through the magic of technology, we have no trouble finding leagues full of folks with the same interests, which allows us to draft until we drop.
While there are more ways to play fantasy football - and people to play against - than ever before, most of us still have a "home league" that holds a special place in our hearts. This is the league that you've been part of the longest, is played against your closest friends, and that you may even still get together to draft in person for.
Though online leagues allow us to test our skills against the sharpest fantasy football minds from around the world, home leagues are where your passion for fantasy football probably first started and where it still burns the hottest. While the competition is usually fierce, many of your league mates are likely busy working jobs and raising children, ya know, living a normal life that doesn't revolve around fantasy football. In short, many of your buddies aren't grinding year-round to pinpoint rookie sleepers or backup running backs with upside. With those parameters in mind, here are some 2024 fantasy football players that the guys and gals in your home league probably don't know (or care) about...yet.
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Ladd McConkey, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
While you've probably heard tons of off-season industry chatter about Ladd McConkey this summer, there's a good chance he could slip through the cracks with casuals.
After snagging 58 catches for 762 yards and seven TDs as a redshirt sophomore at Georgia in 2022, McConkey battled injuries throughout 2023, appearing in just nine games for the Bulldogs. That lack of impact in his final college season likely kept him off the radar of most fantasy football fans.
REPORT: #Chargers rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey has been a standout so far at OTA’s, his connection with QB, Justin Herbert reportedly has been extraordinary. ⚡️⚡️
— King of Boltz ⚡️ (@KingofBoltz) May 24, 2024
Many who follow football are well aware of players who go in the first round of the NFL Draft but might be a little fuzzy on guys that are selected in later rounds, so when the Chargers traded up to grab McConkey in the second round of the Draft, it probably went unnoticed by lots of folks in your home league.
It's a dreamy landing spot for the rookie, as he'll have a chance for immediate playing time in a Bolts receiving corps that lost both Keenan Allen and Mike Williams during the offseason. McConkey's precise route-running makes him a natural to inherit Allen's vacated slot role and while there's always some risk involved with rookie receivers, he could legitimately lead the Chargers in targets in 2024.
Chase Brown, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
Most casual fantasy football players only care about starters. To them, it's easiest to put things in simple, black-and-white terms, such as Bengals backfield minus Joe Mixon plus Zack Moss means you draft Moss in fantasy football.
While simply plugging Moss in for Mixon may indeed end up being the correct angle to take in your draft, the backfield situation in Cincinnati isn't nearly that cut and dried. Despite a very successful college career at Illinois, Chase Brown didn't come into the NFL with tons of hype. His profile stayed low during his rookie season, as he battled a hamstring injury in the early part of 2023.
INSANE: #Bengals rookie RB Chase Brown just reached a top speed of 22.05 mph on his 54-yard TD, that is the second-fastest play by a player with the ball in their hands all season
🤯🤯🤯
pic.twitter.com/B7B4H8zV7L— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) December 10, 2023
However, when Brown finally found his way onto the field last year, he made an impression on those paying attention. His explosiveness was evident, and he was clocked by NFL Next Gen Stats at 22.05 mph on a 54-yard TD last year - the second-fastest time in the league last season.
Though his opportunities were fairly limited in 2023, Brown showcased speed, the ability to gain yards after contact, and legit receiving chops. While most in your league will focus on Moss, Brown could destroy his ADP if things shake out right for him in 2024.
Khalil Shakir, WR, Buffalo Bills
The guys and gals in your home league will know that Stefon Diggs is no longer in Buffalo, but they probably won't be real sure of what to make of this remaining group of Bills pass catchers.
Most will gravitate to second-year tight end Dalton Kincaid, who certainly did many nice things down the stretch of his rookie campaign last season. Rookie social media sensation Keon Coleman is the shiny new toy of this offense, while veteran offseason acquisitions Curtis Samuel and Marquez Valdes-Scantling also add to the cloudiness of Buffalo's receiver corps outlook.
Josh Allen speaking on Khalil Shakir, via @greenlight podcast with Chris Long:
“I’m excited to see [Shakir] step into a larger role… very, very excited about his season coming up.”#BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/5onPV4uonH
— Kam (@ktjuiceman) August 22, 2024
Though he's far from a sure thing, it feels like the only Bills wide receiver to actually catch passes from Josh Allen last season - Khalil Shakir - is going overlooked. His 2023 stats - 39 catches for 611 yards and two TDs - won't blow you away, but it should be noted that Shakir did play his best ball down the stretch last season.
Over Buffalo's final three games, he posted 180 yards and a pair of TDs while hauling in 16 of 17 targets. Now entering his third season with the Bills, Shakir has had time to earn the trust of superstar QB Josh Allen, which should give him a pathway to targets in 2024.
Jaylen Wright, RB, Miami Dolphins
Some of the tougher competitors in your home league will have a few backup running backs on their radar, but rarely will they dive three deep into a team's depth chart.
The Dolphins rookie running back Jaylen Wright has a range of potential outcomes that's about as wide as the Grand Canyon this season, a fact that will earn him little consideration from those in your home league.
There are some genuine scenarios in which the speedster out of the University of Tennessee rarely sees the field in 2024, but there's also a less likely - but still legitimate - path to him becoming Miami's RB1 at some point this season.
Jaylen Wright with a 75-yard touchdown run for Tennessee on the first play from scrimmage vs No. 1 Georgia.
Brad Nessler on the call for CBS. 🏈🔥🎙️pic.twitter.com/1eqi8w9BDX
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 18, 2023
Wright will start the year buried behind Raheem Mostert and De'Von Achane in the 'Fins backfield. Mostert led the NFL in rushing TDs last season, while Achane was one of the most electric rookies we've seen in recent memory...factors that would make it seem impossible for Wright to make an impact in 2024.
However, both Mostert and Achane are far from durable. The 32-year-old Mostert has an extensive injury history and is coming off a career-high 209 rushing attempts last season.
He has appeared in 16 games just twice in his nine NFL seasons. Meanwhile, at 5-foot-9 and 188 lbs, it's fair to wonder how Achane's frame will hold up to the rigors of the NFL after he missed six games in his rookie campaign. Should either or both be forced to miss time this year, Wright's fantasy impact could be felt right away in this high-octane Miami offense.
Ben Sinnott, TE, Washington Commanders
The tight end position is a notoriously tough one for rookies. However, in 2023 players like Sam LaPorta and Dalton Kincaid proved it's not impossible for first-year TEs to have some serious fantasy impact.
Rookie Commanders TE Ben Sinnott will likely open the season behind the corpse of Zach Ertz on the Washington depth chart, but don't be surprised if the second-round draft pick quickly works his way onto the field for an offense that appears starved for playmaking pass catchers.
Not enough love on the timeline for Commanders TE Ben Sinnott.
Huge threat in the middle of the field who brings some attitude after the catch.
Zach Ertz in my eyes is a TE coach who’s going to be passing the torch a lot soon than folks think. 🤔 pic.twitter.com/CRifUMDOxm
— LaQuan Jones (@RealDealFantasy) August 21, 2024
Sinnott's on-field production at Kansas State and his athleticism at the NFL Combine are both impressive, as the 6'4", 250 lb. 22-year-old has all the makings to be a superstar at the TE position.
In addition to his physical tools, Sinnott has reportedly already developed strong chemistry with fellow rookie Jayden Daniels, who has been named Washington's Week 1 starter. He'll also benefit from Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury's scheme, which resulted in 309 tight end targets across his last three seasons as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals.
With Jahan Dotson recently dealt to the Eagles, and little pass-catching talent behind Terry McLaurin, there's a strong chance that Sinnott develops into the clear-cut second option for the Washington passing attack this season.
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