🖥 CYBER WEEK - TAP TO SAVE 50% WITH CODE CYBER
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

Early 2018 Dynasty Sleepers - Wide Receiver

The NFL season may have just ended with Philadelphia Eagles fans shaking their fists and waving their cheesesteaks in the air in triumph, but smart fantasy players have already begun planning for 2018 and beyond.

The pass-first NFL is never short on receivers for fantasy owners. Finding the right receivers at the right prices or in the right rounds that you can keep on your fantasy roster for several seasons is one way to set up your dynasty squad for short and long-term success.

Here are some early 2018 dynasty league sleepers at the wide receiver position.

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

 

Early WR Dynasty Sleepers for 2018

Mike Williams, Los Angeles Chargers

Williams was never able to get out of his own body’s way during his rookie campaign this past year. A herniated disc suffered during offseason camp knocked him behind the eight ball early and by the time he returned midseason, there were 100 other receivers quarterback Philip Rivers could throw to. Williams ended his rookie season with just 11 receptions for 95 yards --- something you can get from Pittsburgh’s Antonio Brown on a weekly basis.

While the Chargers are loaded with pass catchers, Williams could leap up the target chart quicker than you might think. Hall of Fame tight end Antonio Gates is no lock to return, and top target Keenan Allen is no lock to stay healthy. No. 2 and 3 receivers Tyrell Williams and Travis Benjamin are decent, but Williams could and should overtake them in the target department if he stays injury-free and has a great camp during the preseason.

Williams was drafted in the first round for a reason. He has (when healthy) more tools than Home Depot and Lowe’s combined. Size, strength, speed, and the ability to catch touchdown tosses over and around defenders who are all over him. Don’t assume Williams is going to be another injury-prone disappointment like Washington’s Josh Doctson. Do not sleep on this sleeper. If you snooze, you will lose out on a possible 1,000-yard year from him in 2018 and each of the next several seasons.

 

Keelan Cole, Jacksonville Jaguars

After finishing the regular season on the highest of high notes with 23 receptions for 475 yards and three touchdowns over his final five games, Cole vanished in the postseason. He only managed three catches for 82 yards in three playoff games and was no help at all to Blake Bortles and the Jaguars passing attack.

So was Cole a one-month wonder who fizzled when better defenses started paying more attention to him, or is he the real deal? Is his late-season production a precursor to future success? I tend to lean towards the latter.

Jacksonville will undoubtedly revamp its receiving corps this offseason. Veterans Allen Hurns and Marqise Lee may not be long for Jacksonville’s roster. Meanwhile, No. 1 receiver Allen Robinson is a free agent coming off a torn ACL. Even if Robinson is re-signed, Cole would probably be the No. 2 WR after Lee and Hurns take their talents elsewhere.

Do not sleep on Cole just because he disappeared in the playoffs. He will have no trouble moving up the depth chart during training camp unless the Jags shock everybody and draft a couple receivers and sign Robinson and another veteran. Cole and his game-breaking ability could be good for 65 receptions and 1,000 yards -- especially if Blake Bortles improves or the Jaguars bring in a better QB. Cole's fantasy needle is headed upward this year and beyond.

 

Kelvin Benjamin, Buffalo Bills

It was shocking when the Carolina Panthers blamed Benjamin for their passing attack problems and traded him midseason to Buffalo for draft picks. Maybe the Panthers were right, though. Benjamin was a shell of himself after joining the Bills and did nothing that would make you think he was a former 1,000-yard receiver. He only managed 16 receptions for 217 yards and one touchdown in a half-dozen games with Buffalo and was probably dropped in most fantasy leagues before season’s end.

The way things are going, Benjamin will likely have another quarterback throwing to him in 2018, and that can only mean his lowly end-of-2017 fantasy value will skyrocket. Tyrod Taylor helps receivers about as much as dollar-store aspirin helps headaches. It would be a gigantic surprise to see Taylor back at the helm of Buffalo’s offense next season, and if he is replaced by any quarterback with average or above-average passing ability, that should be a boon for Benjamin.

Benjamin needs to be 100 percent before fantasy owners can honestly think that he is done as a fantasy factor. He played with a bum knee almost all of last season and it showed as he could not separate from cornerbacks and did show off his highlight-worthy leaping ability down in the red zone. A healthy knee and a new quarterback is all Benjamin needs to bounce back and break the 1,000-yard barrier again in 2018.

 

More 2018 Dynasty League Strategy




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

Quentin Grimes

Unavailable on Tuesday
Paul George

Available to Play on Tuesday
LaMelo Ball

Expected to Play on Wednesday
Brandon Miller

Ruled Out for Wednesday's Game
Kristaps Porzingis

Sidelined Again for Wednesday
Kyshawn George

Upgraded to Available on Tuesday
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Expected to Suit Up Wednesday
Nathan Walker

Out for Eight Weeks
Lian Bichsel

to Sit Out 6-8 Weeks
Viktor Arvidsson

Activated From Injured Reserve
Warren Foegele

Remains Out Tuesday
Nikola Jokić

Nikola Jokic Probable for Wednesday
Valeri Nichushkin

Available After Eight-Game Absence
Gabriel Landeskog

Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog Cleared for Tuesday
Jamal Murray

Questionable for Wednesday
Tyson Foerster

to Miss 2-3 Months
CFB

D.J. Durkin Staying at Auburn Under Alex Golesh
Alexandre Sarr

Out of Action Again on Tuesday
Zion Williamson

Sidelined at Least Three Weeks
CFB

Charlie Weis Jr. Permitted to Coach Ole Miss Offense in College Football Playoff
Khris Middleton

Will Not Play Tuesday
Kyshawn George

Is Questionable Against the 76ers
Tyrone Tracy Jr.

Says he's Fine After Suffering Hip Contusion
Trey Murphy III

Will Return Tuesday Night
Omarion Hampton

Likely to Return in Week 14
Yves Missi

Uncertain to Play Tuesday Against the Timberwolves
Zion Williamson

Questionable Against Minnesota
Neemias Queta

Set to Return on Tuesday
Derrick White

Will Play Tuesday Against New York
Quentin Grimes

Downgraded to Questionable on Tuesday
CFB

Five-Star Quarterback Jared Curtis Flips Commitment From Georgia to Vanderbilt
CFB

Florida Hiring Brad White as Defensive Coordinator
Kyle Schwarber

Giants Have Checked in on Kyle Schwarber
Willson Contreras

Willing to Waive his Full No-Trade Clause?
Brandon Aiyuk

49ers "Hopeful" Brandon Aiyuk Will Play in 2025
Brayden Point

Without Timetable for Return
Jake Walman

Still Out Tuesday
Mason Appleton

Misses Tuesday's Contest
Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Good to Go Tuesday
Conor Garland

Out on Tuesday
Petr Mrazek

Considered Day-to-Day
Tyson Foerster

Hurt in Monday's Loss
Trey Murphy III

May Skip Another Game Tuesday
Zion Williamson

Back in Pelicans Lineup Tuesday
Tyrone Tracy Jr.

Carted Off With Hip Injury on Monday Night
Edwin Díaz

Mets Still Interested in Re-Signing Edwin Diaz
Devin Williams

Agrees to Three-Year Deal With Mets
Cole Ragans

Red Sox Targeting Cole Ragans in a Trade?
CFB

Kentucky Hires Oregon Offensive Coordinator Will Stein As Head Coach
Davante Adams

Not Dealing With a Serious Injury
Kyler Murray

Surgery Not on the Table for Kyler Murray
Marvin Harrison Jr.

in Danger of Missing Week 14?
Danila Yurov

Won't Play on Tuesday
David Pastrnak

to Remain Out Tuesday
Adam Gaudette

Iffy for Monday
CFB

Kalani Sitake the Top Target for Penn State Coaching Job
Logan Cooley

a Game-Time Decision Monday
Josh Norris

Available Monday
Neal Pionk

Remains Out Monday
Jimmy Snuggerud

to Miss Six Weeks After Wrist Surgery
Justin Herbert

Having Hand Surgery on Monday
Kyler Murray

Cardinals Won't Open Kyler Murray's Practice Window This Week
Sauce Gardner

Not a Candidate to Go on Injured Reserve
Jayden Daniels

Not Cleared for Contact, Decision on Week 14 Status Delayed
CFB

Josh Heupel Says He's Not a Candidate for Penn State Head Coach Job
Trey Hendrickson

Doubtful to Return in Week 14
Tee Higgins

Still in the Concussion Protocol
Drake London

"has a Chance" to Play in Week 14
J.J. McCarthy

in Line to Start in Week 14?
Aaron Jones Sr.

Not Dealing With Serious Shoulder Injury, Likely Day-to-Day
Sam Darnold

Dealing With Ankle Injury, "Should be Good" for Week 14
CFB

Will Stein, Brian Hartline the Top Candidates for Kentucky Job?
CFB

Nebraska Fires Defensive Coordinator John Butler After One Season
CFB

UCLA Expected to Hire Bob Chesney as Next Head Coach
Sauce Gardner

Officially Week-to-Week with Strained Calf
CFB

Lane Kiffin to Make $13 Million Salary, Ties Kirby Smart
CFB

Buster Faulkner, Joey Halzle Candidates for Florida Offensive Coordinator Job?
CFB

Kentucky Officially Fires Mark Stoops
Justin Herbert

Has Metacarpal Fracture in Left Hand
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Week 14 Availability Up in the Air
Zach Ertz

Leads Washington in Receiving in Overtime Loss
CFB

Lane Kiffin to be Introduced as LSU's Next Head Coach on Monday
CFB

Florida Poised to Land Jon Sumrall as Next Head Coach
CFB

Alex Golesh Taking Over Auburn Head-Coaching Job
CFB

Arkansas Expected to Hire Ryan Silverfield as Next Head Coach
Zack Wheeler

Likely to Return in May
Ryan Helsley

Agrees to Two-Year Deal With Orioles

RANKINGS

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