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With the 2023 NFL season officially in the books, it's time to turn our attention to the future. The weeks before the 2024 NFL Draft are a busy time for fantasy football managers in dynasty leagues as they wheel and deal in an attempt to improve their position during the offseason.
Often, certain players will go under the radar in dynasty leagues. Whether it be a young player who just didn't perform as well as other young players the year before or a veteran whose win-now impact is being underrated, there are always sleepers out there for a manager to pursue.
Let's look at five wide receivers who can be considered dynasty sleepers heading into 2024.
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Josh Downs - Indianapolis Colts
I'm surprised to see Josh Downs being viewed as a dynasty WR4 in most rankings right now because I was very encouraged by what he did as a rookie for the Colts in 2023. He was targeted 98 times, catching 68 passes for 771 yards and two touchdowns.
Now, maybe his overall upside is capped by being on this Colts team. Anthony Richardson isn't the most accurate passer and he's likely to run the ball a good amount, likely placing the Colts near the bottom of the league in pass rate in future seasons. Add in Michael Pittman Jr. as the team's No. 1 wideout and you do likely find Downs has a limited ceiling.
Started the season with high expectations.
Ended it with a rookie receiving record.
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) February 15, 2024
But he also likely has a pretty high floor going forward. He just broke a Colts rookie record for receptions and he can turn any play into some big yards. He might not earn too many more targets than the 98 he had as a rookie, but he'll produce with the touches he gets.
Marvin Mims Jr. - Denver Broncos
Marvin Mims Jr. had a complicated rookie season. On special teams, he was so good that he made the Pro Bowl as a rookie returner, but on offense, he was used in such a frustrating way.
Can someone/Broncos fans explain to me what the plan (lack of plan) was for Marvin Mims Jr.?
Among WRs with 30+ tgts on the season, this "screen or nine-route" usage is the most extreme I've seen for a player. pic.twitter.com/FHZqliimHR
— Kyle Borgognoni (@kyle_borg) February 15, 2024
In Week 2, for example, Mims caught two passes for 113 yards and a touchdown. One week later, he had three catches for 73 yards. He did that while playing 24% and 35% of snaps, respectively. Mims didn't have a snap rate over 50% on offense until Week 10, which was one of only two weeks where he surpassed that mark. The Broncos just didn't get him on the field enough.
Still, the big plays he made when he did get opportunities and the explosiveness he displayed in the return game showcase why he needs more opportunities. Mims might not be a No. 1 receiver, but he has the skills to be a great field-stretching No. 2 for the Broncos.
Jonathan Mingo - Carolina Panthers
Jonathan Mingo's rookie campaign was a series of ups and downs. He was targeted 85 times, but he only managed to bring in 43 of those for receptions. He had some good showings in the middle of the season, then had a combined three catches for nine yards in his final two games of the year.
ESPN's bottom-10 WRs from 2023 in their "Open" rating which is meant to help quantity separation ability.
(This is a Bryce Young tweet)https://t.co/39GAXPsblT pic.twitter.com/gStRIK8Q08
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) February 16, 2024
He performs well out of the slot and not-so-well on the outside, which makes his short-term value a little frustrating as the Panthers have Adam Thielen in that role. Thielen won't be around forever, though. Mingo could wind up as a valuable slot receiver for the Panthers and quarterback Bryce Young by 2025, with 2024 likely to be another up-and-down year, hopefully with a good bit more ups than before.
Demario Douglas - New England Patriots
The New England Patriots are probably going to do something this offseason to improve their passing game, whether it's drafting a rookie quarterback and signing a solid wide receiver or drafting Marvin Harrison Jr. and signing a veteran quarterback. Whatever path they take, it should help this team move the ball through the air more effectively.
Demario Douglas Deebo Samuels and Rashee Rice only wide receivers to accumulate 50 catches with 7.0 yards after catch or more 📶📶 @LibertyFootball pic.twitter.com/lqkKfkpIch
— Flames Wire (@WireFlames) February 13, 2024
It should also be good news for Demario Douglas, who had to basically be the default No. 1 receiver for the team as a rookie. Douglas wasn't consistent in that role, but in an improved offense, I think he'd be an ideal No. 2 receiver. The former Liberty wideout is a little undersized, but his explosiveness makes him capable of busting off a big play.
If he's playing across from MHJ, he'll see a lot of opportunities to win in single coverage. Even if the Patriots don't draft Harrison and grab a veteran receiver in free agency, he should find himself in an advantageous spot. I really like Douglas' long-term upside with this Patriots team.
Darius Slayton - New York Giants
No matter what the New York Giants do at wide receiver in the offseason, it seems like the end result is always the same, which is that Darius Slayton winds up leading the team in receiving yards. Four times in the last five years, Slayton's wound up atop the team's list of receiving yardage.
It doesn't matter that the Giants have spent draft capital on guys like Wan'Dale Robinson and Jalin Hyatt in recent years. It doesn't matter that they've signed free agents, like when they added Parris Campbell last year. Slayton just keeps finding himself atop the list.
Most yards per target in the last two seasons (min. 100 targets):
Rashid Shaheed (11.1)
Brandon Aiyuk (10.8)
Jaylen Waddle (10.7)
Tyreek Hill (10.3)
Kalif Raymond (10.2)
George Pickens (10.2)
Nico Collins (10.2)
Justin Jefferson (10.2)
Geroge Kittle (10.1)
Darius Slayton (10)— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) February 16, 2024
Heading into 2024, the Giants may move on from Slayton to save cap space, but if they don't, he should once again outperform expectations. The Giants just always seem to have things go wrong at wide receiver and Slayton and his consistency emerge out of the muck.
If you're looking for someone who can be a WR4 for you in fantasy, grabbing Slayton is a great idea. He's not going to cost you much at all and he can help you win now down the stretch. Slayton's a perfect example of a useful veteran who gets completely disregarded in dynasty because dynasty managers always want the next big thing,
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