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There are plenty of NFL rookies that were highly touted heading into the 2013 season, and were being targeted in fantasy football drafts. And there are also some rookies who weren’t on anybody’s radar back in September, but are now fantasy relevant. Below I'll check in on three NFL rookies who have caught my interest for deeper fantasy leagues. These are some NFL rookie sleepers to consider for your week 9 fantasy lineups, or guys to keep on eye on and see how they perform for the approaching weeks:
Fantasy Football Rookie Sleepers
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:
- 2025 fantasy football rankings
- Running back (RB) fantasy football rankings
- Wide receiver (WR) fantasy football rankings
- Tight end (TE) fantasy football rankings
- Quarterback (QB) fantasy football rankings
- FLEX fantasy football rankings
- Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
- Kicker (K) fantasy football rankings
- Dynasty fantasy football rankings
Get him now!
Kenny Stills, WR, New Orleans Saints: It’s hard to say that a player who might win Rookie of the Week this week is truly a sleeper, but considering he is still owned in only 40% of leagues (up from 9% percent last week), he still seems to be under-the-radar for some. On a Saints offense led by Drew Brees, there are plenty of opportunities for a rookie to make an impact. In their game against Buffalo, Stills's talent was on display as he finally broke through with 129 yards and two touchdowns. The concern here, though, is that with so many viable, talented Saints receivers, Stills will be a boom-or-bust player all season long. Against the Bills, Brees was able to connect with ten different receivers, and as the season goes on, Stills won’t always be the benefactor. This will be especially true when Jimmy Graham returns to full strength. Stills is definitely worth a roster spot, but be careful about putting all your eggs in this basket.
Wait and see…
Knile Davis, RB, Kansas City Chiefs: Jamaal Charles is arguably one of the most consistent, productive running backs in the league this year, which is why the name Knile Davis hasn’t exactly been making headlines. Davis has seen some time on the field in recent weeks as Charles has faced sore quad muscles, blisters on his feet and most recently, a sore knee. The strain of a season as the workhorse for the Chiefs is beginning to wear Charles down; the possibility of him needing more opportunities for rest as the season progresses is high. Last weekend, Davis had three carries for 13 yards and a 12-yard catch in replacement of Charles. Davis has struggled some this year with fumbles and running incorrect plays, but he will get more and more comfortable with more time on the field. The Chiefs' coaching staff hasn't spent much time building up his skills, but they will likely focus on that more now in anticipation of him seeing more time on the field. If Charles misses any games or continues to be plagued with injuries, Davis could be a solid sleeper pickup.
Deep sleeper...
Levine Toilolo, TE, Atlanta Falcons: The Atlanta Falcons season has been unraveling one week at a time. With Roddy White at less than 100% and Julio Jones out for the year, the offense has started playing more two-tight-end formations, which means the emergence of Levine Toilolo. Playing second fiddle to a player like Tony Gonzalez doesn’t often offer much of a chance to shine, but Toilolo has impressed his coaches and has earned the chance to be a part of the Falcons attempts to make up for their lost receivers. Toilolo is 6’8”, and has proven to be a viable red zone target for Matt Ryan, with two touchdowns already this season. There isn't another healthy backup tight end competing with him for the No. 2 role, and if Tony Gonzalez goes down, Toilolo would become the No. 1 guy. I’m not saying you should run out and get him right now, but he’s worth keeping an eye on as he becomes a more integral part of the Atlanta offense.
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In case you missed them, here are some other RotoBaller Week 9 articles. Let’s win some leagues!
- Week 9 Waiver Wire Running Backs (RB)
- Week 9 Waiver Wire Pickups – Quarterbacks (QBs)
- Week 9 Waiver Wire Running Backs (RB) – Deep Leagues
- Week 9 Waiver Wire – Wide Receivers (WR) & Defenses (DEF)
- Week 9 Waiver Wire Pickups – Tight Ends (TE)
- Waiver Wire Sleepers for Week 9
- Going Bonkers - Week 9 Sleepers for Fanduel
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