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Martin Konstantinov lists more undervalued WRs that could be late-round draft sleepers or early-season fantasy football adds or pickups.
As draft season comes to an end, it is important to remember that there is good value available in the late rounds or even on waivers after it's all over. Lottery ticket picks that work out often end up being difference-makers for the fantasy owners that select the aforementioned players.
One position where fantasy owners tend to ignore hidden value, however, is wide receiver. Despite the fact that the difference between top wideouts and complementary options is not incredibly huge, many fantasy owners still try to select running back sleepers late in drafts in the hopes that they end up in workhorse roles at some point during the season.
Let's take a look at some very deep wide receiver sleepers and try to figure out if they are worth a lottery ticket selection in the final rounds of your drafts.
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More Late-Round Wide Receiver Sleepers
Cordarrelle Patterson, New England
After years of being used as a gadget player for the Vikings, Cordarrelle Patterson signed a free agency deal with the Oakland Raiders and largely disappointed. Although he was a solid return man and had 121 rushing yards in addition to his 309 receiving yards, he wasn't utilized as heavily as he was early on in his Vikings career. However, since then Patterson has been signed by the New England Patriots. Normally, signing a depth wide receiver who has never reached the 500-yard receiving mark would cause little chatter, but because of the special playmaker that Patterson is and the fact that he now gets to work with famed coach Bill Belichick, there is reason to believe that Patterson could be in for a career year. With fellow wide receiver Julian Edelman suspended for the first four weeks, Patterson could be one of the team's top wideouts as well as a threat in the ground and return game. Keep an eye on Patterson as the season begins; he could certainly have a comeback year with the Patriots in 2018.
Terrelle Pryor, New York Jets
Two years removed from a 1,000-yard season with the Browns, Terrelle Pryor is now trying to earn a starting role on the New York Jets. Pryor bet on himself to succeed after signing a one-year deal with the Redskins for the 2017 season but failed to impress. Now, having signed another deal with the New York Jets, Pryor will compete with the likes of Robby Anderson, Jermaine Kearse, and Quincy Enunwa for a starting role. Although it is unlikely that Pryor reaches the same heights he did in 2016, his resolve cannot be questioned after all that he has gone through to become a wide receiver in the NFL. Pryor is a decent option to consider in the last round of fantasy drafts because he offers the upside of a 1,000 yard receiver who may have a career revitalization playing with rookie quarterback Sam Darnold this season.
John Brown, Baltimore Ravens
In 2015, John Brown set the fantasy community alight with a 1,000 yard, seven touchdown season to match the output of both Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd. Brown is a speedy deep threat who failed to improve on his performances in 2015 and has largely struggled with injuries for the past two seasons, mitigating his fantasy output. Nevertheless, Brown is now no longer on the Arizona Cardinals and is instead playing for the Baltimore Ravens alongside fellow wide receivers Michael Crabtree and Willie Snead. With a chance to improve drastically on his performances in 2017, Brown should become a solid flex option as the second wide receiver on the team. There are certainly worse players to target going into the final rounds of fantasy drafts this year.
Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos
With the Broncos shored up at the wide receiver position due to the presence of veterans Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders, it was a bit of a surprise when the team selected Courtland Sutton with the 40th overall selection in the 2018 NFL Draft. However, Sutton has impressed immensely in the team's preseason and training camp activities. It looks as if the big-bodied wide receiver from SMU will justify his draft cost out of the gates, as he has adjusted seamlessly to the NFL's playing style. Only time will tell if he is able to displace either Thomas or Sanders from their roles. For now, Sutton is behind them in the depth chart; however, a string of good performances and a connection with Case Keenum would certainly make a case for continued involvement for the rookie in 2018.
Anthony Miller, Chicago Beras
Another rookie second round pick, Anthony Miller figures to produce out of the gates for a Bears offense that lacks a significant receiver presence outside of Allen Robinson. With Robinson himself experiencing a few down seasons in a row, a starting role is not out of the question for Miller, who is a former walk-on with Memphis. Miller has shown that he has the traits to succeed in the NFL, and the Bears will likely continue to focus on the development of quarterback Mitchell Trubisky in his second season. Coach Matt Nagy is sure to have a role already prepared for Miller this season; if his college performances are anything to go off of, fantasy owners should definitely keep an eye on Miller in the backend of fantasy drafts due to his potential to make an immediate impact for the Bears this season.
