September 2, 2016

Evan analyzes four wide receiver who could be great sleeper candidates in the later rounds of fantasy football drafts

Its quite easy to know how to pick your players in the beginning rounds of a fantasy football draft. There are a lot of big names and highly talented players that are projected to lead your team for the year. The really tough part is finding that diamond in the rough that gives your later picks good value.

Here is a list of four wide receivers that can round out your draft nicely, and have the potential of being good sleepers in the upcoming 2016 year for fantasy football.

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Wide Receiver Draft Targets

Travis Benjamin, Chargers WR

Travis Benjamin had a nice little fantasy football season last year with the Cleveland Browns. 68 receptions for 966 yards and five touchdowns. He showed an array of deep-threat-speed and quickness which made him a prime target for the multitude of quarterbacks who assumed the position last year for the Browns. Imagine what he would do with a prime-time quarterback…

Insert Phillip Rivers’ name here. Rivers is the perfect west-coast gun-slinging type of a quarterback that meshes perfectly with a receiver like Benjamin. In 2015, Rivers posted in at a career high in passing attempts (661), completions (437), and passing yards (4,792). For those of you keeping track at home, Rivers averaged a ridiculous 41.3 passing attempts per game last season. While San Diego does in fact have a decent top receiver in Keenan Allen, look for Benjamin as a great second option especially since Stevie Johnson is now on injured reserve. .

Benjamin could end up being the steal of the draft. In most formats he is being drafted in the 11th or 12th round. Look for his upside to be of the WR2 category with a potential to be a low-end WR1 at his best.

Kamar Aiken, Ravens WR

Kamar Aiken also had a fine season at fantasy football wide receiver and really came on toward the end of his year. His numbers are actually strikingly similar to that of Travis Benjamin with 75 receptions, 944 yards, and five touchdowns in 2015. He finished the year with 126 targets as well.

Last year’s success could have also been due to the fact that the Ravens had a plethora of injuries at the wide receiver position, including Breshad Perriman and Steve Smith. Now that the receiving core is healthier it might make life for Aiken a little bit harder. However, he did open a lot of eyes with his above average play. Joe Flacco and Kamar developed a solid rapport last season and the carry over to this year could be solid. Aiken has a solid frame at 6’2’’ 215 pounds, and will present as stellar pass catcher for the Ravens this 2016 season.

Aiken is being drafted around the 11^th or 12^th round this year, he presents as a solid wide receiver flex option for your team.

Mohamed Sanu, Falcons WR

If you like big-bodied wide receivers in a very pass heavy offense whose team plays eight home games a year in a dome alongside Julio Jones, then Sanu is your guy. If that scenario doesn’t scream “potential” then I do not know what does. Sanu, who stands at 6’2’’ 210 pounds, will be playing in the high octane offense with Matt Ryan looking to get someone else the ball besides the one and only Julio. It was pretty obvious that Atlanta was desperate for another wide receiver to add to their roster when they decided to give Sanu a generous $32-million-dollar contract.

It is of course no doubt Sanu will be second to Julio, but that plays perfectly into his numbers. Jones will more than likely grab a lot of defense’s attention and draw double coverage, while Sanu will be singled up on the other side of the field. This will pave the way for him to shine in this offense. In most leagues, Mohammed will be available in the 13^th round of the draft. Look for him to catch 80-90 balls this year and have the potential to be a flex WR with the ceiling of a WR2.

Dorial Green-Beckham, Eagles WR

Let’s reach deep into the vault here and analyze this potential fantasy football deep sleeper for a moment. Dorial Green-Beckham is the former early second round pick of the Tennessee titans in 2015. His rookie season was not too great to note, but he did have a pair of 100+ yard games toward the end of the season. It is also important to mention that last season the Tennessee Titans offense was terrible and Marcus Mariota was going through his own growing pains.

The Philadelphia Eagles have just acquired Green-Beckham in a trade last week for almost next to nothing in return. Seems it was kind of early for the Titans to give up on a guy who is 6’5’’, drafted in the second round, and played only one year in the system. In most leagues, Green-Beckham won’t even be drafted. Be smart and take him with your last pick if you are still in need of a wide receiver. Let’s see what the second year big man can do in a more competent offense.