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Nick Mariano's 2024 fantasy football draft sleepers for PPR leagues - NFL running backs (RB), wide receivers (WR) and tight ends (TE) to target in PPR drafts.
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Folks, you might be sick of the S-word by now but "Sleeper" is an integral piece of our fantasy lexicon. I do believe that everyone who uses it then needs to define what it means within the context of the article. In my mind, we need to head outside of the top-36 RB & WR, as well as top-10 TE, to find the bare minimum of someone being slept on.
For me, the term sleeper just means a mid-to-late round pick who could be an excellent value where they are currently being drafted so I will highlight two or three of my favorite sleepers at each of the three traditional positions. Those of you seeking kicker or defense sleepers, feel free to try me on X but you just need to play Week 1 schedules. I'd advise you to avoid drafting K or DEF and use the extra bench slots on late-round fliers. The piece originally ran in late June but aggregate ADP data for PPR drafts was updated on 08/09/2024. Last year's piece hit on Tyjae Spears, Rashee Rice, Jayden Reed, and Sam LaPorta, so who do we have this year?
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2024 Running Back PPR Draft Sleepers
Antonio Gibson (NE), RB50
Who led the 2024 Patriots in receptions? Living in Boston, I’m not confident I’d get more than a handful of people to dig up Ezekiel Elliott’s 51 catches. Rhamondre Stevenson exited Week 13 with a Grade 3 high-ankle sprain that ended his season with 38 catches, giving him a 50-catch pace as well. Zeke is gone and Gibson is in after averaging 45 receptions in the last three seasons.
The Pats did their best to re-tool the receiving room, drafting Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, but no other proven vets joined the offense. I can't say the K.J. Osborn hype has me excited. Neither Polk nor Baker were first-round “sure things” and will have an adjustment period. New England did get their next signal-caller in Drake Maye with vet insurance in Jacoby Brissett, but did little to beef up their poor offensive line this offseason.
The odds that a pocket will hold for long, developing plays are not great. Bringing in Gibson, who can make things happen in space via screen passes or short crossers, signals a self-awareness about the offensive capabilities. Gibson’s pass-block grade was also ranked fifth by PFF, which will help him earn snaps. He may not bring 20-point spike weeks in NE and must prove his fumbling woes are behind him, but the explosiveness with the ball and receiving prowess is a good starting block.
Antonio Gibson had a bad, bad fumbling problem last year (almost 1 per 29 touches), but he was also a beast after contact.
He averaged 3.51 rushing yards after contact, fourth-highest among RBs with 60+ carries, per PFF. https://t.co/xK7joKhLjf
— Andrew Callahan (@_AndrewCallahan) March 11, 2024
Jaleel McLaughlin (DEN), RB51
McLaughlin has gotten buzz by association due to some negative press for Javonte Williams. They’re joined by Samaje Perine and fifth-round rookie Audric Estime in an RB room begging for someone to take control. Williams lost most of 2022 to a major knee injury (torn ACL, LCL, and PCL) that led to a poor 3.6 yards per carry on 217 carries last season. He also caught 47-of-58 targets for another 228 yards on a flailing offense often playing from behind.
Meanwhile, McLaughlin posted a 5.4 YPC on 76 totes while hauling in 31-of-36 targets for 160 yards and two scores. He put up top-10 PPR games in Weeks 4 and 5 before falling back into the RB34-48 range in five straight. He did that while never topping a 40% snap count in any week. He’s got a chance to prove more than just a fiery change-of-pace back in a new Denver offense led by Bo Nix.
Perine is a potential cut candidate. Estime underwent a minor knee scope procedure and is out for the remainder of OTAs. Williams has to prove his knee is 100%. All of this is swirling while McLaughlin simply has to prove he can hold up to the workload challenge of 15 weekly touches in the NFL. Place your bets!
Will Shipley (PHI), RB66
The Philadelphia Eagles grabbed a burner in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft by selecting Shipley out of Clemson. The 5-foot-11 speedster exited the Gator Bowl on a cart after suffering a knee injury on a kickoff return, but the junior would avoid surgery and declare for the draft. Shipley averaged over five yards per carry and six yards per catch in each of his three Clemson campaigns, which blended with the versatility to earn First-team All-ACC RB, All-Purpose, and Specialist in 2022.
Now he’ll mix with Kenneth Gainwell for No. 2 RB duties behind Saquon Barkley while Jalen Hurts is a goal-line RB himself. Shipley’s value should come in bursts depending on how often Philly can scheme his wheels into space, but early momentum could prove critical. They’ve never had anyone like this, a “Weapon X” build, to deploy before. If the 2024 Eagles replicate last season’s first half then fantasy teams will be clamoring for a piece of the action.
Will Shipley has nice sleeper appeal. Offered by Bama, Georgia, Ohio State, etc. Started as a freshman at Clemson. Goal line and receiving role in all 3 years. Declares early. 21 years old. 206 pounds with 4.44 speed, 38.5 vert.
Can run every route out of the backfield. pic.twitter.com/O7umIFvqap
— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) April 6, 2024
2024 Wide Receiver PPR Draft Sleepers
Malachi Corley (NYJ), WR79
Corley, the “YAC King,” could (powerfully) hit the ground running if early chemistry is found with Aaron Rodgers. The Jets will look completely different in 2024 after selecting Corley in the third round to go with a recovering Mike Williams alongside Garrett Wilson. Those two can push the action downfield while Corley’s 5-foot-11, 215 lb frame will turn short dump-offs into first downs and TDs.
His receiving lines of 101-1,295-11 in 2022 and 79-984-11 in ‘23 look like traditional receiver output, yet Corley did the majority of his damage of screens, posting a 5.5 average depth of target. Hence the “YAC King” label, with his 2,056 yards after the catch and 838 yards after contact since 2021 leading college football and earning first-team All-Conference USA honors in both years.
Can the Jets find a way to unlock Corley’s unique blend of vision, power, and speed at the NFL level? And can they do so consistently enough for him to be a fantasy factor? Or will they insist on mixing in Xavier Gipson too much for us? It’s worth a late pick to find out if the royal moniker carries over to the NFL.
Greg Dortch (ARI), WR91
Dortch was invisible on the bench for much of the 2023 season but injuries to Michael Wilson (shoulder) and Marquise Brown (heel) led to snap counts above 75% down the stretch. Dortch would eclipse 11 PPR points in four games between Weeks 11-17.
That time window coincides with Kyler Murray returning from his torn ACL in Week 10. The signal-caller once again showed chemistry with Dortch after the two enjoyed a connection in 2022. The wideout scored over 13 PPR points in four games out of five where he exceeded a 70% snap share in 2022. But he was mostly pushed to the bench in favor of Rondale Moore, who is now in Atlanta.
Dortch has performed well when given starting reps and has a leg up on the slot role entering this season. We’ve seen him perform well in the windows when a clear avenue to reps is there. Marvin Harrison Jr. and Trey McBride will demand volume but the cost to acquire Dortch in drafts is nil, so the risk-reward ratio is tantalizing.
“Dortch’s role is expected to expand in 2024 even though the Cardinals landed a potential superstar wide receiver in rookie first-round draft pick Marvin Harrison Jr.
Dortch is projected to be the team’s primary slot receiver in addition to his work on special teams as a… https://t.co/mAQcWzVTdG
— 32BeatWriters (@32BeatWriters) June 21, 2024
2024 Tight End PPR Draft Sleepers
Tyler Conklin (NYJ), TE20
Conklin’s target tally has become a bit of a meme in our space, as he’s somehow notched exactly 87 looks in three straight seasons. But he’s never done all that much with them, averaging 60 catches for around 600 yards with just six total touchdowns while playing all 17 games each season. Scoring zero TDs in 2023 despite his target/reception total is an indictment of the Jets QB room sans Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers should be ready to go for 2024, providing Conklin with the best QB of his career. Even if Conklin’s target share falls amidst an improved Jets roster, the quality of target increase should yield a better outcome range. More trips to the red zone without a clear TE prospect bumping him for snaps (Jeremy Ruckert?) is the type of cheap dart we want late in drafts. Especially if they maintain his usage from the slot:
Top 5 Tight End Route Runners from the Slot
Ben Sinnott and Tyler Conklin can be late-round sleepers if you want to load up on other positions in your draft.
Conklin has Rodgers back at QB1, and Sinnott has the chance to take the TE1 role for the Commanders.
(@FantasyPtsData) pic.twitter.com/9TFLwSrL3l
— Troy Moore (@troymooreFPD) June 29, 2024
Ja'Tavion Sanders (CAR), TE27
Bryce Young’s offense failed on all fronts in 2023, but Dave Canales is in town to try and resuscitate this Panthers generation. Lots of attention is going to the RB/WR rooms after Jonathon Brooks and Xavier Legette were drafted, but Sanders stands with a similar opportunity.
He was the first pick in 2024’s fourth round. That isn’t a lofty pick but Tommy Tremble and Ian Thomas haven’t made an impression over multiple seasons (and don’t carry any significant draft capital/salary considerations themselves). Sanders checks in with 245 pounds on a 6-foot-4 frame that produced over 600 yards in back-to-back seasons at Texas.
If Canales can get Young’s confidence up with more effective throws in the short and intermediate fields then Sanders being involved on short outs or middle seam routes could supply plus volume. Brooks won’t be spearheading the RB room out of the gate as he recovers his top form following a torn ACL in 2023. Sanders will have to earn more work by proving himself as a run-blocker but the opportunity should be there.
*If you need to go elsewhere, then other late TEs near TE30 and beyond are Greg Dulcich and Theo Johnson.
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