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Joey's fantasy football PPR sleepers and value picks for 2024. These are seven RB, WR, TE fantasy football sleepers being drafted too late in PPR formats.
Most fantasy football managers either play in half-PPR or full-PPR leagues. That means drafting running backs, wide receivers, or tight ends who will catch a lot of passes is big. If you play in a PPR league and the tight end you draft catches 100 passes, that is an extra 100 points for your fantasy team throughout the year.
Those extra five or six points every week from catches alone could be the difference in a win or loss. Of course, first-round fantasy picks like CeeDee Lamb, Christian McCaffrey, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Tyreek Hill will catch many passes, resulting in a lot more fantasy points.
However, players are going later in drafts who are great targets in PPR formats. These seven players are currently undervalued and have the potential to catch a ton of passes in 2024.
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Undervalued Fantasy Football PPR Running Backs
Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
It's understandable why New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara is going as the RB17 in drafts. He just turned 29 years old and is coming off a subpar rushing year. Kamara rushed for a career-low 694 yards and five touchdowns in 2023. Second-year running back Kendre Miller should also see more work in the running game this year.
But don't forget just how valuable Kamara is in PPR formats. In 2023, he caught 75 passes on 86 targets for 466 yards and one touchdown. His 75 catches were the second most by a running back last year, while his 86 targets were tied for second with Bijan Robinson. The veteran also did that in just 13 games after starting the season on the suspended list. That helped him average the third-most fantasy points per game (17.9) at the position.
Alvin Kamara blasting through the gauntlet drill pic.twitter.com/YA1BTsHewB
— Brandon Thomas (@brandont504) July 29, 2024
Now, heading into the 2024 season, expect his involvement in the passing game to remain the same. Derek Carr targets running backs at an unusually high pace, and Kamara has seen at least 75 targets in six of his seven NFL seasons. That has helped him finish as a top 16 back in all seven years. So, he's an easy pick at his 51.5 ADP.
Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers
No quarterback threw to running backs more last year than Russell Wilson. While that might have had something to do with Sean Payton limiting his quarterback all-around, it is important to note Wilson did target his backs at a high pace in 2023. If that continues into this season, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren could be in for a monster fantasy season.
Given what he did last year in the passing game, it would be a shock to see offensive coordinator Arthur Smith not utilize Warren through the air. In 2023, the 25-year-old caught 61 passes for 370 yards while seeing 74 targets. Those 74 targets ranked tied for fifth among all running backs last year.
That high usage in the passing game helped Warren finish as the RB22 in PPR formats. However, for some reason, he finds himself going outside the top 30 in PPR formats this summer. Robinson saw a whopping 86 targets in Smith's offense last year, so look for the Steelers back to stay heavily involved in the passing game in 2024. As a result, he is an underrated PPR option entering the season.
Austin Ekeler, Washington Commanders
There's no doubt running back Austin Ekeler showed signs of slowing down last year in his age-28 season. He averaged a career-low 3.51 yards per carry while scoring just six total touchdowns. However, it's not time to count out the veteran yet, especially in PPR formats.
For starters, reports have come out of training camp saying that Ekeler looks better than ever so far. That's a great sign for his fantasy potential in 2024. With a rookie quarterback in Jayden Daniels under center, the young signal-caller should target his veteran running back often in the passing game.
Several reports on Austin Ekeler looking very explosive, quick in his first Washington camp.
Decent chance his 2023 season was hindered by his high ankle sprain and he returns as a PPR threat in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense.Currently RB41 in ADP
pic.twitter.com/MrURLLTJUk— Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT (@jmthrivept) July 29, 2024
On top of that, Ekeler dealt with a rough high ankle sprain in the first half of the season. Despite missing only four games, there's a good chance his nagging ankle injury affected his year-long numbers. As a result, the veteran could turn it up in the passing game again with his ankle issue behind him.
He has seen at least 70 targets in four of the last five seasons, and the Commanders will surely want to use his hands in the passing game to make things easier for Daniels. Given his 96.1 ADP on Sleeper, Ekeler is a great target at this point in drafts because of his receiving upside.
Undervalued Fantasy Football PPR Wide Receivers
Christian Kirk, Jacksonville Jaguars
The last time Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk was a WR1, he put up career numbers. Back in 2022, Kirk caught 84 passes for 1,108 yards and eight touchdowns while seeing 133 targets. Those 133 targets, 84 catches, and 1,108 yards all ranked top 17 among wide receivers that year.
With Calvin Ridley's arrival in 2023, though, Kirk didn't have as strong of a year. He caught 57 passes and missed the final five games of the season due to a groin injury. However, Ridley departed in free agency, leaving the 27-year-old wideout in prime position to be Jacksonville's WR1 again. Even though he played in just 12 games (11 full games) and split WR1 duties last year, the 27-year-old was still on pace for over 80 catches and 120 targets.
That makes him a fantastic selection at his 63.1 ADP. He is undoubtedly the Jaguars' WR1 in 2024 and the playmaker Trevor Lawrence will look to the most in the passing game. Kirk should see over 85 catches this year, making him an undervalued option currently in PPR formats.
Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
It makes very little sense why Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin is going in the sixth or seventh round of drafts this year, especially in PPR formats. Godwin has totaled 285 catches for 3,150 yards while seeing 399 targets over the past three seasons. In each of those years, the wideout finished with at least 125 targets, 83 catches, and 1,000 receiving yards.
Godwin is the definition of a PPR monster, as he catches a ton of passes every week. Last year, the Buccaneers playmaker caught at least five passes in 11 of 17 games. In 2022, he caught at least five passes in 14 straight games to end the season. With the 28-year-old working exclusively in the slot this upcoming season, he should continue to put up strong numbers.
Chris Godwin is officially back in the slot🔥
PPG finish vs. Slot snap % (via @rotounderworld):
2023: WR38 / 32.1%
2022: WR14 / 57.6%
2021: WR9 / 57.5%
2020: WR15 / 55.8%Screaming value at ADP WR34. pic.twitter.com/SMVA3tLCX5
— Victoria (@ffb_victoria) July 25, 2024
In the middle to late rounds of fantasy drafts, it is important to target players with a high floor and ceiling. Well, fantasy managers can get that type of player in Godwin at his 74.5 ADP. Given his potential to catch 80-plus passes again this year, don't be surprised if the Buccaneers wideout finishes as a top-18 option in fantasy in 2024.
Diontae Johnson, Carolina Panthers
Wide receiver Diontae Johnson might have switched teams this offseason, but that doesn't mean he won't be the same type of player on his new team. Johnson went from the Steelers to the Carolina Panthers after Pittsburgh traded him for cornerback Donte Jackson and a pick swap in March.
Of course, there is some risk in drafting the 28-year-old wideout in fantasy this year because he is attached to quarterback Bryce Young. Young struggled mightily in his first season and completed just 59.8% of his passes. Nevertheless, Johnson's arrival should help the young quarterback's development. He is an excellent route runner who should serve as Carolina's WR1. As a result, he should be a target for every fantasy manager at his 93.4 ADP.
He will be Young's favorite target in the passing game, and Johnson has produced solid numbers with some questionable quarterback play over the past two years. Despite catching passes from Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, and Mitchell Trubisky since 2022, the former Toledo product still saw 234 targets and caught 137 passes across 30 games.
With new head coach Dave Canales also in town, Johnson should be in store for a great season. So, take a chance on the Panthers wideout in fantasy this year.
Undervalued Fantasy Football PPR Tight Ends
Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson enjoyed a strong 2023 campaign in his first full season as a starter. Ferguson caught 71 passes for 761 yards and five touchdowns while also seeing a career-high 102 targets. Those 102 targets and 71 catches both ranked in the top nine at the tight-end position last year. Now, entering the 2024 season, there's reason to believe that the former Wisconsin product is in for a breakout year.
Ferguson quickly emerged as Dak Prescott's second-favorite target in the passing game after the team's Week 7 bye. The 25-year-old tight end caught at least four passes in nine of the final 11 regular-season games. He also caught 10 passes for 93 yards and three touchdowns in the Cowboys' playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Ferguson has everything you want in a fantasy tight end. He'll see a lot of opportunities in the passing game and plays on a top offense in the NFL. With the Cowboys not adding any weapons for Prescott this offseason, look for the quarterback to lean on his young tight end in the middle of the field. As a result, he is currently undervalued in fantasy drafts at his TE11 ADP on Sleeper.
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