Fantasy Football: 25 Sleepers to jump on for the 2020 season

These fantasy football sleepers could be league-winning diamonds in the rough.

Teams finding diamonds in the rough determines the difference between winning and losing in professional sports. The same goes for fantasy football. Every year, a handful of sleepers play a massive role in deciding who enters the playoffs with a stacked roster. This season, several players stick out as bargain prospects worth scooping up.

With so many people participating and betting money in fantasy football leagues, team owners desperately search for an edge over their competitors. Everyone wants the next 2010 Michael Vick or 2019 Darren Waller. This year, there’s no shortage of potential fantasy gems for the taking.

Before we get into the top 25, I should add a disclaimer. There’s significant boom-or-bust potential with a handful of these selections. However, the upside is so high that it’s worth taking a shot on some of these prospects in late rounds. There are also several players who could go in earlier rounds.

The 25 players assembled for this article combine a mixture of pure, proven talent and projections. Several of these players struggled miserably last season, but they’re in line for significant roles on their current teams. On the other hand, several players possess borderline Pro Bowl skill, but they’re in bad situations that limit their productivity.

Now, we’ll briefly cover some honorable mentions before cracking the top 25.

Fantasy Football Sleepers: Honorable Mentions

Kendrick Bourne, WR San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers did add Brandon Aiyuk in the 2020 NFL Draft, but the team also said goodbye to Marquise Goodwin and Emmanuel Sanders this offseason. Last year, Bourne tied for the team lead in receiving touchdowns with five. He finished fourth on the 49ers with 30 receptions and 358 receiving yards.

KJ Hamler, WR, Denver Broncos

The Broncos drafted Hamler with a second-round pick this year. Hamler didn’t run at the combine, but the Penn State product claims he ran a 4.27-second 40-yard dash in training. That mark would’ve tied him with Henry Ruggs for the top time at the combine this past year. He joins a young receiving corps as a true deep threat.

Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings

One of the most well-rounded receivers in the 2020 NFL Draft, Jefferson landed with Minnesota at 22nd overall. The LSU product joins a Vikings team looking to replace Stefon Diggs’ production. With no notable wide receivers on the team outside of Jefferson and Adam Thielen, expect Kirk Cousins to target his rookie pass-catcher often.

Bo Scarbrough, RB, Detroit Lions

Scarbrough took over for the injured Kerryon Johnson late in the 2020 season. While the Alabama product couldn’t find a stable home in 2018, he finished second on the Lions in rushing last year, despite only appearing in six games. The addition of D’Andre Swift does hurt Scarbrough’s 2020 fantasy value.