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.
Fantasy Football Sleeper No. 25: Parris Campbell, WR, Indianapolis Colts
Colts head coach Frank Reich told 107.5 The Fan in May that he’s excited for Campbell’s second season.
"I’m super pumped about Parris and where the upside is. We didn’t get to see him enough (last year). He was hurt a lot. I’m proud of the way Parris has been handling the offseason. He’s been doing everything possible. He’s working out hard. I’m staying very much in touch with him, and with the trainers and what he’s doing and watching that whole process unfold. He’s really determined."
Indianapolis hopes Campbell can recover his health and move on from a forgettable rookie season. The Ohio State product only caught 18 passes for 127 yards and one touchdown last year. However, injuries played a large role in Campbell’s limited production. With a full offseason to get healthy and Philip Rivers taking over for Jacoby Brissett, Campbell’s value is heading in the right direction.
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Fantasy Football Sleeper No. 24: Trey Burton, TE, Indianapolis Colts
Burton spent time with Reich when the current head coach served as Philadelphia’s offensive coordinator. Reich’s offense in Philly led to Burton’s rise in the NFL and resulted in the Florida product signing a four-year, $32 million deal with the Chicago Bears. However, the Bears recently released Burton, freeing him to sign a one-year contract with Indianapolis.
While Burton won’t start in Indy, he’ll eat some of Eric Ebron’s old snaps along with Mo Alie-Cox.
Fantasy Football Sleeper No. 23: Chris Boswell, K, Pittsburgh Steelers
Boswell finished 12th in points amongst kickers last season with 126.0. However, he played on a team that didn’t feature a starting-caliber quarterback. With injuries also decimating the backfield and receiver corps, Pittsburgh’s offense struggled for most of the 2019 season.
Boswell connected on all 28 of his extra-point attempts last year, along with 29 of his 31 field goal attempts. With Ben Roethlisberger returning and the team getting healthy this offseason, Boswell’s production should rise in 2020.
Fantasy Football Sleeper No. 22: Nyheim Hines, RB, Indianapolis Colts
Points per reception (PPR) leagues love Hines. He’s produced 107 receptions over the past two seasons and should retain his role as Indy’s receiving back in 2020. The arrival of Jonathan Taylor might cut away a few of Hines’ carries, but Rivers’ arrival should help all pass-catchers in Indianapolis.
Hines finished 50th among all running backs with 73.9 points in standard leagues last year. He scored 117.9 points in PPR leagues and finished 42nd. This year, Hines should climb closer to a top-35 level, especially if Rivers revives Indy’s passing game.
Fantasy Football Sleeper No. 21: Boston Scott, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
Despite competing with Jordan Howard and Miles Sanders for snaps last season, Scott scored five rushing touchdowns. He also produced 449 yards from scrimmage. Now that Howard is no longer in Philadelphia, Scott’s touches should double in 2020. Sanders will also benefit from Howard’s absence, but Scott gets the most substantial increase in overall playing time.
Unfortunately for Scott’s fantasy value, Sanders excels as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. Otherwise, Scott could serve as the team’s primary receiving back.
Fantasy Football Sleeper No. 20: Gerald Everett, TE, Los Angeles Rams
Everett sits behind Tyler Higbee on Los Angeles’ depth chart. Higbee burst onto the scene last year, producing the ninth-most fantasy points by a tight end. Everett won’t replicate that jump in 2020, but he’s still a solid depth piece for a fantasy team in need of a second tight end.
In 13 appearances, Everett accumulated 52.8 fantasy points last year. That number should jump into the 70s if Jared Goff recovers from his lackluster 2019 season.
Fantasy Football Sleeper No. 19: Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Higgins joins a loaded wide receiver room in Cincinnati, but the Clemson rookie can separate himself from the team’s other pass-catchers. In college, Higgins caught 25 touchdowns during his final two seasons. Now, the jump-ball master joins Joe Burrow as the rookies try to resurrect Cincinnati’s franchise.
Tyler Boyd and A.J. Green sit ahead of Higgins on Cincinnati’s depth chart while John Ross lingers in the background. However, Higgins possesses a higher ceiling than Boyd, better durability than Green, and his floor is significantly higher than Ross’. Expect Higgins to become a large part of Cincinnati’s offense as the season progresses.
Fantasy Football Sleeper No. 18: Antonio Brown, WR, Free Agent
Out of all the risky players in this article, Brown carries the biggest asterisk. If he signs with a team this year, the former All-Pro will miss some time with a suspension. It’s just a question of how many weeks Brown must sit out before he can return. There’s also the risk that he falls back on bad habits and ends up without a team again.
There’s no guarantee Brown plays football in 2020, but he’d still be a top-15 receiver talent-wise. In 2018, Brown finished second among receivers in standard leagues with 219.7 points. His 323.7 points ranked fifth among receivers in PPR leagues.
Fantasy Football Sleeper No. 17: Justin Jackson, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers shook up their backfield this offseason. Melvin Gordon departed for Denver, which shifted Austin Ekeler to the starting spot. While Ekeler can carry a heavy load on the ground, he’s a better receiving back. That opens the door for rookie Joshua Kelley and Jackson to battle for a heavy workload.
Jackson only carried the ball 29 times last year and finished with 200 yards. However, Gordon’s departure frees up 162 carries and 55 targets. Even if he splits some of those touches with Kelley, Jackson’s production should skyrocket in 2020.
Fantasy Football Sleeper No. 16: Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Miami Dolphins
Betting on Tagovailoa’s success as a rookie could backfire on fantasy owners, but it’s a tempting risk. Tagovailoa battled injuries at Alabama and could start the season on the bench. With Ryan Fitzpatrick leading the Dolphins to a 5-11 record last season, there’s no rush to play Tagovailoa. However, the rookie should begin seeing regular action by Week 4.
Tagovailoa won’t make a huge impact at the start of the season, but he could become a hot commodity during the fantasy football playoffs. Fitzpatrick scored 254.46 fantasy points in 15 appearances and 13 starts last year. I don’t think Tagovailoa hits that total in 2020, but he should average around 16-20 points per game by the season’s final weeks.
One of the top five quarterback prospects from the past decade, Tagovailoa’s ceiling is as high as his injuries allow him to go.
Fantasy Football Sleeper No. 15: Jonnu Smith, TE, Tennessee Titans
The top tight end on Tennessee’s depth chart, Smith could put together a sneaky good performance in 2020. Smith’s 69.7 points last season finished 17th among tight ends in standard leagues. With Delanie Walker leaving in free agency and the Marcus Mariota era officially ending in Tennessee, Smith should set new career-highs in 2020.
Fantasy Football Sleeper No. 14: Alexander Mattison, RB, Minnesota Vikings
Last season, Mattison produced 462 rushing yards and one touchdown. His 58.4 fantasy points ranked 55th among running backs in standard leagues. However, chances are Dalvin Cook misses several games this coming year. He’s never played in a full 16-game season anyway. There’s also the slim chance Cook holds out in the hopes of receiving a large extension.
Between Cook’s fluctuating health and the Pro Bowler’s contract situation, Mattison’s fantasy value is quickly rising.
Fantasy Football Sleeper No. 13: Tyler Johnson, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Johnson set school records at Minnesota. The fifth-round pick joins a Buccaneers team that already features two superstar receivers and a deep crop of tight ends. Johnson should scoop up some of the targets Breshad Perriman received last season. Perriman signed with the New York Jets in free agency.
With Mike Evans and Chris Godwin drawing so much attention from defensive backs and defensive coordinators, Johnson should reap the benefits of single coverage and easier matchups. If Tom Brady spreads the ball around, Johnson should put together an impressive rookie season.
Fantasy Football Sleeper No. 12: Antonio Gandy-Golden, WR, Washington Redskins
Over his final two seasons at Liberty, Gandy-Golden amassed 150 receptions for 2,433 yards and 20 touchdowns. The 6-4, 223-pound receiver isn’t extremely quick, but his catch radius makes up for a lack of separation. The young receiver is larger than some NFL tight ends and could become the second option in a depleted Redskins offense.
Last season, Terry McLaurin asserted himself as Washington’s one true receiving threat. The second-year Ohio State product should continue his rise to fame, but the second receiver slot remains wide open. Kelvin Harmon finished second among Washington’s receivers in receiving yards last season with 365, but he could lose ground to Gandy-Golden in 2020.
Even if it takes Gandy-Golden a few weeks to make his way into the starting lineup, the Liberty product should see a large share of red zone targets throughout the year.
Fantasy Football Sleeper No. 11: Hunter Renfrow, WR, Las Vegas Raiders
In his 13 appearances as a rookie, Renfrow amassed 49 receptions for 605 yards and four touchdowns. He finished the year with 84.5 fantasy points in standard leagues and 133.5 points in PPR leagues. Renfrow ranked 55th among receivers in both formats. Even though Las Vegas added Henry Ruggs this offseason, Renfrow should hit the ground running in 2020.
After a slow start to the season, Renfrow averaged 76.5 receiving yards in his final four games. Only Dallas’ Michael Gallup (37.6) scored more points than Renfrow (32.9) in standard leagues over the final two weeks of the season. After only playing 435 offensive snaps last year, the Clemson product should at least see 600 snaps in 2020.
Fantasy Football Sleeper No. 10: Los Angeles Chargers, DEF
Los Angeles’ defense finished 27th in fantasy points last year, but the unit made some significant improvements this offseason. The Chargers signed Chris Harris in free agency, pairing him with Casey Hayward and Desmond King. Los Angeles’ secondary also gets Derwin James back. The All-Pro safety missed all but the final five games of the 2019 season.
The Chargers also addressed their issues at linebacker. After years of waiting for Denzel Perryman to grow into his own, Los Angeles selected Kenneth Murray with the 23rd overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. The second linebacker drafted, Murray should solidify the middle of Los Angeles’ defense and develop into a ten-year starter.
Los Angeles’ other major edition came in the form of former Pro Bowl defensive tackle Linval Joseph. The former Viking amassed five forced fumbles, 11.5 sacks, and 247 tackles over the past four seasons. He’s another reason why the Chargers should boast a top-15 defense in 2020.
Fantasy Football Sleeper No. 9: Tyler Eifert, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars
Five years ago, Eifert made the Pro Bowl by catching 52 passes for 615 yards and 13 touchdowns. Unfortunately, he ended each of the following three seasons (2016, 2017, and 2018) on injured reserve. During those three years, Eifert only appeared in 14 games. However, the Notre Dame product appeared in all 16 games last season and made four starts.
Eifert signed a two-year, $9.5 million deal with the Jaguars this offseason. With a team option for the second season, it’s a great deal for Jacksonville. Eifert easily becomes the team’s top tight end, slotting in ahead of Josh Oliver and James O’Shaughnessy on the depth chart. In an offense that hasn’t featured a reliable tight end in years, Eifert could see a large share of targets.
In standard fantasy leagues, Eifert finished 21st in points last season. His 63.6 points topped Cameron Brate, Eric Ebron, T.J. Hockenson, and O.J. Howard. Eifert should easily crack the top-15 fantasy tight ends this season.
Fantasy Football Sleeper No. 8: Gardner Minshew, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars
One of the five lowest-ranking quarterbacks in my 2020 quarterback power rankings article, Minshew possesses a higher fantasy ceiling than you might expect. While the sixth-round pick struggled with fumbling issues during his rookie season, Minshew put up solid passing numbers.
Minshew finished 20th in fantasy points scored by quarterbacks last season with 235.24, and he only appeared in 14 games. In a full 16-game season, Minshew could conceivably crack the top-15 fantasy quarterbacks, which could make him a late-round asset in larger leagues.
All hope isn’t lost in Jacksonville either. With Leonard Fournette behind him and a slew of young receivers, Minshew could put on an impressive display in 2020. As a rookie, he threw for 3,271 yards, 21 touchdowns, and only six interceptions. Minshew also flashed some versatility, rushing for 344 yards on 67 carries.
Fantasy Football Sleeper No. 7: Hayden Hurst, TE, Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons traded for Hurst in March, freeing the former first-round pick from Mark Andrews’ shadow in Baltimore. In Atlanta, Hurst walks into a situation where the Falcons need to replace Austin Hooper’s production at tight end. With no other proven tight ends on the depth chart, Hurst should receive the majority of Hooper’s targets.
Hurst finished last season with 46.9 points in standard leagues, which ranked 34th among tight ends. In comparison, Hooper finished seventh with 116.7 points despite only appearing in 13 games. Hooper played 724 offensive snaps for Atlanta while Hurst played 457 for Baltimore.
In a loaded passing offense, with starting snaps, Hurst should assert himself as a top-20 fantasy tight end at least. On the high end, he could crack the top-12. Although, some of that projection relies on Matt Ryan bouncing back from a disappointing 2019 campaign.
Fantasy Football Sleeper No. 6: Allen Lazard, WR, Green Bay Packers
Much to Aaron Rodgers’ dismay, the Packers did not draft a receiver this year. However, that’s good news for Lazard. The former undrafted free agent from Iowa State played a large role in Green Bay’s passing game last season as it’s wide receivers battled injuries and inconsistent play.
Lazard finished second on the Packers with 477 receiving yards. On a depth chart filled with mediocrity, Lazard emerged as a reliable target for Rodgers last season. Assuming he maintains his position on the team’s depth chart, Lazard should play an even larger percentage of the team’s offensive snaps in 2020.
Fantasy Football Sleeper No. 5: Will Dissly/Greg Olsen, TE, Seattle Seahawks
Olsen finished 15th among tight ends in standard leagues last season with 71.7 points. His 123.7 points ranked 13th in PPR leagues. After only appearing in 16 games between the 2017 and 2018 seasons combined, Olsen made 14 starts for the Carolina Panthers in 2019. His health remains a constant question for fantasy owners, but a healthy Olsen is fantasy gold.
The former Pro Bowl tight end joins Russell Wilson, forming a promising duo. Olsen presents the highest upside by a tight end in Seattle since Jimmy Graham’s ten-touchdown season in 2017. However, the Seahawks also boast a plethora of other options at tight end.
Notably, the team employs Dissly. The injury-prone tight end finished 30th in points among standard league tight ends this past season, despite only appearing in six games. He averaged 8.5 points per appearance, which tied for sixth-most in standard leagues.
Fantasy owners must decipher which Seattle tight end enters the season with the greater likelihood of receiving a large number of snaps. There’s always the chance another injury could permanently sideline either member of this duo, but they’re both incredibly productive when healthy.
Fantasy Football Sleeper No. 4: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, DEF
The Buccaneers finished tenth in standard league fantasy points last season with 134. However, only eight points separated Tampa Bay from sixth place. With most of the defense’s key contributors returning in 2020, the Buccaneers should outproduce their total from last season.
Tampa Bay’s defensive front allowed a measly 73.8 rushing yards per game (1,181 yards) in 2019. The unit even stopped Christian McCaffrey, limiting the All-Pro back to 68 rushing yards on 38 attempts (roughly 1.8 yards per attempt) during his two games against Tampa Bay. McCaffrey only caught six passes for 42 yards.
While the Buccaneers finished tied for seventh in sacks last season with 47, the team allowed the third-most passing yards per game (270.1). Hopefully, with Jameis Winston no longer setting the defense up for failure by throwing interceptions, Tampa Bay’s young secondary can continue developing and take a step forward in 2020.
Fantasy Football Sleeper No. 3: Blake Jarwin, TE, Dallas Cowboys
After 16 seasons with the Cowboys, Jason Witten parted ways with the franchise this offseason, signing a one-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders. Witten’s departure clears a way for Jarwin to claim Dallas’ top tight end spot on the depth chart. Originally an undrafted free agent, Jarwin could play a massive role in his team’s offense this season.
Witten caught 63 passes for 529 yards and four touchdowns last season while playing 845 offensive snaps. Those snaps now fall to Jarwin, who could realistically more than double his production from last year. Jarwin made 31 receptions for 365 yards and three touchdowns in 2019. Even with CeeDee Lamb arriving in Dallas, Jarwin should still get a lot more looks.
Dak Prescott threw for 4,902 yards and 30 touchdowns last year. He might not match that total in 2020, but the Cowboys did retain offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. The yardage totals alone should put Jarwin on the map in standard fantasy leagues. If Jarwin fills Witten’s role as Prescott’s security blanket, his value in PPR leagues should skyrocket.
Fantasy Football Sleeper No. 2: Matt Breida, RB, Miami Dolphins
While Breida led the San Francisco 49ers in rushing yards in 2018, he took a backseat to Raheem Mostert this past season. In late April, the 49ers sent Breida to Miami in exchange for a fifth-round pick. Now, the former undrafted free agent stands a chance at claiming Miami’s starting role and paving the way as the Dolphins transition to Tua Tagovailoa.
Even though he played second fiddle in San Francisco’s three-headed backfield last season, Breida still performed well enough to warrant a position on most fantasy teams. According to Fantasy Pros, Breida found his way onto a roster in the vast majority of Yahoo leagues. He finished 45th in points by a running back in standard leagues with 84.3.
Breida appears this high up the list because he should win Miami’s starting job from Jordan Howard and return to his 2018 form. While Howard averaged over 1,000 yards from scrimmage during his first three seasons in the NFL, the former Bear and Eagle battled injuries last year and lost his starting spot.
Compared to Howard, Breida is a more efficient back. He averaged 5.0 yards per carry over the past three seasons while Howard averaged 4.0. Breida could become a fantasy gold mine if he takes over in Miami.
Fantasy Football Sleeper No. 1: DeSean Jackson, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
Fantasy owners in PPR leagues probably won’t jump at the sight of Jackson at No. 1. It’s true, Jackson doesn’t catch a lot of passes. However, he’s still one of the best deep-threats in the league and can go off in any given week. Last season, Jackson opened the year by recording eight receptions for 154 yards and two touchdowns in Week 1.
Unfortunately, Jackson’s health remains a huge question. He only appeared in three games last season, and Jackson hasn’t played in all 16 games since 2013. It seems unlikely that he’ll suddenly snap that streak at 33 years old. However, if he can stay healthy for 12 to 14 weeks, he’s worth the gamble in standard fantasy leagues.
Jackson finished 32nd amongst wide receivers in standard leagues in 2018 with 110.3 points. He should top that number this season. The Eagles rebuilt their receiving corps this offseason, and Jackson is the key to it all working. He’s led the league in yards per reception four times during his career. To put that in perspective, Tyreek Hill hasn’t done it once. Jackson is the ultimate deep threat, and you can count on him catching some bombs from Carson Wentz this season.