Fantasy Football: One sleeper to target from each team
By Zach Cohen
AFC West Fantasy Football sleeper
Denver Broncos: Drew Lock, QB
Denver is locked and loaded on offense. (Get it?) They retooled their weaponry by signing running back Melvin Gordon and by drafting receivers Jerry Jeudy, KJ Hamler and Tyrie Cleveland. And all just to help their young quarterback. Lock looked good in certain stretches during the 2019 season, and while the jury is still out on how good Lock actually is, he certainly has the arsenal to make an impact this fantasy season.
His limited rushing ability rightfully caps his upside, but his ceiling is much higher than QB23. Noah Fant is a popular sleeper in this offense, though he’ll need to compete for targets on a suddenly crowded offense. Confidence Meter: Low
Los Angeles Chargers: Tyrod Taylor, QB
There’s a chance Taylor doesn’t even start for the Chargers, so this choice could be a total bust. With that said, Taylor’s dual-threat ability is a huge bonus for fantasy owners. Without a doubt, Taylor’s biggest fantasy assets are his legs. In his four seasons before coming to Los Angeles, Taylor averaged 5.7 rushing yards per attempt and 35.4 rushing yards per game.
Last year, every quarterback who averaged 30 or more rushing yards a game finished as QB8 or higher. If Taylor can remain the starter, he could be a steal. He’s going undrafted in most leagues. Confidence Meter: Low
Kansas City Chiefs: Mecole Hardman, WR
Clyde Edwards-Helaire was here since March, until Damien Williams opted out. Edwards-Helaire’s ADP has skyrocketed too high to be a sleeper, even if he has a legit shot to finish as the best RB in fantasy. Is it even possible for any Chiefs player to be a sleeper? Hardman has flashed star potential and he would be the top wide receiver on a top offense if Hill misses time again.
Unfortunately, that also means he would be a massive boom-or-bust prospect. Hardman’s 2019 season was wildly inconsistent; one week he would post double-digits, the next he’d barely produce two points. Still, his upside is undeniable, which makes him suitable to be a sleeper on a team full of fantasy-relevant players. Confidence Meter: Medium
Las Vegas Raiders: Lynn Bowden Jr., RB/WR
The Raiders completely revamped their offensive skill positions, adding rookies Henry Ruggs, Lynn Bowden and Bryan Edwards to go with newcomers Nelson Agholor and Devontae Booker. With Tyrell Williams, Hunter Renfrow, Darren Waller and Josh Jacobs still on the roster, that’s a whole lot of mouths to feed in Oakland, er, Las Vegas. So who could be the guy to break out from the bunch?
Popular opinion may be Henry Ruggs III, but I’ll take Lynn Bowden Jr. for fantasy purposes. While listed as a running back, Bowden is technically also a wide receiver. Having two positions should give him ample opportunities to see the field more. Like most of the sleepers on this list, Bowden’s value is higher in PPR leagues. Bryan Edwards is definitely worth monitoring, too. Honestly, he could finish the season as Las Vegas’ top wide receiver. Confidence Meter: Low