Fantasy Football: Looking for deep sleepers to target? Here are 12

Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots (6% on the list)

Maye will enter the season behind Jacoby Brissett, but he’ll have a fantasy impact when he inevitably becomes New England’s starter. The Patriots aren’t a favorable fantasy prospect, but Maye’s running ability could make up for that. He was a five-star recruit with the best career big-time throw rate in the last two QB classes. Maye faced a turnstile offensive line and a terrible supporting cast in college, but he led the NCAA in total offense (5,109 yards) in 2022.

Maye averaged nearly as many rushing yards per game (if you remove sacks) as Anthony Richardson and more than Justin Fields in college. He rushed for 1,100-plus yards with 16 touchdowns in his two starting seasons, so Maye is a deep fantasy sleeper.

Carson Steele, RB, Kansas City Chiefs (3%)

Steele has emerged as a candidate to take over Kansas City’s RB2 role with Clyde Edwards-Helaire dealing with off-field issues, Jerick McKinnon out and Deneric Prince out. Newly acquired Samaje Perine will have to do some passing down work, but Steele may be the favorite to provide goal-line carries in an offense expected to score the third-most points in the league.

Steele had a 29% avoided tackle percentage in college and has accumulated yards after contact, avoiding an NFL-high 11 tackles on 11 preseason carries. He’s not athletic, but research suggests 40 speed doesn’t really matter. Starter Isiah Pacheco is looking at a heavier workload in 2024, but he had never topped 170 carries (including college) before setting a career high with a modest 205 rushing attempts last season; he’s by no means assured of more work.

Steele could be a real difference maker if he takes over KC’s starting role.

Taysom Hill, QB/TE, New Orleans Saints (41%)

Hill figures to be a major fantasy sleeper after earning tight end eligibility from Yahoo. Juwan Johnson appears ready for Week 1, but Hill will be used in different ways in New Orleans, perhaps more so than usual. The Saints are thin at wide receiver and running back, with the latter group led by a pair of declining backs pushing 30. Hill saw 65% of the snaps with the starters during the preseason, and he could easily be the team’s second-leading rusher in 2024.

Hill has the same number of carries (30) inside the 10-yard line as Alvin Kamara over the last two years, and tight end becomes a gamble after the top 12. Hill is my TE13.

Cam Akers, RB, Houston Texans (2%)

Akers is the leading candidate to take over as Houston’s RB2. Dameon Pierce seemed like the favorite, but he’s struggled in the preseason after finishing bottom-five in rushing yards last season, above expectations. Meanwhile, Akers has looked terrific, with 173 total yards and 13 missed tackles on 32 touches.

Akers is a former elite prospect who finally looks healthy again. He has real fantasy potential, as he is just one Joe Mixon injury away from becoming the lead back in a potent Houston offense.

Demarcus Robinson, WR, Los Angeles Rams (6%)

Jordan Whittington, WR, Los Angeles Rams (2%)

Robinson is the favorite to once again serve as LA’s WR3 in 2024, and he was quietly a top 20 fantasy WR from Weeks 13-17 last season. Whittington, meanwhile, has been a highly sought-after rookie who has flashed during the preseason (36% TPRR!). Whittington has been (unrealistically) compared to “this year’s Puka Nacua,” but he’s certainly on the right team to make that happen.

The Rams used 3WR sets 95% of the time last year, a league high (up to 100% in preseason), and Sean McVay’s offense has been a fantasy goldmine for wide receivers. Whoever emerges as LA’s WR3 also possesses contingent fantasy upside should Cooper Kupp and/or Nacua suffer injuries, both entering 2024 at increased risk for different reasons.

Tank Bigsby, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars (5%)

It’s entirely possible that Bigsby simply isn’t good, but the messages have been overwhelmingly positive all summer. Jacksonville used a third-round pick last season on Bigsby, who has scored 20 touchdowns in his final two years at Auburn. The Jaguars’ depth chart is thin behind Travis Etienne, who was tested last year when he was given a heavier workload. There has been talk of reducing Etienne’s usage in 2024, and Bigsby should benefit from that.

Zach Ertz, TE, Washington Commanders (4%)

Ben Sinnott is Washington’s tight end of the future, but the veteran Ertz could have a sly big role in 2024. He was on pace to surpass 100 targets before getting hurt last season (with Trey McBride as a teammate!), and he’ll be reunited with Kliff Kingsbury in Washington. Ertz isn’t explosive at this stage of his career, but he quietly earned a 23% TPRR last season. His role will likely expand even further with the Commanders after trading Jahan Dotson, so Ertz is a fantasy sleeper at a tight end position that’s wide open beyond the top 12.

Jalen McMillan, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5%)

McMillan put up huge numbers (28.9% target share, 4.12 yards per route run!) when he wasn’t sharing the field with Washington’s Rome Odunze. He also had an impressive preseason, posting a 37.5% target share and a 3.56 YPRR mark. McMillan played the opening drive along with the rest of Tampa Bay’s starters in the team’s final preseason game, when the first-team offense ran exclusively three-receiver sets. McMillan will have peak weeks as a rookie, and there’s more upside if injuries occur.

Emanuel Wilson, RB, Green Bay Packers (3%)

Wilson is a super sleeper who suddenly enters the season as Green Bay’s RB2. Josh Jacobs appears ready for Week 1, but AJ Dillon was placed on season-ending IR. Meanwhile, rookie MarShawn Lloyd missed most of camp with a hamstring injury, leaving him with no timeline to return.

Wilson had 78 total yards on 13 chances when he started the Packers’ final preseason game, and he played well in short order last year. Green Bay will have a potent offense, so Wilson should be on fantasy’s radar in deeper leagues.

Judge Hill, RB, Baltimore Ravens (3%)

Hill comes in as Baltimore’s clear RB2 with Gus Edwards and JK Dobbins gone. Keaton Mitchell isn’t expected to return until November and likely won’t be 100 percent until 2025. Derrick Henry is the Ravens’ workhorse, but he’s 30 years old, has over 2,000 career carries and is entering his ninth year in the league. Baltimore’s backfield produced the fourth-most fantasy points last year, so Hill would quickly become relevant if Henry were to go down.

Sione Vaki, RB, Detroit Lions (not drafted)

Vaki played both running back and safety in college, and the rookie has become one to watch in 2024. Detroit drafted him in the fourth round, and Vaki was incredibly efficient when given RB opportunities during his final year at Utah. It would take an injury to Jahmyr Gibbs or David Montgomery (and Craig Reynolds remains a hurdle), but the Lions are projected to score the second-most points in the NFL this season. Detroit RBs have put up the most projected fantasy points over the past two seasons, so the Lions are perfectly capable of supporting two backs. Vaki could ultimately make his mark in 2024.