Of all the positions in fantasy football, wide receiver is one that is rostered more than any other. More players drafted means more players targeted as sleepers. But with more options to go with late in your draft, finding the right wideouts to target isn’t necessarily an easy objective.
Titus Young, Golden Tate and Brian Quick were three athletes advertised as go-to sleepers last season by some (not by me) who never lived up to the billing. Last season, I presented you a group of five sleepers that was highlighted by Randall Cobb, Demaryius Thomas and Torrey Smith. This year I hope to offer up similar results with a few more options in the mix.
T.Y. Hilton, Ind
Like Colts’ quarterback Andrew Luck, T.Y. Hilton was an impressive rookie last season that garners serious attention in your draft. The two of them were an impressive duo last year under offensive coordinator Bruce Arians. However, with Arians hired as head coach in Arizona, some are expecting a sophomore slump from the both of them. Don’t buy into that. This WR3 had a better season last year than Darrius Heyward-Bey has had his entire four-season career so don’t write him off for the former first-round pick. That pick WAS made by the Raiders…
Hilton has 4.34 speed and made good use of that speed with double-digit plays of 25-plus yards. Hilton also had 100 yards receiving or more in five games and should be able to repeat that with the schedule he and Luck have lined up. At times last year he was a bit up and down. But with another year beside Luck and Reggie Wayne collecting social security in the not-so-distant future, Hilton should be able to warrant more consistency this year. He racked up 506 receiving yards and 5 TDs in the last seven games of last season. Expect T.Y. Hilton to start producing Week 1.
Hilton can be had as early as the 6th round and that is exactly where you should grab him. Call me crazy, but I’d rather have Hilton instead of Mike Wallace, Eric Decker and Jordy Nelson, who are often being selected ahead of arguably the best WR3 in football.
Emmanuel Sanders, Pit
If there was one receiver out of the AFC North worth targeting in your draft late, Emmanuel Sanders is that guy. With Mike Wallace taking his talents to South Beach, a less than stellar rushing attack in Pittsburgh, Heath Miller shelved for the first part of the season and Sanders in a contract year, Sanders is a great third or fourth receiver to draft.
The Patriots signed him to an offer sheet in the spring but the Steelers quickly matched thanks in large part to the advice of part-time quarterback and part-time GM Ben Roethlisberger. When given the field-time on game day, he has been able to produce, given his soft hands and quick feet. The third-round pick out of Southern Methodist University will certainly be given more looks down the field at times (13.2 yards per catch on mostly short routes) with Wallace gone and Antonio Brown filling the void left by Wallace’s departure. Yet, in a PPR league, Sanders should thrive given Todd Haley’s short-passing offense that will look to make defenders miss. He’s going off the board in the 10th round beside names like Vincent Brown, Michael Floyd and Kenny Britt. There’s no logical reason to draft him behind those guys so take him in the ninth and reward yourself with an ice cream.
Kenbrell Thompkins, NE
Just as everyone was wondering who Tom Brady would throw to in New England, Kenbrell Thompkins has given them one answer thus far in the preseason. As much as I liked (and still like) Aaron Dobson as a sleeper in New England, it’s hard to ignore the 6-foot-1, 25-year-old receiver out of Cincinnati.
The undrafted rookie wideout has led all New England pass-catchers with 15 grabs for 157 yards in preseason action. More importantly, Thompkins has also shown the ability to get off the line in press coverage, while also soliciting his versatility by working out of the slot and split-end. The sample size for Thompkins has been small this year but it’s clear who Brady’s favorite receiver has been.
If they can muster up some type of consistency–which Brady has made a career out of–the individual who selects Thompkins should be able to reap the rewards. With Thompkins going off draft bards in the 7th-8th round, you may have to pay to play with him but that reward is definitely worth the risk given his quarterback and Amendola’s durability issues.
Chris Givens, StL
With all the promotion Tavon Austin seems to be yielding, many seem to have forgotten about Chris Givens. Givens has 4.41 speed and big play ability that has been seen both last year and this preseason. As a rookie, Givens had a five-game stretch in which he had a reception of 50-plus yards. This preseason he has done it again, putting together two straight games in which he had a 50-plus-yard catch.
He’s a dangerous option on a developing offense and given the question marks in the run-game and the division they play in, the passing game will certainly be a focus of coach Fisher and his pass-happy offense.
Cordarelle Patterson, Min
Out goes Harvin, in comes Patterson. The Vikings added Greg Jennings in the offseason but don’t let that scare you away from drafting arguably the best rookie receiver in the league. He offers big play ability both through the air and on the ground, as he was able to rush for 308 yards on 25 carries at Tennessee. The opportunity for success will certainly be there as long as Adrian Peterson stays healthy and Christian Ponder can get him the ball.
DeAndre Hopkins, Hou
Of the receivers named, Hopkins is my favorite rookie receiver to draft this year. He’s got a top 10 receiver on the other side of the field and he’s looked good so far in the preseason. Houston has long been searching for a No. 2 receiver to pair with Andre Johnson, and the thought of having the Clemson receiver alongside him can only mean good things in Houston. If you’re able to take him in the 10th round, do it.
Rueben Randle, NYG
Like Cobb last year, this Randle is a third receiver in a pass-heavy offense that should definitely be targeted as a late-round selection. I don’t expect him to do what Cobb did, but if Victor Cruz or Hakeem Nicks go down with an injury, 40-50 catches and 700-plus yards should be within the realm of possibilities. I liked him as a sleeper last year and given his limited opportunities, I have no reason to change my opinion of him. Take advantage of Kevin Gilbride’s offense and Randle’s late-round potential–it won’t cost you much at this point in his career.
Honorable Mention
Justin Blackmon, Jac
A good draft pick as your No. 5 WR in shallow leagues and No. 4 in deeper formats. Blackmon is suspended for the first four games of the season, but don’t let that deter you from drafting him, as he you won’t even need to start him until the dreaded Bye Weeks.
To see the Bye Weeks for the 2013 NFL season Click Here.
For a complete list of all our sleepers Click Here.
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