With preseason winding down, the regular season is quickly approaching and there is a laundry list of sleeper picks at the WR position who you’ll have to decide between. With what seems to be an endless supply of talented wideouts this year, drafters will need to determine what’s worth a reach or fool’s gold.
In my previous sleeper articles, I’ve featured guys like Demaryius Thomas (2012), Alshon Jeffery (2012), Randall Cobb (2012), T.Y. Hilton (2013) and Emmanuel Sanders (2013) for the Fantasy Couch faithful and will attempt to bring you a few more receivers of similar proportions. The wide receiver position is deep and that means most teams will have a bunch of good receivers. Knowing which 2014 fantasy football sleeper picks to draft at the WR position will be key to bringing that depth you need at the flex and WR3 spots.
Fantasy Football Sleeper Wide Receivers
DeAndre Hopkins, Hou
Before the offseason began there were questions as to whether Andre Johnson was going stick around in Houston to finish out his last few years or jump ship and take his talents elsewhere. Johnson chose to stay and this could mean big things for Hopkins. Having Johnson to learn from and also gain the attention of opposing defenses’ is big. Some may argue that Ryan Fitzpatrick will hinder the breakout potential of Hopkins, but they shouldn’t be worried. Plenty of WR’s have managed to have effective fantasy seasons without the greatest QB; just ask Josh Gordon, Kendall Wright, Vincent Jackson or Brian Hartline. All of which had more than 200 fantasy points in 2013 (PPR).
Hopkins has received glowing reviews in camp and should be an effective WR3 or flex option in most PPR formats. I’ve drafted him in most leagues and added him in the leagues I haven’t. How are people missing on this guy? I don’t know. He’s got the size, speed, and hands to be much more than a WR3.
Kenny Stills, NO
Stills will be given every opportunity to showcase his speed and talent in hopes to fulfill the void left by Lance Moore. The fact that he’s going to be on the receiving end of Drew Brees just makes me like him a little more. Not as much as the guy who drafted him in the fifth round in one of my leagues, but I wasn’t as confused as some of the other league members. One might worry about The New Orleans offense being built on spreading the ball, but if you look at his numbers as a rookie, it was apparent that wasn’t an issue as he averaged a league-high of 20.0 yards per reception. The reception total might go up his sophomore season but I wouldn’t expect his big play ability to take much of a hit. Stills is a solid WR3 for those interested in taking a chance but I believe he’ll be more than that by the end of the season. Draft him as early as the 12th round but I’ve seen him go in the 14th-16th in 12-team mock drafts.
Jarrett Boykin, GB
The Packers have become a team, like many, who look at the WR position as a type of production line. With Jordy Nelson as an exception, Green Bay has been a place where receivers in green and gold make small amounts of green but are fantasy football gold. Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, Randall Cobb, Nelson and James Jones have all been a product of the Packers offense and Boykin is next in line to take advantage of the situation. Boykin went undrafted because of his poor time in the 40-yard dash (4.57); however, he had always been the type of player whose whole was much greater than the sum of his parts.
I’ve taken advantage of his late-round availability and I’d recommend you to do the same. I was a proponent of Cobb for the same reasons and the fact that Mr. Rodgers is back in the neighborhood could bode well for the rookie from Virginia Tech.
Markus Wheaton, Pit
Similar to some previous mentions, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been a hotbed for young talented WRs and Wheaton is a prospect who’s wowing the right people already. With Sanders making the move from Pittsburgh to Denver, someone will have to play opposite Antonio Brown and the second-year wideout could easily be that guy. Wheaton lacks the prototypical size of an elite NFL receiver, but he has the combination of quickness and run-after-catch ability that offensive coordinator Todd Haley will love. The former third-round draft pick is poised for a major leap forward in 2014. I’ve drafted him in three of six leagues (don’t judge me). He’s being taken in the last few rounds of both 10-team and 12-team mocks but draft him as your fifth WR and watch him move up your depth chart.
Kelvin Benjamin, Car
It’s the worst group of WRs the league has seen in some time but Cam Newton is going to have to throw to someone other than Greg Olsen. Benjamin showed us what he could do at Florida State with a great group around him but he’ll be tested for the first time in Carolina. Rookie WRs are boom or bust in fantasy football but often times the latter takes place. He’s coming off a National Championship season and the exit of Steve Smith, Brandon LaFell and Ted Ginn Jr. make him the hopeful No. 1. If he can refine his game and build on the skills he already has, Benjamin could find himself starting on your roster mid-season.
DeAndre Johnson photo credit: Karen
