10 Fantasy Football Sleepers for 2018 Season

Here’s a look at 10 lesser-known NFL players who should prove to be absolute steals during the 2018 fantasy football season.

Aaron Jones, RB, Packers

Injuries and a suspension have interfered with Jones’ rise to fantasy stardom. But there’s still so much upside. His suspension in 2018 is only two games, which lessens the blow when compared to another suspended player like Julian Edelman (four games). And when healthy, Jones proved to be an intimidating force for the Packers in 2017.

Eight of his 81 carries went for at least 15 yards, with one of those 15-yard rushes coming every 10.1 carries, via ESPN. He may be pounding between the tackles, but he can still break free. When the Packers turned the ball to him for a four-game span, he rushed 62 times for 346 yards (5.5 yards per carry) and three touchdowns. A pair of MCL sprains set him back, however.

If Jones can win the job when he returns, he should be hugely productive.

Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs

The Chiefs are armed with some of the best field-stretchers in the NFL. That’s where Mahomes comes in. He has one of the strongest arms in the NFL, and will make sure the Chiefs make good use of those speedy pass-catchers. He’ll be targeting Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins, Travis Kelce and Kareem Hunt in the passing game.

Andy Reid has recently proved he can make a lot out of a little when it comes to quarterbacks. Reid can manufacture good quarterbacks, and can help good ones be great. Mahomes has little NFL experience, but that may not matter with a coach like Reid and the Chiefs’ impressive surrounding cast.

Rex Burkhead, RB, Patriots

The Patriots’ decision to draft former Georgia running back Sony Michel could complicate Burkhead’s rise. Still, Michel likely won’t win over Burkhead’s job as the Patriots’ red-zone running back. In that job, Burkhead scored six touchdowns in a four-game span before suffering an injury. The Patriots and Tom Brady seem to trust Burkhead in the red area, which makes Burkhead a likely touchdown threat when receiving and rushing the football. For those interested in Burkhead in PPR, he will definitely be productive in the passing game, as he had 30 receptions in just 10 games in 2017.

He might be a high-risk, high-reward play on a weekly basis. But in the early weeks of the season, Burkhead should help fantasy owners rack up points. They’ll just have to be wary of Michel eating into Burkhead’s points as the season goes on.

Derrius Guice, RB, Redskins

Guice’s fall on draft day was somewhat inexplicable. However, he enters a backfield that’s crowded with average talent. Guice, who averaged 6.5 yards per carry in the SEC, should have no problem winning over the job. He’s jumping up draft boards, and will likely no longer be a sleeper by the time folks begin to draft their teams in August.

For now, however, Guice’s average draft position is No. 44 overall. He should finish the year as a top-10 running back, if and when he wins the role as the workhorse in Washington’s offense, which runs the ball 10th-most in goal-to-go situations, via ESPN. Guice may not just be productive in yardage — he should get goal line work and touchdowns.

Marqise Lee, WR, Jaguars

The Jaguars have a young and promising group of receivers. And then there’s (kind of) old and reliable: Lee. He finished the season with 702 yards and three touchdown receptions in 14 games. Jacksonville may still be a run-first team, but Blake Bortles will need someone to target. Lee and Bortles have rapport — they’ve been working together for four years.

With Mercedes Lewis and Allen Robinson gone, Bortles will also need to find a new red zone target. Lee, whose career high in touchdowns is six, could see a healthy share of the red zone looks.

Mike Williams, WR, Chargers

The seventh-overall pick in the 2017 draft, Williams didn’t do a whole lot in his rookie season. He finished with just 11 receptions for 95 yards in 10 games. That’s ugly. But perhaps there’s reason for optimism after an unsuccessful first season. Tyrell Williams presents a significant challenge for Mike Williams, as he tries to ascend the depth chart. But the Chargers love to throw the football. They’ve got relief in the run game with Melvin Gordon, who helps create space despite the high passing volume.

This could be Mike Williams’ year to begin to emerge as an elite receiver across from Keenan Allen.

Kevin White, WR, Bears

White’s story is a tough one. He was the seventh-overall pick in the 2015 draft. He has recorded just 21 receptions in five games since then. He was dealing with a broken fibula in 2015 and a broken scapula in 2017.

He was an insane talent at West Virginia, and was electric with the ball in his hands. He should still make a good pro if he can stay on the field. It’s not like the Bears have a better option. Behind Allen Robinson, they’re looking at White and Taylor Gabriel, among other lesser-known options. White shouldn’t have an issue getting snaps. Once on the field, he could reap the rewards of a matured Mitchel Trubisky.

David Njoku, TE, Browns

The Browns’ decision to sign Darren Fells is a head-scratcher (but then again, they’ve got to spend their money somehow). However, Fells shouldn’t stop Nkjoku from having a solid year. The trouble with Njoku is that he may land on a number of sleeper lists after his so-so rookie year. That might bump him out of sleeper contention before long. He finished the season with 32 receptions for 386 yards and four touchdowns.

With a rookie quarterback in Baker Mayfield (who liked targeting his tight end in college), Njoku could see his usage increased greatly. And that’s what fantasy owners are hoping for at tight end (and every position): volume.

Whoever Starts At Tight End, Chargers

This one is tough because they really don’t have much talent at the position. Hunter Henry is out for the season. Antonio Gates is a free agent. If he returns, he’s a nice option for fantasy despite being quite old.

But for the last two seasons, Henry and Gates have been viable fantasy options in the same offense. Phillip Rivers loves targeting tight ends. Now there’s an enormous vacuum. Whoever steps into the spot will get a lot of targets. Virgil Green is the best bet, but the position is wide open. Whoever wins the job should be on your fantasy team.

Phillip Rivers, QB, Chargers

Can you tell I think fantasy owners tend to sleep on the Chargers?

You’ve heard of Rivers. He’s not the average “sleeper.” But he’s so damn consistent every year. And yet he’s drafted late every year.

He’s not a mobile quarterback — that’s one strike against him. His team generally doesn’t make the playoffs. They disappoint in wins and losses. But ultimately, he’s a prolific passer. Over the last five years, he’s thrown for at least 4,200 yards and 28 touchdowns. That’s a nice baseline for a guy who gets drafted at 113th-overall as QB15. In fact, Rivers’ stats are eerily similar to those of Matt Ryan, Matthew Stafford, Kirk Cousins and Jimmy Garoppolo (projecting his 2017 season over 16 games). And Rivers’ recents seasons dwarf Jared Goff’s 2017.

And yet all of those quarterbacks are getting drafted significantly higher. Why?