12 Must Draft SLEEPERS in Fantasy Football (Davis Mattek)

Adam Thielen is noted as the primary targets-per-route-run player for the Panthers during Xavier Legette's rookie season.

Mitchell is a high-upside, cheap late-round target (15th-16th round) and a pure bet on talent. While he is prone to drops and focus issues, he possesses elite highlight-reel potential and separation metrics; he is a dark horse to be the second-highest target earner in New York, though he may be inconsistent for a full season.

Antonio Williams, a third-round rookie out of Clemson, has generated positive training camp buzz. The source is not actively targeting or fading him, noting that his development and performance could influence whether the Commanders sign a veteran like Stefon Diggs.

The source expects Bo Melton's role to be significantly reduced, noting he will not see the 25% route participation he previously held as Green Bay trims their wide receiver rotation.

Carnell Tate is noted as having a very high ADP, making him a sixth-round pick in upcoming formats.

Okonkwo is a recommended target at his current ADP of TE16. He is an athletically gifted player with YAC ability who could see a career year if he avoids competition from Zach Ertz; the source is actively 'jamming' him in drafts.

Chigoziem Okonkwo is a strong sleeper candidate at his current ADP; the source suggests that if he avoids competition from Zach Ertz, a TE16 finish is his floor, with potential for a career year.

The source is bullish on Watson, identifying him as a high-upside player with a consolidated target share in Green Bay. He is a preferred target over DJ Moore in redraft formats, with the source suggesting Watson has more potential to 'crush' his ADP.

Colby Parkinson serves as the primary competition for Terrance Ferguson in the Rams' tight end room; the source notes that Ferguson must improve his run blocking to definitively overtake Parkinson for the starting role.

The source expresses apprehension regarding DJ Moore as a smash value WR1 for Josh Allen, citing his 1.14 yards per route run from last year. The source prefers drafting other wide receivers in that ADP range, such as Christian Watson, Luther Burden, Davante Adams, or Jameson Williams, over Moore at his current WR27 price point.

Dalton Kincaid is viewed as a potential 'skeleton key' for fantasy football if he reaches an 82% route participation rate. Despite being a top-five tight end in efficiency metrics like targets per route run and fantasy points per route run, his ceiling has been capped by a 55% route share; the source is optimistic for a career year if he remains healthy.

The source is unconcerned by Daniel Bellinger's presence on the depth chart, noting that while he followed coach Brian Daboll to the Giants, NFL teams rarely rely on just one tight end, minimizing the threat Bellinger poses to other tight ends.

The source lists Davante Adams as a player who scares them more than DJ Moore at wide receiver 27, implying Adams has higher upside and is a better value in that draft range.

Davis Mattek views De'Jaun Stribling as a locked-in Week 1 starter for the 49ers due to team attrition; he suggests that despite a poor prospect profile, Stribling's price is rising and he could potentially lead the team in targets in 20% of scenarios. His outlook is contingent on the 49ers not bringing back Deebo Samuel, which would be catastrophic for his target share.

The source suggests that Deebo Samuel's presence on the 49ers roster would be catastrophic for the fantasy outlook of rookie wide receivers like Stribling, as it would likely consolidate target share.

Boston is expected to serve as the deep threat in the Browns' offense, contrasting with teammates like Casey Concepcion who are utilized for ball-in-hand work like crossers, screens, and slants.

George Kittle is expected to play early in the season, which impacts the target distribution for other 49ers pass catchers.

Gunner Helm is a year-two breakout candidate at TE26 who saw 55 targets as a rookie; with Chig Okonkwo gone, Helm is positioned as a safety blanket for Cam Ward. His college production was suppressed by elite teammates, and his poor combine performance was attributed to a broken ankle, suggesting higher talent than his draft stock implies.

The source is highly bullish on Jacquory Croskey-Merritt, identifying him as the best rusher on the Washington team and projecting him to be the lead rusher with 200-220 carries. The source argues his ability to generate explosive runs makes him a high-upside target, and that the coaching staff wants him to play more to maintain offensive flexibility.

The source highlights Jameson Williams as a player with more potential to exceed expectations than DJ Moore, recommending him as a target in the same draft range.

The source is highly bullish on a bounce-back season for Reed, noting that he is the player the source currently has the most exposure to in draft rooms and that many respected content creators share this positive outlook.

Jordan Addison is noted as having a very high ADP, making him a sixth-round pick in upcoming formats.

The source expresses skepticism regarding Josh Jacobs, citing his age (29), recent knee injury, and potential suspension issues as reasons to fade him in drafts, despite previously suggesting he might avoid missing games.

Keaton Mitchell is a high-upside sleeper hand-picked by Mike McDaniel, projected for 10 touches per game as a flex or spot starter; he maintains significant contingent upside should Omarian Hampton miss time, with approximately 185 touches available in the offense.

Keenan Allen is mentioned as a potential trade target for the 49ers, suggesting a possible shift in his team context.

The source slightly prefers Kenneth Gainwell over Rashaad White in late-round drafts, noting that while White has pass-catching experience, Gainwell remains a viable value option in the same tier.

Luke Musgrave is currently sidelined with an injury, forcing Green Bay to rely on depth options at the tight end position.

Luther Burden is identified by the source as a player who could crush his season, making him a more attractive draft option than DJ Moore at his current ADP.

Golden is a high-upside breakout candidate and the most cost-adjusted value among Green Bay's wide receivers. Despite a 1.45 YPRR as a rookie, his production was suppressed by missed deep-ball opportunities from Jordan Love; he is a strong bounce-back candidate given the injury histories of Jayden Reed and Christian Watson, as well as the PUP status of Tucker Kraft.

Mike Evans is mentioned as an aging veteran at 32 years old, which the source uses to highlight the contingent upside for younger receivers on the roster.

Cooper is a significant competitor to Adonai Mitchell for targets, bolstered by first-round draft capital and a national title pedigree at Indiana. The source views him as a more compelling narrative-driven prospect than Mitchell.

Omarian Hampton is projected to potentially handle 250 touches in the offense, though the source notes there is still room for Keaton Mitchell to carve out a role with approximately 185 additional touches available.

Davis Mattek identifies Patrick Mahomes as the player whose final stat line would most impact his draft strategy; he notes that Mahomes is currently falling to the Kyler Murray and Jared Goff tier in drafts, which he considers a massive value for a quarterback of his caliber.

Rashaad White is currently being drafted neck-and-neck with Jacquory Croskey-Merritt, sitting at RB40 on Underdog. While the source drafts White in redraft formats, they express skepticism about his role as an early-down rusher compared to Croskey-Merritt and note a slight preference for Kenneth Gainwell in that same draft range.

The source advises that Ricky Pearsall is effectively undraftable following recent injury news, which has significantly impacted his availability and outlook for the upcoming season. He is currently considered a 'do not draft' player, serving as a benchmark for why other receivers like Stribling should be ranked higher.

Stefon Diggs is a potential trade target for the 49ers, though his current fantasy outlook is clouded by legal and uncertain circumstances. He is currently a good value at WR57, but his potential signing with Washington, Baltimore, or the Rams creates significant uncertainty for target distribution. His ADP is expected to rise once he signs with a team.

Terrance Ferguson is a high-upside target in best ball formats due to his elite athleticism and potential to be used in a Tutu Atwell-esque role. While his redraft value is capped by competition with Colby Parkinson, he is a strong late-round pick in deep PPR formats.

Terrence Ferguson is a high-upside sleeper at TE28 with significant athletic potential; he could see consistent usage in McVay's heavy personnel schemes, with fantasy value spiking if he secures a multi-touchdown game. He also offers contingent upside if Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, or Colby Parkinson miss time.

McLaurin is established as the primary target and a foundational piece of the Washington Commanders' passing offense.

Davis Mattek expresses increased bullishness on Travis Kelce, noting that his current ADP—which places him in the same range as Dalton Kincaid and Dallas Goedert—is an opportunity to acquire him at a discount.

Tucker Kraft's availability for Week 1 is uncertain due to injury, with the source noting potential concerns regarding his explosiveness upon return.

Xavier Legette is used as a historical comparison for rookie wide receiver performance, noting that despite being considered 'bad' by some, he still saw 84 targets and four touchdowns as a rookie.

Davis Mattek is bullish on Xavier Worthy, highlighting that he is currently being drafted after players like Courtland Sutton and in the same range as Michael Pittman Jr., which represents a value for a player tied to Mahomes.

Zach Ertz is viewed as a threat to Chig Okonkwo's target share and role in the Washington offense. The source notes that Ertz is not retiring and his continued presence on the team is a negative factor for Okonkwo's fantasy outlook.

Zay Flowers is used as a player comparison for Casey Concepcion, with the source noting that Todd Monken now has another player with a similar profile.