Fantasy Football Sleepers for 2023

Finding fantasy football sleepers is hard. Maybe you’ve heard that there’s no longer any such thing as a sleeper in fantasy football. In a sense that’s true — someone like Tony Pollard finishing as the RB8 would have been a sensation in, say, 1998, but 25 years later, he was just a guy the entire community was waiting on. There are very few true mysteries anymore.

On the flip side … guys pop from anywhere. A guy who is drafted as an end-of-bench roster stash who becomes a top-10 finisher? That’s a sleeper, for me. A guy who is on watch lists but puts up a handful of valuable weeks? Sleeper. And sure, every once in a while there’s a guy who is totally overlooked and never heard of who becomes something. Sleeper as well.

So today, I’m picking out sleepers all around the draft board, from guys who are sleepers to be big time to guys who are sleepers to even matter. Use them as you wish.

(All ADPs come from the FTN Fantasy ADP tool.)

Fantasy Football Sleepers for 2023: Light Sleepers

You’re drafting these guys, but you aren’t really expecting much out of them. And maybe they’ll surprise you.

Sam Howell, QB, Washington Commanders

ADP: 184.3, QB25

Sam Howell has officially been named the starter now, and I’m on record that he’ll be a top 20 finisher if he stays healthy. The Commanders have no reason to go away from him unless he does get hurt — either he’s good enough for the team to know he’s the QB of the future or bad enough they can put themselves into position to get their QB of the future. And he runs enough to give him a high floor.

Trey Lance/Sam Darnold, QB, San Francisco 49ers

Lance ADP: 215.7, QB33
Darnold ADP: 216.0, QB38

Are we really sure Brock Purdy won’t become a pumpkin? Whoever starts for the 49ers is interesting, and if you’re positive it’s Purdy all year, you might be overconfident.

Jaylen Warren, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

ADP: 124,2, RB44 

We know Mike Tomlin has historically liked to stick with one back. But that can always change. And if it doesn’t … what if Jaylen Warren overtakes Najee Harris?

Roschon Johnson, RB, Chicago Bears

ADP: 151.2, RB48

I’m already on record as saying Roschon Johnson will lead the Bears backfield in fantasy points, so he definitely qualifies.

Zamir White, RB, Las Vegas Raiders

ADP: 166.1, RB55

There would be ample reason to grab No. 2 Raiders back Zamir White even if Josh Jacobs were in practice, because the history of guys coming off 393 touches is … not great. The fact that Jacobs isn’t even around just bolsters White’s case.

Diontae Johnson, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

ADP: 55.8, WR29

Diontae Johnson as a sleeper might be stretching our definition, but there aren’t many receivers in his range with his guaranteed target load. If he had just scored a couple of touchdowns last year he wouldn’t be this cheap.

Any of the Chiefs Receivers

Skyy Moore ADP: 89.6, WR45
Kadarius Toney ADP: 100.7, WR49
Rashee Rice ADP: 134.0, WR61
Marquez Valdes-Scantling ADP: 142.0, WR64
Justyn Ross ADP: 189.8, WR80
Richie James ADP: 201.2, WR85

Maybe Ross and James belong in the next section, but it’s easier to lump these guys together. It’s possible they all cannibalize each other and no one but Travis Kelce in this passing offense is relevant, but if there’s one Chiefs receiver you particularly like over the others, take the plunge, because the potential payoff is huge.

Jayden Reed, WR, Green Bay Packers

ADP: 164.6, WR72

Christian Watson had electric moments last year, but there are no sure things in the Green Bay passing offense, and Jayden Reed was a second-round pick in April.

Jalin Hyatt/Parris Campbell, WR, New York Giants

Hyatt ADP: 162.4, WR74
Campbell ADP: 194.1, WR81

Among the horde of receivers in New York, Parris Campbell has the advantage of being the highest-paid incoming free agent and Jalin Hyatt the top draft pick. That said, Campbell is just on a one-year deal and Hyatt was a third-rounder, so these aren’t elite values. 

Irv Smith, TE, Cincinnati Bengals

ADP: 170.8, TE20

Irv Smith has been a fantasy darling for a few years now, but it never came together in Minnesota. Now he’s in Cincinnati, which just got 52 receptions and 414 yards out of Hayden Hurst, and Smith’s better.

Dawson Knox, TE, Buffalo Bills

ADP: 186.4, TE22

All the shine is on Dalton Kincaid in Buffalo, but (a) he’s a rookie, and (b) he profiles more as a slot weapon, so Dawson Knox might not lose as much work as you might think, and he’s still a 6-foot-4 end zone weapon with 15 touchdowns the last two years.

Fantasy Football Sleepers for 2023: Deep Sleepers

These guys either won’t get drafted or will be taken among the kickers and defenses, but there’s more than a chance they end up on rosters as the year goes on.

Gus Edwards, RB, Baltimore Ravens

ADP: 184.1, RB58

Min. 200 carries, only four active running backs have a better career yards per carry than Gus Edwards’ 5.16. One of them ahead is his teammate J.K. Dobbins, so this isn’t a claim Edwards is the best in Baltimore, but if he gets the chance, the yardage could be there.

Latavius Murray, RB, Buffalo Bills

ADP: 214.5, RB68

Latavius Murray has been in the league for nine seasons, and he’s beaten his ADP all nine years. That includes an RB54 season when he was drafted at RB60, but it also includes an RB10 season when he was drafted at RB16. He’s battling Damien Harris for a role in Buffalo, but Harris is hurt and Murray isn’t.

Cordarrelle Patterson, RB, Atlanta Falcons
Mack Hollins, WR, Atlanta Falcons

Patterson ADP: 209.0, RB61
Hollins ADP: 213.8, WR96

The Falcons offense is going to run through, in some order, Bijan Robinson, Kyle Pitts and Drake London. But Cordarrelle Patterson had 165 touches last year, and Olamide Zaccheaus vacated 61 targets when he left for Philadelphia. If the team increases its passing work at all, maybe another name rises.

Mecole Hardman, WR, New York Jets

ADP: 204.4, WR86

Mecole Hardman doesn’t have the virtue of being a holdover Jet or being one of Aaron Rodgers’ handpicked friends, but he does have the benefit of being the fastest receiver on this team, and Rodgers loves explosive plays. Probably won’t be consistent, but there will be flashes.

Michael Wilson, WR, Arizona Cardinals

ADP: 200.3, WR88

Marquise Brown, Rondale Moore and Greg Dortch are all fine-to-good, but they are also guys who can never see the stage at concerts. Brown is the giant of the group at 5-foot-9; the other two are 5-7. Rookie third-rounder Michael Wilson is 6-2, which is a point in his favor, and he fell to the third largely because of injury concerns.

Isaiah Likely, TE, Baltimore Ravens

ADP: 208.9, TE28

Isaiah Likely isn’t a secret at this point, but he’s an injury to Mark Andrews away from a potential top-five season.

Cade Otton, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

ADP: 214.3, TE35

Cade Otton is one of my favorite last-round tight ends this year, clearly holding the job in an offense with a terrible offensive line. And with Russell Gage hurt, there’s one less mouth to feed in Tampa.

Fantasy Football Sleepers for 2023: Comas

Odds are we won’t really hear from these guys in 2023, but keep them on your radar, and maybe take a shot in super-deep leagues.

Mike White, QB, Miami Dolphins

Tua Tagovailoa is one bad hit away from ending his career, and then Mike White would inherit one of the best receiving corps in the league.

Taylor Heinicke, QB, Atlanta Falcons

Are you sure Desmond Ridder is good? I’m not. And the Falcons gave Taylor Heinicke two years and actual money this offseason.

Andy Dalton, QB, Carolina Panthers

Bryce Young could be great. He’s also very small, and it’s scary to watch him out there. Andy Dalton was actually competent last year.

Trey Sermon, RB, Philadelphia Eagles

Trey Sermon is probably fifth in the pecking order in Philadelphia, but he’s been getting buzz this preseason and does still have third-round pedigree.

Deneric Prince, RB, Kansas City Chiefs

Deneric Prince was undrafted this year, but he’s behind Isiah Pacheco (already hurt), Jerick McKinnon (31 and hasn’t had 100 carries in a season since 2017) and Clyde Edwards-Helaire (bust). He’s been great in camp and could force his way into the conversation.

DeWayne McBride, RB, Minnesota Vikings

Alexander Mattison will be the starter to open things in Minnesota, but he’s definitely unproven, and DeWayne McBride probably has the highest upside behind him.

Evan Hull, RB, Indianapolis Colts

If Jonathan Taylor doesn’t (or can’t) return to action, we’re talking about Kenyan Drake and Deon Jackson in front of rookie fifth-rounder Evan Hull, who had 2,700 scrimmage yards across the last two years at Northwestern.

Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams

Puka Nacua was elite in college, though he fell to the fifth round of the draft. Still, other than Cooper Kupp and Tyler Higbee, there’s no one in the Rams offense we can be sure will soak up opportunities.

Calvin Austin, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

If Allen Robinson truly is dust, Calvin Austin is the best candidate to be the No. 3 receiver in this offense, though he’d also have to contend with TEs Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington.

Cedric Tillman, WR, Cleveland Browns

Amari Cooper is basically a sure thing in Cleveland, but neither Elijah Moore nor Donovan Peoples-Jones can say the same, and third-round rookie Cedric Tillman wouldn’t have to do that much to leap in there.

Laviska Shenault, WR, Carolina Panthers

Laviska Shenault hasn’t amounted to much in the NFL, but he does arguably have the most versatile skillset and could get some creative use.

Braxton Berrios, WR, Miami Dolphins

There’s no third obvious target on the Dolphins, but the team made a point to get Braxton Berrios, and he could be the slot weapon this season.

Nelson Agholor, WR, Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens finally have a lot of ability among the receivers, but they have exactly zero sure things among Rashod Bateman, Odell Beckham and Zay Flowers. If they flop, Nelson Agholor would be next up.

Jalen Guyton, WR, Los Angeles Chargers

Quentin Johnston has been brought in ostensibly as the Chargers’ deep threat this season, but he’s no speed demon. Jalen Guyton would be the alternative if Johnston doesn’t work out, especially since the team made a point to re-sign him this offseason.

Antoine Green, WR, Detroit Lions

At least until Jameson Williams returns, there’s absolutely no known quantity behind Amon-Ra St. Brown in the Lions target order. Antoine Green is only a seventh-rounder, but he had 11 touchdowns on 20-plus-yard passes in college and also only needs to climb over Kalif Raymond, Josh Reynolds, Marvin Jones and Denzel Mims to get work.

Marquez Callaway, WR, Denver Broncos
Adam Trautman, TE, Denver Broncos

Marquez Callaway and Adam Trautman were the primary Saints Sean Payton brought with him to Denver, and with Tim Patrick and KJ Hamler out, there are some targets available. Trautman has been getting some bump over Greg Dulcich already.

Daniel Bellinger, TE, New York Giants

Daniel Bellinger had flashes as a rookie last year around his broken eye, but his stock went out the door when the team traded for Darren Waller. Waller turns 31 early in the season, though, and he’s missed 14 games the last two years — if he gets hurt again, suddenly the Giants are an offense built for the tight end without a tight end. Enter Bellinger.

Robert Tonyan, TE, Chicago Bears

Robert Tonyan will be behind Cole Kmet to open the season, but we saw the Bears in 2021 try to use the desiccated husk of Jimmy Graham in the end zone over Kmet, and while Robert Tonyan isn’t a star at this point, he’s better than what Graham was then.

Foster Moreau, TE, New Orleans Saints

Foster Moreau should command a decent amount of work in New Orleans, and if Juwan Johnson doesn’t develop, Moreau could be the starter before long.