Fantasy: Super-deep sleepers for 2024 (Updated)

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In an effort to shine a light on the unnoticed or outright ignored, we've built an updated list of players with average draft positions outside the top 200 who could become fantasy-relevant if things fall their way this season.

Keep these players on your watch list and be ready to pounce when their opportunity arises.

Spencer Rattler, QB, Saints

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Finding a super-deep sleeper among quarterbacks is very difficult. The passers we'll highlight here have an elevated chance of starting at some point in 2024 - compared to most backups - but they're still long shots.

Rattler is a fifth-round rookie who hasn't even secured the No. 2 quarterback job in New Orleans yet. He remains behind Derek Carr on the depth chart and is battling with last year's fourth-round pick Jake Haener for the immediate backup role.

Both Haener and Rattler performed well in the Saints' preseason opener, but the rookie impressed by orchestrating a game-winning drive in the final two minutes.

While Carr's No. 1 position won't be challenged entering the season, the Saints are projected to have a losing record in 2024. If they fall out of the playoff picture, it's possible the coaching staff could switch into talent evaluation mode down the stretch - giving some of the younger players on the roster an opportunity.

Though Rattler may lack the size and athleticism we look for in traditional fantasy QB options, his arm talent and decision-making are intriguing and could earn him starts eventually.

Whether that comes this year is still unknown but, unlike most backups, Rattler at least has a path to get into the lineup that doesn't require an injury.

Other super-deep sleeper QB candidates:

Sam Howell, Seahawks - As the Commanders' starter last year, Howell was a top-eight fantasy QB over the first 10 weeks of the season before fizzling out. Now, he'll have a chance to learn from the sidelines behind Geno Smith in a Seahawks passing attack that should be much more prolific under new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb. If Howell is called upon, his rushing ability alone would make him a must-add waiver-wire pickup.
Joe Flacco, Colts - Fortunately for the Colts, Anthony Richardson has recovered from the shoulder sprain that cost him most of his rookie campaign. With former backup Gardner Minshew now in Las Vegas, Indy found another strong veteran passer to support its young starter. As a late-season injury replacement for the Browns last season, Flacco averaged the fourth-most fantasy points per game among QBs from Week 13 on. Given the Colts' skill-position talent and Shane Steichen's up-tempo scheme, Flacco could be a decent fantasy option if Richardson misses time again.

D'Onta Foreman, RB, Browns

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Foreman is an underrated NFL player and fantasy option who's proven his ability whenever a path to volume presents itself.

In the five games where he played at least 45% of the snaps for the Bears last season, Foreman averaged 86.8 yards and almost a touchdown per game.

In 2022 with the Panthers, Foreman posted five games with more than 100 rushing yards after the team traded Christian McCaffrey. And the year before, he had three 100-plus-yard performances as an injury replacement for Derrick Henry on the Titans.

Nick Chubb is doing everything he can to return from last year's serious knee injury, but it's a lot tougher to do that entering your age-29 season.

Foreman avoided a serious injury of his own after he got carted off the field in training camp with a neck issue. Luckily, he returned to practice a week later.

While the Browns will likely roll with Jerome Ford as the starter until Chubb is back to 100%, if Foreman stays healthy he could see the field as a power complement in short-yardage or goal-line situations. He'll also be the immediate backup if Ford is sidelined early in the season.

Other super-deep sleeper RB candidates:

Dylan Laube, Raiders - Zamir White is the Raiders' starter and will be their bell-cow back on early downs, but he hasn't proven himself as a pass-catcher in the pros. Laube, his sixth-round rookie teammate, caught 117 passes for 1,163 yards over his final two seasons at New Hampshire. It might not happen right away, but Laube could carve out a role as a passing-down specialist alongside the bulked-up White.
Cam Akers, Texans - The 25-year-old has suffered two Achilles tears in the last three years, with the most recent occurring in November. It's an incredible story to see him back on the field and fighting for the No. 2 job in Houston behind Joe Mixon. If Dameon Pierce continues to struggle in Bobby Slowik's system, Akers might end up as the injury-away insurance policy in Houston.
Carson Steele, Chiefs - The undrafted free agent impressed in the preseason with his hulking runs carrying defenders along with him downfield. Some of the beat writers even suggested Steele could be used as an option around the goal line to spell Isiah Pacheco at times. If Pacheco were to get hurt, it's easy to envision a backfield tandem that features Steele on early downs and newly signed veteran Samaje Perine handling the bulk of the pass-catching work.

Greg Dortch, WR, Cardinals

Dortch is already a fantasy darling after popping up for a handful of big performances on limited snaps over the last two years. But he's been buried on Arizona's depth chart.

However, in the four contests where he played at least 70% of the Cardinals' offensive snaps in 2023, Dortch posted stat lines of 6-76-0, 3-27-1, 2-45-1, and 7-82-0.

In 2022, he had six such games and provided stat lines of 7-63-0, 4-55-1, 9-80-0, 9-103-0, 10-98-0, and 4-15-0. So over the past two seasons, he's delivered double-digit fantasy points in nine of the 10 outings in which he's played at least 70% of the snaps.

Heading into this season, Dortch is finally expected to start in three-receiver sets. Kyler Murray has talked up his potential on several occasions, even suggesting the 5-foot-7 wideout would be a top-five receiver in the NFL if he were 6-3.

With Murray in his corner and no clear No. 2 receiver behind Marvin Harrison Jr., this could be the year Dortch emerges as a fantasy option.

Other super-deep sleeper WR candidates:

Jalin Hyatt, Giants - The arrival of superstar prospect Malik Nabers is overshadowing Hyatt's development as the latter enters his second NFL season. While Year 1 was marred by QB injuries and poor offensive line play, Hyatt appears to be starting in three-receiver sets and has been impressing beat writers. Last year's third-round pick will be more of a boom-or-bust fantasy option, but there's more potential here than his current ADP gives him credit for.
Treylon Burks, Titans - The former first-round pick is bordering on bust territory, which is why he's barely being drafted in fantasy leagues this year. But DeAndre Hopkins' knee injury could open the door for Burks to start early in the season and might save his career. Calvin Ridley is locked in as Tennessee's No. 1 wideout but, behind him, Burks will compete with a washed Tyler Boyd for targets - until Hopkins returns.
Jalen Nailor, Vikings - Nailor has separated himself in the battle for the No. 3 receiver spot in Minnesota. He also stood out during their first preseason game, turning in three catches for 63 yards. With T.J. Hockenson working his way back from an ACL tear and Jordan Addison possibly facing a suspension, Nailor could be a sneaky fantasy option.

Theo Johnson, TE, Giants

Darren Waller's retirement created an open competition for a new starting tight end in New York.

Daniel Bellinger has experience in the system, but Johnson is a better athlete with a higher ceiling if he can win the job.

The 23-year-old rookie landed in the 98th percentile for speed score and catch radius. Physically, he's on par with some of the best players ever. Now he needs to prove he can develop the rest of his game to match it.

It was a positive sign that the Giants immediately gave him first-team reps when he was activated after a brief stint on the PUP list. That continued when he played the most snaps and ran the most routes of any tight end with the starting offense in the first week of the preseason.

If the fourth-rounder can keep making strides, he'll likely take over the starting job - and his athleticism alone is a reason to monitor him for fantasy.

Other super-deep sleeper TE candidates:

Colby Parkinson, Rams - With 31-year-old Tyler Higbee recovering from a torn ACL and MCL suffered in January, Parkinson is poised to start for the Rams in Week 1. That might help explain his new sizeable contract, which included $15.5 million guaranteed. Sean McVay mentioned the 6-foot-7 tight end as someone who impressed in offseason practices. If Higbee can't make it back this season, Parkinson could become a surprise fantasy option catching passes in a role that the Rams have squeezed production from in the past.
Ja'Tavion Sanders, Panthers - Carolina's offense is expected to take a step forward with new head coach Dave Canales and a slew of improvements across the roster. One of those upgrades will hopefully be their fourth-round rookie tight end who profiles as a strong pass-catching weapon. Sanders needs to prove he can handle the rest of the duties asked of an NFL tight end, but he faces minimal competition for the starting job.

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