Raiders' DeAndre Washington tops 2016 fantasy football sleepers
Injuries, poor play and the occasional unforeseen breakout help create fantasy football sleepers. These players tend be devalued or even ignored by drafters, but we’ve done the preparation to bring you fantasy fortunes.
Top targets
• RB DeAndre Washington, Oakland Raiders. “Dynamic.” That one word aptly describes Washington’s ability. Among running backs with at least 150 touches in 2015, Raiders starter Latavius Murray ranked as the seventh-least efficient. Washington can chew up chunks of yards with limited touches and offers a short-area spark in the passing game.
The Texas Tech product comes from a spread system and will fit nicely into offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave’s wide-open passing game. Washington has drawn praise as a complete back from Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie, and Murray, who is in a contract year, could see fewer touches in a potential committee.
At minimum, Washington is a third-down back and a regular spell. He could steal the show if Murray is sluggish. Draft Washington as a fourth fantasy back in point-per-reception (PPR) formats and a fifth in standard scoring.
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• WR Marvin Jones, Detroit Lions. Jones comes off the board, on average, in the late seventh round, and there is no reason he should be flying this far under the fantasy radar. The former Cincinnati Bengal has built an instant chemistry with quarterback Matthew Stafford in Motown on a team that has to replace 149 Calvin Johnson targets from a year ago. Golden Tate cannot do it alone, and tight end Eric Ebron’s durability is in doubt.
Detroit, try as it might, has given no indication we should have confidence in its running game. Jones has been Detroit’s best receiver in training camp, and he will be used in a number of creative ways, especially with the extended handoff passes around the line of scrimmage (read: guaranteed PPR points). Draft him at his going rate of a No. 3 receiver and expect high-end WR2 production in reception-rewarding formats.
• WR Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati Bengals. Taking a total of 152 targets with them, Jones and Mohamed Sanu defected in free agency this spring, leaving a wide-open spot in the pecking order. Quarterback Andy Dalton knows what A.J. Green can do and thus will target him consistently. We saw an emergence from often-injured tight end Tyler Eifert a season ago, but he is in danger of missing time to begin the season.
Boyd eventually has to contend with wide receiver Brandon LaFell for targets. A torn hand ligament has the veteran sidelined for several more weeks.
While LaFell’s experience might give him the leg up in certain situations, Boyd is no slouch as a rookie. He has drawn incessant praise from his teammates and the coaching staff this summer. Sure-handed Boyd is a rock-solid WR4 with fringe No. 2 PPR potential at a 13th-round average draft position.
• WR Sterling Shepard, New York Giants. Shepard has a wonderful opportunity as a rookie to step into a pass-friendly system. He benefits from the defensive attention on Odell Beckham Jr. and has little around him otherwise to steal targets. Tight ends Will Tye and Larry Donnell aren’t exactly world-beaters; who knows which Victor Cruz will return after missing so much time with devastating injuries.
A natural receiver, Shepard can play out of the slot or out wide and wind up as a productive flex fantasy asset in PPR leagues. Fantasy owners are taking him on average as the 37th receiver off the board, which checks in as a late seventh-rounder. Barring an injury, in this pass-friendly system, he should easily outperform that average draft position.
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• TE Vance McDonald, San Francisco 49ers. Coach Chip Kelly’s system has relied on the tight end position, and McDonald might be the best weapon not named Carlos Hyde in a Niners jersey. He is a similar player to the Philadelphia Eagles’ Zach Ertz, whom Kelly was able to mold into a top-10 fantasy tight end a year ago.
Presumed starting quarterback Blaine Gabbert will rely heavily on McDonald to bail him out, and like Ertz, McDonald has the ability to create a play with his athleticism. Since the number of reliable targets in this offense totals, oh, zero, McDonald could see even more than Ertz’s 112 targets from 2015. Draft the Rice alum as a No. 2 fantasy tight end and expect a lucrative return on the investment.
Late-round flyers
• WR Sammie Coates, Pittsburgh Steelers. In 2014, when this version of the Pittsburgh offense was intact, it ranked sixth in the NFL in passing attempts per game (38.3). Wide receiver Martavis Bryant scored eight touchdowns and opened the eyes of fantasy owners with his ability to take the lid off a defense.
Fast-forward to the eve of the 2016 season: Bryant has been suspended for the season, and second-year receiver Coates has a prime opportunity to replace him as the home-run threat of the offense. Coates barely saw the field as a rookie because coach Mike Tomlin insisted the burner wasn’t ready. He is now, according to all accounts from training camp. Draft the Auburn product as a fifth fantasy receiver with preparations for inconsistency given his big-play nature.
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• RB Josh Ferguson, Indianapolis Colts. The undrafted rookie from Illinois has a chance to be special in the eyes of Colts owner Jim Irsay. Coach Chuck Pagano called Ferguson a mismatch and noted he is more than a change-of-pace guy. His competition for touches primarily is Robert Turbin.
Indy’s offensive line is on the rise. Turbin is the most proven veteran option behind 33-year-old Frank Gore, whose age might be closer to 744 in mileage years, but Ferguson is a more dynamic receiver. He’s a late-round flyer for owners targeting sly upside.
• QB Robert Griffin III, Cleveland Browns. The once-prized fantasy asset has been relegated to the back end of jokes and being mocked — and not the kind fantasy owners enjoy. RG3 might get the last laugh, though, and it’s time for fantasy owners to welcome him back into the fold with open arms.
In this offense, commanding the long ball is a must, and Griffin throws the deep ball exceptionally well. Coach Hue Jackson’s system calls for a run-heavy system with a lot of play-action passing and downfield shots.
Cleveland’s cast of receivers scream “home run,” making this an ideal situation for Griffin to resurrect his career. Of course, his legs offer a scoring bonus. Draft RG3 as a backup fantasy quarterback investment. In all likelihood, you are landing first-rate trade bait.
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