9 Deep Sleepers for 2023 Fantasy Football

One of the more popular sayings in fantasy football is you can’t win your league in the first round, but you can lose it. That means fantasy players should be cautious with their first-round selection because if that player is a bust, you have an uphill fight to make the playoffs.

However, your fantasy league is won in the later rounds of the draft and on the waiver wire the first few weeks of the season. That is where fantasy players will find the hidden gems and sleepers that will play a critical role in winning a championship.

Here are nine of my favorite sleepers with an ADP outside the top 150.

ADP via FantasyPros.

Romeo Doubs (GB): ADP 158.3 | WR55

After his impressive training camp and preseason performances, Doubs was a popular sleeper candidate last year. Unfortunately, the rookie was only the WR76, averaging 6.2 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. However, he averaged 7.7 fantasy points per game before suffering a severe ankle injury in Week 9.

Meanwhile, the Packers receiving core saw their fantasy value diminish after the team traded away Aaron Rodgers. While Jordan Love has had an up-and-down training camp, Doubs has been one of his favorite targets. Christian Watson remains the No. 1 wide receiver on the team. Yet, Doubs is the better draft value.

Jaylen Warren (PIT): ADP 161.3 | RB51

Despite being an undrafted free agent last year, many believe Warren is a better running back than Najee Harris. While that isn’t necessarily false, the Steelers are committed to the former first-round pick. However, Warren is still, at worst, the top handcuff in fantasy football. More importantly, he should see more playing time this season.

According to The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly, offensive coordinator Matt Canada won’t be able to keep the second-year running back off the field as much as he did last year. Last season the undrafted rookie averaged nearly five yards per rushing attempt. Furthermore, 14.3% of his rushing attempts went for 10 or more yards. Warren will have meaningful fantasy value in 2023, even if Harris stays healthy.

Sam LaPorta (DET): ADP 161.3 | TE17

Amon-Ra St. Brown is the unquestioned No. 1 pass catcher for the Lions. The former USC star has been near unstoppable since the midway point of his rookie year. However, Detroit lacks proven pass catchers outside of the third-year star. Last year D’Andre Swift finished second on the team with 70 targets, 76 less than St. Brown.

While rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs has gotten all the attention this offseason, LaPorta is finally getting the hype he deserves. The rookie tight end has been working with the starters all of training camp. More importantly, he has become a trustworthy target of Jared Goff. With Jameson Williams missing the first six games this season, LaPorta could quickly become Goff’s No. 2 pass catcher.

Nico Collins (HOU): ADP 161.3 | WR59

The Texans traded away Brandin Cooks earlier this offseason, creating an open race for the No. 1 wide receiver role. While the team signed Robert Woods and Noah Brown in free agency, they aren’t a threat to take over as the No. 1 wide receiver. Instead, the favorite is Collins. The former Michigan star has reportedly been outstanding in training camp and a go-to target for C.J. Stroud.

Last year Collins was the WR48 on a points-per-game basis, averaging 7.9 half-point PPR fantasy points per contest. Furthermore, the former Michigan star averaged only 0.5 fewer fantasy points per game than Drake London. More importantly, he finished second in contested catch rate among wide receivers last season despite Davis Mills ranking 43rd in catchable pass rate.

Roschon Johnson (CHI): ADP 162.3 | RB53

Many are excited about Khalil Herbert now that David Montgomery is out of town. However, my favorite Chicago running back is Johnson. Some have called the former Texas star this year’s Dameon Pierce – a rookie running back that beats out the veteran competition around him and becomes an RB2 for fantasy players.

If Johnson didn’t share the backfield with Bijan Robinson in college, he would have been a second-round NFL Draft pick. The rookie is already the Bears’ top pass protector. More importantly, the coaching staff loves the former Longhorn. It might take a few weeks, but Johnson will be Chicago’s starting running back as a rookie.

Juwan Johnson (NO): ADP 177.3 | TE20

Fantasy players shouldn’t care that the Saints recently signed Jimmy Graham. The veteran didn’t play last season and turns 37 in November. While he might make the initial 53-man roster, the former superstar is barely a shell of his former self. Meanwhile, Johnson had a mini breakout season in 2022. He led the team in receiving touchdowns while finishing top three in receiving yards and targets.

More importantly, the emerging star finished third among tight ends in receiving touchdowns, only behind Travis Kelce and George Kittle. Meanwhile, Michael Thomas will play for the Saints in 2023. However, he has missed 80% of the games over the past three years. If Thomas can’t stay healthy, Johnson will quickly turn into Derek Carr’s No. 2 target and favorite red zone weapon.

Parris Campbell (NYG): ADP 187.3 | WR71

The Giants added Darren Waller this offseason over an established No. 1 wide receiver. While the veteran tight end has been the star of training camp, he has missed over 40% of the games the past two years because of injury. While New York has arguably the worst wide receiver core in the NFL, Campbell is my favorite of the unit.

Last year the former Ohio State star finally stayed healthy and had a career year, totaling 63 receptions on 91 targets for 623 receiving yards and three touchdowns, despite playing on a dysfunctional offense. Meanwhile, he has been the most consistent wide receiver during offseason workouts. Daniel Jones loves his slot wide receivers. If Campbell wins the starting slot role, he will vastly outperform his ADP.

Trey McBride (ARI): ADP 231.3 | TE32

Fortunately, Zach Ertz reportedly will be ready for Week 1 after recovering from a torn ACL last year. However, the team has a talented second-year tight end on the roster. McBride barely played when Ertz was healthy last season. Yet, he was a productive tight end once the veteran suffered the season-ending knee injury.

Starting Week 11 through the end of the season, McBride averaged six half-point PPR fantasy points per game. More importantly, he averaged 5.5 targets and 8.4 fantasy points per game over his final four contests, making him the TE10 during that four-week window. With DeAndre Hopkins gone and a lack of proven pass catchers outside of Marquise Brown and Ertz, McBride will become a popular early-season waiver-wire target.

Puka Nacua (LAR): ADP 222.3 | WR91

The Rams have one proven wide receiver on the roster – Cooper Kupp. Unfortunately, the superstar suffered a hamstring injury during practice. While the team believes he will return way before Week 1, his injury created more snaps and opportunities for Nacua. Despite being a fifth-round rookie, the former BYU star is my favorite Los Angeles wide receiver not named Kupp.

Nacua had a productive college career, totaling 91 receptions for 1,430 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns over the past two years. Furthermore, he played a critical role in the run game for BYU. While Nacua is a rookie, he has outshined almost every other wide receiver on the team this off-season. Fantasy players shouldn’t be surprised when Sean McVay makes the rookie a critical part of the offense.

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