Top 5 Deep Sleepers for Fantasy Football in 2023
If you’re anything like me, you’re chomping at the bits for some juicy training camp narratives. July can’t arrive soon enough. Until we have some of those brow-raising storylines to feast on, let’s get into a few players whom you should have your eyes on before the festivities begin. Here are my early Top 5 Deep Sleepers for the 2023 fantasy football season.
Tank Bigsby (RB – JAC)
Last year, we saw a breakout campaign from former first-round draft pick, Travis Etienne. However, fantasy managers would be wise to recall Doug Pederson’s expressed desire to manage the budding star’s workload. Etienne should remain a top-tier fantasy option, but there is a path for the second man up in Jacksonville’s backfield to receive meaningful work.
In the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, the Jaguars selected running back Tank Bigsby. He has already been attracting positive attention from coaches in the team’s rookie minicamp. Most notably, his prowess as a pass-catcher has been on full display. His aggressive running style and ability to make plays between the tackles will make Pederson’s interest in lightening Etienne’s workload viable.
While Bigsby’s upside is capped when Etienne is healthy and playing, he has the potential to provide occasional flex appeal in deeper formats.
Wan’Dale Robinson (WR – NYG)
Many fantasy managers stashed Wan’Dale Robinson on their bench last year in hopes of a late-season breakout. Week 11 tantalized us with three quarters of dominant fantasy football output. Unfortunately, a devastating injury that rendered the talented rookie unable to play for the remainder of the year. During that time, he saw a season-high 13 targets, which he converted for nine receptions and 100 yards.
In a wide receiver room devoid of an elite playmaker, Robinson has a distinct opportunity to become the favorite target of Daniel Jones. Outside of veteran tight end, Darren Waller, there aren’t a ton of playmakers. There is only a small sample size to draw upon, and Robinson’s numbers are largely skewed by his Week 7 and Week 11 stats respectively. However, an interesting data point to consider is his target per route run rate, which sits at 27.7%. That number lands him in the company of some elite fantasy producers at the wide receiver position.
The Giants made a large investment in the sophomore pass-catcher by spending an early second-round draft pick to acquire him. This should all but guarantee that he will receive opportunities to show off the potential the team saw in his game. If nothing else, the opportunity for a decent amount of volume is certainly there.
Jonathan Mingo (WR – CAR)
The wide receiver room in Carolina is, to put it delicately, lacking in talent. The Panthers brought in veteran Adam Thielen into the fold on a three-year contract. However, Thielen’s production has dwindled over the last few seasons and he doesn’t profile as a viable WR1. Terrace Marshall Jr. is hanging around as well, but to all of my fellow Marshall truthers, the breakout season we’re desperately craving is unlikely to come to fruition. Newly acquired Laviska Shenault Jr. and D.J. Chark Jr. shouldn’t inspire fear either to those counting on rookie Jonathan Mingo to make an impact in his rookie season.
Mingo’s tape in college is impressive. However, the one big knock on his collegiate career is his relative lack of production. Personally, I believe that quarterback play can be largely attributed to this semi-concerning topic. Carolina spent up at the top of the second round to pair their hopeful franchise quarterback, Bryce Young, with a talented pass-catcher.
Mingo’s play style should complement a developing passer. His knack for wreaking havoc on underneath and intermediate routes will provide a nice safety blanket for Young. Additionally, the two incoming rookies have wasted no time in familiarizing themselves with Carolina’s playbook and each other either.
Mingo is worth a late-round flier in your fantasy draft this summer. Furthermore, there’s always the possibility of acquiring him for pennies on the dollar from your fellow league mates if he takes the time to provide strong fantasy output. His dynasty ADP has been climbing since the draft in our dynasty rookie ADP as well.
Jerick McKinnon (RB – KC)
Recently, Clyde Edwards-Helaire has been disappearing in the Kansas City Chiefs offense. Now, veteran Jerick McKinnon projects to be the primary backup behind Isiah Pacheco. While Edwards-Helaire missed Week 12 and on due to a high-ankle sprain, McKinnon’s role in the offense had already been expanding at the expense of CEH.
McKinnon tallied 56 receptions for the Chiefs in 2022. Additionally, there’s no reason to believe that he’ll lose out on targets to Pacheco, who managed a measly 13 receptions in his rookie campaign. McKinnon’s role as a pass-catcher near the goal line offers him an opportunity for significant fantasy football paydirt.
Furthermore, totaling eight touchdowns in the final six regular season games make him a possible weekly Flex play in PPR formats. That is, of course, assuming he’s able to repeat his performance. Historically, touchdowns aren’t a sticky stat from year to year. However, Andy Reid’s creating scheming and knack for finding the end zone make the prospect of McKinnon being a meaningful contributor to fantasy football lineups more likely.
John Metchie III (WR – HOU)
As it currently stands, Sophomore receiver, John Metchie III, is poised to make his NFL debut this year. Unfortunately, he missed his rookie season due to being diagnosed with Leukemia.
With Brandin Cooks leaving town, there’s a WR1 vacancy in Houston’s offense. Nico Collins is entering his third season with the team, and incomers, Robert Woods and Noah Brown will compete for targets as well. However, these aren’t receivers that pose a major threat to Metchie’s long-term opportunity to become the number one option for second-overall pick, C.J. Stroud.
Furthermore, the Texans also invested meaningful draft capital in rookie, Tank Dell. However, he likely has an outside shot at best to stifle Metchie’s potential. In 2021, Metchie had an impressive breakout campaign for Alabama totaling 96 receptions for 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns. The obvious hole in Metchie’s prospect profile entering the 2022 draft was his late breakout age. This is in part because he competed for targets with the likes of Jaylen Waddle, Devonta Smith, and Jameson Williams.
Metchie’s precise route-running and ability to separate make him a candidate to immediately garner work in the slot. However, his talent for hauling in receptions down the field gives him the versatility needed to earn reps on the outside. Keep an eye on the young Crimson Tide alum during training camp.
Craving more potential late-round gems to monitor this draft season? We’ll be here throughout training camp and the preseason to satisfy your bargain-hunting hankerings. To all of those indulging in the smorgasbord of Best Ball drafts taking place, don’t forget to pin these five deep sleepers to your draft boards in the later rounds.
For the latest free agent news, check out the Fantasy Football News Tracker.
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