With the 2023 NFL season set to kick off tonight, last-minute fantasy football drafts will be wrapping up over the next few hours.
We all know who the stars of fantasy football are, but the managers who win their leagues often land several sleepers late in the draft. So we’ve put together a list of 25 fantasy football sleepers to target in 2023.
Buy Broncos TicketsTo be clear, these sleepers are not unknown breakout candidates. There are plenty of players on this list who are household names, some of them even being drafted as starters.
What we consider to be a “sleeper” is a player who will outperform his average draft position this season. We consider a sleeper a player who you draft with an ADP of RB20 and he ends up finishing as RB10 (as an example).
Each player listed below is sorted by position and their ADP relative to their position. Let’s get to the list and win some fantasy football leagues!
1
Dalton Kincaid (TE11)
Kincaid can barely be considered a “sleeper” at this point, but he’s not currently being drafted as a starter in 10-team leagues. He was the top tight end in this year’s draft and now gets to play with Bills quarterback Josh Allen, who has thrown at least 35 touchdown passes in each of the last three seasons. This isn’t a suggestion to go the other direction and overdraft Kincaid, but TE11 could end up being good value.
2
Chigoziem Okonkwo (TE13)
“Chig” is the sleeper tight end of the offseason after he finished his rookie season on a strong note last year. Okonkwo received at least four targets in six of Tennessee’s final seven games, including three games with five targets and one game with six targets. His touchdown production (three) was modest as a rookie, but Okonkwo is poised to take a step forward in 2023.
3
Greg Dulcich (TE17)
Dulcich will be hurt some by the offseason arrival of Adam Trautman, but there’s no questioning that Dulcich is the best receiving tight end on Denver’s roster — and the team is thin at wide receiver. The last time Sean Payton had a talented receiving tight end, Jared Cook finished as TE7 in 2019 after hauling in 43 receptions for 705 yards and nine touchdowns. Cook’s numbers dipped the following year (37/504/7), but that was his age-33 season. Dulcich is a speedy, 23-year-old tight end poised to have a breakout year.
4
Taysom Hill (TE21)
It feels odd to list Hill as a “sleeper” when he’s such an established household name, but relative to his ADP, Hill truly is a sleeper going into the 2023 season. Hill is listed as a TE in ESPN fantasy football leagues and his rushing ability gives him great value. He is do-it-all player who gets plenty of rushing touchdown opportunities near the goal line. That helped him finish as TE9 last year, and with Alvin Kamara suspended for three games, Hill should get multiple goal-line opportunities early in the season.
5
Isaiah Likely (TE32)
Likely had huge production when Mark Andrews was sidelined last year and while there are more mouths to feed in Baltimore this season, Likely is poised get more targets in Year 2. Even if he doesn’t get a huge boost in targets, Likely should be able to easily top his TE27 finish from a year ago, yet he’s being drafted as TE32 leading up to Week 1.
For more fantasy coverage, check out our fantasy football hub.
6
Daniel Jones (QB14)
Jones is barely a “sleeper,” but he’s not currently being drafted as a starter in 12-team leagues. He rushed for 708 yards (fifth among QBs) and seven touchdowns (third among QBs) last season, helping him finish as QB9. Landing him at QB14 this year could prove to be a steal.
7
Anthony Richardson (QB15)
Richardson is a boom-or-bust fantasy prospect this year. His 53.8% completion percentage at Florida last season is concerning, but his 654 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns are promising, especially with Jonathan Taylor out at least four weeks. After running a 40-yard dash in 4.43 seconds at the NFL combine, Richardson is a high-upside rushing QB to target late in fantasy drafts.
8
Geno Smith (QB16)
After finishing as QB5 in fantasy last year, Smith is now being drafted as QB16. He’s unlikely to exactly repeat last season’s performance, but fantasy owners might be undervaluing him again. Smith still has DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Ken Walker on offense, and the Seahawks added Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Zach Charbonnet in April. Seattle still has plenty of weapons and Smith proved last season that he can be a fantasy-relevant QB while spreading the ball around.
9
Russell Wilson (QB18)
Wilson posted the second-fewest rushing attempts (55) and the third-fewest rushing yards (277) of his career last season playing in Nathaniel Hackett’s offense. Now playing under Sean Payton, Wilson could have a bounce-back season, in part due to the possibility of more freedom to run. Fantasy managers shouldn’t reach for Wilson, but he could certainly finish higher than QB18 this season.
10
Kenny Pickett (QB19)
Pickett was not a fantasy-relevant QB last season but he did rush for 237 yards and three touchdowns in 12 starts. Now entering his second season, Pickett might be poised for a Year 2 leap. Like Smith in Seattle, Pickett is surrounded by playmakers including Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, Allen Robinson, Pat Freiermuth and Najee Harris. He has high upside as a QB2 this year.
11
George Pickens (WR34)
After a slow start last year, Pickens scored scored at least 10 fantasy points in nine of Pittsburgh’s final 13 games last season. His top-five games were 18.1-, 18.3-, 16.7- and 16.2-point (twice) performances. If he takes a step forward in his second season, Pickens could be a breakout WR in 2023.
12
Jordan Addison (WR37)
A first-round draft pick, Addison will now be playing across from Justin Jefferson, arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL today. While defenses focus on Jefferson, Addison should get plenty of targets as a rookie. The 21-year-old receiver could prove to be a great value at WR37.
13
Quentin Johnston (WR49)
Johnston is another rookie wide receiver with high upside, but he will be playing in a more crowded WR room. Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Josh Palmer are all returning in Los Angeles, which will limit Johnston’s immediate impact. Allen and Williams have both battled through various injuries in recent seasons, though, so Johnston could become a fantasy-relevant WR sooner than later.
14
Elijah Moore (WR51)
Now getting a fresh start with the Browns, the former second-round pick is poised to serve as Cleveland’s No. 2 receiver across from Amari Cooper. The change of scenery for the ex-Jet could help Moore get his career back on track, especially if quarterback Deshaun Watson returns to his old form in his second season with the Browns.
15
Isaiah Hodgins (WR76)
After beginning the 2022 season on the Bills’ practice squad, Hodgins had a mini breakout in the second half of the season with the Giants. He finished the year averaging 11.1 fantasy points per game. That ranked 41st in 2022, which isn’t high, but it’s a lot better than the WR76 ADP Hodgins has going into the 2023 season. The 24-year-old receiver scored 15.4, 15.8, 22.9 and 14.2 points in four of New York’s final six games and then had a big game in the playoffs. Hodgins is worth a stash late in drafts.
16
Alvin Kamara (RB21)
How can a name like Kamara be considered a “sleeper?” Because he’s being drafted as RB21 and should easily rank higher than that in 2023 (even with a three-game suspension). Last year, Kamara missed two games and he still finished as RB16 in PPR leagues. Getting a RB16-caliber player at a RB21 draft slot is a steal.
17
Javonte Williams (RB28)
Yes, he’s coming off a torn ACL and LCL, but Williams passed through every stage of recovery with no setbacks this offseason and he’s been declared “100%” healthy going into Week 1. New coach Sean Payton splashed in free agency with two big signings on the offensive line and he then signed a fullback and a blocking tight end before trading for another blocking tight end. Payton has set the Broncos up to pound the rock. Broncos fans might also recall quarterback Teddy Bridgewater comparing a then-rookie Williams to Kamara in 2021. Williams could be a fantasy gem in Payton’s offense.
18
D'Andre Swift (RB30)
Now getting a fresh start following a trade from Detroit, Swift is joining a high-scoring Eagles offense that led the NFL with 32 rushing touchdowns in 2022. Granted, Rashaad Penny will likely lead the goal-line work, but Swift’s talent and receiving ability should result in him getting plenty of opportunities in 2023.
19
David Montgomery (RB31)
Jahmyr Gibbs will obviously get plenty of work in 2023, but Detroit’s offense had a pair of fantasy-relevant running backs last year and that could continue this season. Jamaal Williams scored 17 rushing touchdowns with the Lions last fall and Montgomery should get some of those goal-line carries now.
20
Samaje Perine (RB38)
Both Broncos running backs? Yes, because that’s how much Denver is going to run the ball this season, and Williams might have a snap count early in the season. Perine’s receiving ability could make him a big steal at RB38 in PPR leagues.
21
De'Von Achane (RB40)
Jeff Wilson is set to miss at least the first four games of the season and while Raheem Mostert is the Dolphins running back to roster in fantasy, Achane is a sleeper worth your consideration. Miami just used a third-round pick to draft Achane, and Mostert is a 31-year-old veteran with a long history of injuries. At some point this season, Achane might emerge as the Dolphins’ RB1.
22
Rashaad Penny (RB44)
Similar to the Broncos, the Eagles have both their top running backs on this list. Philly ranked fifth in rushing yards (2,509) last season and Penny has proven himself as a productive goal-line back when healthy. The problem is Penny is often injured, which likely factors into his low ADP. Even with the risk of injury, though, Penny could prove to be a great value at RB44.
23
Tank Bigsby (RB46)
Travis Etienne is an exciting player and very fantasy-relevant, but he’s not a goal-line back. Bigsby (fittingly) plays like a bigger back than he is, and the rookie might be poised to get more work near the end zone than Etienne.
24
Kareem Hunt (RB55)
Hunt is a bit of a risky fantasy target because he is currently without a team, so you probably shouldn’t draft him before the final pick in your draft. Jonathan Taylor is set to miss at least the first four games of the 2023 season and Hunt has already visited the Colts. If he eventually signs with Indy, Hunt would instantly become their best and most fantasy-relevant RB. Adding him late in drafts would be a low-risk move with potential for big reward.
25
Deon Jackson (RB59)
While Hunt remains a free agent, Jackson appears poised to start for the Colts in Week 1. Indy will likely use a backfield committee approach for as long as Taylor is sidelined (either by injury or holdout) and any one of Jackson, Zack Moss or Evan Hull could be worth a dart throw. For now, we’re betting on Jackson — just don’t bet the farm.
