The young and unproven highlight the list of players hidden deep in the fantasy rankings. These are not the guys starting the season as fantasy studs. These are the players who could take over starting duties and start getting enough targets and touches to be fantasy relevant. These deep sleepers could awaken in 2017 and be a valuable resource for your fantasy team.
Cooper Kupp – Los Angeles Rams
Wide Receiver
As one of the more underappreciated rookies entering the 2017 season, Cooper Kupp is sitting on the waiver wire in most leagues. As a rookie in an unproven offense, the perception is that Kupp’s ceiling seems capped at around 500 yards. However, Kupp holds the record for most receiving yards in an FBS career with over 6200 and could emerge very early on as one of Jarod Goff’s favourite targets. If you watched the preseason action, Goff was consistently looking for Kupp over and over again. Yes, Sammy Watkins is the more explosive receiver but Goff isn’t as confident going down the field as he is dumping it off. Kupp is going to be eyed on every third down. If you’re in a PPR league, he’s a must-own right and could turn out to be a poor-man’s Wes Welker/Julian Edelman.
Kevin White –Chicago Bears
Wide Receiver
As the injuries pile up for the Chicago Bears, the more targets are set to go Kevin White’s way, increasing his fantasy value. In two NFL seasons, White has less than 200 yards receiving and a terrible history with injuries himself. If he can finally stay healthy this season, he is the best receiver on the Bears roster and should easily outperform his current draft position. Remember that Cam Meredith – last season’s top wide receiver – isn’t exactly a special talent. He’s a good player who happened to be the team’s No. 1 option last year when no one was around. With Meredith out for the season, White has a chance to be that unspectacular-yet-productive No. 1 fantasy receiver on a team that doesn’t pass it that well. However, they figure to be trailing in games often enough to make White a deep sleeper.
Deshaun Watson – Houston Texans
Quarterback
As he has not been named the starter coming into the 2017 NFL season, Watson is rarely getting selected in fantasy football drafts. However, Watson is a few bad Tom Savage games or an injury away from being this year’s Dak Prescott. The Clemson product proved in his college career he could compete against the best and should be able to handle NFL defenses better than many other rookie quarterbacks. Add in his ability to run and expand plays and Watson could be an outstanding player if he does get a chance to start.
David Njoku – Cleveland Browns
Tight End
The Browns offense is young and inexperienced, led by a rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer who is paired with a rookie tight end named David Njoku. Njoku was the second tight end drafted in 2017, but expectations for the rookie are minimal. The one thing to consider is how much a young quarterback can be reliant on a big tight end as a check down option and red zone target. We saw him flash his potential in the preseason finale, catching three passes for 28 yards. The Browns lack much-established talent at the receiver position making Njoku and running back Duke Johnson interesting candidates to take a lion’s share of the the team’s receptions this season.
Marlon Mack – Indianapolis Colts
Running Back
With the age of Frank Gore a concern and the lack of reliability with Robert Turbin, the door is open for Marlon Mack to get a sizeable role in the Colts offense. The mid-round rookie is not likely to blow the doors off the NFL this season, however, he could prove to be a reliable fantasy asset in the latter half of the season. Without Luck to start the year, Gore and Turbin will face a barrage of rush blitzes and loaded boxes, which will wear them down quickly. And even if they don’t get hurt, let’s say the Colts struggle and want to emply the youth movement. He’s going to get a look.
Head Coach Chuck Pagano speaks highly of Mack, comparing him to Jamaal Charles at one point. Mack also had a preseason game where he finished with 59 yards on seven touches. The potential is there. This could lead to Mack eating up 10 to 15 touches a game later in the season, making him a reasonably priced flex option.
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