Fantasy Football Sleepers Week 1: Sleeper is a term we often throw around in fantasy circles that is given to someone maybe not a whole lot of people know about or someone who might exceed expectations. With so much information out there currently, finding true fantasy football sleepers is quite a challenge in itself.
For the purpose of this article, I will do my best weekly to identify players each week who might be a “sleeper”. This means they are someone you might have drafted later in your drafts or picked up off the waiver wire for cheap. Ideally, they will be guys you can plug into your starting lineup and hopefully help you get a win that week.
This early in the season, it may be tough to want to gamble on a sleeper to start over some of the guys you drafted earlier. However you may have been hit with the injury bug after your draft, are needing to stream a position, debating between two guys, or just need a guy to plug into a flex spot. This is where this article may come in handy as we try to identify a few guys at each position who could have a decent week one outing.
I decided I will utilize several factors when exploring who my weekly sleepers will be. I will be looking at ADP (Fantasypros.com ADP), weekly positional rankings (Fantasypros.com ECR), rostership percentages, and some betting info (to help give perspective on possible outcomes).
When referencing scoring in these articles this season I will be looking at Half-PPR scoring and in terms of league size, I will stick with 12-team leagues.
Quarterbacks: Fantasy Football Sleepers Week 1
Jameis Winston (QB, NOS) vs. Green Bay Packers
Winston was given the reins to Sean Payton’s offense and will be the starter heading into 2021. In week one the Saints will take on Green Bay at “home”. Winston will face a Green Bay defense that gave up 23.1 points per game and 221.2 passing yards per game.
The current over/under for the game is 50.5 points and the Saints will likely have to pass the ball to keep up with Aaron Rodgers. Winston may come with a few hiccups, but sitting at QB24 in ECR for the week, he presents a viable streaming option if available.
Baker Mayfield (QB, CLE) at Kansas City Chiefs
The Browns will face off against the Chiefs in week one in a game that comes with the highest over/under of the week (53.5 points). The Chiefs look to continue to not miss a beat on offense, which means if Cleveland wants to have a shot at winning they will have to put some points on the board.
The Browns may try to play keep away and rely on Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, which if successful hinders Mayfield’s possible production. However, if you’re needing a streamer at quarterback Mayfield at QB17 in the rankings is not a bad option.
Running Backs: Fantasy Football Sleepers Week 1
Gus Edwards (RB, BAL) at Las Vegas Raiders
With J.K. Dobbins out for the season, Edwards is the heir apparent in Baltimore. He may not be one who you’d consider a “sleeper” as his ADP has been steadily on the move since the Dobbins injury. However, he still sits around RB32 in Fantasypros.com ADP as of 9/2/21.
If you happened to draft prior to the Dobbins injury and picked up Edwards as a flyer or late-round pick, he should be considered for starting lineups for week one.
Jamaal Williams (RB, DET) vs. San Francisco 49ers
Deandre Swift’s workload and availability continue to be a question mark as we head into week one action. Should Swift be limited or miss time, Williams looks to possibly benefit from his absence. Williams also sits on about 73% of Yahoo fantasy football teams and may be available on the waiver if you’re in need.
The 49ers are also currently 7.5 point favorites in this matchup and nobody is really expecting the Lions to be that great this year. If the 49ers jump out to a lead, it will likely lead to Detroit looking to the passing game where Williams can and has been successful.
There may be some garbage time points for Williams, but in the end, they still count in fantasy. You will want to continue to monitor Swift’s availability up until Week 1 though.
Wide Receivers: Fantasy Football Sleepers Week 1
Antonio Brown (WR, TB) vs. Dallas Cowboys
Brown sits currently at ECR WR 40 for week one, which places him in the wide receiver four range. Brown had a solid partial season last year where he was effective and drew plenty of attention from Tom Brady. Brown saw 7.8 targets a game (8 games) and definitely utilized the Tampa Bay passing attack.
With a full off-season under their belts, Brown and Brady may be more comfortable working together (and Brown may be more comfortable in the offense). He is one who could definitely outperform his current ranking and end as a WR2/3 and could be played in a flex spot.
Corey Davis (WR, NJY) at Carolina Panthers
Davis signed a three-year, $37.5 million dollar contract to play for the New York Jets and is now paired with rookie Zach Wilson. Davis looks to possibly take over lead receiver work in the Jets offense this season, which has previously been a tough place to try and salvage fantasy points from.
However, this might change moving forward with Wilson taking the reins and the Jets still facing a lot of negative game scripts. Davis currently sits at WR39 in ECR for week one, which places him in the wide receiver four range, but could finish in the WR3/flex range when all is said and done.
Tight End: Fantasy Football Sleepers Week 1
Gerald Everett (TE, SEA) at Indianapolis
The tight end position is often rough, especially if you don’t have one of the top three options. Identifying a sleeper at the tight end position is even more difficult. Essentially if you’re streaming a tight end you’re hoping for a touchdown. If I am banking on a tight end to score a touchdown I am going to go with one on a good offense and with a high over/under for the week.
Everett at TE18 for Week 1 meets those two criteria with Seattle who also has a 53.5 over/under for their matchup with the Colts in week one. He also is reuniting with Shane Waldron who was the Rams offensive coordinator last year.
