Finding late round hidden treasures is a difficult task that tends to be a crucial part of enjoying success in fantasy football. Here are the guys that I think are most likely to fill that role at each key position in 2020.
Quarterback: Aaron Rodgers (Packers) (ADP: Yahoo!: 95.7 ESPN: 107.7 NFL.com: 76.5)
Referring to Rodgers as a sleeper option feels weird even after back-to-back pedestrian seasons (4,442 YDS/25 TD/2 INT in '18, 4,002 YDS/26 TD/4 INT in '19), but since he's currently on the QB2 borderline on every major fantasy site save for NFL.com, that's just how it is. While Rodgers still doesn't have a particularly deep set of weapons, the potential spite-driven motivation to step his game up following the Packers selection of Jordan Love in the 1st round of this year's draft could lead to a return to dominant fantasy form for the future Hall-of-Famer.
Honorable Mentions: Daniel Jones (Giants), Baker Mayfield (Browns), Gardner Minshew (Jaguars)
Deep Sleeper: Drew Lock (Broncos)
Rookie Sleeper: Joe Burrow (Bengals)
Running Back: Phillip Lindsay (Broncos) (ADP: Yahoo!: 107.4, ESPN: 105.3, NFL.com: 103.5)
Presumed starter Melvin Gordon's durability issues and struggles with the Chargers last season makes Lindsay a solid bet to see significant reps at some point this season. His consistent contributions in the rushing game (back-to-back 1,000+ YD seasons, 16 TD's)/decent pass-catching ability (a career receiving line of 70 REC/437 YDS/1 TD) have made him a high floor RB2 option in his first 2 NFL seasons and getting a young player with a track record of reliability like that in the 9th-10th round feels like a potentially massive steal.
Honorable Mentions: Ronald Jones (Buccaneers), Alexander Mattison (Vikings), Justin Jackson (Chargers)
Deep Sleeper: Damien Harris (Patriots)
Rookie Sleeper: Zack Moss (Bills)
Wide Receiver: Brandin Cooks (Texans) (Yahoo!: 110.9, ESPN: 109.9, NFL.com: 104.8)
With DeAndre Hopkins gone, the Texans now have a vacancy at their top receiver spot. Of all the candidates for this gig (Will Fuller, Randall Cobb, Kenny Stills), Cooks has the best chances of seizing that role. Prior to his poor, injury-plagued campaign with the Rams last season, he had racked up 5 straight 1,000+ YD seasons with 3 different teams (Saints, Patriots, Rams) and his combination of solid route-running and hands make him a more versatile option than the rest of the Texans receiving corps. If he can stay healthy, get reacquainted with the endzone (he only had 7 TD's during his 2 seasons with the Rams after scoring at least 7 in each of the prior 3 seasons) and use his hardened gridiron drifter mentality to quickly develop a rapport with Deshaun Watson, a top 20 finish isn't out of the question.
Honorable Mentions: Darius Slayton (Giants), Dionate Johnson (Steelers), Christian Kirk (Cardinals)
Deep Sleeper: Parris Campbell (Colts)
Rookie Sleeper: Brandon Aiyuk (49ers)
Tight End: Dallas Goedert (Eagles) (Yahoo!: 130.0, ESPN: 166.2, NFL.com: 135.5)
Goedert took advantage of the Eagles injury/productivity problems at wide receiver and quietly put together a respectable 2019 campaign (58 REC/607 YDS/5 TD's) that included 5 straight games of 41+ receiving YDS to end the season. With the receiver situation still unsettled in the wake of Alshon Jeffrey's presence on the PUP list as he continues to rehab the foot injury that landed him on the IR last December and uncertainty around DeSean Jackson's ability to bounce back from the sports hernia surgery that cost him most of the 2019 season, Goedert has a real chance to build off his opportunistic late season success in 2019 and become a focal point of their passing game in 2020.
Honorable Mentions: Mike Gesicki (Dolphins), Chris Herndon (Jets), Jonnu Smith (Titans)
Deep Sleeper: Irv Smith Jr. (Vikings)
Rookie Sleeper: Cole Kmet (Bears)
Defense: Colts (Yahoo!: 136.3, ESPN: 127.0, NFL.com: 148.3)
Their takeaway potential is a little bit questionable-especially in the INT department, but adding DeForest Buckner to a talented, youth-driven front 7 (Darius Leonard, Anthony Walker Jr., Bobby Okereke, Ben Banogu, lone old guy Justin Houston) could give them the pass-rushing pop to anchor a solid fantasy defense.
Honorable Mentions: Seahawks, Cowboys, Chargers
Deep Sleeper: Browns
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