This is the second installment of my 2016 “early fantasy football sleepers” column. You can check out the running back sleepers here. My early picks for WR sleepers for 2016…
Sammie Coates, Steelers
Martavius Bryant has been suspended for the entire 2016 season leaving a big vacancy at the No. 2 WR next to Antonio Brown. Markus Wheaton is the likely candidate to replace Bryant, leaving Coates to fight for No. 3 duties, but it is my belief that Coates could make a push for No. 2 if Wheaton struggles early on. In relief of Bryant last year, Wheaton didn’t exactly impress. Bryant was suspended for the first four games of 2015 and sat out a fifth due to an injury, in those games Wheaton had just nine receptions for 228 yards and one TD. That equates to less than two catches and under 50 yards per game. Not exactly No. 2 WR numbers to say the least.
Wheaton did end the season strong and has given some optimism to fantasy owners that he could be a viable No. 3 WR in fantasy and is being drafted as such. Coates, however, is going largely undrafted in 10 and 12 team leagues and offers a ton of upside. Steelers OC Todd Haley called Coates’ offseason thus far “Tremendous”. If Coates does not supplant Wheaton as the No. 2, even as a No. 3 in this Steelers offense, he could still be a viable fantasy starter with the right matchup. He is definitely worth a late-round flier in any size league.
Rueben Randle, Eagles
The word from Eagles camp is that Jordan Matthews will move back inside where he excelled two years ago, which leaves Randle and Nelson Agholor as the receivers most likely to be on the outside. Randle was never lacking in talent but it was his consistency he struggled with. If he can seize this opportunity it could be huge for your fantasy team if you decide to take a chance.
At 6’2″ 208lbs, Randle represents the Eagles best red-zone threat of the all the wide receivers on the roster. He had a very quiet eight TDs as a member of the Giants last year despite only catching 57 passes. He was overshadowed by the larger than life Odell Beckham Jr. and before that a healthy Victor Cruz. Currently being drafted as the 77th wide receiver off the board, snagging him in the late rounds won’t hurt and could end up paying off big time.
Jamison Crowder, Redskins
A lot of people are down on Crowder’s fantasy prospects this year because the Redskins drafted Josh Doctson in the first round of the draft. Don’t let that deter you. Crowder had a very productive rookie season with 59 receptions for 604 yards and 2 TDs, most of that coming during Weeks 3-9 with DeSean Jackson out or limited due to an injury.
I expect Crowder to keep his No. 3 WR spot with the Redskins and he will continue to be viable in PPR leagues. He is one D-Jax injury away from a prominent role in a pretty proficient Redskins offense and he could pay off handsomely if you’re willing to take a flier on him.
Tajae Sharpe, Titans
Sharpe is getting some early buzz because it was reported that he will go into camp as the Titans starter over Dorial Green-Beckham. It is thought to be a motivational ploy for DGB, but my thought is this,
“If you’re making millions of dollars to play in the NFL, you were drafted as a high first round pick, and you barely saw the field in your rookie season, if the coaches feel they need to ‘bench’ you for motivation, then the NFL may not be for you.”
I was pretty high on DGB until I heard this news, now it has me worried. Sharpe may not end up keeping the starting gig when the season kicks off, but DGB will be on a short leash, and if he can’t live up to expectations, Sharpe could see more time on the field. He is going largely undrafted in 10-12 team leagues, but I for one will be drafting him in at least one of my leagues.
Sterling Shepard, Giants
Sometimes in fantasy football, opportunity is more important than talent, and that is the case with Shepard. I’m not trying to say Shepard isn’t talented because he is, but there are a few more talented rookie WRs that won’t get as much playing time, or targets, as Shepard could see in his first year. The Giants love to throw the ball — and run more three wide receiver sets than the majority of the NFL — couple that with Victor Cruz’s uncertain status and you have a rookie WR that could end up with more receptions than any of this year’s crop of rookie wide receivers. I won’t go as far to predict that will happen, but the potential is there, and potential is worth a late round flier.
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