In my previous article, I identified some redraft sleepers at quarterback and running back but in a way that is informed by my dynasty experience. I continue today with wide receivers and tight ends. I’m going to help you with late-round flyers to take instead of scraping the bottom of the barrel for depth by giving you some names that are currently mostly only on dynasty managers’ radars.
One disclaimer: These names are most relevant for deep leagues (more than 12 teams and/or larger rosters) but are worth looking into even in shallower ones. A second disclaimer: These names will be mostly rookies, including some lesser known ones, since those are the players who most often will be on dynasty managers’ radars and not on redrafts managers’ ones.
I’ll be referencing current redraft ADP. While the sample size is small given how early in the redraft process we are, I’ll be using Fantasy Pros composite redraft ADP, which averages several sources. For quarterbacks (who are not affected by the level of PPR scoring), the average is calculated from five sources. For the other positions, a.5 PPR setting will be used since that seems to be the most common in redraft leagues, and that average is from four sources (Yahoo remains, while ESPN is removed).
Wide Receiver
I lack self-control when it comes to identifying deep-cut wide receivers. But I’m told most of you read these articles on mobile devices (I could never), and I’d never get an article with all the wide receivers I’d want to name approved. So I’m showing restraint to keep this article shorter. I promise.
Wide receiver is a deep position as it is, and many leagues have three in their starting lineups, so drafting six or seven is pretty standard. That means you have a few opportunities to take a flyer on a sleeper. The idea here is simple: Why draft the Kendrick Bournes of the world for your WR 5 or 6 when you can take a chance on a higher upside player? These are some names to try.
Nico Collins – ADP 295 (24.07 in a 12-team league), WR 101
People joke that I’m a closet Texans fan, given my frequent touting of Davis Mills, Brevin Jordan (see below), and my man Nico Collins. Collins was largely overlooked by many fantasy managers as a prospect entering the 2021 draft. He was stuck in a bad Michigan offense that didn’t use him well, and he sat out the 2020 COVID season. Still, Houston saw enough they liked in the 6’4″ 215-pound wideout to use third round (89th overall) draft capital on him. Collins only managed 33 receptions for 446 yards and one touchdown in his rookie campaign, but given the year off, his rookie status, and the state of the Texans team, that modest return is understandable.
He’ll have to learn a new offense this year, but Collins is in a good position to produce in 2022. Some of the things that made Mills a redraft sleeper in my previous article apply to Collins here. The offense has improved overall, and crucially in the running game. Mills looks like s solid quarterback whom Collins already has chemistry with. After Brandin Cooks, Collins’ main competition for wide receiver looks – rookie John Metchie – is returning from a major knee injury.
There are definitely some unknowns about how the Houston offense will operate in 2022, but that just means there’s a chance Collins emerges as a prime weapon. We shall see. But I’m fine taking him before several wide receivers with higher average positional ADP, including Devin Duvernay, Marquez Callaway, Jalen Guyton, Cedrick Wilson, James Washington, Josh Reynolds, and the aforementioned Bourne. Some players with much higher ADPs like Odell Beckham, Antonio Brown, Julio Jones, and Will Fuller (all with no team), as well as Joshua Palmer, Corey Davis, Donovan Peoples-Jones, and Isaiah McKenzie, are also options I’d put Collins ahead of. In my opinion, the gap between those receivers and Collins is unjustified.
Embed from Getty ImagesVelus Jones – ADP 307 (26.07 ), WR 100
Who? Isn’t he the guy who is a rookie but already turned 25? Yes, that is correct. Hy has an interesting story of injury, transfer, and the COVID year resulting in six years of NCAA eligibility. Age may have explained why Jones was lower in fantasy analysts’ rookie rankings, but the Bears were willing to spend third-round draft capital (71st overall) on him. Jones has good speed, and can be lined up in various ways. Is he Deebo Samuel? No. Very unlikely. But that versatility can increase his opportunities and production. His acumen as a returner will keep him on the roster and will earn you points in leagues that count return yards and/or return touchdowns in their scoring settings.
But perhaps the best thing Jones has going for him is the paucity of quality receivers Chicago has behind Darnell Mooney. On a team that will likely improve offensively and also still play from behind a good deal, Jones enters 2022 as the likely WR2 and possibly third pass option for Justin Fields behind Mooney and tight end Cole Kmet (no, I’m not afraid of N’Keal Harry), making Jones a name to add to your late round flyer list.
I would select Jones ahead of every wide receiver I referenced when discussing Collins above. He is the type of player you look for late in drafts: good upside relative to price. If he doesn’t hit, all you’ll be looking for is a new WR4 or 5, which are readily available on waivers every season.
Jalen Tolbert – ADP 211 (18.07) WR 67
This one might be cheating, or at least might be low-hanging fruit. Tolbert is becoming better known and a little buzzy, so he is already on the radar for some redraft managers for sure. Still, rookies who are not among a given year’s elite prospects often get passed over in redraft leagues on draft day. If you are playing in a league with casual managers or perhaps an old home league, some league mates may not know much about Tolbert, and he could be a nice value for you.
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I was high on Tolbert early in draft season after seeing a couple of good write-ups like this one and looking more closely. He is well-rounded with good hands and a pretty good size-speed combination (6’3″ 195, 4.49 40 time). What was working against him was occasional focus drops and being from a smaller school (South Alabama). As many rookie receivers do, the latter contributed to Tolbert needing some coaching on route running. The Cowboys liked him enough to take him in the third round (88th overall).
Amari Cooper is gone, and Michael Gallup will not be ready for week 1 as he recovers from a knee injury. Tolbert and underrated fellow rookie Dontario Drummond will have a chance to flash and earn Dak Prescott’s trust. It could be enough to cement Tolbert as the WR2, or at least a 2b to Gallup’s 2a — if you will. Even if tight end Dalton Schultz is the true second passing option in Dallas, the WR2/2b role in that offense should be productive.
By the time your draft begins, Tolbert will likely l have risen in the ADP rankings, so you will probably not be getting him at a WR 67 price. Still, he could be a solid value. I’d pick him before all the other receivers referred to in the Collins section above, as well as other wideouts with a higher average positional ADP such as Marvin Jones, Alec Pierce, George Pickens, Mecole Hardman, Christian Watson, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Jarvis Landry.
Honorable Mentions: Romeo Doubs – ADP 297 (25.08), WR 132; Jahan Dotson – ADP 189 (16.09), WR 66.5; James Proche – ADP 370 (31.10), WR 131
Honorable, But No ADP Data: Jalen Nailor
Tight End
This might be where things get a little tricky. The tight end premium format (tight ends earn extra points for receptions, often .5 for a total of 1.5 PPR) is very popular in dynasty but is growing slowly in redraft, even more slowly than Superflex. The idea behind a tight end premium setting is to make that position more valuable than it otherwise be, which alters strategy from draft to waivers to trades. So these names are most relevant in that format. But even if your redraft league doesn’t use this setting, you might have 14 or more teams, have deeper rosters, or just like to carry more than one tight end. In any of those cases, these names could be helpful.
Brevin Jordan – ADP 255 (22.03 ) TE 25
Embed from Getty ImagesTo know me is to know my love for Brevin Jordan (see here and here), so this is no surprise. As I discussed in those articles, Jordan was a draft steal for Houston and is primed to produce well. As with my Mills write-up in my previous article, and the Collins write-up above, the arrow is up on the Texans offense, and everyone should benefit. Jordan could very well be the second pass option behind Cooks in 2022 in an improving offense that will still likely be playing from behind most weeks. He is being unconscionably undervalued in dynasty, and it appears his redraft ADP is also unjustifiably deflated.
The idea that there are 24 tight ends going before Jordan is puzzling to me, and it means draft day value for you. I would draft him before these tight ends with higher average positional ADPs: CJ Uzomah, Evan Engram, Austin Hooper, and Tyler Higbee. I’d even think about taking him before underwhelming safety blankets for mediocre quarterbacks, like Noah Fant and Logan Thomas. Irv Smith and Albert Okwuegbunam will almost surely go ahead of Jordan in your draft, so no need to reach above them, but they are both very unproven and in a crowded offense, so they are riskier. I like Jordan’s floor more than theirs.
Honorable Mention: Cade Otton – ADP 317 (27.05), TE 32
Honorable, But No ADP Data: Daniel Bellinger, Grant Calcaterra
I hope this article and my previous one gave you some good names to consider for redraft sleepers. Take a chance, roll the dice. Let me know how it turns out!
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