What is are dynasty sleepers exactly? Let’s be honest, in dynasty, there aren’t too many true sleepers. Most of the players on this list are likely owned by someone in your league, unlike in redraft leagues where most of these guys would have spent the entire 2021 season on waivers. A dynasty sleeper is a player that you can likely buy at a minimum price tag but has the potential to be a startable player, possibly even a stud, in the future.
I asked this question to the GoingFor2 writers and a couple of our friends in the industry to give me one of their early dynasty sleeper candidates for 2022. So without further ado, here are…
Dynasty Sleepers to Buy Now
Embed from Getty ImagesLB Ernest Jones (LAR)
Ernest Jones is more of a no-brainer option for me heading into the offseason. After all, the guy basically had a mini 2021 breakout. But to our advantage, we think it wasn’t enough to firmly put him on everyone’s IDP radar this offseason. At least in standard-sized leagues. In those formats, he’ll be a fringe option with a few things to prove.
Giving us the perfect opportunity to grab him as our first ILB off the bench. Is he an elite prospect? Not really, at least in the terms of the small sample we got this past season. Long story short, things were set in motion when the Rams drafted Jones in the third last year. Which is the highest draft stock they’ve put into a linebacker in a very long time. Not to mention it was the team’s earliest draft pick.
And then after easing him into the lineup he was on par with what we would want to see. Granted he didn’t fully break out because of a couple of injuries. But more importantly, there are no red flags anywhere at this point suggesting he’s not going to get every opportunity to succeed. And just by default if he can hold the starting job down, we’re looking at potential LB1 numbers for a very long time. Gary VanDyke @TheIDPTipster of gridironratings.com
WR Kadarius Toney (NYG)
Now let me preface this by saying that when the Giants took this man in the first round last year, I chuckled a little bit. Why did a team with talent at all skill positions spend this kind of draft capital for another weapon? Man did Kadarius Toney show me why. Toney played 10 games in his injury-plagued rookie season, amassing 420 yards on 39 catches with 57 targets.
His target rate for plays he was on the field was an astounding 28.7%, which ranked 7th in the NFL. Now, these aren’t flashy numbers, but when Toney was on the field, he was explosive and passed the eye test. With a Giants’ offensive system that lacked creativity, leadership and any sort of effective QB play, the time to buy on Toney’s talent is now. Jordan Jicha @drfantasysports of GoingFor2.com
WR Josh Palmer (LAC)
When I recently wrote up six off-the-radar players to stash in dynasty leagues, Josh Palmer kept sticking out to me. The Chargers are facing an offseason with a potential offensive overhaul. Mike Williams is an unrestricted free agent and he chose the right year to have 1,146 receiving yards and nine touchdowns despite not playing a full season. He will likely sign elsewhere, leaving behind 129 targets. Jalen Guyton is also a restricted free agent and it’s up in the air as to whether or not he re-signs. He demanded 48 targets.
For those who have problems with addition, that is upwards of 175 potential vacated targets just from wide receivers. Three of their tight ends are also free agents next year and they amassed 129 targets. The 2021 season showed us that the Chargers want to throw, throw and then throw some more. They ranked fifth in percent of pass plays per game and also were top six in passing yards and passing touchdowns per game. The Chargers are going to need bodies for Herbert to throw to opposite Keenan Allen next year, and Josh Palmer’s time may be as soon as 2022. Ryan Kirksey @KirkseySports of fantasysixpack.net
TE Hunter Long (MIA)
Had to include the term “sleeper” in the question, huh? That is always open to interpretation and suspect that some of my fellow respondents will go with answers that are much shallower than mine. So I’m going to go pretty deep and suggest buying a player you can probably get for pennies. That of course assumes he’s not available in free agency. But I think a player ranked outside of the top 300, especially if including this year’s upcoming rookies, fits the bill of a “deep sleeper”: Hunter Long.
Mike Gesicki is a free agent and I’m not sure he would want to return to the Dolphins, even if the Dolphins were interested in bringing him back. That makes Hunter Long the next man up. Unfortunately, he played in just seven games this year. However, last year he led all college TEs in both targets and receptions. He was targeted 89 times, 22 more than the next closest TE. The 6’5 254-pound has been compared to Hunter Henry, who simply tied for the league-high in TE TDs this season. He’s probably a year or two away from doing that, but I’d buy him now while you can. Mark Strausberg @MarkStrausberg of fantasysixpack.net
WR Nico Collins (HOU)
Savvy dynasty players will already know to target Nico Collins but for some, Collins will likely be available or able to be acquired via trade. In a year where the WR rookie class made headlines, Collins flew under the radar and quietly flashed with 33 receptions and 446 yards. Per Player Profiler, Collins entered the NFL draft pool with above-average scores in breakout age, yards per reception, agility score, burst score, speed score, and Sparq-X score.
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You know what they say, if you don’t have size then you’d better have skill. Collins has both. At 6’4″ and 215 lbs, Collins’ size, and rookie year productivity puts him in rare company and gives us a glimpse at his upside. Since 1995 the list of rookie WRs at Collins’ size who outproduced him is made up of Marques Colston, Tee Higgins, Chase Claypool, Mike Evans, D.K. Metcalf, Brandon Coleman, and J.J. Stokes. The Texans’ QB situation was a mess in 2021. Assuming there is an upgrade at the position, and the offense as a whole, Collins could find himself as a top 35 WR at only 23 years of age. John LaPresto @TheJohnLaPresto of fantasysixpack.net
Embed from Getty ImagesTE Cole Kmet (CHI)
In the ashes of the Chicago Bears’ 2021 season, one is left to search for silver linings. Tight end Cole Kmet is certainly one of them. In his second season, Kmet improved in almost all statistical areas. Overall, he posted 60 receptions on 93 targets for 612 yards. In addition, Kmet proved to be very durable, playing in all 17 games. Perhaps most impressive was the target share Kmet earned. Kmet averaged a 17% target share including six games over 20%. On the flip side, Kmet remarkably failed to score a single touchdown. In the end, Kmet only averaged around 7 fantasy points a game.
Kmet was held back primarily by the Bears’ anemic offense. However, there are many reasons for optimism going forward. Kmet enters his third season next year which is a prime breakout year for tight ends. The Bears offense should improve under a new coaching staff and second-year quarterback Justin Fields. Furthermore, Kmet should see far more red-zone looks with fellow tight end Jimmy Graham likely retired or with another team. Every season seems to yield a sleeper tight end, and Kmet is my pick to be the player in 2022. Jay Christensen @JayC_DFF of GoingFor2.com
WR Anthony Schwartz (CLE)
Week 1 of 2021, Schwartz showed a lot of promise and chemistry with quarterback Baker Mayfield. Mayfield then got hurt in week 2 and Schwartz didn’t see the field much. This team needs playmakers on offense and with Schwartz’s speed, he can be just that. If the Browns draft another receiver(which they should) it will help open up Schwartz to be able to use his speed.
And if Baker is gone after this next season, admittedly, Schwartz could have a better deep-ball throwing quarterback. Schwartz is also going to be extremely cheap. Like 3rd rounder or later in dynasty. I’m banking on his talent and athleticism long-term. Shane Barrett @ffShaneB of ffkollectiv.com
WR Tyler Johnson (TB)
Tyler Johnson is about as low as a buy-low as you can get. Johnson was drafted in the 5th round in 2020 to an already loaded Bucs WR corps so his field time has been limited. Then, when given an increased role due to injuries and stripteases, he hasn’t been very impressive even with Tom Brady throwing him the ball. He had 4 drops during the regular season and a few miscommunications with Brady during this recent postseason.
So why do I like him? A roster turnover in Tampa Bay is coming sooner than we think. Chris Godwin is set to become a free agent and will also be recovering from a late-season ACL tear. We also may have watched Tom Brady’s final game so if he decides to hang them up, Rob Gronkowski will most likely follow suit. The opportunity to step into that number 2 WR role behind Mike Evans could be as early as 2022.
Another positive is if Tom retires and the 2022 QB is currently on the roster (Gabbert or Trask), Johnson already has some practice chemistry with them. Check your waiver wires to see if he’s there but in any deep roster league, he can probably be had very cheap. You might even be able to get him as a “throw-in” player in a bigger deal. Jerry Wilke @JerryWilkeFM of GoingFor2.com
WR Zay Jones (LV)
From Week 12 till the end of the season, Zay Jones had 54 total targets. His teammate and PPR monster, Hunter Renfrow, had 55. In fact, if you just look at their last five games, Renfrow had 22 targets to Jones’ 35! The only reason no one is talking about Jones much is that he only had one touchdown all season and it came in Week 1.
During that seven-game run from Week 12-thru-18, his 38 receptions were more than Tee Higgins, Jaylen Waddle, Ja’Marr Chase and Keenan Allen, but again, he didn’t score so no one is talking about him.
His late-season success could lead to a decent free-agent market for him, which he will become this offseason. It’s entirely possible he stays with the Raiders, and if he does, I like his chances to up his touchdown production in 2022. Then there is also the chance he lands in a better situation. Jones isn’t a No. 1 wide receiver, but if he could land on a team with a higher passing volume or a better quarterback, his value could skyrocket.
The time to buy Zay Jones is now. Geoff Lambert @GeoffLambert77 of GoingFor2.com
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