Six Fantasy Football Sleepers Emerging Through Two Weeks of Preseason Action
Travis Kelce, TE Chiefs (Current ADP 13.11) – Kelce has seen his ADP rise almost two rounds since the end of May, thanks largely in part to an explosion over the first two weeks of NFL preseason action. The second-year tight end is a physical freak who comes from NFL bloodlines, and appears to have found a very lucrative role in a KC offense that is not known to push the ball downfield often. Kelce, through two weeks of preseason action, is the NFL’s leader in receiving yards.
Robert Woods, WR Bills (Current ADP 14.03) – Don’t look now, but Woods may be the receiver to own in Buffalo this year even above rookie phenom Sammy Watkins and can be had seven rounds later. Woods and QB EJ Manuel came into the league together and share a chemistry that is unrivaled in the Bills receiving corps. Woods has been getting targeted through Weeks 1 and 2 of the 2014 preseason at a ridiculous one time per every five snaps, 14 targets over 70 snaps total.
Kyle Rudolph, TE Vikings (Current ADP 7.08) – Norv Turner has come to Minnesota as offensive coordinator, and with him comes a long, successful line of TE play that can be seen as recently as Jordan Cameron in Cleveland and goes all the way back to times of Antonio Gates and even Jay Novacek. Rudolph has always been touted as a player with “Gronk-like” physical tools, but has never been in a system that placed such focus on the tight end. He has been getting extremely sick and making huge plays in the preseason.
Kelvin Benjamin, WR Panthers (Current ADP 11.06) – If you used the Free RW Cheat Sheet in a recent draft, you own Kelvin Benjamin. Rejoice. We have no idea how his ADP could be this low, and we would feel perfectly fine drafting him four rounds earlier. Benjamin has shown through camp and the preseason that he is THE No. 1 WR of the future in Carolina. He’s looking good in his routes, and the “good things” about his game we’ve told you about since the Tallahasse stop of the Pro Day Tour look to have translated at the pro level. An instant super-flex option that can be had mid round-11.
Ahmad Bradshaw, RB Colts (Current ADP: 13.09) – This doesn’t have as much to do with what Bradshaw has done recently, but more to do with the fact that Trent Richardson is looking less and less dependable with every chance he is given to take the reins as the lead back in Indy. We just don’t trust Richardson. Bradshaw will not likely stay healthy for a season, but it is important to remember that he is a dynamic, three-down back with goal-line chops when he is. Donald Brown is gone and Vick Ballard is again injured. We love Ahmad Bradshaw as an RB5 to matchup-play in 2014 and possibly plug in as a big-upside play while healthy should Richardson miss time.
Justin Hunter, WR Titans (Current ADP: 12.09) – If you used the RW cheat sheet, you own Justin Hunter, congratulations. We have always said with Hunter that it would be a two-to-three-year proposition before he gets acclimated to the speed and precision of the NFL game, and while he still looks a small bit raw, he’s got the length and explosiveness in space that reminds fans of Justin Blackmon. Target Hunter from the 10th round on and feel good about it.
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what about Rashad Jennings is his value too high now to be considered a sleeper
About the cheat sheet….
I understand the part about crossing off each player as they’re drafted. But with the remaining players, should I concentrate on selecting the best remaining player in a particular category first; ie filling the RB position with the best remaining player before I select my QB? Even if there’s a higher ranking QB on the list? Or do I just go highest ranking player remaining in all 3 categories, period? Hope this makes sense.
PigSkyn – It is designed to have you take the player who’s highest up on the sheet regardless. Clearly, sometimes people fudge with it, like if you already have a QB and a QB is highest or if you feel a great need at one position, and one player at that position is only a few spots down from the highest available at another position you are stacked at, we don’t disapprove of deviating from it then. But optimally, though, that shouldn’t happen given the current trends and the way the sheet is designed.