The fantasy football offseason is starting to take shape with organized team activities starting across the NFL.
Managers looking to gain an advantage should pay close attention to the reports and highlights coming out of each team's camp over the next few weeks, as these will be their first opportunity to see how rosters are shaping up and which players are well positioned to be major contributors in 2024.
While the usual suspects will dominate the fantasy football landscape this season, there's still room for new faces to step in. These deep sleepers might not garner much attention, but a strong showing in OTAs could quickly change that.
Whether it's a rookie who is expected to perform well or a player who finally gets a chance to play a big role early in his career, there are several players who stand out during OTAs with a chance to skyrocket to the top of the list.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at deep sleepers with an average draft position (ADP) of 125 or higher in PPR formats.
Fantasy points and draft data provided by: Fantasy Pro Use the PPR metric.
The Minnesota Vikings quarterback of the future is arguably JJ McCarthy.
The franchise traded up to acquire the Michigan native with the 10th overall pick and will likely build around him for the next few years, though he likely won't play much as a rookie.
Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said in April that he was in no rush to develop McCarthy and that Sam Darnold would likely serve as a bridge between former starter Kirk Cousins and a future QB1.
Darnold could have a real chance to become a consistent starter for the first time since the second half of the 2022 season and put up some career-best numbers.
Darnold is just 26 years old, but he already has six years of NFL experience under his belt, and while he has generally struggled since being named a starter for the New York Jets in Week 1 of his rookie season in 2018, Darnold has shown occasional glimpses of the ability to be a quality quarterback despite the lack of talent around him on any given team.
Darnold returned to the Carolina Panthers' starting lineup for the final six games of 2022 and led the team to a 4-2 record while ranking among the top 20 fantasy quarterbacks in five of those games. His best performances came in Week 16 and Week 17, when he ranked eighth and sixth, respectively, for nearly 600 total passing yards and five total touchdowns.
He was also solid in his lone start for the San Francisco 49ers last year, completing 16 of 26 passes for 189 yards and a score, plus a 19-yard run and touchdown against a dangerous Los Angeles Rams defense in Week 18. Darnold's 17.5 fantasy points were good for a spot as QB15 for the week.
Darnold is a great hidden target for fantasy leagues after spending the entire offseason preparing for perhaps the best pass-catching talent the NBA has ever paired with. If he can connect with the likes of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and TJ Hockenson during OTAs, the quarterback should start to rise up the draft rankings quickly.
It's not often that late Day 3 draft picks garner a lot of attention at OTAs, but running back Kimani Vidal could buck that trend by making waves with the Los Angeles Chargers.
The sixth-round pick will begin his career behind a pair of proven veterans in J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards, who joined the Bolts this offseason after long stints with the Baltimore Ravens. But Los Angeles will have a tough time letting the rookie get lost in their depth chart; he's too talented, dynamic and experienced to take the field off the floor in 2024.
There was plenty of video of Vidal for scouts to review during the pre-draft process, and no running back in this class recorded more carries than the 781 he did during his four-year tenure at Troy. He was also highly effective on those carries, racking up more than 4,000 yards and 33 touchdowns.
At 5-foot-8 and 213 pounds, he might not be a true three-down back at the NFL level, but he shouldn't have any trouble contributing as a pass-catching backfield. He caught 92 passes for 700 yards in college and has excellent pass-blocking skills that could make him an immediate asset on third down.
Vidal could also play a big role if the more experienced players ahead of him get injured or underperform.
Dobbins has the résumé to be a second-round pick and has a decent record in the NFL when healthy, but he has played in just nine games since the start of the 2021 season. Edwards averaged more than five yards per carry each of his first four pro seasons but managed just 3.8 yards per carry over the final eight games of the regular season.
With the Chargers preparing to debut a new offensive line under coach Jim Harbaugh and notable thinness at receiver, this backfield could shoulder a heavy workload in 2024.
If Vidal performs well in OTAs, he could secure a spot in the starting rotation and move up the ranks immediately.
The New England Patriots receiver corps has been abysmal across the board in recent years.
It didn't help that the offensive coaching staff was in disarray and quarterback Mac Jones devolved from a Pro Bowl contender to one of the league's worst starters in the space of three seasons, but there was only one Patriots wide receiver worth fantasy consideration in 2023.
That was sixth-round rookie Demario Douglas, who led the team in receiving yards and targets and was second only to running back Ezekiel Elliott in catches.
Douglas was a decent WR64 in fantasy last year thanks to 49 receptions and 561 yards receiving in 14 starts, and while a lack of scoring prevented him from being ranked much higher, he'll likely be ranked even higher at the end of 2024.
The 23-year-old has comfortably surpassed expectations as a virtually unknown Day 3 wide receiver — he was one of just three receivers to average more than seven yards after the catch last year, joining Ruchy Rice and Deebo Samuel, and now the Patriots have blue-chip quarterback prospect Drake Maye under center, which could lead to improvement across the board.
With New England drafting wide receivers Jalyn Polk and Javon Baker this year, there will be increased competition for playing time, but Douglas' experience and versatility in the slot should keep him in the mix.
The Liberty native has a 21 percent target share dating back to Week 7 of last year, meaning Maye could quickly establish himself as a reliable high-usage safety valve as he establishes himself in the NFL.
OTAs should help clarify what New England's pecking order will be in 2024, but Douglas has performed well enough to earn a prominent spot, and his fantasy value should rise significantly if he quickly develops a rapport with his new point guard.
The Denver Broncos are looking to erase the disappointment of the Russell Wilson era with a new offense featuring several rookies.
The biggest focus will be on quarterback Bo Nix, the 12th overall pick, but one of his Oregon State teammates could also make a big splash in his first pro season.
Troy Franklin was surprisingly still available for selection at the start of Day 3, but Denver didn't wait long to call the prolific pass-catching player's name, earning him the second pick in the fourth round and reuniting one of the most dynamic batteries in college football.
Franklin had his best performance since Nicks joined the Ducks ahead of the 2022 season. He had a big sophomore season in his point guard's debut season, recording 61 receptions for 891 yards and nine touchdowns.
The following year, the duo reached new heights, with Franklin finishing with an astounding 81 catches for 1,383 yards and 14 scores.
The 6-foot-2, 176-pound wide receiver likely fell through the draft on draft day due to his thin frame, lack of strength and inability to consistently win contests for the ball, but his elite athleticism (he ran a 4.41-second 40-yard dash and posted a 39-inch vertical leap at the Combine) as well as his quick release, acceleration and route-running skills should translate well at the NFL level.
Franklin has already shown off his unique combination of talents in overtime, and his pre-existing chemistry with the Knicks has been on full display during practice, which should only get better as he works his way through Denver's system.
Fantasy managers shouldn't be hesitant to take a gamble on Franklin in the later rounds if they draft him early, as he was only drafted as the WR63 with an ADP of 136, making him a potential bargain for savvy sleeper hunters.
Michael Mayer was one of the most highly-rated tight end prospects in last year's class, but he didn't live up to expectations as a rookie with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Despite being rated the best player at his position and a top-five overall talent on the Bleacher Report Scouting Big Board, he was a disappointment, hauling in just 27 catches for 304 yards and two touchdowns through his first 14 career games.
The 22-year-old barely made it in fantasy, ranking just 35th as a TE on the season and finishing in the weekly top 10 just three times, none of which were higher than seventh.
That could change in 2024, however, as the Raiders are in the unique position of having two young tight ends thrive together. After selecting Brock Bowers (again the top prospect at the position on B/R's scouting board) with the 13th overall pick, Vegas now has two big, dangerous playmakers for the quarterback to rely on.
While Bowers may be getting all the attention right now, Meyer's experience could help him contribute much more than he did in Year 1. Tight end is a notoriously difficult position to learn quickly at the NFL level, with many future stars struggling early in their careers.
With the addition of free agent Gardner Minshew II providing more reliable quarterback play in Sin City, Meyer should be able to make a significant jump in production in Year 2.
The Raiders could also take advantage of a number of tactical advantages by having two versatile tight ends all over the field.
Superstar wide receiver Davante Adams may still be Las Vegas' first choice, but both Meyer and Bowers should also compete for the majority of targets.
Both players should start to prove themselves in OTAs and training camp, but Meyer, the current TE23 with an ADP of just 188, will have especially strong fantasy value.
