There isn’t any hotter commodity in a fantasy soccer draft than a operating again sleeper. Everybody desires to spherical out their picks with two or three steals (usually rookies) who will emerge in some unspecified time in the future this yr and take over. Thankfully, there is not any scarcity of breakout candidates contemplating how widespread accidents are at this place. Whenever you add within the potential for COVID-related absences once more in 2021, you may count on chunk of the league to start out a number of RBs at numerous factors this season. Any backup can have worth in the event that they get 15-plus touches per recreation, so it is advisable to know extra than simply the top-75 RB rankings your backs’ speedy handcuffs — you rattling close to must know each groups’ whole depth chart.
The record beneath is way from a whole record of 2021 RB sleepers (once more, any backup has potential if a starter will get injured), however after taking a look at consensus rankings and common draft positions, these guys stand out as candidates to outproduce their preseason outlooks. Some are apparent, like rookies Javonte Williams, Michael Carter, and Trey Sermon, whereas others are veterans who’ve do not encourage a lot pleasure anymore (Phillip Lindsay, Justin Jackson, and Jamaal Williams). We even have a number of deep sleepers who may begin the yr on the follow squad however finally discover their technique to enjoying time. They’re whole guesses, however given their conditions, we really feel they’re price particularly mentioning.
2021 PPR FANTASY RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Working again | Large receiver | Tight finish | D/ST | Kicker | High 200
These are essentially the most thrilling sorts of sleepers to many fantasy house owners. It is a thrill to draft or decide up somebody the remainder of your league hasn’t heard of and watch as he has an awesome stretch of video games. The chances of that occuring are fairly low, although. Hitting a homer with a complete lotto ticket is likely to be the epitome of sleeper success, however cracking a double with an underrated committee again who can work as a flex most weeks is fairly good, too. Do not sleep on the fun of the latter.
2021 STANDARD FANTASY RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Working again | Large receiver | Tight finish | D/ST | Kicker | High 200
Mainly, if a staff has query marks at beginning RB — be it due to a committee, harm worries, expertise, or the entire above — then it is price questioning who will finally see essentially the most carries in its backfield. It would wind up being somebody off the radar proper now, however you may’t actually put together for that proper now. All you are able to do is examine the shaky conditions and know who the next-man-up is.
DOMINATE YOUR DRAFT: Final 2021 Cheat Sheet
2021 Fantasy Soccer RB Sleepers: Potential operating again breakouts, steals
Javonte Williams, Broncos. Williams shall be competing with veteran Melvin Gordon for touches, however even when the proficient rookie is not beginning in Week 1, he has extra long-term potential due to his explosiveness. In his closing season at North Carolina, Williams totaled 1,445 yards and 22 TDs whereas averaging 7.9 yards per contact. The Broncos offense has loads of expertise but in addition loads of query marks. Williams generally is a stabilizing drive if the teaching workers lets him. It could be silly to utterly write off the 28-year-old Gordon, who posted 1,144 whole yards, 4.6 yards/carry, and 10 TDs final yr, however Denver drafted Williams early within the second spherical for a purpose.
2021 FANTASY AUCTION VALUES (Commonplace & PPR):
Quarterback | Working again | Large receiver | Tight finish | D/ST | Kicker | General
Gus Edwards, Ravens. Everybody is happy about JK Dobbins this yr — and deservedly so — however do not sleep on Edwards. He is posted at the very least 700 yards and averaged at the very least 5.0 yards/carry in every of his three seasons, so you already know he will produce on the bottom. With Mark Ingram gone, his path to manufacturing is much more open. He may not crack double-digit receptions, but it surely would not be a whole shock if Edwards wound up getting extra touches than Dobbins and starred within the Ravens backfield. Both means, he is being undervalued in drafts. Contemplate Edwards extra of a 1B to Dobbins’ 1A than merely a standard handcuff.
Replace 8/30: JK Dobbins will miss the complete 2021 common season with a torn ACL. Whereas Edwards was a sleeper, he’ll probably shoot up in ADP. For those who’ve already drafted and grabbed him, congratulations. You probably have but to draft, he is ranked our No. 21 RB in customary leagues and No. 29 RB in PPR.
2021 FANTASY SLEEPERS:
Quarterback | Large receiver | Tight finish | D/ST | Every staff
Michael Carter, Jets. Carter is competing with Tevin Coleman and La’Mical Perine for carries, but it surely’s robust to belief both after they averaged 1.9 and three.6 yards/carry final yr, respectively. Carter posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons at North Carolina and averaged a whopping 8.0 yards/carry in his closing season. He is essentially the most explosive participant in New York’s backfield and may finally see essentially the most touches. Each Coleman and Perine have upside in the event that they’re getting the majority of the carries, however Carter, even at 5-8, 201 kilos, remains to be the man to root for on this backfield.
2021 FANTASY TIERS & DRAFT STRATEGY:
Quarterback | Working again | Large receiver | Tight finish | D/ST
Phillip Lindsay, Texans. David Johnson had a shock bounce-back season final yr, posting 1,005 whole yards and eight TDs whereas averaging a career-high 4.7 yards/carry in 12 video games. Even so, the Texans picked up Lindsay within the offseason, and fantasy house owners should not ignore him. Lindsay began his profession with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons earlier than struggling in an injury-plagued 2020. Lindsay nonetheless has a profession 4.8 yards/carry common, and regardless of his measurement (5-8 ,190 kilos), he is a tricky inside runner. Johnson would possibly start the season as Houston’s starter, however given his harm historical past and age (29), Lindsay may wind up outproducing him for the season. Do not let Lindsay fall too far behind Johnson in drafts.
2021 FANTASY CONSISTENCY RATINGS:
Quarterback | Working again | Large receiver | Tight finish
Jamaal Williams, Lions. Williams was constantly stable in his 4 years with the Packers, however he not often starred exterior of the occasional good recreation. Now with Detroit, he’ll as soon as once more work in a complementary function (behind D’Andre Swift), however the Lions have a powerful offensive line and little or no going for them within the receiving recreation. That ought to open up extra alternatives for Williams, each as a runner and a pass-catcher. It’s going to probably take a Swift harm for Williams to actually go off, however he is able to outproducing his ADP and being an every-week flex, at the very least in PPR codecs.
FANTASY DRAFT STRATEGY:
Snake Draft | Public sale | Finest Ball | Dynasty/Keeper | IDP
AJ Dillon, Packers. When a man is 6-0, 247 kilos and has each “Quadfather” and “Quadzilla” listed on his PFR web page as nicknames, you need to give him your full consideration. Dillon did not play a lot as a third-string rookie final yr, however he did common 5.3 yards/carry in restricted motion and went off within the one video games the place he did get important touches, posting a 21-124-2 line in a Week 16 recreation towards Tennessee. With Jamaal Williams gone, Dillon takes over the first backup function to Aaron Jones, so he is primed for 120-plus carries. Finally yr’s charge, that may yield round 700 dashing yards and a five-to-six TDs. The potential is there for extra with the supremely proficient Dillon even in a backup function, and if something occurs to Jones, look out. Dillon would instantly vie for top-10 consideration.
MORE 2021 FANTASY RANKINGS:
Superflex High 200 | Superflex High 200 PPR | IDP | Rookies | O-lines
Tony Pollard, Cowboys. Pollard has performed effectively in his first two seasons, averaging 4.8 yards/carry and showcasing stable receiving expertise. When Ezekiel Elliott out in Week 15, Pollard took benefit, operating 12 instances for 69 yards and two scores towards the 49ers. With Elliott coming off a down yr, it is honest to surprise if Pollard will see extra touches, and in Dallas’s high-powered offense, even 10 touches per recreation would give him flex worth. If Elliott will get harm, Pollard’s worth would actually take off. For those who draft Elliott, be ready to overpay for Pollard as a result of he is the kind of backup different house owners will draft within the center rounds, too.
MORE 2021 FANTASY HELP:
Mock Draft Simulator | Place battles | Bye weeks | Finest staff names
Trey Sermon, 49ers. Sermon had an honest faculty profession break up between Oklahoma and Ohio State, however he saved his finest performances for the Large 10 Championship and Sugar Bowl final yr, dashing for a mixed 524 yards and three TDs whereas including one other 65 receiving yards on seven catches. The 6-1, 215-pound Sermon ran a 4.57 40-yard sprint and does not wow with some other measurables, however you already know if he will get constant touches within the 49ers system, he’ll be productive. Raheem Mostert will not keep wholesome, and even when he does, we all know San Francisco will use a number of ball carriers.
Replace 9/1: With Wayne Gallman being lower, at the very least there’s one much less again to issue into the contact competitors. This clearly does not harm his sleeper standing.
Justin Jackson, Chargers. Jackson is simply as prone to get lower as he’s have yr, so proceed with warning right here. That mentioned, the Chargers want a real “lead again” to enrich receiving ace Austin Ekeler, and final yr’s common rookie sleeper, Joshua Kelley, repeatedly flopped in his makes an attempt to take over the lead function when Ekeler was harm (3.2 yards/carry). Maybe Kelley will bounce again and get first crack on the 1B job, however Jackson outplayed him final yr (when he wasn’t lacking seven video games due to toe, quad, and knee accidents). Jackson averaged 4.6 yards/carry (4.9 for his profession) and caught 19 passes for 173 yards in an identical marketing campaign as his rookie season. It is robust get too enthusiastic about Jackson, however somebody figures to emerge on this backfield. If it isn’t Jackson or Kelley, you then’re taking a look at sixth-round rookie Larry Rountree III, who produced effectively in his profession at Mizzou (5.0 yard/carry, 40 TDs). For now, we’ll err on the facet of the veteran.
Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots. The 6-0, 231-pound Stevenson would possibly very effectively be on the inactive record early within the season (he’s a Patriots RB in any case), however he has upside if he finds his means into the lineup. The Patriots are infamous for shenanigans with their RBs, and though Damien Harris appears to be like to be “the man” in New England, nobody can be shocked Stevenson began stealing carries or getting used as a goal-line hammer. Stevenson averaged 7.2 yards/carry and scored 13 TDs in 19 profession video games at Oklahoma, and he even confirmed some receiving chops with 18 catches and 211 yards in simply six video games final yr. He presents the type of distinctive skillset Invoice Belichick loves to make use of, so fantasy house owners ought to have him excessive on their watchlists.
Sony Michel, Rams. Does anybody actually belief Darrell Henderson to final the complete season because the Rams’ function again? Perhaps he’ll, however with L.A.’s late-preseason commerce for Michel, it appears to be like like they’re already hedging their bets. Henderson suffered a hand harm in follow, so maybe that is the one purpose the Rams made the transfer, however both means, there’s purpose to suppose one other again shall be concerned in some unspecified time in the future this season. Michel has in depth expertise and is definitely coming off his best season (5.7 yards/stick with it simply 79 rushes), so he is price a late-round flier.
