As you have hopefully carried out earlier than and through your fantasy soccer drafts, figuring out sleepers is as essential on a week-to-week foundation as it’s preseason. Everybody possesses stud gamers on the high of their roster, so discovering the under-the-radar gems is the best way to separate your self and win your matchup. The names on these sorts of lists are hardly ever flashy, but when they assist you deliver residence a W in Week 1, they will be loads beneficial to you. Because it’s Week 1, a few of these guys will emerge to change into flashy names, like James Robinson and Antonio Gibson from final yr’s Week 1 sleepers did. Ty’Son Williams, Laviska Shenault, and Trevor Lawrence (although he is already fairly flashy) are some our favourite candidates to show breakout Week 1s into huge 2021s.
The obvious indicator of a sleeper comes with an important matchup in opposition to a nasty protection. One other factor to have a look at is a brief uptick in alternative that your leaguemates is probably not aware about. This week, we see Jimmy G, Jamaal Williams, and Chris Herndon included in our checklist. No, they will not be relied on for a lot of the course of the yr, however every week is its personal mini-season, and all three are in good spots this week.
WEEK 1 FANTASY: Busts | Begin ’em, Sit ’em
With out additional ado, we dive into our high sleepers candidates for Week 1.
WEEK 1 PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Operating again | Huge receiver | Tight finish | D/ST | Kicker
Week 1 Fantasy Sleepers: Operating backs
Jamaal Williams, Lions vs. 49ers (Jackson Sparks). The matchup with San Francisco is not perfect, however he is in line for a good workload this week whether or not D’Andre Swift (groin) is lively or not. There’s an opportunity Williams will get goal-line work, and in PPR leagues, he seems to be even higher due to his goal potential in a nasty Detroit offense. If Swift would not play in any respect, Williams is a lock to make your lineup. Do not be anticipating an all-world efficiency, however quite a strong, flex-worthy outing.
Ty’Son Williams, Ravens @ Raiders (Vinnie Iyer). It is a deep-league flex play alert, as for now he’ll be the man cleansing up for Gus Edwards in constructive recreation script after Lamar Jackson units up a giant lead on Monday evening.
Phillip Lindsay, Texans vs. Jaguars (Matt Lutovsky). We’ll be sincere — we’re making an attempt to talk this one into existence. Nobody is aware of what’s going to occur within the Texans backfield on Sunday, however somebody figures to emerge as at the least the 1A. Maybe surprisingly, it sounds prefer it received’t be David Johnson. That leaves Mark Ingram and Lindsay. One simply turned 27, the opposite is nearly 32. Possibly Ingram’s expertise wins out, however we merely assume Lindsay is best. If he will get even 12 touches in opposition to a Jacksonville protection that allowed the third-most fantasy factors per recreation (FPPG) to RBs final yr, he can put up flex-worthy stats.
WEEK 1 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | Yahoo | FanDuel
Week 1 Fantasy Soccer Sleepers: Quarterbacks
Kirk Cousins, Vikings @ Bengals (Sparks). One other yr of soccer marks one other yr of enjoying guys in opposition to the Bengals’ protection. Final season, the Bengals had been a middle-of-the-pack protection in opposition to QBs, however that was typically the results of constructive recreation scripts for the opposing offenses. The Bengal’s offense ought to be higher this season, in order an impact, the Vikings should not be capable to merely pack it in and run the ball all recreation. If Cousins reaches a good variety of makes an attempt, he ought to have a pleasant fantasy outing with Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, and the remainder of Minnesota’s receivers.
Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers @ Lions (Iyer). Jimmy G will proceed to have the keys to this dynamic assault with him and his key weapons wholesome to assault a tame Detroit protection.
Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars @ Texans (Lutovsky). Usually we shrink back from NFL debuts, however Lawrence is not any abnormal rookie. The Texans had been seemingly constructed to be unhealthy, so why shouldn’t we load up on Jaguars? Lawrence has underrated receiving weapons and a coach who likes to attain, so get him in your lineups and reap the rewards.
Week 1 Fantasy Soccer Sleepers: Huge receivers
Russell Gage, Falcons vs. Eagles (Sparks). The Eagles’ secondary struggles have been nicely documented over the previous couple of seasons, and we will count on a lot of the identical this yr. This recreation has the potential to be an actual shootout, and Gage could possibly be No. 2 within the pecking order after Calvin Ridley. Sure, Kyle Pitts is there, however he is a decent finish in his first-ever NFL recreation. There will probably be loads of fantasy factors to go round on this matchup.
Robby Anderson, Panthers vs. Jets (Iyer). Anderson must be in your lineups as an upside WR3 or flex reuniting with Sam Darnold and going through an overmatched secondary within the perfect “revenge recreation” state of affairs.
Laviska Shenault, Jaguars @ Texans (Lutovsky). We’re going again to the Jags nicely with Shenault, who’s been Jacksonville’s healthiest receiver all camp and can profit from Travis Etienne’s season-ending foot damage. As disappointing because it was to see Etienne misplaced for the yr, Shenault will doubtless choose up extra alternatives as a runner and gadget man now. In opposition to the Texans, he’ll rip off chunk yards irrespective of how he will get the ball.
WEEK 1 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Operating again | Huge receiver | Tight finish | D/ST | Kicker
Week 1 Fantasy Soccer Sleepers: Tight ends
Chris Herndon, Vikings @ Bengals (Sparks). For lots of the similar causes Kirk Cousins is featured this week, Herndon takes a spot on the checklist, too. Positive, he was simply acquired a bit over every week earlier than the beginning of the season, however with a lot of the concentrate on Jefferson and Thielen, even the Bengals’ protection could also be sleeping on him. Cousins is one of the best QB he is ever performed with, so let’s examine in the event that they construct chemistry early on.
Austin Hooper, Browns @ Chiefs (Iyer). Hooper will settle in higher with their passing recreation this season with Baker Mayfield being a more practical distributor enjoying off the wideouts. This matchup additionally requires working the center of the sector.
Zach Ertz, Eagles @ Falcons (Lutovsky). Keep in mind this man? Even final yr right now it might’ve been loopy to name Ertz a “sleeper,” however that’s how far he is fallen within the fantasy world. He most likely remains to be higher than persons are giving him credit score for, although, and in opposition to a Falcons protection that continues to be suspect, each Ertz and Dallas Goedert can have fantasy-relevant days, particularly in PPR leagues.
MORE WEEK 1 DFS: Finest stacks | Finest values | Lineup Builder
Week 1 Fantasy Sleepers: Defenses
Seattle Seahawks @ Colts, (Sparks). The LOB Seattle protection is much within the rearview mirror, however they’re a sneaky play in opposition to a questionable Colts offense. Carson Wentz and Quenton Nelson will go well with up, however how sharp will they be after lacking a ton of preseason time? T.Y. Hilton is out with a neck damage, so there’s an opportunity Seattle will be capable to merely load the field and shut down the Colts run recreation.
Inexperienced Bay Packers vs. Saints (Iyer). The chances of Jameis Winston throwing a pick-six in his first Saints begin is excessive given he could have excessive quantity making an attempt to play catchup in opposition to a troublesome cross protection.
Denver Broncos @ Giants (Lutovsky). Denver has an important cross rush and retooled secondary. The Giants have human turnover Daniel Jones at QB. Put it collectively and also you get a giant fantasy day for the Broncos D/ST.
