Fantasy Football Sleepers 2015: The Top 25 Names to Know

There probably isn't a more overused term in all of fantasy football than "sleeper."

Says the guy who just used it in the title of this piece.

Every year, fantasy pundits far and wide roll out their lists for the top sleepers in a given season. Many of those lists contain the same players, which sort of defeats the purpose of calling that player a "sleeper" to begin with.

If everyone and their mother knows about a guy, he's not a "sleeper" anymore—he's officially awake.

However, this isn't to say that those "sleeper" lists can't be of great use to fantasy owners.

Victory in fantasy football is all about one thing—value. Identifying and selecting players who will outperform their draft slot.

And with that in mind, here's a look at 25 undervalued players, listed alphabetically by position, who are good bets to do just that in 2015.

OK—"sleepers."

When in Rome I suppose.

Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Minnesota Vikings

Jim Mone/Associated Press

Average Draft Position: QB18 (142nd overall)

Teddy Bridgewater may not have been the first quarterback taken in the 2014 NFL draft, but by the time all is said and done, we're going to look back and say that he should have been.

That's right—I said it.

A pro day that fell somewhere between cataclysmic and apocalyptic caused Bridgewater's draft-day slide to the end of Round 1. His hands were too small, they said. He couldn't throw the deep ball, they said. He liked pineapple on his pizza and that's just unnatural, they said.

OK, I have no idea what Bridgewater eats on his pizza. But you get the point.

However, once he took over as the Vikings starter, they started saying other things. Granted, Bridgewater's rookie stats were hardly eye-popping (2,919 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, 12 interceptions), but he improved steadily as the season progressed.

In fact, as Tyler Loechner of Pro Football Focus wrote, Bridgewater flat-out excelled over the season's last month:

"

In that span, Bridgewater tied with Tony Romo for highest completion percentage (72.1 percent) and was second behind Romo with an NFL QB rating of 103. He was also second, behind Russell Wilson, with an 8.79 yards per attempt average in those games.

"

Add it all up, and ESPN.com's KC Joyner sees a breakout in the making:

"

Bridgewater closed out the 2014 season on a tear, tying for the league-leading completion percentage of 72.1 percent and leading all QBs in vertical yards per attempt over the last five weeks of the campaign. His prorated pace of 250 fantasy points in that time frame is near top-10-caliber, and that was before Adrian Peterson and Mike Wallace joined the Vikings' lineup. There is low-end QB1 potential here.

"

At Bridgewater's current ADP, he's an excellent target as a fantasy backup or platoon option with the potential to be more.

Much more.

Jay Cutler, QB, Chicago Bears

Adam Bettcher/Getty Images

Average Draft Position: QB24 (173rd Overall)

This is about the point in this article where folks will head to the comments section and infer that either I'm an idiot or that I've had too much to drink.

After all, Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler is, well, he's Jay Cutler. He of the huge game one week and the horrible one the next. Had the Bears been able to get anyone to absorb Cutler's onerous contract, they would have traded the 32-year-old for a bag of Fritos this spring.

Cutler was benched last year for Jimmy Clausen, for Pete's sake!

However, believe it or not, Cutler's fantasy finish in 2014 (14th in NFL.com default fantasy scoring) was actually his best since 2009. And Jen Ryan of Fantasy Pros believes that Cutler actually represents a fantastic value opportunity late in drafts:

"

His supporting cast, coaching staff, cost, and his talent (yes, Cutler has talent) make him a steal in fantasy drafts. While people in your league are busy taking fliers on other people in later rounds, load up on studs in your early rounds, players with upside in your middle rounds, and draft Jay Cutler with a reasonable amount of confidence in your late rounds.

"

Listen, I will freely admit that I'm no fan of Cutler as a player. But the fact remains he's still the starter in Chicago. In tailback Matt Forte, wideouts Alshon Jeffery and Kevin White and tight end Martellus Bennett, Cutler has a bevy of weapons at his disposal in the passing game. And while Marc Trestman may be gone, new offensive coordinator Adam Gase didn't exactly suck in Denver.

All for a QB3 price tag.

This isn't to say that you should select Cutler with the intent of making him a weekly starter. That would be kooky.

However, for all his faults, Cutler offers something very hard to find this late in fantasy drafts—legitimate top-10 upside.

As depth or a bye-week fill-in (especially for teams that invest an early pick in an elite fantasy option at quarterback), Cutler's no joke in 2015.

Colin Kaepernick, QB, San Francisco 49ers

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Average Draft Position: QB20 (140th overall)

It wasn't that long ago that San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick was on the cusp of joining the NFL's elite at the position. He led the 49ers to two NFC title game appearances and a berth in Super Bowl XLVII.

The sky was the limit.

And then the sky fell.

Granted, Kaepernick set career highs in passing and rushing yardage in 2014, but his play was wildly erratic. And the 49ers missed the playoffs, leading to an offseason of turmoil that's left the Niners reeling entering 2015.

Kaepernick's fantasy production has also tailed off, from 12th in NFL.com default scoring in 2013 to 16th a year ago.

That slide has knocked Kaepernick's asking price in fantasy drafts down into lower-end QB2 territory, and in the opinion of Brandon Gdula of numberFire, that makes Kaepernick a very intriguing upside target in 2015:

"

Kaepernick has had plenty of success in his short career, and given his draft-day cost, why not take a chance on his return to being an efficient passer with a rushing floor that can give him weekly safety and a ceiling that could help win you weeks -- and possibly a fantasy football championship?

"

And Gdula's absolutely right. If Kaepernick can improve his consistency passing the ball, his ability to hurt teams with his legs (and new San Fran head coach Jim Tomsula's pledge to turn Kaepernick loose on the ground more this year) give him a ceiling not many quarterbacks can match.

And certainly not any quarterbacks available in the 12th round.

Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants

Tom Gannam/Associated Press

Average Draft Position: QB13 (99th overall)

It might seem odd to call a two-time Super Bowl MVP a "sleeper" of any sort, but fantasy football can be an odd game at times.

It happened without much fanfare last year given that the New York Giants missed the playoffs, but Manning quietly had one of the better statistical seasons of his 11-year NFL career.

The 34-year-old completed 63.1 percent of his passes, a career best. His 30 touchdown passes came up one short of his best showing in that regard. And Manning threw only 14 interceptions, tying his best mark in a 16-game season.

New York offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo told Kieran Darcy of ESPN.com he expects even bigger and better things from Manning in 2015:

"

I think he’s gaining confidence in what we’ve asked him to do fundamentally in the system, and in the communication that happens in the meeting rooms and then carried onto the field. He’s on the same page with his receivers, with his tight ends and his (running) backs, working well with the center and the O-line. The second year in the system helps, but the confidence comes from what he put into the time before he got back here, that goes a long way, too.

"

Last year, even with a sluggish start borne of unfamiliarity with a new scheme, Manning still finished the season as the No. 11 fantasy quarterback in NFL.com default scoring. Over the second half of the season, Manning slid into the back half of the top 10.

With another year of familiarity in McAdoo's system, the return of wide receiver Victor Cruz and the addition of running back Shane Vereen, it's hardly out of the realm of reason to expect Manning to improve on his 2014 finish.

For those fantasy owners who like to exercise patience at the quarterback position in drafts, Manning should absolutely be on the short list of later-round targets capable of emerging as a viable weekly starter.

Carson Palmer, QB, Arizona Cardinals

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Average Draft Position: QB22 (192nd overall)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer is many things.

Young? Nope. He'll be 36 in December.

Mobile? HA! Have you seen Carson Palmer play? And that was before he tore his ACL for a second time.

No, Palmer isn't those things, What he is is a lot more viable in fantasy football than he's being given credit for. From Week 6 to Week 10 last year, when Palmer was healthy and in the starting lineup for the Redbirds, the 13th-year veteran ranked ninth among fantasy signal-callers.

Palmer's rehab has reportedly been proceeding well, although he admitted to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com that he still has more than a little work to do to prepare for Week 1:

"

You have these surgeries and you start the walking process, the jogging process, the running process, you reteach the foot, the knee, the leg, the technique of each one of those steps. The same thing is true in five-step drops, seven-step drops, running game, gun footwork, under-center foot work.

"

Mind you, this isn't to say that you should draft Palmer counting on the vet as a weekly fantasy starter. There's gutsy. Then there's speculative. Then there's nuts.

However, Palmer is well-suited to Bruce Arians' vertical passing offense and has plenty of weapons in the passing game in wideouts Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd and John Brown.

And that top-10 fantasy upside makes Palmer a solid late-round value pick as a backup under center, especially for teams that invest early at the quarterback spot on draft day.

Cameron Artis-Payne, RB, Carolina Panthers

Chuck Burton/Associated Press

Average Draft Position: RB69 (209th overall)

There are sleepers, and then there are deep sleepers.

Rookie Cameron Artis-Payne of the Carolina Panthers fits into that latter category, given that the former Auburn standout isn't even being selected at all in many fantasy drafts so far this year.

That's not that hard to understand. After all, Artis-Payne was a Day 3 pick. A compensatory one, at that. And the Panthers have an entrenched starter in Jonathan Stewart, who came on strong down the stretch in 2014.

Still, Mark Dulgerian of NFL.com wrote after the draft that he thinks the 5'10", 212-pounder has the ability to carve out a niche in the Carolina backfield in 2015: "Carolina needs running back depth after the departure of DeAngelo Williams this offseason. He fits the mold of Carolina's back as a thick, downhill runner. He's talented enough to split carries in their rotation this year."

Jason Fletcher of Rant Sports did Dulgerian one better, speculating that Artis-Payne could be quite a bit more than just depth behind Stewart this year:

"

Artis-Payne has the perfect running style for this system. He is a one-cut back who takes what is there and doesn’t try to do too much. He possesses a little more of a burst in the open field compared to Stewart, and he always tends to fall forward for extra yards. The Panthers found the perfect running back for their system, which could equate to a massive year for the Panthers and Artis-Payne.

"

Granted, predicting a "massive season" for Artis-Payne may be treading the thin line between optimism and lunacy, but the fact remains that Stewart has had all sorts of problems staying healthy during his seven NFL seasons.

At the very least, fantasy owners who invest an early pick in Stewart should be prepared to add Artis-Payne late as an insurance policy of sorts.

And if you're looking for a late-draft "lottery ticket" with the potential to pay huge dividends, you could certainly do worse.

Christopher Ivory, RB, New York Jets

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Average Draft Position: RB43 (105th overall)

Last year, the New York Jets ran the ball 507 times. In the AFC, only the Houston Texans had more rushing attempts.

There's a new head coach in New York this year, but it's a safe bet that Todd Bowles is going to come to the same conclusion Rex Ryan did—Gang Green's best chances of moving the ball lie on the ground.

And with Chris Johnson no longer on the team and Stevan Ridley with no set return date after tearing his ACL last year, that should mean plenty of work for Chris Ivory, who gained 821 yards on 198 carries for the Jets in 2014.

Ivory's potential role as the lead back on a run-first team isn't the only thing to like about the sixth-year pro's fantasy prospects in 2015, according to Michael Vincent of Fantasy Pros. There's also the matter of a favorable fantasy schedule:

"

Playing last-place schedule along with NFC East and AFC South. First team in SOS rankings that plays all bottom three teams (OAK, TEN, WAS). Plays seven of their games against bottom 12 teams, and seven of their games against top 12 teams including all six divisional games. Shaky QB situation and 7th best RB schedule favors Chris Ivory/Stevan Ridley.

"

Listen, Ivory isn't an elite talent. And durability is a legitimate concern for a player who hadn't made it through a 16-game season until last year. Not to mention that if Ridley gets on the field, a Jets backfield that also includes Bilal Powell and Zac Stacy could get crowded quickly.

With all that said, we're still talking about a lead back available in RB4 territory.

And that smells like value to me.

Or maybe bacon.

Nope, value. Although now that you mention it, I'm hungry.

Rashad Jennings, RB, New York Giants

Stephen B. Morton/Associated Press

Average Draft Position: RB29 (72nd overall)

There are a number of murky backfield situations driving fantasy owners up the proverbial tree in 2015. Cleveland. Dallas. New York.

In fact, both teams in New York.

Heading into the 2014 season, running back Rashad Jennings was the source of more than a little debate among fantasy pundits. Supporters pointed to his new role as the Giants' lead back and his 4.5 yards per carry for the Oakland Raiders in 2013. Detractors pointed to Jennings' inability to stay healthy.

Well, they were both right. Jennings missed five games a year ago, and his yards-per-carry average dipped to 3.8 as he battled a host of nagging ailments. However, over the first four weeks of the season, Jennings was a top-10 fantasy option at his position in PPR scoring systems.

With second-year pro Andre Williams and pass-catching back Shane Vereen also in the fold, many fantasy owners are cool on Jennings in 2015. But ESPN.com's Dan Graziano still expects Jennings to lead Big Blue's backfield in touches this year:

"

Whether Vereen is on the field for more snaps depends on the pass/run ratio of the Giants' offense. But if it's as balanced as coach Tom Coughlin always insists he wants it to be, then their preference is for Jennings to be the primary workhorse. If he can stay healthy, my belief is that Jennings will lead the 2015 Giants backfield in snaps and touches, though Vereen will certainly take a bite.

"

Lance Medow of the team's website thinks that could mean a career year for Jennings in 2015:

"

If you do the math, this is more than doable for Rashad Jennings. He set a career high in rushing yards as a Raider in 2013 with 733. That season he missed just one game.

Assuming he’s healthy for all 16 games, in order to tally 734 yards on the ground, Jennings needs to average about 46 yards a contest. Even though he’ll likely be splitting carries with Andre Williams and Shane Vereen, Jennings is expected to lead the charge, meaning averaging 46 yards a game is a mark that can easily be reached.

"

And with a draft-day asking price in middling RB3 territory, that puts Jennings squarely on the "sleeper" radar.

Doug Martin, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

Average Draft Position: RB34 (97th overall)

Not too long ago, Doug Martin was a top-five draft pick in many fantasy leagues. In fact, after rushing for more than 1,400 yards as a rookie in 2012, Martin was (on average) the second overall pick in fantasy drafts the following season, per ADP info at My Fantasy League.

Since then, however, things haven't gone as planned. Martin missed 10 games in 2013, averaging a measly 3.6 yards per carry. The 2014 season wasn't much better—Martin missed five games and averaged 3.7 yards a pop.

After those back-to-back down years, many fantasy owners have written Martin off entirely. More than a few predicted that it would be second-year pro Charles Sims, and not Martin, who would serve as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' lead back in 2015.

Well, somebody forgot to tell The Muscle Hamster, who showed up to Buccaneers OTAs in fantastic shape. As Martin told Tom Pelissero of USA Today, he's eager to put the past two seasons—and that nickname — behind him:

"

The name 'Muscle Hamster' is the worst nickname possibly ever given to somebody. I hope it changes, and I hope that I play to a level where my nickname changes. That's what my goals are.

2012 was a great year and I've had injuries and it's been a roller coaster through my career. But I have a new start. I feel great. I'm having fun out here, and I know this year's going to be pretty good.

"

Granted, it's fair to take Martin's assertions with a fair amount of skepticism. But the fourth-year pro has been taking the first-team reps at tailback, and for as badly as Martin played last year it's not like Sims (who averaged 2.8 yards per carry as a rookie) was a world-beater.

If Martin continues to maintain his hold on the starting job—well, let's just say that it isn't every day a lead back carries a low-end RB3 price tag.

Tre Mason, RB, St. Louis Rams

Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

Average Draft Position: RB34 (79th overall)

As a rookie in 2014, St. Louis Rams running back Tre Mason rushed for 765 yards. Hardly jaw-dropping numbers, but they look significantly better when you consider that Mason averaged a respectable 4.3 yards a carry, didn't touch the ball at all until Week 6 and didn't start until Week 9.

In fact, from Week 9 on, Mason ranked a none-too-shabby 15th among fantasy ball-carriers in leagues that award a point for catches.

Mason's reward for that performance? A swift kick in the butt, in the form of Todd Gurley's selection in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft.

However, before you write Mason off entirely, there's an important matter to consider—Gurley's surgically repaired knee.

Gurley tore his ACL last November, and the youngster has yet to take the practice field, much less carry the ball in live NFL action.

Yes, Gurley told NFL Media's Tiffany Blackmon (per colleague Kevin Patra) that he intends to be ready for training camp: "That is definitely a goal that I'm shooting for. Just to be able to get out there and do at least some individual stuff. It's looking pretty realistic. This month I'll be in St. Louis rehabbing, so hopefully I can aim for (training camp)."

With that said, though, with Mason in the fold, there is no earthly reason for the Rams to rush their first-round pick into action. And even once Gurley does see the field, he's likely to be eased in before eventually taking over the lead-back role.

This may be a speculative pick, and it behooves fantasy owners to stay abreast of updates from Rams camp, but so long as Mason is in line to receive a large share of the backfield work in the Gateway City, there's a good chance Mason will outperform his low-end RB3 price tag.

Bishop Sankey, RB, Tennessee Titans

Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

Average Draft Position: RB40 (100th overall)

In 2014, the Tennessee Titans made Washington's Bishop Sankey the first running back taken in that year's draft.

Um, oops.

Granted, it wasn't entirely his fault, but in gaining only 3.7 yards a carry as a rookie, Sankey showed little in the way of burst or vision as a runner. He was upstaged by veteran plodder Shonn Greene—who the Titans thought so highly of they released him in the offseason.

Given that, you might be wondering what could possibly make Sankey worth targeting in 2015.

Well, as Jordan Hoover of numberFire wrote, it isn't as much a matter of Sankey the player as it is his cost on draft day. Or more appropriately, the lack thereof:

"

As things stand right now, I am not ready to give up on Sankey altogether. His efficiency metrics were terrible last season but I think he still has a shot to become a serviceable fantasy back in the near future. And he is certainly a post-hype candidate this season that could provide massive value depending on his draft cost.

"

It's simple, really. If you think that last year's faceplant is the "real" Bishop Sankey, steer clear.

However, for all his struggles, Sankey ranked 23rd at the position last year at Pro Football Focus. Not great, but it's higher than Matt Forte, Frank Gore and Alfred Morris. And the Titans must have seen something they liked, or they wouldn't have drafted Sankey to begin with.

With Greene gone, Sankey will be afforded every opportunity to win the lead-back role in Nashville this season.

And it isn't that often you can acquire a No. 1 tailback in the ninth round of a 12-team draft.

C.J. Spiller, RB, New Orleans Saints

Tyler Smith/Getty Images

Average Draft Position: RB26 (63rd overall)

Mention the name C.J. Spiller to fantasy owners, and you're apt to get a look much like that after a 3 a.m. trip to Taco Bell.

Spiller was a fantasy darling after exploding for over 1,700 total yards with the Buffalo Bills in 2012, but after back-to-back injury-marred campaigns, many fantasy owners (and the Bills) turned their back on the 27-year-old.

Now, Spiller finds himself on a New Orleans Saints team that's undergone a pretty dramatic offensive overhaul in 2015. Tight end Jimmy Graham and wide receiver Kenny Stills were traded. Running backs Pierre Thomas and Travaris Cadet left in free agency.

And John Paulsen of 4for4.com believes that Spiller could be in for quite the resurgence as the new pass-catching back in the Big Easy:

"

If he holds up physically, I think it’s likely he finishes with around 80 carries and 70-75 catches, which would put him in the RB14-RB19 range, making him a great value in the 5th round. He could serve as a high-upside RB2 for owners who draft one back early and then load up on pass-catchers, or he could be the RB1 on a team that targets stud receivers or tight ends in the first few rounds. His workload is bound to increase if Ingram misses any time, but I'd expect Robinson to see most of Ingram's between-the-tackles carries in that scenario.

"

Yes, durability is a big concern with Spiller. Yes, Mark Ingram is coming off a career year, and it's likely Ingram will once again lead the team in carries coming off the best season of his career.

However, Thomas showed again and again that the third-down back role in New Orleans can be a fantasy gold(and black)mine in leagues that award a point for receptions.

In fact, as recently as 2013, Thomas finished 16th among running backs in that scoring system—without Spiller's explosiveness or ability to break off huge plays at any time.

If Spiller stays healthy in 2015, his is a name we'll be talking about as one of 2015's biggest draft-day robberies given his RB3 price tag.

Danny Woodhead, RB, San Diego Chargers

John Cordes/Associated Press

Average Draft Position: RB44 (109th overall)

Two years ago, Danny Woodhead was the 12th-ranked fantasy running back in leagues that award a point for receptions, propelled to those lofty heights by a career-high 76 receptions in his first season with the San Diego Chargers.

Last year, it was a different story altogether. Woodhead's season was cut short by a broken ankle after only three games, and between that injury and the Chargers' selection of running back Melvin Gordon, Woodhead is barely a blip on the fantasy radar this season.

Well, fantasy owners need to recalibrate that radar.

As Eric Williams of ESPN.com reported, entering last season, a running back in San Diego had caught at least 49 passes every year since Philip Rivers became the starter. And while Woodhead has hit that dreaded running back age of 30, he told Williams he's healthy and eager to back after it in 2015.

"I don’t feel that old. I don’t feel like I’m on my last legs," Woodhead said. "I feel really good. I don’t know if it’s because I’ve had less touches than a lot of 30-year-old running backs, but I feel really good. I don’t feel like I’m slowing down."

Yes, the Chargers drafted Gordon to be their bell cow, but Bleacher Report's own Alessandro Miglio believes there's still enough meat on the bone for Woodhead to see a workload similar to 2013: "The diminutive back was targeted a whopping 88 times in 2013 to go along with 106 carries, and that sort of workload is certainly attainable for him in 2015 if he can stay healthy."

Even if all Woodhead provides fantasy owners is a solid bye-week option or weekly "flex" starter in PPR formats, the eighth-year veteran would be a ridiculous value given his paltry price tag.

If Gordon struggles in acclimating to the NFL and Woodhead's production comes anywhere close to 2013 levels?

He could be the steal of the year at his position.

Davante Adams, WR, Green Bay Packers

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Average Draft Position: WR43 (101st overall)

In the opinion of at least one person, the Green Bay Packers have a budding star on their hands in wide receiver Davante Adams.

As Jason Wilde of ESPN Wisconsin reports, that opinion carries more than a little weight—given that it came from Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers:

"

Davante is a very polished player, and he has an excellent demeanor for a guy who’s going to be a star. I mean, he carries himself like a star – which is a very high compliment. There’s only been a few guys around here who’ve had that charisma: Charles (Woodson), Julius (Peppers), Greg (Jennings) always had it as a young player. But there’s very few guys that really ‘get it.” And he has supreme confidence, and it’s contagious. And I’m really proud of his approach and his attitude. It makes you want to get him the ball more.

"

Rodgers isn't about to get any argument from Brad Behrens of Fantasy Pros:

"

Adams has already exhibited the ability to take advantage of coverages shifted elsewhere and provide run-after-the-catch ability like a big-time playmaker. He’ll also have a year of NFL experience under his belt and another offseason to get more comfortable in the offense. If Adams is able to make the leap that many are expecting, the Packers season, along with your fantasy squad, will have “humongous upside” in 2015.

"

Granted, there's a downside present with Adams as well. Playing behind a pair of superstar receivers in Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb, consistent targets could be hard to come by. And that's likely going to equate to a lot of weekly variance in fantasy.

Still, Adams is a wildly talented young receiver playing on arguably the league's best offense with arguably the NFL's best quarterback.

That's enough in of and itself to merit a late flier. And were either Cobb or Nelson to miss time?

Jackpot.

Anquan Boldin, WR, San Francisco 49ers

Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

Average Draft Position: WR45 (106th overall)

Generally speaking, it's a much better idea to spend late-round picks on younger players at the wide receiver spot. Take the risk. Swing for the fences. Go for broke. Insert cliche here.

Unless a veteran falls to the point of ridiculousness, as Anquan Boldin of the San Francisco 49ers has in early drafts in 2015.

In two seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, Boldin has topped 1,000 receiving yards twice. He's also finished as a top-20 fantasy option in PPR leagues twice. And yet the 34-year-old is being drafted in middling WR4 territory this season.

Yes, the 49ers are undergoing a seismic shift in 2015, with the departure of head coach Jim Harbaugh and a handful of key contributors on both sides of the ball. Yes, the team added wideout Torrey Smith in free agency.

To which JJ Zachariason of numberFire replied with a hearty "so?"

"

Boldin could still out-target Torrey Smith, who's seen over 110 targets in a single season just once in four years. And with a whacky offensive line, wouldn't the player who can create his own separation closer to the line of scrimmage be the more logical option for Colin Kaepernick?

All of this is to say that Boldin, as long as he's healthy, should reach 100 targets -- if not plenty more -- in 2015. And with that kind of volume, along with his historical effectiveness, a WR45 price tag is silly.

"

It is silly. It's silly if Boldin slides back into WR3-land this year. If Boldin's able to put up another top-20 season?

Well, then it's just dumb.

John Brown, WR, Arizona Cardinals

Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Average Draft Position: WR46 (110th overall)

Every season, there are players who receive glowing accolades in OTAs, only to disappear when shorts and shells become players getting hit.

Then there are those, like second-year speedster John Brown of the Arizona Cardinals, who carry camp success right over into the regular season.

Yes, Brown didn't catch 50 passes as a rookie. Or finish among the top 50 fantasy receivers in PPR formats. Or catch even half of his 103 targets.

Of course, given the raging dumpster fire the Arizona Cardinals had at quarterback after Carson Palmer got hurt last year, a pretty convincing argument can be made that it wasn't really Brown's fault.

Well, Palmer is back under center in the desert, and Craig Williams of Sporting News believes that plants Brown firmly in sleeper-land this year:

"

The Cardinals still have to feed Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd, but Brown will get his share. After all, he finished second on the Cardinals in receptions and third in receiving yards last year as a rookie.

More of a deep sleeper, Brown has the makings of a poor man’s T.Y. Hilton in 2015. He’ll be a nice target in bonus leagues and a strong matchup play throughout the season.

"

Young, upside receivers like Brown make for the perfect late-draft targets at the position. Why waste a pick on a low-ceiling veteran when you can gamble on potential.

If it pays off, you have a weekly starter for pennies on the dollar. If it doesn't?

Well, that's what the waiver wire is for.

Marlon Brown, WR, Baltimore Ravens

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Average Draft Position: WR91 (N/A)

There are fantasy longshots. Then there are fantasy Hail Marys.

And then there are players like Baltimore Ravens receiver Marlon Brown.

Two years ago, Brown experienced a mini-breakout of sorts as a rookie, catching almost 50 passes and scoring seven times. However, last year, the bottom fell out. Brown managed only 24 grabs and didn't find the end zone.

Head coach John Harbaugh made it clear to Ryan Mink of the team's website that more will be expected of Brown in his third NFL season: "It should be a big year for Marlon. I see him out there, he’s really made improvements from last year. … He’s a big, broad-boned, talented guy. I think he continues to improve as a receiver as far as the technical aspects of it, refining his skills a little bit."

Tristan Cockroft of ESPN.com thinks that the changing face of the Ravens receiving corps sets up well for Brown as well:

"

Brown is a sizable 6-5, giving him the look of a viable red zone option despite 2014 statistics that speak to the contrary: He had zero such targets. Still, let's not ignore facts: Brown had seven TDs on 13 red zone targets during his 2013 rookie campaign; (Steve) Smith is 36 and two years ago looked done; (Breshad) Perriman is a rookie facing a possible adjustment period; and, perhaps most importantly, the pass-happy Marc Trestman is now the team's offensive coordinator.

"

This isn't to say that you should expect Brown to carry your team to a title in 2015, but hey...

You wanted sleepers. And Brown is a sleeper in the truest sense of the word.

Martavis Bryant, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Average Draft Position: WR25 (60th overall)

This one's tricky. There may not be a trendier "sleeper" pick this year than Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant. And when a player is on literally every sleeper list, he ain't asleep no more.

And that's evidenced by Bryant's ADP, which has now climbed into the back of Round 5,

Still, at present, Bryant is being drafted as a high-end fantasy WR3, and that might still be on the low side.

As a rookie, Bryant finished 43rd among fantasy receivers in standard-scoring formats. That may not seem like much of a big deal—until you consider that Bryant didn't catch a pass in the first six games of the season and only had 26 grabs for the year.

Of course, eight of those catches were touchdowns—so there's that.

This year, Bryant appears set for a big uptick in both playing time and targets, and ESPN.com's Tom Carpenter touted him as the sort of game-breaking talent who can single-handedly win fantasy matchups:

"

Last year, as a rookie in the Steelers' potent passing attack, Bryant had a pair of 100-yard games, averaged 21.1 yards on his 26 catches, and scored eight touchdowns in 10 games. Five of his catches were for at least 35 yards, including three of his TDs. His 11.2 yards per target ranked third -- one spot ahead of Hilton (10.5). With defenses keying on teammate Antonio Brown, Bryant is going to have plenty of room to max out his big-play skills this season.

"

The only thing that could derail this ascension to fantasy stud-dom? That rising asking price. For every step it climbs, a bit of the value gets sucked from the Bryant balloon.

But for now, that balloon is soaring just fine.

Pierre Garcon, WR, Washington Redskins

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Average Draft Position: WR47 (112th overall)

Two seasons ago, Washington wide receiver Pierre Garcon led the NFL in both targets (182) and receptions (113). The 28-year-old finished the year as a fantasy WR1 in 12-team PPR leagues.

Last year, those numbers plummeted: 105 targets, 68 catches and a fantasy finish barely inside the top 50.

That decline has turned many fantasy owners off on Garcon in 2015. Hey, we hold grudges. No one's perfect.

However, as Liz Clarke of the Washington Post reports, there's reason to believe a rebound of sorts could be in store in 2015:

"

Though it’s unwise to make sweeping inferences from a few offseason workouts, there were signs, as the Redskins wrapped up last week’s minicamp, that Garcon will be featured more prominently in the 2015 game plan as Coach Jay Gruden attempts to rally from his 4-12 debut as a rookie NFL head coach.

When the Redskins got back to work this offseason, Garcon frequently lined up split out wide to the right of Griffin rather than in his customary spot to the quarterback’s left. According to wide receivers coach Ike Hilliard, it represented an attempt to diversify the offense and get players comfortable with other roles.

"

Granted, if Washington doesn't get improved play under center this year, it won't matter where Garcon (or DeSean Jackson) lines up.

But if the Redskins are serious about getting the rock in Garcon's hands more this year, it wouldn't take that much of an uptick in his statistical production for Garcon to represent great value given his 10th-round price tag.

Low-risk. High-reward. It's how fantasy leagues are won.

Marvin Jones, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Average Draft Position: WR58 (147th overall)

In 2013, Marvin Jones of the Cincinnati Bengals was a surprise starter in fantasy football. What made the fourth-year veteran all the more surprising was that despite only three starts, 80 targets and 51 receptions, Jones was still a solid third fantasy receiver.

Ten touchdowns will do that for you.

However, Jones lost the entire 2014 season to a foot injury, and apparently where fantasy owners are concerned, out of sight means out of mind. Jones is barely being taken as a fifth receiver in fantasy drafts in 2015.

However, Jones has been participating in OTAs, and the 25-year-old told Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer that he's eager to put last year's debacle in the rearview mirror:

"

I know I can do it. I'm the same guy. I've been playing football since I was little so I know what to do and I know I'm going to do the same things that I did. Just for me to go and get my body back and get used to having to throw and catch with a defender on me and stuff like that. That's just all I'm getting out of this. And hearing the plays and stuff like that. Everything's the same as it was.

"

Now, there's no guarantee that Jones will see more than three starts this year after Mohamed Sanu had a career year in 2014, and the Bengals were one of the NFL's most run-heavy teams last year.

Still, Jones showed more than a little promise as both an NFL and fantasy option two seasons ago, and with an asking price in the 13th round, the risk level inherent in drafting Jones is minimal.

Rueben Randle, WR, New York Giants

Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Average Draft Position: WR57 (136th overall)

After three up-and-down seasons in the National Football League, New York Giants wide receiver Rueben Randle allowed to Steve Serby of the New York Post  that this is make-or-break season for him.

“I just plan on having the best year I’ve had so far,” Randle said.

For his part, quarterback Eli Manning feels that Randle is up to the task:

"

I think Rueben’ll have a big year,. I think Rueben can be a great receiver, a dominant receiver. I think he has the ability, it’s just kind of getting it for 16 games and hopefully more than that with the playoffs.

"

The 24-year-old had the best season of his three-year career in most regards in 2014, catching 71 passes for 938 yards.

Randle also came on very strong down the stretch a year ago from a fantasy perspective. Over the last four weeks of last season, Randle put up a pair of 100-yard receiving efforts, ranking 14th among wide receivers in PPR fantasy points over that stretch.

With Victor Cruz recovering from a patellar tendon tear, it's entirely possible that Randle will once again be called upon to pick up more than a little slack in the Giants' passing game. And with Odell Beckham sure to be the focus of opposing defenses, Randle will likely be looking at a lot of single coverage.

Add it all together, and Randle's a solid late-draft "lottery ticket" pick for fantasy owners looking for upside at the position.

Allen Robinson, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

Gary McCullough/Associated Press

Average Draft Position: WR30 (71st overall)

Thanks to a broken foot, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Allen Robinson became something of a footnote (so to speak) in last year's explosion of rookie receivers.

Still, from Week 2 to Week 10 last year, Robinson emerged as Blake Bortles' go-to receiver with the Jaguars. He reeled in 47 passes for 548 yards over that span, posting WR2 fantasy production in leagues that award a point for receptions.

Now, Robinson is healthy, and Bortles told Mark Long of The Associated Press that Robinson has been turning heads in offseason practices.

"He's been unbelievable," Bortles said. "He's definitely a threat now in the red zone. ... He's physical. He can run and do everything out in the open field, so he's been fun to throw to."

For his part, Robinson said he's ready to take his game to the next level:

"

I think I've got a better understanding of the difference between college and the NFL. You have to adapt your game to the NFL style. For me, as the year progressed, I started to get in a little bit of a groove and I started to get the hang of it a little bit. This year, I know what to expect. I know where I had my success last year and I also know my weaknesses. I'm just hoping to build on both.

"

The Jaguars also added tight end Julius Thomas in the offseason, but make no mistake—Bortles wasn't the least bit shy about looking Robinson's way early and often last year.

And this is a team that's going to be playing from behind a lot in 2015.

Vernon Davis, TE, San Francisco 49ers

Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Average Draft Position: TE18 (165th overall)

Boy, if I got paid every time I said "two years ago" in this article, I'd be loaded.

However, there's no denying that the 2013 and 2014 seasons went very differently for San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis.

In 2013, only Jimmy Graham of the New Orleans Saints and Julius Thomas of the Denver Broncos had more fantasy points in PPR formats among tight ends than Davis, who hauled in 52 passes for 850 yards and an eye-popping 13 touchdowns.

Last year, Davis landed on a milk carton. Twenty-six receptions. Two hundred forty-five yards. Two scores. And a trip to the waiver wire in most fantasy leagues.

After that disappearing act, no one's tripping over themselves to spend a draft pick on the 31-year-old in 2015.

Still, as 4for4.com points out, Davis' track record of production and nonexistent draft-day cost combine to create an interesting potential for value for fantasy owners this season:

"

Davis is a talent, but the team didn't do a good job of using him last season. His 50 targets were his fewest since 2008, and his usage was way too low considering he has finished in the top 8 at his position in four of the last six seasons. He was targeted just once in the red zone after seeing 20 red zone targets in 2013. It's up to new OC Geep Chryst (formerly the team's QB coach) to get Davis more involved in the offense. Given his 15th round ADP, he's a very low-risk pick given his upside.

"

Davis has reportedly looked like his old field-stretching self in workouts, and given the dearth of fantasy talent at tight end in 2015, it's difficult to find a reason not to roll the dice with a late pick on Davis this summer.

Virgil Green, TE, Denver Broncos

Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Average Draft Position: TE29 (230th overall)

To this point in his four-year NFL career, Denver Broncos tight end Virgil Green hasn't done much to interest fantasy owners. He has 26 career catches. His career high in yardage for a season is 74, set last year. Green's caught all of one career touchdown.

However, with Julius Thomas (another late bloomer) now in Jacksonville, the Broncos need someone to step up and become Peyton Manning's go-to option at the position.

Green told Troy Renck of the Denver Post he's going to do his best to be that player in 2015:

"

We've been catching a lot of passes out there, all the tight ends really. We all understand how the game works. We're going to go out there and compete. For the most part, each of us has to focus on our job and what we're doing. We can't too much focus on, 'He just caught that ball' or 'I didn't.' We work well together. We're just having fun out there.

"

The Broncos brought in Owen Daniels to be the No. 1 tight end this year, but Daniels has had all kinds of trouble staying on the field in recent years.

Those injury woes, coupled with the lack of depth at tight end in fantasy leagues this season, puts Green on the deep-league radar as a potential end-of-the-bench stash, especially if reports from camp in Denver continue to be positive about the 26-year-old.

Kyle Rudolph, TE, Minnesota Vikings

Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Average Draft Position: TE16 (143rd overall)

This final sleeper is as apt to elicit groans as cheers. Especially from fantasy owners who bought shares in Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph the past two seasons.

Back in 2012, Rudolph topped 50 receptions, scored nine touchdowns and finished the season as a low-end TE1. Hopes were high for the 25-year-old the following year.

Sadly, Rudolph has barely surpassed his yardage and reception totals from that 2012 campaign over the past two seasons combined. He hasn't come close in the scoring department, with five scores over the last two seasons.

Over that span he's played in only 17 of a possible 32 games.

However, Rudolph's healthy now, and offensive coordinator Norv Turner told Dave Campbell of The Associated Press (via the Cincinnati Enquirer) he's hopeful we'll see a return to form from Rudolph in 2015:

"

He's working hard. He's had a great offseason with his body to try to make sure that he doesn't have those nagging injuries. But when he's healthy and running like he's been the last three weeks, it's exciting to have him. We'll get some coverage on the outside with the speed we have. He can open it up a lot. He'll get matchups if they're going to play eight-man fronts.

"

With an up-and-coming quarterback in Teddy Bridgewater, the return of running back Adrian Peterson and a new downfield threat in wide receiver Mike Wallace, the table would appear to be set for a bounce-back season from Rudolph.

Now if he can only stay healthy long enough to eat.

Average draft position data courtesy of Fantasy Pros. Fantasy scoring info courtesy of FFToday.com and MyFantasyLeague.com.