Fantasy Football 2015: Top 10 Undrafted Sleepers

Early returns reveal plenty of undrafted sleepers who are falling outside the scope of standard fantasy football drafts for 2015. Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Rueben Randle and Larry Donnell project to post bench-worthy numbers but will begin 2015 on the waiver wire based on average draft position (ADP).

The players listed ahead aren’t likely to shift outcomes for fantasy owners this season but should fill in sufficiently for injured starters, during bye weeks or as streaming candidates.

Guidelines:

• Players listed are being drafted outside the 192nd position, on average. Standard 12-team leagues with 16 roster spots reach capacity with 192 players.
• Only the standard-scoring, season-long, redraft format was considered when compiling this list.

Honorable Mention

Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

May 26, 2015; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Dwayne Bowe (80) during organized team activities at the Cleveland Browns training facility. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Devin Funchess, Carolina Panthers

Carolina loved Funchess enough to trade up 16 spots in the second round to nab the 6’4”, 232-pound tweener out of Michigan. He gives Cam Newton another enormous option at wideout alongside Kelvin Benjamin (6’5”, 240 lbs).

Unless he struggles in camp, there’s no one to keep the rookie from ranking third in Carolina’s targets for 2015 behind Benjamin and tight end Greg Olsen.

Funchess—at ADP No. 194—is worth the speculative late-round draft pick.

Charles Clay, Buffalo Bills

The combination of Greg Roman at offensive coordinator—anybody see Vernon Davis last year?—and Buffalo’s double-blind dilemma at quarterback drove Clay outside the drafted ranks at No. 209.

He’s probably not worth the five-year, $35-million contract the Bills fronted to steal him away from Miami, but Clay shouldn’t be left dangling on the waiver wire come September.

Dwayne Bowe, Cleveland Browns

Is the combination of the touchdown-averse Bowe and the dysfunctional Browns passing offense so distasteful that fantasy owners won’t even give him a sniff on draft day?

Bowe’s ADP (228th) is a gaping 84 points below his consensus ranking (144th). The situation in Cleveland might be borderline depressing, but every team’s WR1 should at least make a roster on draft day.

10. Ladarius Green, San Diego Chargers

Gregory Bull/Associated Press

Green gets to show what he can do with Gates suspended through the first four games.

Green suddenly becomes an interesting reserve or streaming consideration at tight end upon the news of Antonio Gates’ four-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs, as reported by NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport on Twitter:

"

#Chargers TE Antonio Gates was suspended 4 games for violating the @NfL’s PED policy

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 2, 2015"

Green’s already limited value beyond September is questionable given he hasn’t supplanted the future Hall of Famer for playing time head-to-head. But supporters of the 2012 fourth-rounder out of Louisiana-Lafayette will finally get a taste of what the 6’6”, 240-pounder can offer after he has lurked in Gates’ shadow for three seasons.

Green ranks 207th in ADP but should continue to climb up draft boards as fantasy owners react to Gates’ suspension.

Draft-day takeaway: Gates posted 17 receptions for 215 yards and three touchdowns in San Diego’s first four games of 2014.

9. Roy Helu Jr., Oakland Raiders

Noah Berger/Associated Press/Associated Press

Helu will be an effective change-of-pace in Oakland, worthy of a bench seat on fantasy rosters.

Helu never emerged as a lead back in four years with the Washington Redskins but held his own as a backup and change-of-pace option. Oakland is expected to employ him the same way, complementing Trent Richardson and Latavius Murray.

Helu’s skill set lends much more favorably to points-per-reception leagues, where owners are drafting him at No. 150 on average. His draft position spirals to No. 219 in standard leagues, far below his 155th ranking.

The gap between the experts and the public is the expectation of a committee backfield in a rebuilding offense. But ESPN scout Matt Williamson believes Helu will be productive even in a limited role, according to Bill Williamson of ESPN.com.

“While he isn’t great in protection, I think he will be a very valuable piece and a quick safe option for Derek Carr in this uptempo passing game and offense overall," Williamson said. "Helu has been extremely productive on a per-snap basis.”

Helu can’t be recommended as anything more than a reserve, but he is worth a roster spot nonetheless.

Draft-day takeaway: Pro Football Focus graded Helu third among running backs in blocking but second-to-last in receiving for 2014.

8. Jordan Reed, Washington Redskins

Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

Reed's injury concern is the major factor between the waiver wire and a potential TE1.

It’s not easy to recommend anything positive about an injury-prone player when Reed couldn’t even make it through OTAs without notable medical attention, according to ESPN.com’s John Keim on Twitter:

"

Jay Gruden said jordan reed had a "little procedure" on his knee. Will be ready for training camp

— John Keim (@john_keim) June 1, 2015"

Missing twice as many games (12) as starts (six) obviously took a toll on the two-year veteran’s fantasy perception. He also has Niles Paul (6'1", 241 lbs) to compete with in camp, although Reed is superior in size (6'2", 237 lbs) and skill.

The 2013 third-rounder out of Florida flashed enough skill to at least make the streaming circuit if his health permits. Reed’s 233rd ADP is out of whack with his yardage-gobbling potential in a perennially dismal TE2 field.   

Draft-day takeaway: Pro Football Focus ranked Reed 11th in receiving among tight ends for 2014, right in between Julius Thomas and Jimmy Graham.

7. Heath Miller, Pittsburgh Steelers

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Roethlisberger often looks for Miller (first from left) in a pinch.

Miller must be fantasy football’s least sexy player. All he does is put in serviceable performances, and yet he starts each season looking for a roster in most leagues outside of Western Pennsylvania.

He’s been a reliable outlet for Ben Roethlisberger over his 10-year career, finishing seventh in receptions among tight ends (66) in 2014.

Miller won’t dazzle with touchdowns or yardage, but he should be considered a solid streaming option as a foundational part of the Steelers' top-flight offense.

The 32-year-old is coming off the board at No. 198 despite his 147th overall ranking.

Draft-day takeaway: Miller finished with TE1 totals five times in his career, as recently as last season (11th).

6. Malcom Floyd, San Diego Chargers

Denis Poroy/Associated Press

Don't leave Floyd unowned in his field-stretching finale.

Fantasy owners might be spooked since Floyd announced 2015 will be his last season, according to Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune. But the soon-to-be 34-year-old is healthy and still an integral part of the Chargers offense, leading the team in receiving yards last season with 856.

The 12-year veteran finished 30th among wide receivers in fantasy scoring in 2014. His 16.5 yards per catch ranked second in league among receivers with at least 50 receptions—DeSean Jackson finished first at 20.9.

Floyd has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career, but he started all 16 games for the first time last season. If he can maintain that pace for one last campaign, he will easily make a useful reserve.

There is truly nothing to lose by taking a chance on this deep threat late in the draft, especially since the average league is leaving him on the board until pick No. 232.

Draft-day takeaway: No single expert polled by Fantasy Pros expects Floyd to match his 2014 performance based on ranking, yet his consensus projections average out to 29th among wide receivers.

5. Tyler Eifert, Cincinnati Bengals

John Minchillo/Associated Press

Eifert is recovered and ready to finally fulfill his first-round promise.

Fantasy football causes long-term memory loss, which explains why owners are taking Eifert at No. 222 on average, two places behind rookie Maxx Williams. A Week 1 elbow/shoulder injury ended his 2014 season prematurely, dulling the hype for the 2013 first-round pick out of Notre Dame.

Cincinnati clearly believes the third-year pro is ready to take the reins this season, letting Jermaine Gresham walk and drafting two non-threatening backups in the third and fifth round. Rutgers’ Tyler Kroft is expected to be an in-line blocker, and Auburn’s C.J. Uzomah will develop behind Eifert as a distant TE3.

Coley Harvey of ESPN.com reported Eifert “caught virtually everything” in limited duty during open practices this spring and will be a “tremendous” addition to the lineup.  

It’s a good sign Marvin Lewis and his staff are using Eifert cautiously in practice as training camp approaches. It shows confidence in his ability and a desire to get him as healthy as possible before he’s exposed to contact.

The third-year pro should make all rosters as a streaming option with TE1 potential.

Draft-day takeaway: Eifert was the 16th tight end taken in 2014 standard fantasy drafts, according to MyFantasyLeague.com.

4. Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals

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Healthy starters like A.J. Green should erase memories of Dalton's abysmal 2014 campaign.

Dalton regressed in 2014, dipping to 18th in fantasy scoring among quarterbacks after finishing fifth in 2013. Key injuries at the skill positions—A.J. Green, Tyler Eifert, Marvin Jones—limited the four-year veteran’s passing options, while Jeremy Hill emerged as a dependable feature running back.

This is not to say the 2011 second-rounder out of TCU will return to QB1 form in 2015, but chances are he’ll be a high-end QB2 with all of the Bengals’ weapons back to 100 percent for 2015.

Dalton burned plenty of fantasy owners last year, topping 20 points just twice while floundering under five points three times, according to ESPN.com. Empty performances like those are difficult to forgive, but taking quarterbacks in lesser passing offenses—Derek Carr (No. 192), Nick Foles (No. 169) and Alex Smith (No. 167)—doesn’t make sense when Dalton is still on the board at No. 195.

Don’t draft him as a starter, but trust Dalton as a capable backup in a resurgent Bengals offense. He’ll make a decent bye-week fill-in or replacement if your starter goes down.  

Draft-day takeaway: Three Bengals skill players who started at least one game in 2014 are no longer on the roster: Greg Little (one), Dane Sanzenbacher (one) and Kevin Brock (two). 

3. Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Chris O'Meara/Associated Press

Seferian-Jenkins feels rested and ready for the first offseason in several years.

Fantasy owners have yet to take notice as expectations for Seferian-Jenkins’ second NFL season continue to expand. His disappointing rookie effort epitomized Tampa Bay’s dysfunctional offense in 2014 under accidental coordinator Marcus Arroyo.

The first key is the health of the 2014 second-rounder out of Washington. He only appeared in nine games as he nursed a foot injury to start the season before winding up on injured reserve with a bad back to end his year.

Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune reported Seferian-Jenkins is fully rested for the first offseason since high school:

"

The back feels great. It’s feeling awesome—so much better since the end of the season. By being put on [injured reserve] I got a chance to rest, so it’s feeling great again.

I really just needed to let my body rest. Going back to last year, what with the [college] season and the combine training I had to do and all that, I never really got that little break that you need. And I was coming off a foot injury on top of that, so this [past month] was the first time in four or five years that I’ve had a chance to get a rest, so I feel so much better right now because of that.

"

Buccaneers new offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter utilized the tight end throughout his coaching career, according to Scott Reynolds of Pewter Report. Zach Miller made All-American at Arizona State, Marcedes Lewis posted career years in Jacksonville, and Tony Gonzalez remained relevant in Atlanta at the end of his career.

Seferian-Jenkins is a great streaming and reserve option with low-end TE1 potential in 2015. His ADP value at No. 212 can’t be beaten.

Draft-day takeaway: Jameis Winston is comfortable hitting the tight end, helping Nick O’Leary make All-American in 2014 at Florida State.

2. Rueben Randle, New York Giants

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

Randle (No. 82) should see plenty of opportunities alongside Beckham (No. 13) and Cruz (No. 80).

Randle is anticipating a career year as the Giants' high-powered passing attack calibrates in OTAs and minicamp. He told Steve Serby of the New York Post to expect big things in his contract year.

“I just plan on having the best year I’ve had so far. I think I can do [80 catches] easy. I was at 71 last year, and a lot more balls I could have easily got. [And] it’s going to be more than three [touchdowns], I can tell you that.”

Eli Manning agrees, according to Serby:

"

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.

I think he has it in him. You’ve definitely seen him from Day 1 to Day Now, just the maturity level is definitely improved, he’s all in, he’s been here working, he’s been here off days, and so been impressed with his commitment, and I know he’s excited for a big year, wants to have a big year, and I think he can do that.

"

Victor Cruz is expected to be ready for training camp, manning the slot while Randle and Odell Beckham Jr. line up outside. Much of Randle’s production came after Cruz tore his patellar tendon in 2014, but he should still see enough targets in New York’s offense to justify at least a bench seat on fantasy rosters in 2015.

Randle shouldn’t be the 197th pick behind the likes of Chris Matthews (188th), Michael Crabtree (187th) and Jermaine Kearse (172nd), if for no other reason than the overall quality of their respective offenses.

Draft-day takeaway: Randle set career highs for receptions (71) and yards (938) in 2014, including 12 catches for 290 yards and a touchdown in the final two weeks.

1. Larry Donnell, New York Giants

Rob Carr/Getty Images

Donnell is a capable receiver who must refine his overall game to get more opportunities in 2015.

It shouldn’t be a surprise seeing tight ends throughout this list. Many fantasy owners carry just one tight end into the regular season, choosing to stream average talent or deciding not to back up a stud.

What is surprising is Donnell is falling well behind lower-ranked tight ends in the draft at No. 210: Charles Clay (No. 209), Ladarius Green (No. 207), Eric Ebron (No. 191) and Coby Fleener (No. 162). Fantasy owners haven’t forgotten how limited Donnell’s snaps became down the stretch because of his poor blocking.

The 2012 undrafted rookie out of Grambling State ranked 63rd out of 67 tight ends for run blocking in 2014, according to Pro Football Focus.

Jordan Raanan of NJ Advance Media reported Donnell addressed this shortcoming during the offseason:

"

I was trying to refine my game so I can be better in the run game. I did some things, changed it up a little bit weight-wise and all,” Donnell said. “The big problem with me is my hands used to go too wide. People used to get their hands inside of me, inside my chest and I lost a lot of battles there.

"

The three-year veteran also struggled with fumbles, losing four.

Donnell caught only three passes before 2014, so he’s essentially a TE2 project heading into his second productive NFL season. But that doesn’t mean he should hit your waiver wire after draft day.

Stash the 6’6”, 265-pounder on your bench or stream him against favorable matchups; just don’t leave this raw contributor in a powerful offense hanging on draft day.

Draft-day takeaway: Donnell broke out for 54 yards and three touchdowns at the Redskins in Week 4.

Average draft position and consensus ranking courtesy of Fantasy Pros, NFL statistics courtesy of Pro Football Reference, fantasy stats provided by CBS Sports.com, contract and salary-cap information provided by Over the Cap unless otherwise noted.