Fantasy Football Sleepers 2015: Top Hidden Gems at Every Fantasy Position

With so much information at our disposal, the term “sleeper” is nearing extinction in fantasy football. Twitter is a 24/7 stream of football updates, and all it takes is a video of one nice run from a player who had been relatively unknown to go viral before his sleeper status is eliminated.

In short, we keep waking up all the sleepers before the alarm goes off.

But some players still manage to slip through the cracks and are available later in drafts than they should be. Here are some of those hidden gems that can still be uncovered in fantasy drafts.

Quarterback: Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers

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It’s tough to find a sleeper at the quarterback position simply because standard league sizes—12 teams—have only 12 guys starting on any given week, and it's fairly easy for fans to remember a dozen players at the most important position in football.

The names at the top are all obvious. You have Andrew Luck, Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, Russell Wilson, Drew Brees—yadda yadda yadda. But what about some of the quarterbacks who are currently being drafted outside of the top 12 and have a legitimate chance of finishing the 2015 season as a QB1 option? 

Hidden Gem: Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers

Yeah, we know—Colin Kaepernick was highlighted as a “hidden gem” heading into the 2014 season as well. We simply underestimated how long it would take to excavate his value.

Kaepernick’s down year last season has him being drafted in the 13th round of fantasy drafts this year. He’s currently the 19th quarterback coming off the board.

Even last season—when he failed to throw for multiple touchdowns in 10 of 16 games, including nine straight games from Weeks 7-16—he still finished as the 16th-highest-scoring quarterback, ahead of his current average draft position (ADP) slot.

There’s one simple reason why Kaepernick should improve in 2015: He will undoubtedly score more points with his legs this year.

In 2014, he carried the ball a career-high 104 times for a career-high 639 rushing yards. But he only scored one rushing touchdown and even that didn’t come easy—his lone ground score of the season came on a 90-yard run in Week 16.

Kaepernick threw for roughly 200 more passing yards in 2014 compared to 2013 but tossed two fewer touchdowns, so those stats wash each other out.

Yet despite the relatively even passing statistics from 2014 and 2013—and the career highs in rushing attempts and yards—Kaepernick ranked significantly better as a fantasy player in 2013 (ninth overall) than he did in 2014 (16th overall), per NFL.com’s fantasy hub.

This leads us back to his rushing statistics. In 2012, Kaepernick played in only 13 games but still managed to score five rushing touchdowns on 63 attempts. He ran for four more score in 2013 on 92 carries. The fact he carried the ball more than 100 times but only scored once in 2014 is a true head-scratcher.

Dual-threat quarterbacks are fantasy godsends. Even if Kaepernick hovers around 20 passing touchdowns and 3,250 yards—subpar passing statistics—he still has a legitimate chance to break into the top 10 in fantasy points because of his legs. He finished ninth in fantasy points in 2013 and sixth in 2012 from Weeks 10-17 (when he started), per Pro Football Focus.

The upside is obvious. And even better, Kaepernick comes at an incredible discount this year.

Honorable Mention: Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

In case you couldn’t tell, this "gem" finder favors dual-threat quarterbacks. Cam Newton fits the bill.

He is currently the 15th quarterback coming off draft boards, per Fantasy Football Calculator. That’s criminally low.

It’s true that Newton was only the 17th-highest-scoring quarterback from a fantasy perspective last season, but he also only played in 14 games.

This fact already had people devaluing Newton heading into 2015, but when news broke that his top receiver—Kelvin Benjamin—would miss the season with a torn ACL, fantasy players started running for the hills.

Nothing can illustrate this better than an actual look at Newton’s ADP over the past month. According to Fantasy Football Calculator, Newton went from being drafted at the start of the seventh round to the middle of the 10th following Benjamin's injury.

This has Newton going at even more of a discount.

Last year wasn’t all bad for Newton. Over the final eight games of the season in which Newton played (Weeks 8-11, Weeks 13-14 and Weeks 16-17), he was the fifth-highest-scoring quarterback, per Pro Football Focus.

In fact, he was a top-five scoring fantasy quarterback each of his first three years in the league as well, according to NFL.com.

Yes, the Benjamin injury hurts Newton a bit, but it’s not a killing blow. He didn’t need Benjamin in 2012 and 2013 when he was a fixture among the top five fantasy quarterbacks.

Additionally, he doesn’t need to be a top-five option in 2015 to outplay his ADP—even top-10 numbers would do the trick.

Late-Round Treasure: Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Actually, Marcus Mariota of the Tennessee Titans could have been included here as well. But so far this preseason, Winston’s talent has been evident—even despite his inconsistency. But he’s a rookie who is playing in the preseason—inconsistency should be expected.

Sticking to the theme of dual-threat quarterbacks, the real reason you can consider Winston a potential gem is that through two preseason games, he has two rushing scores. He wasn’t expected to put up big rushing numbers this season (he really is much more of a pocket passer), but if he uses his legs this way in the regular season, he would become much more valuable on the fantasy front.

Running Back: Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers

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Running backs still rule the roost when it comes to the first round of fantasy drafts, but who else can you ask to shoulder some of the load?

Hidden Gem: Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers

Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart is currently the 23rd running back coming off the board in 12-team points-per-reception (PPR) leagues, which means fantasy owners are tentatively approaching him as a tail-end RB2.

In reality, fantasy owners should be drafting Stewart as their No. 2 running back with confidence.

He has shared Carolina’s backfield with DeAngelo Williams his entire career, but we finally get a chance to see what he can do (mostly) by himself in 2015. In 2009—the only season in which Stewart had more than 200 attempts—he ran for 1,133 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also scored 10 touchdowns in 2008.

While it’s unlikely Stewart will reach double-digit rushing scores again in 2015—he is one of the few running backs in the league who actually has to compete with his quarterback for goal-line carries—another 1,100-plus yard season looks to be in the cards. Additionally, fantasy owners can expect somewhere between six and eight rushing scores from Stewart this season.

Those types of statistics could actually make him a borderline RB1. According to NFL.com’s fantasy data, Washington’s Alfred Morris was the 13th-highest-scoring running back last season with 1,074 rushing yards and eight touchdowns.

The biggest knock against Stewart is that he hasn’t remained healthy throughout his career. He has only played in all 16 games in three of seven seasons in the league. But with Carolina’s backfield finally his to own, the potential reward outweighs the risk.

Honorable Mention: C.J. Spiller, New Orleans Saints

News broke earlier this week via ESPN New Orleans that “Spiller will likely miss the first two weeks of the 2015 season,” but that doesn’t mean he isn’t still worth a look.

Spiller is currently the 24th running back being drafted, which doesn’t really pass the eye test when you remember that he’s a pass-catching running back in Drew Brees’ offense. Remember Darren Sproles?

According to Pro Football Focus, Sproles was the fifth-highest-scoring running back in PPR leagues in 2011—and that was with only 87 carries on the year. He followed that up with an RB13 season in 2012, when he carried the ball only 48 times and played just 13 games.

That’s proof that a player with Spiller’s skill set can put up big numbers in New Orleans’ offense, even if he doesn’t play a full season.

Late-Round Treasure: Jonas Gray, New England Patriots

Jonas Gray is almost worth the late-round flier simply because he has a chance to be the starting running back in New England, an offense that has routinely finished near the top when it comes to points scored.

Gray becomes even more intriguing when you consider that LeGarrette Blount will miss Week 1 because of a suspension.

Of course, even if Gray explodes for 200-plus yards, there’s a chance it won’t be enough to win the job. I seem to remember something like that happening to somebody last year.

You simply never know with coach Bill Belichick, which can be both good and bad. But two things are for certain—or as certain as it gets when Belichick is involved: First, Gray should to get a chance at the start of the season, and second, his ceiling is as high as anyone’s.

Wide Receiver: Eric Decker, New York Jets

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As the NFL gets more and more pass-happy, the number of fantasy-relevant wide receivers increases. Because there are so many to choose from, there are a handful of diamonds to be found in the rough.

Hidden Gem: Eric Decker, New York Jets 

One of the most predictable developments of the 2014 season was that Eric Decker would become less valuable to fantasy owners moving from Peyton Manning and the Broncos to Geno Smith and the Jets. Decker was the ninth-highest-scoring receiver in 2013 as a member of Denver’s record-breaking offense, but he dipped to WR28 in 2014 as a member of the decidedly average—or below average—New York Jets.

But we all knew it was coming. So why are fantasy players acting like it came out of nowhere?

Decker is currently the 47th wideout coming off draft boards—nearly 20 spots below his WR28 finish from 2014. Yes, the Jets added Brandon Marshall, but even if that does devalue Decker (which is debatable), it certainly doesn’t warrant a 20-spot drop.

The reason you can debate that Marshall’s presence doesn't hurt Decker’s value is because Decker had no problem racking up the fantasy points with Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker and Julius Thomas by his side. There’s obviously a difference when Manning is the one under center, but the point is that Decker was just fine in a crowded offense.

Additionally, one of the main questions surrounding Decker when he hit free agency following the 2013 season was whether or not he could assume a No. 1 wideout role for an NFL franchise. He did a respectable job of this last season for the Jets—catching 74 passes for 962 yards and five touchdowns—but now with Marshall in town, Decker steps back into the No. 2 role he’s more familiar with.

Fantasy players should be celebrating this shift, not shying away from it.

Decker is a good bet to finish as a tail-end WR2 this season, and at worst he should be a WR3 or flex option. In any event, there is little doubt he will far exceed his ADP.

Honorable Mention: Vincent Jackson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

Per Pro Football Focus, Vincent Jackson saw the ninth-most targets among receivers last season but managed to score only two touchdowns.

Even if he didn’t have the No. 1 overall pick of the 2015 NFL draft—Jameis Winston—throwing him the ball this season, his touchdown totals would have risen. He’s now a virtual lock for 70 receptions, 1,000 yards and six-plus touchdowns.

Jackson is the 31st wide receiver being drafted in PPR leagues right now, which means fantasy owners are valuing him as a middling WR3. The problem is that the fantasy community is overcompensating for Mike Evans’ presence and not properly accounting for Jackson’s impending boom in touchdowns (relative to his 2014 totals).

Jackson should have no trouble outplaying his ADP and could finish the season as a strong WR2 for fantasy teams. 

Late-Round Treasure: Brian Quick, St. Louis Rams 

Currently the 48th wide receiver coming off draft boards, Quick has WR3 or even borderline WR2 upside, as evidenced by his strong start to the 2014 season.

During the first seven weeks of last season, Quick was the 32nd-highest-scoring receiver, according to Pro Football Focus. 

He’s worth a look in later rounds given his cheap price and high upside.

Tight End: Jordan Reed, Washington Redskins

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The tight end position has been dominated by the same two players—Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham—for the past half-decade. And while some new names, such as Greg Olsen and Travis Kelce, are breaking into the top-five conversation, there are still some other tight ends worth monitoring.

Hidden Gem: Jordan Reed, Washington Redskins 

Reed is currently not even being drafted, which makes almost no sense considering he is one of the best backup tight ends in the game and has legitimate top-10 potential.

Over his final 10 games of last season—Weeks 6-17—Reed was the 14th-highest-scoring tight end, per Pro Football Focus. In his 11 games last season, he finished the season with 50 receptions for 465 yards. However, he failed to score.

Reed needs two things to work in his favor to crack the top 10.

First, he needs to stay healthy for at least the majority of the season (he has played in only 20 games in the past two years combined). And second, he needs to actually score some touchdowns. Obviously, anything more than 2014's zero is preferable, but somewhere in the four-to-six range is what it would take to push Reed into top-10 territory.

Neither requirement is far-fetched. Throw in the fact that Niles Paul, Washington’s other tight end, will miss the season, and there’s plenty of reason to like Reed this year.

For a player who's not even being drafted in most leagues, what more could you ask for than legitimate top-10 potential? 

Honorable Mention: Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten is currently the ninth tight end being drafted. That's a sentence that should make you do a double take.

He was the 10th-highest-scoring tight end last season, according to NFL.com, which is likely where is lower-than-expected ADP is coming from. But remember, the Dallas Cowboys force-fed DeMarco Murray the ball last season, and he’s no longer on the squad.

Additionally, from 2010 to 2013, Witten didn’t finish lower than fifth among tight ends in terms of fantasy points. He was fifth in 2013 and fourth in both 2012 and 2011. He led all tight ends in fantasy points in 2010.

There’s no reason why Witten should be the ninth tight end off draft boards. He’s an excellent value in the eighth or ninth round.

Late-Round Treasure: Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers

A four-game suspension has Gates on sale in a major way. He’s currently going in the 13th round and is the 14th tight end coming off boards.

That's not bad for the second-highest scoring tight end in the league last season.

Kicker: Dustin Hopkins, New Orleans Saints

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Kickers may not be as important to your fantasy team as wide receivers or running backs, but a good kicker can still make all the difference.

Hidden Gem: Dustin Hopkins, New Orleans Saints 

As Joel Erickson of the New Orleans Advocate (h/t FoxSports.com) noted, New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton is waiting for Dustin Hopkins or Zach Hocker to separate himself from the other.

However, according to recent reports from Saints sideline reporter Kristian Garic and NOLA.com Saints columnist Larry Holder, Hopkins appears to be separating himself.

Of course, if the starting job goes to Hocker, you can consider him the “hidden gem.” Either way, you’ll want to own the winner of this competition.

He will be kicking for a high-scoring offense and, as a bonus, get nine games in a dome—eight at home and one on the road versus the Atlanta Falcons. There are also games at Indianapolis and at Houston that have a chance of becoming dome games.

Neither Hopkins nor Hocker is currently being drafted in most leagues.

Honorable Mention: Phil Dawson, San Francisco 49ers

Dawson was only the 16th-highest-scoring kicker last season, which has caused fantasy owners to stay away this season (he’s not even being drafted in most leagues), but he was the sixth-highest-scoring kicker in 2013.

Additionally, former San Francisco 49ers kicker David Akers was seventh in 2012 and first in 2011 among fantasy kickers, according to NFL.com.

That’s a solid track record for kickers out of San Francisco. Chances are that Dawson's 2014 dip was the outlier, not the new norm.

Defense and Special Teams: New England Patriots

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Streaming defenses on a week-to-week basis to take advantage of juicy matchups is growing in popularity, but there’s nothing wrong with snagging a D/ST that can hold its own throughout the season. Which less-touted defenses could fit the bill? 

Hidden Gem: New England Patriots

New England’s defense and special teams units are coming off draft boards toward the end of the 14th round—fairly typical for a D/ST—but the Patriots are considered the "hidden gem" because 11 others are going before them.

The offseason losses of Darrelle Revis, Brandon Browner and Vince Wilfork are likely fueling this.

But every year from 2010 through 2014, the Patriots’ D/ST finished in the top 10 in terms of fantasy points. The team has employed a “bend but don’t break” mentality over the past several seasons, and while it may not always be the smoothest approach, there’s no denying that it has gotten the job done. That should be the case again in 2015.

Additionally, even though the team lost headline players such as Revis and Wilfork, New England is still home to defensive studs, including Jamie Collins, Jerod Mayo, Chandler Jones, Rob Ninkovich and Devin McCourty.

Honorable Mention: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

This one is more of a dark-horse candidate than a surefire “gem.”

Now entering year two with defensive-minded head coach Lovie Smith—who has coached some dominant fantasy D/STs in the past, most recently including the 2006 and 2012 Chicago Bears—the Buccaneers are poised to make a jump.

The defense also has studs in Gerald McCoy and Lavonte David, as well as other notable names including Alterraun Verner and Danny Lansanah.

If you want to simply test the waters here, the Buccaneers D/ST has a solid opening game. Tampa Bay kicks off the season against rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota and the Tennessee Titans.

The Buccaneers do have a poor matchup against Drew Brees and the Saints in Week 2, but let’s see how they handle a rookie first.

Individual Defensive Player: Prince Amukamara, New York Giants

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For those of you who play in individual defensive player (IDP) leagues, it can be hard to find the right players to plug into your lineup. Which defensive players who are overshadowed for one reason or another should be on your radar?

Hidden Gem: Prince Amukamara, New York Giants 

New York Giants cornerback Prince Amukamara only played in eight games last season, but he recorded 46 combined tackles. The cornerback who finished with the most combined tackles last season—Tennessee’s Jason McCourty—had 85 in 16 games.

In other words, Amukamara was on pace to finish the season with the most combined tackles among all cornerbacks. And it wasn’t just a one-year ordeal with him—he finished the 2013 season with 85 combined tackles.

Additionally, in eight games last season, Amukamara defensed 11 passes, which included three interceptions. 

When looking at rankings across the Internet, it's generally agreed upon that Amukamara is one of the top 20 cornerbacks to own in IDP leagues. Some websites—such as FantasyPros.com—even have him ranked No. 1 overall, so maybe Amukamara isn't as "hidden" as he could be. However, other rankings have him outside of the top 10.

There's not a general consensus, but there should be: Barring injury, Amukamara will be one of the top three fantasy cornerbacks in 2015.

Those who simply look at year-end statistics from 2014 will miss out on Amukamara altogether.

Honorable Mention: Rob Ninkovich, New England Patriots

As noted in the previous slide, while the New England Patriots defense may have lost some big names this offseason, it is still home to some excellent players. Ninkovich is one of them.

Over the past three seasons, since wearing the defensive end tag, Ninkovich has finished in the top 10 at the position in terms of combined tackles, including a stint as the No. 1 DE tackler in 2013.

Ninkovich has also been consistent in the sack department, tallying eight sacks in each of the past three seasons. He also forced five fumbles in 2012 and two fumbles in 2013. And while he didn’t force any fumbles in 2014, he did record an interception.

All of the data on this slide comes via NFL.com unless otherwise noted. All ADP data used throughout the article comes from Fantasy Football Calculator.