Fantasy Football 2016: An Early Look at Potential Rookie Sleepers

This year's NFL Hall of Fame Game is scheduled for August 7, which means we're now less than three months away from the start of the 2016 preseason.

For many of you, this also means we're less than three months away from fantasy football. While three months might seem like a good deal of time—especially for those of us aching to see real football action again—it's never too early to start planning your draft strategies.

Now that we know which incoming rookies have landed with which teams, we can start to incorporate first-year players into our draft strategies. Today, we're going to take an early look at some potential rookie fantasy sleepers.

Normally when examining draftable rookie players, you want to target players at the top of their respective depth charts. Popular rookie players this year will likely include the likes of Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott, Cleveland Browns receiver Corey Coleman and Minnesota Vikings wideout Laquon Treadwell.

Here, we're going to look past the No. 1-type players and examine some less obvious options for rookie fantasy success. These are players who aren't expected to be No. 1 receivers or starting running backs, but they could wind up in productive roles. These players might not be first-year superstars, but they have sleeper potential and should be worth some late-round flyers.

Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans Saints

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Michael Thomas should emerge as one of Drew Brees' favorite targets.

Thanks to the presence of star quarterback Drew Brees, fantasy players have to take notice any time the New Orleans Saints add a talented young pass-catcher.

In the second round of this year's draft, the Saints grabbed former Ohio State standout Michael Thomas. Though Thomas was largely overshadowed by more productive college receivers during the draft process, his combination of size and route-running makes him a likely Day 1 starter.

Bleacher Report's NFL draft lead writer Matt Miller graded Thomas as his No. 1 receiver in this year's class. Before the draft, Miller wrote the following:

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In a draft dominated by smaller receivers, Thomas' size is a positive trait. He's a full 6'2 ¾" with a jacked 217-pound frame. His 10 ½-inch hands are above-average size for his frame and allow Thomas to grab the ball away from his body with confidence.

Thomas is a No. 1 receiver in the NFL. Put him in the "X" and get him the ball. He has the skills to make an early impact in any offensive system.

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With Brandin Cooks also on the roster, Thomas probably won't grab the No. 1 receiver role in New Orleans as a rookie. However, he should inherit the role recently vacated by veteran Marques Colston. He should emerge as a big, reliable, chain-moving scoring threat.

Thomas' upside makes him worth a gamble in the middle to late rounds of your fantasy draft.

Kenneth Dixon, RB, Baltimore Ravens

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Kenneth Dixon should have plenty of pass-catching value in Baltimore's offense.

If you're looking for a potential star in point-per-reception (PPR) leagues, rookie fifth-round pick Kenneth Dixon has to be at the top of your list.

Dixon has landed in an interesting situation with the Baltimore Ravens, who have a number of running backs vying for roles. The incumbent starter is veteran Justin Forsett, but he is in the back half of his career and is coming off a significant injury. This opens the door for a committee situation, and Dixon should play a big part in it.

The Louisiana Tech product is a talented rusher in his own right—he averaged 5.4 yards per carry last season—but his biggest value this season may be as a pass-catcher. Dixon hauled in 34 receptions for 467 yards and seven touchdowns in 2015. He could immediately earn the role of receiving back in Baltimore.

This is significant because Ravens offensive coordinator Marc Trestman loves to utilize his backs in the passing game. Forsett and fellow back Javorius Allen combined for 76 receptions in 2015. When Trestman was head coach of the Chicago Bears in 2014, running back Matt Forte racked up 102 receptions by himself.

There's an outside chance Dixon will earn the starting job in Baltimore this season, so he'll be worth watching over the next few months. Right now, think of him as a mid- or late-round sleeper in PPR leagues.

Braxton Miller, WR, Houston Texans

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Braxton Miller has value as a potential standout slot receiver.

The Houston Texans drafted former Notre Dame standout Will Fuller in the first round this year in order to add a receiver who can complement star DeAndre Hopkins. Fuller isn't a sleeper, of course, and because of the boom-or-bust nature of his game, we're not too high on him anyway.

A solid sleeper pick, however, might be rookie third-round pick Braxton Miller. The former Ohio State quarterback-turned-pass-catcher has the tools to contribute in a variety of roles and could emerge as a standout slot guy.

Bleacher Report's Matt Miller wrote the following before the draft:

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As Miller transitioned to wide receiver, he showed natural hands and a toughness at the position. On the year we counted just one dropped pass, and watching Miller attack the field with the ball in his hands showed his hunger for yards. Some will want to label Miller as a "gadget player," but he's more than that. His athleticism and speed make him a candidate to have a Randall Cobb or Hines Ward-like role in the NFL.

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A lot is going to depend on how new quarterback Brock Osweiler fits into Houston's offense and what kind of role Miller can earn. If he can consistently get the ball in his hands, Miller has enough big-play ability to be fantasy gold.

Keep an eye on Houston and Miller in the coming months to see how things develop.

Rashard Higgins, WR, Cleveland Browns

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Rashard Higgins could be one of Cleveland's top receiving options this season.

The Cleveland Browns selected four wide receivers in this year's draft (five if you count Princeton's Seth Devalve, who projects as a tight end). First-rounder Corey Coleman is likely to step into the No. 1 receiver role, which means he isn't really a sleeper.

Rookie fifth-round pick Rashard Higgins, however, could be a sleeper. The 6'1", 196-pound Colorado State product is a big, rangy target and could realistically start the season as Cleveland's No. 2 receiver.

"'Hollywood' Higgins is the most pro-ready WR the Browns have selected in terms of experience in a pro-style system," NFL.com's Mark Dulgerian said after the pick. "He's QB-friendly with separation savvy and sticky hands. He has potential to be a short to intermediate workhorse in [head coach] Hue Jackson's offense."

Higgins racked up 2,812 yards receiving and 25 touchdowns over the past two seasons at Colorado State. He isn't likely to match that kind of production in his early NFL career, but he is worth watching in the coming months to see if he can secure the No. 2 receiver role.

Since we don't know what to expect from Cleveland's passing game, Higgins should be considered a deep sleeper to keep an eye on.

Tyler Boyd, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

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Tyler Boyd has a chance to be the No. 2 receiver in Cincinnati this season.

The Cincinnati Bengals used their second-round selection—No. 55 overall—on former Pitt receiver Tyler Boyd. Since the Bengals lost both Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu this offseason, Boyd now has a chance to step right into the No. 2 receiver role.

For fantasy owners, this is significant because the Bengals fielded one of the more reliable offenses in 2015. The team scored an average of 26.2 points per game and is ranked eighth overall in passing offense by Pro Football Focus for the season.

Boyd is entering a terrific overall situation, and the players around him should add to his opportunities. Opposing defenses are likely to spend most of their time focusing on standout receiver A.J. Green and tight end Tyler Eifert. If so, the 6'1", 197-pound Boyd has the goods to make them pay.

He caught a whopping 91 passes for 926 yards and six touchdowns for the Panthers in 2015. Boyd does have some after-the-catch ability, but he should be viewed as a possession receiver who brings the most value to PPR leagues.

C.J. Prosise, RB, Seattle Seahawks

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C.J. Prosise should add a new dynamis element to Seattle's backfield.

Now that Marshawn Lynch has headed into retirement, the Seattle Seahawks are likely to employ a committee backfield. That committee will probably feature 2015 rookie sensation Thomas Rawls at its forefront, but there will be roles for other players.

Rookie third-round pick C.J. Prosise is one role player who could explode in Seattle's offense. The former Notre Dame star played both receiver and running back during his collegiate career, and he should be a versatile weapon for the Seahawks to utilize.

"He is a guy that I fell in love with because when I went back and watched him play at receiver, he ran all of the routes," Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll explained, per Sheil Kapadia of ESPN.com. "He was a regular receiver. He had 50 targets or something two years ago. He’s a natural football player at that position that became a running back."

Prosise racked up 1,032 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns for the Fighting Irish in 2015, but he probably won't produce those numbers on the ground this season. Expect him to primarily be a pass-catching threat and a valuable commodity in PPR leagues.

Trevor Davis, WR, Green Bay Packers

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Cal product Trevor Davis should have the chance to earn a significant role in the Packers offense.

The Green Bay Packers already have a couple of top-notch receivers on their roster, so rookie fifth-round pick Trevor Davis is a deep sleeper at this point. However, it will be worth watching him through the offseason to see what kind of role he can lock down.

The 6'1", 188-pound David is a lengthy, rangy pass-catcher, but he also possesses enough speed to be a true vertical threat. He logged an impressive 4.42-second 40-yard dash at this year's scouting combine.

For Davis to find real fantasy value, he'll likely have to entrench himself as the third or fourth receiver on Green Bay's depth chart. This might not be as tough a challenge as it sounds because third-year wideout Davante Adams has been the No. 3 receiver, but he has largely been a disappointment.

Pro Football Focus ranked Adams 222nd overall out of 223 receivers for the 2015 season.

If Davis can find a way to consistently get on the field, he can provide quarterback Aaron Rodgers with another deep threat to complement Jordy Nelson. Davis averaged an impressive 16.8 yards per reception last season at Cal.

Depending on the role Davis winds up with, he'll be worth a late-round flyer because of his potential chunk-play production.

Kenyan Drake, RB, Miami Dolphins

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Kenyan Drake should be the change-of-pace guy in Miami's offense this season.

With Lamar Miller now in Houston, the Miami Dolphins head into the 2016 season looking at a committee approach at running back. Second-year back Jay Ajayi is likely to be the de facto starter in Miami, but rookie third-round pick Kenyan Drake may end up with the higher fantasy ceiling.

Drake is the type of all-around back who is going to earn opportunities on the field. He averaged 5.3 yards per carry at Alabama last season while hauling in 29 receptions for 276 yards. As a change-of-pace back in new head coach Adam Gase's offense, Drake has the potential to put up much bigger numbers.

"In baseball there are five-tool players, and in the NFL, Drake might be the same way," Bleacher Report's Matt Miller wrote before the draft. "He can work as a runner between the tackles, as a change-of-pace speed back, as a receiver on screens or from the slot."

Drake's ability to operate as a pass-catcher out of the backfield or on the perimeter makes him an excellent late-round option in PPR leagues. It will be worth keeping an eye on him during training camp, too, because if it looks like he can steal the starting job from Ajayi, he'll also have sleeper potential in standard scoring leagues.