Rookie Sleepers Who Could Win Your Fantasy Football League

These rookie sleepers might be the key to a championship run for your fantasy football team this season.
Rookie Sleepers Who Could Win Your Fantasy Football League
Rookie Sleepers Who Could Win Your Fantasy Football League /

The 2023 NFL regular season is set to kick off in just a couple of days, which means most fantasy football leagues have already drafted.

That said, there are still plenty of leagues that are sneaking their drafts in at the last minute, giving managers as much time as possible to prepare their rankings and sleepers before putting together their roster for the upcoming season.

Whether you're getting in those last-minute preps for your late-drafting league, or you're looking for an edge for a team you've already drafted, here are a handful of rookie sleepers who could end up winning your league for you this year:

QB Anthony Richardson, Colts

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson
Mykal McEldowney-USA TODAY NETWORK

The No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Richardson was the third quarterback off the board, but he's easily the one with the most upside. He's got a combination of size, athleticism and arm talent we've legitimately never seen at the position, and he's in an offense that's prepared to build around his strengths and let him learn on the job from Day 1. 

There will be some growing pains, but Richardson could put it all together and put up some impressive numbers down the stretch that could spark a title run for your fantasy team.

RB Tank Bigsby, Jaguars

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby
Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Yes, Bigsby has a 24-year-old first-round pick ahead of him on the depth chart, but that just means you should be able to steal him much later than you should. Travis Etienne has upside of his own, but he was also drafted with Urban Meyer's influence, and he's long gone. 

Bigsby is a better runner between the tackles, and has the physicality to immediately vulture goal-line touches. Etienne has also dealt with injuries in the past, so if he gets banged up at any point in the season, Bigsby could take over as the lead back and never look back.

WR Jalin Hyatt, Giants

New York Giants wide receiver Jalin Hyatt
John Jones - USA TODAY Sports

Darren Waller will be Daniel Jones' primary target, but at some point, the Giants are going to have to make opposing defenses pay for loading up the box against Jones and Saquon Barkley on the ground. Enter Hyatt, perhaps the best deep-ball receiver in the entire 2023 draft class. 

He's an explosive playmaker who can take the top off the defense with elite speed (go watch his five-touchdown performance against Nick Saban's Alabama defense last year), and gives one of the league's most boring passing attacks a potential touchdown machine.

TE Dalton Kincaid, Bills

Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Dawson Knox is still a solid target for Josh Allen, but the Bills didn't trade up to land Kincaid in the first round of this year's draft just to make him an ancillary option in their passing game. Kincaid was widely regarded as the best pure pass-catcher in this year's deep crop of tight end prospects, and the Bills look primed to put that skill set to good use. 

Even with Knox around, Kincaid should be heavily involved in the game plan, getting tons of targets in one of the most pass-heavy offenses in the entire league. 


Published
Luke Easterling
LUKE EASTERLING

Luke Easterling (he/him) has been covering college football and the NFL for more than two decades, with a particular focus on the nexus of both, the NFL Draft. Writing for some of the largest and most recognizable brands in sports media, Luke's experience and expertise in evaluating potential NFL prospects and evaluating team needs/fits has earned the appreciation of his readers, and the respect of his peers. Luke cut his sports journalism teeth at The Tampa Tribune before spending two years at Bleacher Report as a featured columnist covering the NFL Draft and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Luke then spent nearly seven years at USA TODAY Sports Media Group as editor of Draft Wire and Bucs Wire, building both into authoritative destination sites for their respective audiences. Now at The Arena Group, Luke covers the NFL and college football for Athlon Sports, and runs Sports Illustrated's FanNation site for the NFL Draft. A graduate of the University of South Florida, Luke has been a featured guest on ESPN Radio, CBS Sports Radio, Fox Sports Radio, SiriusXM and more.  Based in Tampa, Florida (the true home of the Cuban sandwich), Luke plays the drums, loves 2000s pop-punk, watches way too many British murder mystery shows, and channels the energy of his deep-south Grammy and his full-Italian Nana in the kitchen. Twitter: @lukeeasterling Email: luke.easterling@si.com