Some will say Christmas is the most beautiful time of the year. Others, such as myself will say redraft season in fantasy football is the most beautiful time of the year. New leagues, new competitors, and different strategies, but one thing stays the same: fantasy football sleepers will always help you come out on top when December rolls around.
In my debut article for Fantrax, I will cover three players that can be drafted in rounds 12-14 in redraft leagues; one receiver, one running back, and one tight end. These players fall outside the top 40 of their positions except the tight end. Let’s win!
Fantasy Football Sleepers for Re-Draft Leagues
Greg Dulcich: TE15, ADP 144.5
Broncos country, the savior has arrived and his name is Sean Payton. The legendary coach took over for what was historically the lowest-scoring offense in NFL history. He now is set to work with another small quarterback who can very well be the Drew Brees to Payton’s explosive offense in Denver.
All in all, the entire Broncos offense are redraft sleepers after the abysmal 2022 season, but one player, in particular, has the best value. Greg Dulcich showed tremendous upside in 2022 with over 580 air yards, ranking him 11th amongst tight ends. Also, Dulcich posted an ADOT (average depth of target) of 10.6, ranked third amongst tight ends. Only three tight ends including Dulcich did that AND add a 15% target share in 2022. The other two were Kyle Pitts and Mark Andrews. Dulcich did this as a rookie.
Looking into what tight ends have done with Payton, take a look at Jimmy Graham. Graham was one of the best prospects at the position with an athleticism score of 118.4. Jimmy Graham posted seven TE1 seasons in 12 years including a four-year streak of finishing as the TE1 or TE2. Taking into account the volume Graham saw in Payton’s offense plus the injury to Tim Patrick and the Courtland Sutton trade rumors, Dulcich is the second option in this offense behind Jerry Jeudy.
Currently, Dulcich is going in the 12th round of redraft leagues as the TE15 and has shown flashes of being an every-week TE1. In 10 games in his rookie season, Dulcich finished as a TE1 in 50% of those games. Every season, there are tight ends outside the top 12 that SMASH their ADP from the off-season. In 2022, Evan Engram (TE20) finished as the TE7 in ppg. Tyler Higbee (TE16) finished as the TE15 in ppg, but the TE6 overall with a gigantic 30-point performance in the fantasy football semi-finals.
Damien Harris, RB43, ADP 147.0
The James Cook stans might come and find me after this. Damien Harris is two years removed from scoring 15 touchdowns on an offense nowhere near the level his current offense is on. Harris signed with the Buffalo Bills this past off-season and will be the safety blanket for Josh Allen’s health.
Harris has never been a pass-catching running back and that is where James Cook comes into play. Cook and Devin Singletary were somewhat similar and now with Singletary gone, the Bills have decided to add a different type of running back. Damien Harris dealt with injuries and appeared in just 11 games in 2022. Rhamondre Stevenson also took the RB1 crown from Harris and he was never able to make an impact.
Now, on one of the best offenses in the past three seasons, Harris sees himself as the RB2 behind James Cook, but the goal-line back in an offense that will see a ton of time in the red zone. This is me spitballing, but why not save the health of the franchise quarterback, Josh Allen, by signing a running back who gets down and dirty with the upside of double-digit rushing touchdowns?
Harris was 12th in red zone touches in 2021 and looks to be right back in that mix of numerous rushing touchdowns. This takes a hit on Josh Allen and the rushing touchdowns, but number 17 will still get his. Harris is currently the RB41 in redraft and I think it is more so because of the lackluster 2022 season and not thinking 2021 cannot happen again in a much better offense.
Elijah Moore, WR54 149.8
An injury occurred to our sweet prince, Elijah Moore. Moore missed the rest of the 2021 season and it was onto 2022. When 2022 came around, the community was all in on Moore until the MILF general, Zach Wilson, and the Jets coaching staff did not let Elijah Moore happen.
Moore was the WR35 in ADP in 2022, but could not live up to it due to not receiving any decent looks. Moore appeared in five more games in 2022 than in 2021 and ended up with fewer catches, yards, and touchdowns on more routes ran. The trade to the Cleveland Browns might have saved Moore’s career.
In addition, Moore is playing with the best quarterback he has had in his entire football career. Deshaun Watson has a top-five upside and will finally have a full year as the quarterback after being suspended for a portion of 2022 and missing 2020 and 2021 due to allegations of sexual assault.
The WR3 in ppg from weeks 9-13 in 2021. Moore has shown flashes of putting up WR1 numbers and was robbed of that in 2022 due to a team that just did not view him as a legitimate threat to help an offense move the ball. At age 23 and entering his third NFL season which WRs typically break out in this year. Sometimes, fantasy football does not have to be difficult. An age-23 WR who showed flashes of WR1 work is now on a new team, with a better offense and better quarterback. At WR54 in redraft, there are not many smash picks like Moore at the end of round 12.
Final thoughts
Sleepers help you separate yourself from league mates when December comes around. Jerick Mckinnon helped so many redraft teams capture a fantasy title. The RB60 with an ADP of 216.3 in the 2022 off-season finished as the overall RB20 in fantasy last year. Draft these three sleepers in redraft and dominate all of 2023.
Who are your favorite sleepers for 2023 fantasy football? Drop some names in the comments below. For more great rankings and analysis, make sure to check out our 2023 Fantasy Football Draft Kit!
GIVEAWAY ALERT! 🚨📷
We are excited to be launching another giveaway, where ONE lucky winner will receive an Official NFL Justin Herbert Signed Jersey!
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— Fantrax (@Fantrax) August 3, 2023