The second installment of dynasty league sleepers to help your team become a contender in your fantasy football league.
You can view the first installment of my fantasy football dynasty sleepers here.
As in the first installment, part two will also feature a sleeper at each position group on offense for your fantasy football league. Dynasty sleepers can be hard to find, considering the type of league it is. But if you look in the right places, pay attention to schemes and usage, and find the right owner, it’s possible to add these players to your roster for a relatively cheap price.
Quarterback
Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders
Just like the Matt Ryan pick from the first installment, hear me out first. No matter how you feel about Jon Gruden or the team itself, Derek Carr has been very underrated as a player in his career. He finished the 2020 campaign as a high-end QB2 (QB14 overall). Not only that, but he’s never finished outside of the Top-20 in fantasy football throughout his career. A career, mind you, where he’s only missed two starts out of a possible 112.
Carr has shown an incredible understanding of Gruden’s offense. The chances of offensive reproduction are high, and the addition of Kenyan Drake signals that the team is expected to add a new wrinkle into the passing game. In SF (super flex) leagues, his average ADP is in the 8th round. In my own personal leagues he’s been the 21st QB (12-team) and the 20th QB off the board (14-team); including rookies. With potential to sneak into a low-end QB1 spot, Carr is worth the pick, especially that late.
[pickup_prop id=”5364″]
Running Back
Damien Harris, New England Patriots
If you haven’t noticed, Belichick has a particular mold when selecting a lead back throughout his tenure in New England. These are guys who provide little pass catching ability, but run hard with tremendous vision and strength. Damien Harris fits this mold completely. Even though he missed six games due to injury in 2020, he showed he was an elite runner, averaging 5 yards per carry. It seems as if the Patriots will be a run-heavy team going forward, too.
The additions of Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry imply that the team will be running plenty of 12 personnel. This news is great for two people on the Patriots; Cam Newton and Damien Harris. Harris is still only 24, and will be relevant for the next few years. The new look Patriots will provide a safe floor even in PPR leagues; as I predict he will reach the end zone much more often.
[pickup_prop id=”5996″]
Wide Receiver
Michael Gallup, Dallas Cowboys
I was debating between Brandin Cooks and Michael Gallup for a while, but settled on Gallup due to injury concerns (though Cooks is probably the most underrated player right now). Gallup was a WR2 in 2019, but an injury to Dak Prescott forced multiple below average quarterbacks to start for Dallas. As a result Gallup was the WR38 in PPR leagues, with his numbers taking hits all across the board (though he still had 100+ targets).
I like Gallup for a number of reasons. He’s in a pass-heavy offense, had 100+ targets even with the emergence of CeeDee Lamb, and he’s not a touchdown reliant player; meaning he has a steady floor (barring a situation like the Cowboys in 2020). On top of that, this is his contract year in Dallas. Even if he goes elsewhere, he’s shown an ability to get open that will keep him in the WR2 discussion.
Funny enough, he has a similar ADP to Brandin Cooks, being taken in the 8th round of fantasy football drafts (though he is being taken in the 9th in my own personal leagues). When all else is equal, go with the younger player.
[pickup_prop id=”6003″]
Tight End
Gerald Everett, Seattle Seahawks
Gerald Everett finally finds himself in a TE1 role on an offense desperate for help underneath. David Moore left for Carolina, and the tight end room is bare; with the exception of an oft-injured Will Dissly. The Seahawks new offensive coordinator is Shane Waldron, who previously coached Everett with the Los Angeles Rams. If I was a betting man, I’d believe he’s going to find a way to get Everett the football.
With all of the Seahawks’ departures, there are over 100 targets up for grabs. Studies show that the main beneficiaries of these vacant targets are players who weren’t currently on the team before (or got no playing time). Everett has been one of the best YAC (yards after catch) players in the NFL, so you should expect him to be a reliable target to produce in this system going forward; and he can be had for extreme value.
[pickup_prop id=”5997″]
