In one week, a fantasy football sleeper can become a roster keeper for the season. If you have room on your bench, clear a spot for another dart throw before setting your Week 1 lineups.
With the top-drafted rookie running back, Jonathon Brooks, on the physically unable to perform list and several rookie wideouts rostered in most leagues, we're going to focus on veterans with upside.
Consider the numbers that 31-year-old Raheem Mostert posted last season, finishing as RB5 in point-per-reception leagues.
This week's slate of sleepers features skill-position veterans who could retain major roles in their respective offenses.
Our Week 1 sleeper selections are available in more than 50 percent of Yahoo leagues as of Thursday. You will also see each player's DraftKings price, which can help you build daily fantasy sports lineups.
QB Geno Smith vs. Denver Broncos (32 Percent Rostered)
Geno Smith saw a dropoff in his completion rate, touchdown pass rate and passing yards per game between 2022 and 2023.
However, Smith could see a spike in his passing numbers under new Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, who led the No. 1 and No. 2 passing offense in college football for the 2022 and 2023 terms, respectively.
With Grubb calling plays, Smith could light up defenses with one of the league's top wide receiver trios that features DK Metcalf, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Tyler Lockett.
In Week 1, Smith will face the Denver Broncos, who rebuilt their secondary after they ranked 22nd in pass defense and gave up the fifth-most passing touchdowns last year. Cornerback Riley Moss, safety P.J. Locke and nickelback Ja'Quan McMillian have started in 12 career games combined.
Smith may not write back to his haters after another solid season-opening performance against the Broncos.
QB Derek Carr vs. Carolina Panthers (10 Percent Rostered)
Though Derek Carr has been a solid starter in his career, he's not someone you're ever excited about in your starting lineup. Carr doesn't offer anything in rushing production, and he's averaging about 24 touchdown passes in 10 seasons.
Don't get carried away with Carr on your roster, but he's a solid sleeper option at quarterback for Week 1.
At home, Carr will face the Carolina Panthers' shallow secondary.
Before final roster cuts, Carolina acquired Michael Jackson from the Seattle Seahawks to patch up its cornerback group. Troy Hill has allowed a 96.3 passer rating in each of the last three seasons. Jaycee Horn has missed 29 out of 51 possible games because of injuries.
With wide receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed (foot/toe) ready for Week 1, Carr has the playmakers to finish top-10 among quarterbacks in fantasy scoring.
RB J.K. Dobbins vs. Las Vegas Raiders (48 Percent Rostered)
J.K. Dobbins narrowly fit the 50 percent availability criterion for sleeper options, though he should be rostered in more leagues.
Yes, Dobbins will play in his first game since tearing his Achilles in the Baltimore Ravens' 2023 season opener, but he felt 100 percent back in April.
Even if you don't believe in Dobbins' optimism about his recovery and still worry about his injury history, he's healthy for now against the Las Vegas Raiders, which fielded run defenses that ranked 19th and 21st in yards under Patrick Graham.
Dobbins and Gus Edwards are familiar with offensive coordinator Greg Roman's system from their years in Baltimore, and they could both have big season-opening performances against the Raiders.
As the bigger running back, Edwards will likely get goal-line carries, though Dobbins can rack up yards as a ball-carrier and pass-catcher this year.
Roman hinted that Dobbins may be active in the short passing game.
"He can catch some balls out of the backfield too, so don't sleep on him there," Roman said about Dobbins to reporters.
While healthy, Dobbins can be a solid RB2 or flex option.
RB Antonio Gibson at Cincinnati Bengals (25 Percent Rostered)
The New England Patriots named Jacoby Brissett their starting quarterback, so don't expect an electric passing attack, especially with a group of unheralded and unproven wide receivers.
In three out of eight seasons, Brissett has started in 11 or more games, averaging fewer than 197 passing yards per contest.
Because of a shaky and banged-up offensive line, Brissett may have to dink and dunk his way downfield, which is an ideal situation for a natural pass-catching running back.
Remember, Antonio Gibson caught 38 passes for 735 yards and eight touchdowns in his last collegiate term at Memphis. He could rack up yards after receptions for big plays in New England's offense.
According to The Athletic's Chad Graff, the Patriots will feature Gibson's skill set on screen plays.
"The Patriots are going to run a ton of screen passes, which is part of why they added Gibson," Graff wrote.
Rhamondre Stevenson is the Patriots' No. 1 running back, but Gibson may get enough touches as a receiver to be relevant in PPR leagues.
WR Darnell Mooney vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (17 Percent Rostered)
Darnell Mooney may be the third option in the Atlanta Falcons' aerial attack behind wideout Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts. That said, Mooney may have a better matchup than Pitts, who's also dealing with a hamstring injury.
The Steelers can cover Pitts with linebacker Patrick Queen and three-time All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler Minkah Fitzpatrick. As for Mooney, he may see one-on-one opportunities against Donte Jackson, who allowed a 107.7 passer rating and three touchdowns last season.
Four-time Pro Bowl quarterback Kirk Cousins should elevate the Falcons' passing game. With slot pass-catcher Rondale Moore out for the season, Mooney could benefit in favorable receiver matchups.
WR Demarcus Robinson at Detroit Lions (6 Percent Rostered)
In the second half of the 2023 season, Demarcus Robinson quietly carved out a solid role in the Los Angeles Rams offense.
Between Week 13 and the Rams' Wild Card Round matchup with the Detroit Lions in the previous campaign, Robinson played at least 86 percent of the offensive snaps in five of those seven outings, scored a touchdown in four consecutive contests and outpaced Cooper Kupp in receiving yards in four of those games.
Because Kupp lines up primarily in the slot, Robinson can take on a big role on the outside in three-receiver sets.
Though the Lions revamped their cornerback group, the unit may need time before it jells to keep pace with a top-10 passing offense from last season.
TE Zach Ertz at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6 Percent Rostered)
Rookie second-rounder Ben Sinnott will have to wait his turn. The Washington Commanders listed him as the No. 3 tight end on their depth chart behind Zach Ertz and John Bates.
Even though Ertz is in his age-34 term, he may be the No. 2 option in the Commanders' passing offense. Of course, wideout Terry McLaurin should lead the team in most, if not all, receiving categories.
Nonetheless, Ertz's experience in offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury's system bodes well for his fantasy outlook.
In 21 games with the Arizona Cardinals under Kingsbury, Ertz caught 103 passes for 980 yards and seven touchdowns. Last year, under a different coaching staff, his numbers dropped partly because he only played in seven games due to injury.
Now healthy and in a familiar system that allowed him to produce in a pass-catching role, Ertz may be rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels' security blanket.
TE Mike Gesicki vs. New England Patriots (4 Percent Rostered)
We don't hear about revenge games for tight ends often, but this seems like the perfect spot for one.
Mike Gesicki racked up at least 570 receiving yards in three consecutive seasons with the Miami Dolphins, but he had a forgetful one-year stop in New England last season, catching just 29 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns.
Though the Patriots were one of the stingiest defenses against tight ends in 2023, they may see Gesicki line up on the perimeter as a wide receiver.
Even if the Cincinnati Bengals sign star wideout Ja'Marr Chase to an extension days before their season opener, he may not be in shape for a full workload after missing multiple practices. If Chase isn't available, Gesicki may be Cincinnati's second-best pass-catcher behind Tee Higgins.
The Bengals signed Gesicki, knowing he's a below-average blocking tight end. Yet they also know he can catch the ball. With Chase's status uncertain, Gesicki could be a huge factor against his former team.
Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com for details.
College football statistics are provided by cfbstats.com.
Fantasy points scored against statistics are provided by FantasyPros.
Looking for more insight to prep for your draft or make some tough roster decisions? Check out all the latest B/R Fantasy Football essentials here.
Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.
Read 50 Comments
Download the app for comments Get the B/R app to join the conversation