In an era with around-the-year content available, perhaps there's no such thing as a fantasy football sleeper.
And if you asked 10 people to define "sleeper," it's likely that you would get 10 different definitions.
While there may not be an industry-accepted definition of sleepers, we define them here as players available (generally) in the double-digit rounds.
The players that have earned a spot on our list of 2020 fantasy football sleepers are currently available in the 10th round or later of half-PPR drafts done on Fantasy Football Calculator.
+ Fantasy Football ADP (Half-PPR Scoring)
Here are 10 fantasy football sleepers to consider in your fantasy drafts (ADP in parenthesis):
QB - Gardner Minshew, Jacksonville Jaguars (ADP: 175th pick)
While the Jags are the early favorites to win the Trevor Lawrence sweepstakes, there is little competition for Minshew in 2020. As a rookie, Minshew threw for 3,271 yards, 21 touchdowns and six interceptions. An underrated aspect of his game is his rushing ability as Minshew averaged 5.1 YPC and gained 344 yards on the ground. Only four quarterbacks -- Lamar Jackson (1,206), Kyler Murray (544), Josh Allen (510) and Deshaun Watson (413) -- rushed for more.
RB - Boston Scott, Philadelphia Eagles (ADP: 128)
Effective down the stretch, Scott racked up 350 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns and hauled in 23-of-25 targets over the final four games of the season. While Miles Sanders is "the guy," Scott should get 8-10 touches per week with many of those touches being high-value receptions.
MORE: Philadelphia Eagles 53-Man Roster Projections Roundup
RB - Jerick McKinnon, San Francisco 49ers (ADP: 158)
Expectations are that McKinnon will be third, at best, among the team's running backs in terms of fantasy production. Given the fluid nature of the running back depth chart throughout the season and the production that Kyle Shanahan coaches out of the backfield, McKinnon is worthy of a late-round dart throw in 2020 fantasy drafts.
RB - Darrel Williams, Kansas City Chiefs (ADP: Undrafted)
While the Chiefs will give Clyde Edwards-Helaire all he can handle, throwing a late-round dart at the team's No. 2 back makes sense as a way to get some cheap exposure to the high-powered Chiefs offense. Injuries are a huge part of the game, especially at the running back position, but the COVID-19 pandemic will create even more opportunities for backup running backs than usual and we've seen waiver-wire backs thrive in spot duty in this offense.
As The Athletic's Nate Taylor notes, it's Williams (CEH's former LSU teammate) -- not DeAndre Washington -- that will be CEH's backup with Damien Williams opting out. In such a high-powered offense, he should be targeted late by CEH and non-CEH owners alike late in drafts.
WR - Preston Williams, Miami Dolphins (ADP: 138)
The Dolphins made a number of roster improvements through free agency and the draft, but there were no significant additions in terms of pass-catchers. In fact, the group is worse off with Albert Wilson and Allen Hurns opting out. More talented (four-star high school recruit) than his UDFA status (due to off-field reasons) would imply, Williams made an immediate impact for the Dolphins with 32/428/3 in eight games before tearing his ACL. After observing training camp practices open to reporters, Adam Beasley from the Miami Herald wrote that Williams may be "potentially better than ever."
MORE: Miami Dolphins Fantasy Football Projections
WR - Anthony Miller, Chicago Bears (ADP: 139)
Miller finished his second season with 52 catches on 85 targets for 656 yards, all improvements over his rookie numbers, and a pair of touchdowns. While he started slow -- 28 yards in first four games -- and had several duds -- four other games with single-digit yards, the second-year receiver had 50-plus yards and/or a touchdown in eight of 10 games from Weeks 5 to 15 last season. While he had shoulder surgery on the same shoulder in consecutive offseasons, Miller has upside if he can be more consistent from beginning to end.
WR - Chase Claypool, Pittsburgh Steelers (ADP: 187)
Claypool provides the Steelers with a physical mismatch due to his size (6'4", 238 pounds) and athleticism (4.42 forty and 40.5" vertical). While he may start out as the team's fourth receiver, it's possible that he pushes James Washington for snaps in three-wide sets. Not only are teammates calling Claypool a "PROBLEM" (in a good way), The Athletic's Mark Kaboly recently wrote that "practice after practice, the rookie is making non-rookie-like plays after running non-rookie-like routes and making non-rookie-like catches."
MORE: Pittsburgh Steelers NFL Mock Draft Roundup
WR - Russell Gage, Atlanta Falcons (ADP: Undrafted)
In the nine games following the Mohamed Sanu trade to New England, Gage hauled in 45 receptions (5.0/G) for 402 yards (44.7/G) and a touchdown on 66 targets (7.33/G). While he averaged only 8.93 Y/R, Gage had at least four catches in seven of those nine games. The third-year receiver is a worthwhile late-round target, especially in deeper PPR leagues.
TE - Mike Gesicki, Miami Dolphins (ADP: 142)
Gesicki is athletic freak -- 4.54 forty and 41.5" vertical -- at tight end and he had a breakout second season, aided by additional opportunities with the season-ending injury to UDFA receiver Preston Williams. Gesicki had five-plus targets in all eight games without Williams but only five-plus in just three of eight with him. More big slot than tight end, Gesicki finished his sophomore campaign as fantasy's TE11. Especially considering the team's WR3/WR4 are sitting 2020 out, Gesicki has the potential to take another significant step forward in year three.
TE - Chris Herndon, New York Jets (ADP: 167)
Due to injury and suspension, 2019 was a lost season for Herndon. As a rookie in 2018, however, he emerged to become a factor -- sixth-most fantasy points from Weeks 6 to 16. An intriguing upside play for those that punt or stream the position, Herndon has had a "stellar camp, picking up right where he left off after a promising rookie season," per The Athletic's Connor Hughes.
2020 Fantasy Football Rankings:
- Fantasy Football QB Rankings
- Fantasy Football RB Rankings
- Fantasy Football WR Rankings
- Fantasy Football TE Rankings
- Fantasy Football Top 200 Cheat Sheets
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