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Fantasy football: 6 WR sleepers to draft in 2021

The wide receiver position offers some serious depth as usual.

You know what that means: If you’re hunting around for value late in your draft, there’s a group of WRs who could provide it.

It was at this time last preseason we were all intrigued by Diontae Johnson and Brandon Aiyuk, both of whom ended up being really good in 2020 after being taken late in drafts.

So here’s a list of wide receiver sleepers (we’re defining them as players who will potentially exceed where they’re being drafted) you should throw on your queue in the late rounds in the hopes they’ll break out:

1
Brandin Cooks, Houston Texans

Garbage time points count, everybody. And the Texans are going to be playing from behind A LOT.

So Cooks — who finished with 1,150 yards and six touchdowns — might be the kind of player who has low numbers until about six minutes left in the fourth quarter and ends up with big stats by the end of the game.

For a guy going really, really late, that’s intriguing.

2
Marvin Jones Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars

I too am intrigued by Laviska Shenault … but I think this guy is the No. 1 receiver in Jacksonville.

That’s it.

3
Darnell Mooney, Chicago Bears

Anthony Miller is a Texan now, so there’s room for a WR2 behind Allen Robinson II.

Mooney appears to be that guy. He had 61 catches on 98 targets and four touchdowns in his rookie year, and it feels like those numbers are going up. Plus, if (when?) Justin Fields takes over, that could help.

Remember this compilation from last season?

 

4
Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals

It feels like he’s been heavily dropped down boards thanks to the Ja’Marr Chase pick earlier this year at the NFL draft.

So that’s why he’s a sleeper — his 908 yards and six scores were a big deal for the then-rookie, and I don’t think he’s going to suddenly disappear anytime soon. Plus, sometimes rookies like Chase need time to get used to the NFL.

I’m willing to spend a WR3-type pick on that scenario.

5
Mecole Hardman, Kansas City Chiefs

We’ve been here twice with Hardman in the past two seasons — can he be the third option behind Kelce and Tyreek Hill?

But it’s different in 2021! Sammy Watkins is gone. So, sure, in deep leagues, I’ll roll the dice on him and see if his volume increases.

6
Mike Williams, Los Angeles Chargers

I fully admit I listed him in my initial busts list earlier this year.

Am I allowed to change my mind on the Williams entry? Because … I’m coming around! It helps that I love Justin Herbert a lot and that Williams is still 6-foot-4. And if he sees more red zone work and lands somewhere between the 20.4 yards per catch in 2019 and 15.8 in 2020, you’ve got yourself a really good receiver who’s going late.

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