Fantasy football sleepers aren’t all the same; it really depends on which platform you’re drafting on. Between Yahoo, Sleeper, ESPN, or any other platform, there are differences in their fantasy rankings of players. Some may rank players in the 70s, while the same players might be in the 100s on others. So knowing a few names that may be misranked on a certain platform is key. That's why we broke down ESPN's current fantasy rankings to find the best Sleepers available!
This list was made for a 12-person, half-PPR league, but if you’re in a standard league, these players are still good targets. We’ll provide a general range for both half-PPR and Standard formats.
Where to Draft Half-PPR: End of the 12th, Top of the 13th Round
Where to Draft Standard: End of the 12th, Top of the 13th Round
Robinson is a late bloomer on this list. After another solid year in Washington, the 49ers acquired him in his fourth year through a late trade. Before he was traded, Robinson was already a valuable asset, considering he scored 8 TDs and rushed for 800 yards. While those numbers aren’t league-leading by any means, they significantly surpass his current ranking on the ESPN draft board. Robinson is currently ranked 160th on the latest ESPN Mock.
Now that he’s part of this explosive Kyle Shanahan offense backing up Christian McCaffrey, his value could skyrocket. Of course, his worth will depend entirely on McCaffrey’s health, but after dealing with bilateral Achilles tendinitis last year, his availability this season remains uncertain. If he misses any time, Robinson will likely handle the majority of the carries. With that in mind, consider looking for Robinsons at the end of the 12th round or early 13th.
He’s a must-draft if you pick McCaffrey this year, too. Considering grabbing him even earlier, maybe at the end of the 11th round, to lock in your RB spot.
Where to Draft Half-PPR: Late 5th to Top of the 6th Round
Where to Draft Standard: Top of the 6th Round
The rookie from Arizona is a complete wild card entering the Panthers' struggling offense. As a prospect, there is a lot to like about McMillan. His size and speed are elite for the WR position, which should give third-year QB Bryce Young an easy target. With the Panthers' offense beginning to show some signs of life late last season, McMillain might step directly into the WR1 role with Adam Thielen and Xavier Legette as the only other serious competition.
With ESPN rankings placing McMillan at 65, there’s decent value if you can find him there. However, we suggest starting to look for McMillan a little earlier, around 52. He’ll still have great value being picked near the end of the fifth round, especially if you’re looking for a breakout player.
Where to Draft Half-PPR: 3rd Round After the Top 4 QBs are off the board
Where to Draft Standard: Late 2nd Round
George Kittle might not be a traditional sleeper as he’s still slated to go in the first four rounds of the draft, but he still has excellent value. After another +1000-yard receiving year and 8 TDs, Kittles is only behind Brock Bowers and Trey McBride in terms of TE production. While those two are mocked in the 20s, ESPN has Kittle all the way down at 40. While we wouldn’t suggest taking Kittle in the 20s, he has some decent value at the top of the 30s. Our suggestion would be snag Kittle at the top of the third if the top 4 QBs, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Jayden Daniels, and Jalen Hurts, are all off the board. Kittle will have excellent value right in that range and should land you a stable piece in one of the most challenging positions to fill in fantasy.
Where to Draft Half-PPR: 10th Round
Where to Draft Standard: 10th Round
On the other end of the TE hunt, we have Tucker Kraft. While not nearly as valuable as George Kittle, he’s going extremely late in most drafts. After a strong season last year and with a fully healthy Jordan Love in the backfield, Kraft could be an excellent low-cost TE option with real upside. He posted 700 receiving yards and 7 TDs last season in 17 games. While he’s not exploding every week, if you’re looking for a consistent TE you won’t have to worry about all season, Kraft is your man. With ESPN projecting him at 126, he’s basically a steal as long as you remember to draft him. Picking him up in the tenth or eleventh round should provide solid value at TE.
Where to Draft Half-PPR: 10th Round
Where to Draft Standard: 10th Round
Charbonnet is one of the league's most underrated sleepers. He’s the backup RB in Seattle, but with injury-prone Kenneth Walker Jr. leading the RB room, Charbonnet could end up as the lead back in a run-heavy offense. When given the chance to lead the offense, he’s shown he can be a strong red-zone threat. Especially with the Seattle offensive line performing better than expected, this could be a great year for Charbonnet if things go his way. Since he’s ranked around pick 130 or in the 11th round, taking Charbonnet a round earlier should still offer some excellent value in the 10th. Also, similar to CMC and Brian Robinson Jr., if you have Kenneth Walker on your team, Charbonnet is a must-draft.
Where to Draft Half-PPR: Late 3rd Round
Where to Draft Standard: Early 3rd Round
Mike Evans is another veteran player that fantasy enthusiasts expect to decline. However, the 32-year-old refuses to decline, posting yet another 1,000-yard receiving season. Even after missing three games due to injury, Evans remains one of the most effective wide receivers in the league. With a strong connection to quarterback Baker Mayfield, there's no reason Evans can’t have another strong fantasy year. The ESPN mock draft ranks Evans at 45, making him a great value at that spot, but you might even consider drafting him near the end of the third round if you need a wide receiver.
Where to Draft Half-PPR: 8th Round
Where to Draft Standard: Late 7th Round
Nothing about Pearsall’s rookie season last year went as planned after he was shot in an attempted robbery in the preseason. After that, the first-round pick out of Florida managed to come back and still put up 400 yards with 3 TDs. Now, with Deebo Samuel in DC, Brandon Aiyuk already on a PUP, targeting week 6 of the season for a return, Pearsall may be the WR1 for the 49ers to start the season. The second-year WR had a solid connection with Purdy, and with the rest of the WR room looking thin, he’s an excellent value in the draft this year. ESPN has him ranked 101 in the 9th round of the draft. However, realistically looking at the rest of the field in that section of the draft, Pearsall should be going near the late 7th round. So targeting him in the 8th round could provide some incredible value, especially in the early part of the season.
Where to Draft Half-PPR: 9th Round
Where to Draft Standard: 10th Round
Travis Etienne might have burned more players in fantasy than anyone else last year. After starting his career with back-to-back 1000+ yard rushing seasons, Etienne fell off hard in year three. He only managed 558 rushing yards last year and 2 TDs. For a player who went in the second or third round of the draft last year, that’s a disastrous return. The tides may have shifted on him now, with so many fantasy players avoiding him, he’s fallen deep into the draft. ESPN has him ranked 115, putting him in the 10th round. At this range, he’s 100% worth a swing, and taking him a little higher might not be terrible either.
Where to Draft Half-PPR: 10th Round
Where to Draft Standard: 9th Round
Mason should have an interesting year ahead. Currently backing up Aaron Jones Sr., Mason has proved he’s a capable RB during his time with San Francisco. Last year, with CMC out most of the season, Mason totaled nearly 800 rushing yards in 12 games with 3 TDs. Now, Mason's production mainly depends on whether Aaron Jones gets injured, but the 30-year-old back isn’t known for being an iron man. He did play in 17 games last year, and as a late-round draft-and-stash player, Mason could hold significant value.