NFL quarterbacks usually hog the spotlight—except in fantasy football drafts.
At this point, a column preaching patience when selecting a signal-caller is as commonplace as saying not to draft a kicker before the final round. Since the league is more pass-friendly than ever, the position is littered with quality options.
Avoiding the top-tier passers isn’t always the correct strategy, especially if everyone else is doing it. Anyone who takes Coby Fleener over Andrew Luck is getting too clever for his or her own good.
Quarterbacks matter, but football fans know them well by this point. So let’s give everyone else a chance to shine with rankings for the other skill positions tailored to standard-scoring leagues.
Running Back
Sleeper: Isaiah Crowell, Cleveland Browns
Isaiah Crowell saved and buried handfuls of fantasy players last year.
Heading into Week 14—when most leagues begin the playoffs—the Cleveland Browns running back had not rushed for a touchdowns in his last 10 contests. That changed when he delivered a season-high 145 rushing yards (topping his previous high of 72) and a pair of touchdowns.
Crowell accrued 309 rushing yards over 60 carries in Cleveland’s final four games. Duke Johnson, ranked 12 spots (No. 27) ahead of his teammate on FantasyPros, averaged 6.5 carries per game and 3.6 yards per rush. He’ll stay in a pass-catching role as new head coach Hue Jackson pounds the rock with Crowell.
Under Jackson’s watch, the Cincinnati Bengals finished in the top 10 in rushing attempts in 2014 and 2015. For all of his inconsistencies, Jeremy Hill received all of the goal-line touches over Giovani Bernard, scoring 21 times with Jackson as his offensive coordinator over the past two seasons.
As numberFire’s Joe Redemann noted, Crowell‘s added touches should extend into the red zone:
The Bengals have also had a team average of 4.12 yards per carry over the past two years, while the Browns have averaged just 3.80. Added ground volume mixed with extra rushing efficiency means that the Hue Jackson offense could truly help Crowell’s skill set to thrive.
In particular, these additions should help Crowell thrive in the goal-line scoring role, which is exclusively his. In 2015, Isaiah Crowell saw 11 rushing attempts in goal-to-go situations; Duke Johnson saw just 2. Crowell picked up 18 yards and a touchdown on those carries; Johnson earned -2 yards and no scores.
An effective Robert Griffin III would also create bigger holes as defenses focus on the speedy quarterback. Considering all of these factors, it’s easy to see why Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot predicted a 1,000-yard season for Crowell.
Wide Receiver
Sleeper: Travis Benjamin, San Diego Chargers
It feels weird classifying Travis Benjamin as a sleeper candidate when he already broke out last year.
After three underwhelming seasons in Cleveland, the wide receiver grabbed 68 receptions for 966 yards and five touchdowns. He immediately drew attention as a top waiver-wire add by amassing 528 yards and four scores in the first six games.
He enjoyed some of his best success with Johnny Manziel under center, and it’s safe to say Philip Rivers is a substantial upgrade. Benjamin expressed his excitement over working with his new quarterback in a blog post on Chargers.com.
“I know I made the right decision to sign here,” Benjamin wrote. “I can tell from the mentality of the team, and having 17 with the way he throws the ball and runs the offense, the sky’s the limit for us. I really believe that.”
The deep-play target now has a veteran passer who’s capable of finding him downfield. There’s also high-volume potential; Rivers led all quarterbacks with 661 pass attempts last season, and Benjamin should serve as the No. 2 target after Keenan Allen.
Despite his advantageous change of scenery, he remains easily accessible as a bench selection. Don’t be surprised if he proves to be more valuable as a flex play while producing a 1,000-yard season.
Tight End
Sleeper: Vance McDonald, San Francisco 49ers
If the chorus keeps growing louder, gamers may not have the opportunity to snag Vance McDonald as an end-of-draft flier or waiver-wire acquisition.
One of several tight ends boasting all of the tools without the matching production, he quietly hit his stride late last season. During the San Francisco 49ers’ final six games, all with Blaine Gabbert under center, McDonald corralled 21 of 31 targets for 262 yards and three touchdowns.
The 6’4″, 267-pounder carried over his rapport with Gabbert into his first two preseason games, recording 92 yards and a score. Rotoworld’s Rich Hribar highlighted the duo’s success compared to San Francisco’s other pass-catchers:
McDonald also caught the eye of ESPN’s Louis Riddick:
With new head coach Chip Kelly calling the shots, the 49ers will run more plays. Kelly’s uptempo offensive scheme led to Zach Ertz collecting 75 catches for the Philadelphia Eagles last year. If Gabbert wins the starting job over Colin Kaepernick, McDonald should interest all drafters who are seeking a high-upside No. 2 tight end.
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