Fantasy Football 2024: Latest ADP for Top Sleepers and Tips to Strategize

Plenty of factors go into crafting a championship-caliber fantasy roster. Managers typically must make weekly lineup decisions, monitor injury reports, utilize the waiver wire and navigate bye weeks to have a successful campaign.

However, building a winning team starts with the draft.

Most fantasy managers are familiar with the league's top stars and will enter the draft with a good idea of who they'll target in the early rounds. It's important to find value throughout the draft, however, because a deep roster can help overcome any injuries and those pesky byes.

With this in mind, let's examine a few sleepers for 2024 who should probably be considered earlier than their current average draft positions (ADP) would suggest.

When it comes to finding value in the late rounds, there are a few strategies that managers can employ.

The most straightforward path to uncovering sleepers is to get familiar with handcuff options and take a gamble. Last year, for example, Jerome Ford was a late-round handcuff to Cleveland Browns star running back Nick Chubb.

Ford quickly became a starting-caliber option when Chubb was lost for the season to a Week 2 ACL tear. Ford didn't replicate Chubb's elite fantasy numbers, but he still topped 1,100 scrimmage yards and scored nine touchdowns.

Managers should also try to identify players who are expected to see expanded roles or a better supporting cast. This can lead to production that far out-paces their average draft position.

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins, for example, flashed some promise over his first two years but really took off with the 2023 arrival of quarterback C.J. Stroud. Collins caught 37 passes for 481 yards in 2022 but finished last season with 80 catches and 1,297 yards.

Incoming rookie quarterbacks like Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels could cause similar spikes for their respective pass-catchers.

Lastly, managers should try to identify high-upside rookies who simply aren't getting enough attention. Puka Nacua of the Los Angeles Rams is the best recent example. The 2023 fifth-round pick generated quite a bit of preseason buzz last year but was still available late in most leagues.

Nacua went on to set a new rookie receiving record with 1,486 yards.

Rookie quarterbacks can become fantasy surprises as well. Stroud passed for 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns last season and was a fine streaming option by season's end. Because of his dual-threat ability, Daniels might have even more fantasy upside this year.

The Washington Commanders' new signal-caller can rack up yards with his legs, but he should also take full advantage of a talented receiving corps. While Stroud got to throw to players like Collins, Tank Dell and Dalton Schultz, Daniels will get Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson and Zach Ertz.

And it appears that Washington offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury will utilize Daniels in an aggressive passing attack.

"They were definitely stretching the field," Miami Dolphins defensive back Kendall Fuller said after a recent joint practice, per The Athletic's Ben Standig.

There's a boom-or-bust aspect to drafting Daniels since he's completely unproven as a pro. With an ADP of only 104, though, he's worth the risk.

The Los Angeles Chargers parted with several offensive playmakers this offseason, moving on from Keenan Allen, Austin Ekeler and Mike Williams.

New head coach Jim Harbaugh is likely to lean heavily on the running game in his first season, which makes Gus Edwards a prime sleeper candidate. Edwards was a solid flex option with the Baltimore Ravens last season, finishing with 990 scrimmage yards and 13 touchdowns.

While Edwards hasn't traditionally held a large receiving role, he's shown that he can be a high-volume runner when given the opportunity. He's very likely to get that opportunity in L.A.

The Chargers also have J.K. Dobbins in their backfield, so Edwards probably won't be an every-down back if Dobbins is healthy. However, Dobbins has a very significant injury history and has played just 24 games in four seasons.

Edwards is a high-floor back who should again be a solid flex option or low-end RB2. With an average draft position of 114, though, he's being substantially undervalued.

Diontae Johnson is trending higher than Daniels or Edwards. However, his ADP of 87 has him trending as WR37. That's low for a wideout who is likely to replace Adam Thielen as the Carolina Panthers' new No. 1 receiver.

Carolina traded for Johnson this offseason, and he should quickly become one of Bryce Young's go-to targets.

"As we build our offense, we will really try to feature someone—and for us right now it's 'Where's Diontae Johnson at?'" head coach Dave Canales said, per Steve Reed of the Associated Press.

Johnson had 717 receiving yards and five touchdowns with the Pittsburgh Steelers last season, but he was also saddled by poor quarterback play and served as an ancillary option behind George Pickens. His role in Carolina should be closer to the one he had in 2021, a year Johnson finished with 107 catches, 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns.

If Carolina does indeed make a concerted effort to get Johnson the football, he should be in store for quite the rebound campaign.