NFL Players Who Could Become Fantasy Football Sleepers During 2024 Preseason

During the NFL preseason, fantasy football managers can gain an edge in their leagues by paying close attention to rotations and the shining stars in those games.

Managers should monitor running backs' snaps and performances in a crowded backfield. This can help you gain clarity on a team's pecking order at the position, and the same principle can be applied to wide receiver groups.

The exhibition contests also allow young players opportunities to show why they deserve more regular-season snaps.

The New England Patriots offense doesn't feature a clear-cut No. 1 receiver, which means one or more playmakers could greatly benefit from a strong preseason showing.

We've highlighted 10 players who could emerge as fantasy sleepers in the next few weeks. To qualify as a sleeper, the selections must have an average draft position (ADP) that fits the ranges below.

• Quarterbacks: 20 or higher
• Running backs: 30 or higher
• Wide receivers: 50 or higher
• Tight ends: 20 or higher

The ADP of each player is relative to his specific position and is provided by FantasyPros.

One can argue that Bo Nix's NFL preseason debut has the most consequential fantasy implications among the rookie quarterbacks.

While we expect Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels to start for their respective teams, Drake Maye, J.J. McCarthy and Nix don't have clear pathways to starting jobs.

Through training camp, Maye has experienced his fair share of struggles, and New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo preached patience regarding the rookie's development. Sam Darnold looks to have a comfortable lead over McCarthy for the Minnesota Vikings' starting quarterback job.

Meanwhile, Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton has compared Nix to potential Hall of Famer Drew Brees.

Though Denver has Nix listed as QB3 on its preseason depth chart, he's recently taken first-team reps and has developed a rapport with lead wideout Courtland Sutton.

Don't read too much into preseason depth charts. Nix has a chance to win the job over Jarrett Stidham, a sixth-year journeyman, and Zach Wilson, who struggled mightily through three years with the New York Jets.

If Payton sees a little bit of Brees in Nix in the exhibition games, he may not be able to resist starting him in Week 1.

Nix doesn't have a pass-catching group that will significantly elevate him, but his ability to score on the ground could boost his fantasy output. In five collegiate seasons, Nix ran for 1,613 yards and 38 touchdowns with at least six rushing scores in four of those years.

Managers in two-quarterback or superflex leagues should take a late flier on Nix.

As mentioned, Sam Darnold seems comfortably ahead of rookie first-rounder J.J. McCarthy in the battle for the Minnesota Vikings' starting quarterback position.

Darnold has developed some chemistry with All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson, and he has a proven play-caller in head coach Kevin O'Connell.

O'Connell lost Kirk Cousins in Week 8 of the previous season. Yet the Vikings still finished fifth in passing yards and fourth in touchdown passes with Nick Mullens, Joshua Dobbs and Jaren Hall under center for half of the 2024 campaign.

Darnold entered the NFL with a first-round pedigree as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 draft. Dobbs, Hall and Mullens came into the league as middle-round picks or went undrafted.

If Darnold wins the lead job, O'Connell would have a more talented quarterback than he had in the second half of the previous season.

Darnold can creep into the mid-QB2 range with solid preseason performances. He has a high-end supporting cast that features Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson (once he recovers from a torn ACL and MCL) and an offensive line that's intact from the previous term.

The Arizona Cardinals selected Trey Benson in the third round of the 2024 draft. Though Emari Demercado has emerged as a top performer at the team's training camp, Benson can play his way into a solid role with a strong showing in the preseason.

By the way, Demercado walked off the practice field with a trainer on Wednesday.

James Conner, who turned 29 in May, will eventually take on a lighter workload. Last year, he averaged 16 carries per game, but don't expect him to match that number in the upcoming season.

Furthermore, Conner missed four games in 2022 and 2023. The Cardinals could lean on Benson to preserve the veteran ball-carrier.

In two seasons at Florida State, Benson caught 33 passes for 371 yards and a touchdown. He could contribute to the short passing game if the coaching staff helps him with his pass-blocking technique.

With his 4.39 speed and Connor's injury history, Benson fits in the Cardinals offense as a change-of-pace tailback who has starting upside. If he shines in the next few weeks, adjust your running back rankings accordingly.

This offseason, the Dallas Cowboys signed Ezekiel Elliott to a one-year deal, bringing him back to where his career started after one season with the New England Patriots.

As Elliott aged, he fell into a timeshare with Tony Pollard in his last two seasons with the Cowboys. Pollard signed with the Tennessee Titans in free agency, which created some uncertainty in the backfield.

Elliott's workhorse days are likely behind him. Therefore, Dowdle has a shot at leading the Cowboys' running backs in touches.

While Elliott suited up for the Patriots last season, Dowdle served as Pollard's primary backup, logging 89 carries for 361 yards and two touchdowns.

According to The Athletic's Saad Yousuf, Dowdle has been the "face of the (running back) committee."

We probably won't see much of Elliott, if at all, during the preseason. If Dowdle looks spry and shows the ability to finish near the goal line in the exhibition games, he could be in line for a big workload this year.

Once the Los Angeles Chargers hired offensive coordinator Greg Roman, you should have shifted your focus to their running backs.

In all 10 of his years as an offensive coordinator, Roman fielded a top-nine unit in rush attempts. While managers should note that most of those offenses had a mobile quarterback who contributed to the rushing attempts and yards, Roman's 2011 San Francisco 49ers offense finished third in total carries with Alex Smith under center.

Because of quarterback Justin Herbert's foot injury, the Chargers probably won't feature him in the run game, though he's capable of picking up yards on the ground. Instead, we should expect the club to lean on a running back committee to take some pressure off its hobbled signal-caller.

Typically, you should look elsewhere when you see a potential running back committee, but the Chargers have a unique situation with two veteran ball-carriers who have missed significant time because of injuries in recent years.

Between 2021 and 2022, Gus Edwards missed 25 games, and he turned 29 in April. Since 2021, J.K. Dobbins has missed 42 games. They're at the top of the Chargers' running back depth chart, but based on their injury histories, another ball-carrier could play significant snaps in relief duty.

The Chargers buried Kimani Vidal on their preseason depth chart, but the rookie sixth-rounder can generate some buzz by turning heads against second- and third-stringers in the exhibition play.

If Vidal makes the initial 53-man roster after an impressive preseason, he has a good chance to see the field to spell one or both the lead veterans. In 2022 and 2023, Vidal eclipsed 1,100 rushing yards at Troy. He also hauled in 92 passes for 700 yards and a touchdown in four collegiate terms.

The New England Patriots have a mix of complementary veteran and rookie wide receivers. They don't have a bona fide No. 1 wideout who's expected to dominate the target share, which is the ideal situation for an unproven player to make a leap on the depth chart.

Even though managers should temper expectations with journeyman quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who is averaging less than 200 passing yards per game as a full-time starter and is in the pole position to win the Patriots' starting job, he could do enough to make a standout receiver fantasy relevant.

After the early phases of New England's offseason program, The Athletic's Chad Graff argued that Polk could become the team's No. 1 receiver, noting his consistency through spring practices.

Recently, CBS Sports Tyler Sullivan spoke highly of Polk's performances at practice (h/t CBS Sports' Matt Geagon).

"Ja'Lynn Polk has been arguably their best wide receiver in camp," Sullivan said about the Patriots. "He's been a go-to option for all the quarterbacks so far. He was heavily involved and great in the red zone on one of the days I saw him."

With Kendrick Bourne on the physically unable to perform list, recovering from a torn ACL, watch out for the new blood on the Patriots' wide receiver depth chart.

Rookie fourth-rounder Javon Baker has garnered praise, but Polk, the Patriots' second-rounder, has generated the most buzz among the team's young receivers.

Jalen Tolbert's third year may be his breakout season.

Last year, the Dallas Cowboys finished third in pass attempts. Prescott threw for 4,516 yards, a league-leading 36 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Because of the team's questions at running back, we could see him post similar passing numbers in the upcoming term.

In a Prescott-led offense, Tolbert could see a spike in his target share. At some point, the 2022 third-rounder could become the No. 2 option at wide receiver.

Last year, in his age-30 season, Brandin Cooks caught 54 passes for 657 yards and eight touchdowns, his lowest number of receptions and receiving yards since 2019.

According to Nick Harris of the team's official website, Prescott has built a notable rapport with Tolbert as star wideout CeeDee Lamb holds out for a new contract.

"Jalen Tolbert has taken full advantage of the extra reps in the absence of CeeDee Lamb by making a big claim to be the team's WR3 going into the fall. Dak Prescott said that Tolbert was the pass-catcher he spent the most time with this offseason, and you can see that chemistry and connection translating onto the field in Oxnard. For Tolbert, it's just the beginning of what could be a breakout season in this offense."

Don't miss the Tolbert take-off train–it could leave the station before the end of the preseason.

As many of us wait for news on San Francisco 49ers wideout Brandon Aiyuk, fantasy managers should stock up on Jauan Jennings shares.

Even if the 49ers retain Aiyuk amid sizzling trade rumors, Jennings could have a solid role in the team's offense this year.

In his third season, Brock Purdy may be asked to do a little more in head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense, which would help preserve 28-year-old running back Christian McCaffrey.

As a result, the 49ers could see a spike in their pass attempts after they finished with the fewest last season. If so, San Francisco's receivers would see more targets in the aerial attack.

If San Francisco trades Aiyuk, Jennings could start the season as the No. 2 wideout behind Deebo Samuel. The club selected Ricky Pearsall in the first round of the 2024 draft, but he's battled injuries and has struggled at training camp.

Yes, tight end George Kittle plays a significant role in the passing game as one of Purdy's primary targets, but he's entering his age-31 term.

Moreover, the 49ers signed Jennings to a two-year, $15.4 million extension this offseason, which shows that they at least believe he can contribute more than just a pinch on offense.

Regardless of what happens with Aiyuk, take a look at Jennings, who could be the 49ers' No. 2 or No. 3 receiver this year.

For a young quarterback like Bryce Young, a reliable big-bodied pass-catching tight end could be his best friend in the passing game.

The Carolina Panthers selected Ja'Tavion Sanders in the fourth round of the 2024 draft. He'll compete with Ian Thomas and Tommy Tremble for the lead position at tight end.

According to The Athletic's Joseph Person, Sanders has taken reps with the starters as Thomas and Tremble nurse injuries, and he's made the most of his opportunities.

Head coach Dave Canales went as far as to say that he's seen "exponential growth" from Sanders.

With Thomas in danger of missing Week 1 with a calf injury, Sanders could beat out Tremble for the starting job if he continues to impress Carolina's coaching staff in the preseason.

In his last two collegiate terms at Texas, Sanders caught 99 passes for 1,295 yards and seven touchdowns. As a pass-catcher, he may be a significant upgrade over Thomas and Tremble, who weren't as productive in their college years.

While we can understand why anything associated with a Daniel Jones-led offense will make you want to puke, Theo Johnson can cure that nausea.

Following Darren Waller's decision to retire, Johnson will compete with Daniel Bellinger for the starting spot at tight end. They're both fourth-round picks in their respective draft classes, though the rookie has strong support within the Giants' scouting brass.

In an episode of HBO's Hard Knocks, general manager Joe Schoen spoke about the team's high regard for Johnson.

"There was a lot of conviction in the building from our scouting staff and our coaching staff that had spent time with the kid," Schoen said.

The Giants placed Johnson on the physicallly unable to perform list mid-July, but according to NJ.com's Gabriel Trevino, he made up some ground in the competition for the lead role.

Someone other than rookie first-round wideout Malik Nabers could provide a spark for Big Blue's aerial attack, and Johnson may be the guy to do it. He has some momentum heading into the preseason.

College football statistics are provided by cfbstats.com.

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.