Sleepers. They are among the biggest keys to success in fantasy football. If you can identify a “sleeper” -- a player that most fantasy managers are sleeping on but is actually ready to have a big season -- then your roster immediately gets a boost.
In most cases, a sleeper is a mid- to late-round pick that puts up numbers more worthy of players with a much higher average draft position (ADP). We surveyed members of the SI Fantasy and SI NFL teams to provide their picks for top sleeper in 2023. Here are the results:
Rachaad White, RB, Buccaneers
Nathan Ray Seebeck/USA Today Sports
Michael Fabiano, Sr. Fantasy Analyst: White is in prime position to outperform his middle-round average draft position, as the Buccaneers cut ties with Leonard Fournette in the offseason and didn’t replace him in the draft or free agency. Head coach Todd Bowles believes White can “become a complete, three-down back,” and it appears Tampa Bay will give him a chance to achieve that goal. He could emerge into a nice No. 2 fantasy runner.
Treylon Burks, WR, Titans
Jennifer Piacenti, SI Fantasy/Betting Analyst: Burks has the opportunity to be the top passing option in Tennessee now that Robert Woods and Austin Hooper are out of the picture. The sophomore wideout was a top-regarded prospect, and if Burks can stay healthy, he should have a good share of the 199 targets up for grabs in Tennessee as projected by 4for4.
Aaron Jones, RB, Packers
Kyle Wood, SI Fantasy/Betting Writer: A player of Jones’s caliber would typically not be considered for a category like this. But with an average draft position of RB16 in the fifth (!) round, people are clearly sleeping on Jones, which therefore makes him a sleeper. Here’s his PPR finishes the last four seasons: 9, 10, 5, 2. Among running backs, only Austin Ekeler, Derrick Henry, Dalvin Cook and Alvin Kamara have scored more points than him over that stretch. Aaron Rodgers’s exit does not mean it’s the end of the road for Jones. He should be even more involved as a receiver this year as Jordan Love adjusts to the starting gig and another 1,000 yards on the ground is well within reach for a runner of his caliber.
Christian Watson, WR, Packers
Gilberto Manzano, SI NFL Writer: Many are overlooking the Packers because Aaron Rodgers is gone and Jordan Love is the new inexperienced starting quarterback. But that shouldn’t affect Watson, who already displayed chemistry with Love after the two connected for a 63-yard catch-and-run touchdown last season versus the Eagles. The 6'5", 208-pound Watson is poised for a breakout second season after producing 523 yards and seven touchdowns in the final eight games of 2022. With his sizable catch radius, Love will likely target Watson often as his No. 1 target.
Jahan Dotson, WR, Commanders
Matt Verderame, SI NFL Writer: Dotson was excellent in 12 games with the Commanders last year as a rookie, catching 35 passes for 523 yards and seven touchdowns. The big question is whether Washington's quarterback play holds him back, but after thriving in 2022 with Carson Wentz and Taylor Heinicke, there's reason to believe. Look for Dotson to consistently beat single coverage with Terry McLaurin drawing the toughest assignments.
Skyy Moore, WR, Chiefs
Mark J. Rebilas / USA TODAY Sports
