Finding those late-round players that outperform their draft-day value is vital to winning your fantasy football league. Seasons are often won in the middle and late rounds of a draft; after all, those early picks should give everyone a chance at a solid scoring floor. For example, those who keyed in on Amon-Ra St. Brown in their drafts last season -- with average draft position (ADP) of WR25 -- had a significant advantage when the sophomore receiver finished as the WR8.
Here are five sleepers and late-round picks with a pathway to be a top target on their respective teams. All five receivers are going after WR36, which means they will be bench stashes for many fantasy teams, but these players could return the value that sees you through the fantasy playoffs.
Jahan Dotson, Commanders
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Dotson played in 12 games last season and averaged five targets per game for 523 receiving yards. On the surface, those numbers look pedestrian; however, over the season's final five games, Dotson came on strong, averaging seven targets per game with two top-12 finishes at the position. The talented sophomore could take another leap forward this year, and a simple eye test at the end of last season is enough to warrant his ADP. It's also worth noting Dotson had seven touchdowns in just 12 games played in 2022. That was 41.2% of the Commanders' receiving touchdown share, which ranked eighth in the NFL. Sure, that number could regress, but Dotson's contested catch ability and 15.2 aDOT suggest there is plenty of room for him and Terry McLaurin to succeed in 2023.
Current ADP: WR 37
Courtland Sutton, Broncos
The Broncos can only get better this season, and there are many reasons to buy the dip for Courtland Sutton, who finished as the WR 42 in PPR leagues in 2022 with 64 catches and 829 yards. Jerry Jeudy was the more productive receiver for Denver, but an improvement in quarterback play should go a long way to boost Sutton's productivity. Sutton commanded 21.4% of the team's target share in 2022 (28th) as opposed to Jeudy's 19.4% (38th), and he saw 37.6% of the team's air yard share (15th) as opposed to Jeudy's 31.8% (33rd). He also was the first read for Wilson 30.8% of the time (17th). However, only 72.5% (71st) of Sutton's targets were catchable, so if Sean Peyton can help unlock Russell Wilson, it's a good gamble Sutton will bounce back, too. He's also due for positive touchdown regression after logging only two in 2022. With the receiving room in Denver starting to thin with Tim Patrick's season-ending injury and KJ Hamler's health concerns, both Sutton and Jeudy should see even more targets.
Current ADP: WR 43
Quentin Johnston, Chargers
The freakishly athletic 6'4” wideout amassed 1,067 yards and six touchdowns for the Horned Frogs on their way to the College Football National Championship in his junior season. Those numbers would likely have been higher if he had not dealt with a few minor injuries along the way. A massive target, Johnston combines both size and speed and his unique stop-start ability also shows after the catch. Johnston averaged 8.9 yards after reception in 2022 (10th in college football), and his 18 forced missed tackles ranked eighth this season among Power Five receivers. Johnston is a prototypical vertical receiver whose natural athleticism and size should translate quickly to the NFL. He will line up opposite Mike Williams in the new Kellen Moore offense, which was top-four in scoring for each of the last two seasons in Dallas. With Williams and Keenan Allen unlikely to remain healthy for the entire season, Johnston's role could easily outperform his current ADP.
Current ADP: WR 47
Rondale Moore, Cardinals
Moore played in only seven full games last season but finished as a Top 16 receiver in three of them. The 2021 second-round pick took on a more prominent role per game last year, averaging seven targets and 12.6 PPR points per game in 2022. With no DeAndre Hopkins, Marquise Brown should be Moore's only competition for targets, putting him in line for the WR2 role. The knock on Moore has been his incredibly low aDOT and the fact that Kliff Kingsbury tended to use him for screen passes mostly, but with Jonathan Gannon as the new coach in Arizona, things should be different. Even with Colt McCoy starting the season at QB, there's plenty of value for the speedy and mobile- though undersized- receiver at this ADP.
Current ADP: WR 67
DJ Chark, Panthers
Chark has never played more than 15 games in a season, but in the 2019 season in which he did play 15, he accumulated more than 1,000 receiving yards. Since then, the tall, speedy receiver has been plagued with injury; however, he has continued to demonstrate his potential for big plays when healthy. This season he enters a situation in which he could emerge as the WR1, with veteran Adam Thielen, sophomore Terrace Marshall Jr. and rookie Jonathan Mingo as his main target competition. Chark and new QB Bryce Young have been connecting at camp, and that only makes me more excited to draft him at his current ADP.
Current ADP: WR 70
Some other late-round WR targets to consider: Brandin Cooks (DAL), Elijah Moore (CLE), Rashee Rice (KC), and Chase Claypool (CHI).
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