Come time for redraft leagues to start, fantasy football managers are eager to select their favorite player or someone who put up a string of big performances during the prior season. But let’s face it, you don’t actually win your fantasy football league with your first few picks and stud players. You win your leagues with the sleepers. These are players at the bottom of the barrel and those that do not get a lot of attention in the media. Here is part one of a few of my favorite sleepers that you cannot sleep on in 2022.

The Quarterback Sleepers

Tua Tagovailoa

Tua Tagovailoa is going into his third season in the NFL and has put up some fairly average numbers. However, there is one odd, yet interesting correlation between him and a fellow AFC East QB, this being Josh Allen. After comparing the two QBs’ stats and then averaging them through their first 25 games, the numbers are almost identical. Both had similar touchdown numbers, Allen had more passing yards, but Tagovailoa had fewer interceptions and a higher QB rating (see image below). You know what this means for Tagovailoa, right? A breakout season just like Josh Allen had when he went into his third year with a new superstar WR. Tyreek Hill has now stepped into this role and the two are likely to form an undeniable connection alongside Jaylen Waddle. Buy into the hype, especially with his currently low draft capital.

Zach Wilson

After a rookie season of pain, torture, loss after loss, interceptions, struggles, well, you get the point, Zach Wilson is looking to continue to grow as a leader and develop into a threat behind the line of scrimmage. From what I have heard in camp thus far, it sounds like things are trending upwards in the Big Apple. Did I mention the New York Jets drafted a talented and young rookie WR who goes by the name Garrett Wilson? I also failed to talk about the success that now sophomore WR Elijah Moore had in his rookie year. He was no doubt the second-best rookie receiver in 2021. Throw in the other WRs, a tight end who could maybe even make a little noise, and an all-around talented RB and you could have a very intriguing fantasy season for Mr. Wilson.

The Running Back Sleepers

Dameon Pierce

With probably the messiest and most clogged-up backfields in the NFL, Dameon Pierce has a shot to get a decent amount of playing time. Scratch that, a lot of playing time. Competing against Pierce in camp for playing time are names such as Rex Burkhead and Marlon Mack, neither of which scare me. Mack is two seasons removed from an Achilles tear and Burkhead has mostly been a third-down RB or pass-catching RB for a majority of his career, so I do not see them as volume threats. What I can see happening is a committee approach. This will obviously limit his volume, but I am still willing to take the chance of his upside if he becomes the lone Texans RB because of his great ADP (131st overall, RB46).

James Cook

If you want a firework on your fantasy team, then you got one with James Cook. Selected by the Buffalo Bills, he will get early playing time competing with Devin Singletary for possible early-down work and extra drawn-up pass plays. Though it may take some time to truly see the fantasy points come to fruition, I would much rather take a chance with Cook than I would with Singletary, especially with their current ADPs the way that they are. James Cook is being drafted 104th overall as the RB39 and Singletary is being drafted 80th overall as the RB32. Cook is an especially good pick if you are doing a hero RB strategy or zero RB strategy. Cook is probably one of my favorite of all the sleepers.

Travis Etienne

A year removed from a season-ending Lisfranc injury (boney area in midfoot), Travis Etienne is soaring up my draft board. As a therapist, seeing the workouts and the cutting drills he has practiced, I am extremely pleased with the way he looks. To me, there is no lingering sign of a midfoot bone injury. On the other side of the coin, we have a still injured/recovering James Robinson from an Achilles injury. He is not on the PUP list to start training camp, but will likely be extremely limited until early to mid-season, and will certainly still not be 100 percent the rest of the year. This means that it is Etienne’s show. All the carries, routes run, and fantasy points can be yours for the cost of a late third-round pick (RB20). To put the cherry on top, I currently have him ranked as my RB13.

Saquon Barkley

Injury-prone? Never heard of her. Washed up? No way. I am sick of it. I am sick and tired of hearing the Saquon Barkley slander. Barkley is two years removed from an ACL & MCL injury and had a fluke low ankle sprain in 2021. Barkley is going to be fine. He is in the best shape of his life, his agility looks more explosive than ever, and he is lining up in the slot and catching more passes in mini-camp than he ever has. Head coach Brian Daboll absolutely loves him and the new scheme will fit his playing style exceptionally. Barkley is currently being taken 18th overall and the RB11, a position in which he can easily finish higher.

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