2020 NFL Fantasy Football Sleepers

By A.J. Olona and Shawn Stewart

There are always those one or two players we wish we drafted in a late round, or picked up on waivers sooner. By the time we realize that they are having a decent year, someone else has already picked them up, and that sleeper pick propels another team to win the Fantasy Football league. Last year was Austin Ekeler. The year before that was Patrick Mahomes. In 2017 it was Marvin Jones and Adam Thielen. We've seen it happen too often, so we are here to help you get ahead of the curve this year and to give you one sleeper pick for each team.

Arizona Cardinals - Week 8 Bye Week

There is a lot to like about this team. In fact I really think they could push the Seahawks for the division, or worst case scenario, make the playoffs as a wild card team.  My sleeper pick for the Arizona Cardinals is going to be Kyler Murray. I think he is going to have a big year. The addition of DeAndre Hopkins will be huge, and don't forget about the ageless wonder and future Hall of Famer, Larry Fitzgerald, who can still produce at the age of 36.

Atlanta Falcons - Week 9 Bye Week

The player I am selecting for this team could be in the discussion for Comeback Player of the Year in the NFL, instead of a sleeper, but I think Todd Gurley II will have a terrific year in that Atlanta Falcons offense. I know he has been dealing with injures the last few seasons, and some owners might be reluctant to draft him, but if you can snag him a little later in your draft, do it!

Baltimore Ravens - Week 10 Bye Week

While much of the focus is on Lamar Jackson and the running game in Baltimore, the passing game put up numbers last year as well. While Mark Andrews and Hollywood Brown took the spotlight last year, look for second year wide out Miles Boykin to have a huge role this year on a team that looks to be one of the top offenses in the NFL again.

Buffalo Bills - Week 7 Bye Week

Can a player coming off of a 1,000 receiving yard season be a sleeper? With much of the focus now on Stefon Diggs in Buffalo, don’t be surprised if John Brown has another great season for the Bills

Carolina Panthers - Week 13 Bye Week

We all know that Christian McCaffrey, is the engine that makes this team go, so obviously, he is not a sleeper pick, but Robby Anderson, the WR out of Temple, who came over from the  New  York Jets in the offseason could be a player to keep your eye on

Cincinnati Bengals - Week 11 Bye Week

It seems like forever ago that A.J. Green was one of the top 5 wide receivers in the NFL. With Joe Mixon getting a new contract, and much focus being put on Tyler Boyd and now rookie Tee Higgins, look for Green to get back to his former self and put up numbers much more reminiscent of early in his career.

Chicago Bears - Week 11 Bye Week

The quarterback situation is still very much up in the air for the Bears, so it might be hard to predict how the offense will be run. If Trubisky wins the starting job, I see the Bears  as a run first offense, but if Foles wins the job, I see the Bears as a past first offense. My sleeper pick for the Bears this season is David Montgomery.  We think the 2nd year running back  out of Iowa State is ready for a breakout year.

Cleveland Browns - Week 13 Bye Week

With so many options in this Cleveland offense, look for Kareem Hunt to consistently score points for your team this year. Even with Nick Chubb being phenomenal and a bell cow for this team, Hunt was still able to put up consistent numbers in 2019. Look for the Browns to try to utilize him even more so in 2020.

Dallas Cowboys - Week 10 Bye Week

This team has a ton of weapons at their disposal, especially at the wide receiver position, which is good news if you land Dak Prescott in your league as your quarterback.  I really like Cedarian " CeeDee" Lamb, the rookie wide receiver out of the University of Oklahoma. I see defense's paying closer attention to Amari Cooper, which means more opportunities for Lamb to shine.

Denver Broncos Week 9 Bye Week

Much of the attention will be on standout receiver Courtland Sutton and top draft pick Jerry Jeudy, it is the other rookie receiver that could enjoy a breakout year for the Broncos. KJ Hamler has been impressing throughout training camp and could carve out a solid role early on in his career in Denver.

Detroit Lions - Week 5 Bye Week

It is very rare that a rookie running back comes in and has a monster year, but when the Lions drafted D'Andre Swift, the running back out of Georgia, they knew what they were doing. The Lions have had a carousel of running backs over the years, but I think Swift is the future. I know he is a rookie, but he could make some noise is this offense.

Green Bay Packers - Week 5 Bye Week

The Packers decided to focus on other areas of their offense this season instead of at the wide receiver position, which could end up hurting them if they make a deep playoff run. However, they did draft a nice compliment to running back Aaron Jones. AJ Dillon, the running back , out of  Boston College, could give the Packers a nice 1-2 punch in the backfield, but will they ease Dillon in, or throw him into the mix right away?  Stay tuned, but I think Dillon could put up some decent numbers for the Packers.

Houston Texans - Week 11 Bye Week

While David Johnson is always going to be compared to DaAndre Hopkins production, we wouldn’t be surprised if he is able to be much better than he was the last few years. Carlos Hyde was able to be productive last year and David Johnson is a much better running back even at this point in his career. Look for David Johnson to bounce back big time.

Indianapolis Colts - Week 6 Bye Week

Many people are buying into the hype of rookie running back Jonathan Taylor. It may even be common for you to see Taylor get selected within the top five rounds of your fantasy draft this year. However, Marlon Mack is still the starter and is still coming off a great year for the Colts and don’t be surprised if he repeats it, even with the rookie taking carries from him.

Kansas City Chiefs - Week 9 Bye Week

Sammy Watkins has had two very mediocre years in Kansas City thus far. With so many mouths to feed, its hard to trust anyone consistently other than Tyreek Hill or Travis Kelce. However, with so many people looking at those two, don’t be surprised if Sammy Watkins finally shows his potential in this Chiefs offense.

Los Angeles Chargers - Week 6 Bye Week

Many people are already writing off Tyrod Taylor and counting down to when rookie Justin Herbert will jump in. However, when Taylor was a starter in Buffalo he was able to put up decent fantasy numbers. With a great supporting cast around him, don’t be surprised if he holds onto the starting job and surprises a lot of people.

Los Angeles Rams - Week 9 Bye Week

With Todd Gurley moving on to Atlanta, the Rams had to focus on the running back position. I think they got a steal with Cam Akers, the rookie running back out of Florida State.  He is going to come in and push for playing time and could take some carries and goal line opportunities away from Darrell Henderson.

Jacksonville Jaguars - Week 8 Bye Week

It is now well documented that the Jaguars are tanking in 2020, leaving Gardner Minshew to fend for himself. After a very solid rookie year, Minshew has watched his top running back get cut, his offensive playmakers not get much better, and his defense get dismantled. However, Minshew will still be able to put up similar numbers to what he did in 2019 and that will be good enough in a pinch to win some games.

CBS Sports Radio

Las Vegas Raiders - Week 5 Bye Week

in 2019 Hunter Renfrow was able to put together a decent year for the Raiders. Las Vegas added Henry Ruggs as well as Byran Edwards through the draft in April. Despite that, Renfrow will get plenty of looks in the slot for the Raiders and could very well find a lot of open space with defenses focusing on Ruggs and tight end Darren Weller.

Miami Dolphins - Week 11 Bye Week

While he is currently listed as the backup behind Jordan Howard, Matt Breida will likely have an impact right away. Many people will be looking at him as purely a backup, but even when he had a similar role in San Francisco he was able to produce solid numbers for fantasy owners.

Minnesota Vikings - Week 7 Bye Week

Kirk Cousins does have several weapons around him, but I think the rookie wide receiver out of LSU, Justin Jefferson could pay off big time for the Vikings. As an Eagles fan, I really wanted the Eagles to draft this kid, but they passed on him.

New England Patriots - Week 6 Bye Week

While this team looks much different than it did a year ago, it is still a team led by Bill Belichick will put up great numbers. A lot of people are writing off Cam Newton and this offense. While he doesn’t have many great options around him, Cam could still have a great year now that he is healthy.

New Orleans Saints - Week 6 Bye Week

There is so much talent on this team, it is hard to pick one player to be a sleeper, but  if you are asking me to pick one, I am going with, Emmanuel Sanders, who will help the offense move up and  down the field with his speed.  We all know Michael Thomas is the best wide receiver in football, but with as much as the Saints throw the ball, Sanders could have a big year.

New York Giants - Week 11 Bye Week

Sometimes solid players go under the radar or unnoticed, there are several talented tight ends in the league, but I feel that Evan Engram  can be one of the odd men out. I believe he is a top 5 tight end in the league, and one of the top options in the Giants passing game.

New York Jets - Week 13 Bye Week

Its going to be hard to trust anyone in this offense in 2020, but we see rookie Denzel Mims making a huge impact early on. He could immediately be the go to receiver on this team.

AP/Seth Wenig

Philadelphia Eagles - Week 9 Bye Week

The Eagles have the best tight end duo in the NFL with Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert. With both players on the field together, it is a nightmare match up for defenses, and keep in mind the Eagles revamped their wide receiver position in the off season as well. Ertz is the go to man in this offense, but don't be surprised if Goedert  steps it up this season.

San Francisco 49ers - Week 11 Bye Week

The NFC Champs from last year have a lot of returning players, and there is a lot to like about this team.  The Niners drafted  Brandon Aiyuk, the wide receiver out of Arizona State, who is a big wide receiver at 6' 0"' and weighing in at 205 lbs. He had a decent college career, which I think could transcend into a solid NFL career.  His first NFL season may be quiet, but anything is possible.

Seattle Seahawks - Week 6 Bye Week

I think the Seahawks are one of the deepest and most talented teams in the league. They have young talent surrounding their quarterback, Russell Wilson, but the player I think that could have a breakout year for the Seahawks is actually a veteran. Carlos Hyde, was originally drafted by the 49ers back in 2014, and has  played for several teams in his career. I think Hyde was a great offseason acquisition for this team, and could put up some solid numbers in this offense.

Pittsburgh Steelers - Week 6 Bye Week

Without their starting quarterback last year, the Steelers offense was horrible. We could see bounce back years for a lot of players. Look for James Washington to break out and build on top of a solid 2019. With a real starting quarterback, Washington could finally eclipse 1,000 yards this year.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Week 13 Bye Week

Can I select Tom Brady as my sleeper pick? Probably not! I totally forgot that LeSean McCoy signed with this team. Maybe I am still upset he left Philadelphia, or was traded away by Chip Kelly. I know McCoy is not the player he once was, but  with Brady at quarterback and the Buccaneers looking like a team to be reckoned with, McCoy could be a nice surprise this season.

Tennesse Titans - Week 8 Bye Week

Johnu Smith showed promise for this Tennessee offense down the stretch of 2019. With Delaine Walker gone, don’t be surprised if the Titans rely on Smith heavily in 2020. The offense will ultimately run through Derrick Henry, but Smith has a chance to mach his career total in receiving yards and touchdowns this year.

Washington Football Team - Week 8 Bye Week

This team could be a mess this season, but there is always one bright spot or player on the team that surprises us all.  I am actually going to go defense on this pick, because the offense looks like it could be a dumpster fire this season. I think Chase Young is going to come in and wreck havoc on opposing quarterbacks. The offense may have a long way to go, but the defense took a step in the right direction when they drafted this kid and might be able to make a difference on your team.

Follow A.J. on twitter @age_lona and Shawn @ShawnSportsNut.