2020 Summer Sleeper: Cincinnati Bengals
In our annual 32-part Summer Sleeper series, DLF scribes identify a lightly-touted player on each NFL roster who may be worthy of your consideration. Our subjects all have varying levels of “sleeperness,” but each merits a bit of in-depth discussion here in the Premium Content section.
To help everybody along, we are going to be categorizing our sleepers under one of three headings:
Super Deep Sleepers – Players who aren’t roster-worthy in 12-team leagues, but are still worth keeping an eye on.
Deep Sleepers – An end of the roster player who is more often than not on the waiver wire in 12-team leagues.
Sleeper – A likely rostered player who makes for a good trade target. Their startup ADP puts them out of the top-175 or so.
Because we aren’t going to give you the likes of mainstream sleepers, most of these players will undoubtedly fizzle. All we are asking is for you to keep an open mind and perhaps be willing to make room for one of these players on your bench. You never know when the next Adam Thielen is going to spring up. Feel free to add your own thoughts about our choice for the designated sleeper, or nominate one of your own in the comments below.
The Bengals offense is poised to take a huge step forward in 2019 and have elite players in key positions. They drafted Joe Burrow to lead the offense with the first overall pick. Joe Mixon is one of the league’s best running backs, finishing 2019 with 1,137 rushing yards – ninth in the NFL. He also caught 35 passes and had eight total touchdowns. AJ Green is an elite receiver when on the field but has struggled to get there due to injuries. Tyler Boyd has been one of the most consistent receivers in his absence and the Bengals also added a talented wideout in the second round of the draft, Tee Higgins from Clemson.
The offensive line has been one of the worst in the NFL over the past few seasons, ranking 30th in 2019 per Pro Football Focus. Jonah Williams was drafted in the first round last year to help address the line but missed the whole season due to injury. The other spot in the offense in need of someone to step up is the tight end. CJ Uzomah was the starter every game in 2019 and only had 27 receptions for 242 yards and two touchdowns.
Drew Sample, TE
Category: Deep Sleeper
The Bengals took Sample in the second round of the 2019 draft, surprising most people as he was projected to be a day-three pick. At the University of Washington, over four years he had only 46 catches for 487 yards and five scores. Those are stats you typically want to see in one season for a tight end prospect.
Stats courtesy of Sports-Reference.com
Sample has the draft capital and the physical tools you would like to see in a starting tight end. He has a great work ethic and is effective as a blocker as well as a receiver. As a blocker, he is tenacious and has a mean streak. In the run game, he has the size and power to effectively move defenders. As a senior, he won the Tough Husky award for the team, which is awarded to the Washington player who displayed the most toughness.
As a receiver, Sample is a natural pass-catcher who catches away from his body and does not drop passes. He has good athleticism but is not overly smooth, his moves are stiff and mechanical. This hinders him in route running and he can disappear in the passing game. His size will create mismatches if he gets one-on-one coverage, he is bigger than most linebackers and almost all defensive backs.
The Bengals offense with Burrow at the helm provides an environment for a tight end to thrive and stand out. Sample has been putting in the work and the draft capital suggests he will get a chance to see the field with Uzomah underwhelming. He is a high-effort player and will find ways to get open. Burrow could lean on tight ends as the NFL game comes to him and Sample should be maturing as a receiver as well.
Depending on your league, Sample could even be considered a super deep sleeper and a player who is getting some traction and value. Currently, he is typically undrafted but his name is gaining some attention. Below are three trades I found using the DLF Trade Finder that display his value at each end of the spectrum.
The first trade is the high side. Either TJ Hockenson was sold way too cheap or someone really believes in Sample. The other two trades are much closer to his actual value and ones I would consider making.
For the price you would have to pay, Sample represents a great potential bargain and won’t break your dynasty team if he never pans out. The ability is there and the draft capital punches his ticket to see the field sooner rather than later. Sample is a good target this off-season. Target him if you need tight end help without breaking your bank.
- Devy Roundup: Week Ten - November 10, 2020
- Devy Roundup: Week Eight - October 27, 2020
- Devy Roundup: Week Seven - October 20, 2020
