Ten Late-Round Rookie Sleepers with Upside
The NFL Scouting Combine is in the books, and pro days are peppered throughout March and April. The NFL Draft is quickly approaching. If you’re reading this article, you probably have a good idea of which prospect you’re targeting with your first-round pick, and you might even have some names in mind with your second-round pick. But how about your third or fourth-round pick?
If you haven’t thought that far ahead, I’m here to help. Here’s a list of my ten favorite deep sleepers in this class. I’ll be looking at players with an ADP of 25 or later (according to DLF’s Rookie ADP) who have the potential to be fantasy starters.
Israel Abanikanda, RB Pittsburgh – 27 ADP
The best-kept secret in this class is a 215-pound, 20-year-old running back who broke hall of famer Tony Dorsett’s single-game rushing record at Pittsburgh. Abanikanda led the ACC in rushing yards and touchdowns in 2022. A terrific athlete with a background in track, “Izzy” was a two-time 100-meter Gold Medalist at the NYC Mayor’s Cup. Pittsburgh’s pro day is March 29th, and Abanikanda is expected to participate in all drills. He’ll become a popular riser once his athletic numbers come in.
Chase Brown, RB Illinois – 27.6 ADP
The University of Illinois just had its best football season since 2007, and Brown played an integral part in the team’s success. He transferred to Illinois after playing his freshman season at Western Michigan. Brown had 1,883 scrimmage yards last season, which led the B1G. If his college production wasn’t enough, He also exhibited outstanding athleticism at the combine, posting a 4.43-second 40-yard dash, 40” vertical leap (first among running backs), and 10’7” broad jump (first among running backs), while weighing in at 209 lbs. I’m targeting him as early as the mid-second. I recently took him 19th overall in a DLF Staff Mock Draft.
Luke Musgrave, TE Oregon State – 30.5 ADP
The third round is an excellent spot to start targeting tight ends, especially in this class. You don’t have to use a premium pick, and you’re still able to get prospects with upside. Musgrave only played two games before suffering a knee injury in 2022. In those two games, he averaged 5.5 receptions and 84.5 receiving yards per game. He had a phenomenal combine registering a 4.61 40-yard dash, 36” vertical leap, and 10’5” broad jump. Those marks were better than the consensus top three tight ends in this class: Michael Mayer, Darnell Washington, and Dalton Kincaid. Musgrave is an intriguing dart throw for any team looking for a low-cost future starter at tight end.
Evan Hull, RB Northwestern – 33.2 ADP
This class is rich in running back depth, so don’t feel like you missed out if you didn’t get your guy in the first three rounds. Hull had prolific production at Northwestern, compiling two consecutive seasons of 1,200+ yards in the B1G conference. He improved his stock at the combine, weighing in at 209 lbs (30 BMI), running a 4.47 40-yard dash while jumping 37” in the vertical leap and 10’3” in the broad jump. Most importantly, Hull is a proven receiver out of the backfield. He averaged 4.6 receptions per game in his final college season.
He has the skills to be a third-down back in the NFL, and the size to take on a bigger role if he’s called upon. Hull could be a sneaky good pick in the third round of rookie drafts. I recently got him at the 31st pick overall in the aforementioned DLF mock draft and I couldn’t be happier with that kind of upside late in the third round.
Sam LaPorta, TE Iowa – 36.8 ADP
Another sleeper tight end falling to the back end of the third round, LaPorta has the pedigree. He came into Iowa as a three-star wide receiver who transitioned to tight end, before putting up over 50 receptions and 650 receiving yards in his junior and senior seasons. He had a tremendous final season, posting a 25.5% dominator rating (78th percentile). The 22-year-old also notched a 27% target share, which is better than most receivers in this class. He lit up the combine with a 4.59 second (3rd among tight ends) 40-yard dash, 36” vertical leap, and 10’3” broad jump. If you can get LaPorta in the late third or early fourth round, pull the trigger.
Parker Washington, WR Penn State – 39.1 ADP
Washington has been one of my favorites this off-season. He didn’t run at the combine, but his measurables were very intriguing. The former Nittany Lion compares favorably to Jarvis Landry (10 1/4 “ hands, 12 reps), Washington had 10 1/8” hands (91st percentile), while also putting up 16 reps (65th percentile) in the bench press. He’s a bully slot with strong hands who has incredible potential to be a target hog in the right system.
Eric Gray, RB Oklahoma – 42.7 ADP
The Oklahoma Sooners had a disappointing year in 2022, but Gray shined in his fourth and final college season, compiling 1,595 scrimmage yards. The Memphis native transferred from Tennessee as a junior, but it wasn’t due to a lack of production. Gray had a phenomenal sophomore season in Knoxville, accumulating 1,026 yards in only nine games. He had 99 receptions in college, making him one of the most proven receiving backs in this class. His size (207 lbs, 30.1 BMI) means there’s potential for early down work as well.
AT Perry, WR Wake Forest – 46.8 ADP
In a class full of smaller wideouts, Perry stands out with his 6’3”, 198 lbs frame. He was a prolific producer at Wake Forest, putting up back-to-back seasons of 70+ receptions, 1,000+ receiving yards, and 10+ touchdowns. Perry led the ACC in receiving yards and finished second in receptions last season. The 23-year-old wide receiver left Wake Forest with the program’s receiving touchdowns record. He has all the tools to be a great weapon in the red zone at the next level.
Charlie Jones, WR Purdue – 46.9 ADP
A super-producer in the B1G, Jones is your prototypical NFL slot. He’s a touch undersized weighing only 175 lbs, but Jones is as polished as they come. He set the single-season receiving yards record at Purdue in his lone season as a Boilermaker. Jones impressed at the combine with a surprising 4.43 40-yard dash. An older prospect, he’ll turn 25 years old before the end of his rookie season, but that means he’s physically mature and polished. He could become a starter in PPR formats sooner rather than later if he finds a role on the right team.
Andrei Iosivas, WR Princeton – 47.3 ADP
It’s easy to see why Iosivas (pronounced yo-shee-vahs) isn’t a household name since it’s difficult to pronounce and he’s coming from a small school, but don’t let that discourage you from drafting the speedy receiver. He was an All-American in both football and track at Princeton and averaged nearly 100 yards per game in his final college season. Iosivas had an impressive week at the Senior Bowl before wowing at the combine. His combination of size (6’3” 205 lbs) and athleticism (4.43 40-yard dash, 6.85 three-cone) makes him a special athlete with the potential to detonate once he reaches the big stage.
- 2023 Rookie Drafts: Running Back Tiers Primer - May 12, 2023
- Sophomore Slumps or Sensations? Breaking Down the Second-Year Running Backs - April 6, 2023
- Ten Late-Round Rookie Sleepers with Upside - March 28, 2023
