With only one week remaining until the highly anticipated NFL kickoff, fantasy football drafts are well underway. This year looks a little different when it comes to player ratings, considering there were no preseason games for analysts to get a feel for who will shine versus who will fall. However, using best judgments and statistics from the 2019 season, rankings are in and fantasy football is in full swing.
If you’re one of the many waiting for their big fantasy football draft this Labor Day weekend, then below are some of the best breakouts and sleepers to keep your eye out for.
DeAndre Hopkins
After landing a new starting role in Arizona, Hopkins is eager to prove himself to his new teammates and fans. Hopkins has always been a phenomenal player to have on a fantasy football roster, but with a young stud quarterback like Kyler Murray throwing to him this season, he is bound to make some incredible plays.
J.K. Dobbins
Rookie running back out of The Ohio State University has some people skeptical about the possibility of drafting him. While Dobbins likely won’t beat out Mark Ingram in Baltimore for a starting position if he remains healthy, the rookie is sure to split carries and get plenty of playing time for himself. He’s not a bad pickup for the later rounds of your draft.
Sterling Shepard
The ESPN rankings have the star Giants’ wide receiver extremely undervalued. Taking the 75th overall spot seems pretty low for the #1 wide receiver on New York’s offense. Shepard has proven in past seasons that he can be a very valuable asset to a fantasy football team.
Marquise Brown
Brown is clearly the #1 receiver in Baltimore, but he had a phenomenal offseason that is sure to show on the field this year. Marquise put on an impressive 23 pounds during the football break and looks and feels better than he ever has before. The additional muscle weight is bound to make an impact to the Ravens offense, and to your fantasy team.
Josh Jacobs
Jacobs is another player that many are unsure about going into the 2020 season. ESPN has him valued as the 11th overall pick in this season’s fantasy draft. He has proven himself to carry his own and have breakout games in the past, but it will be interesting to see how he matches up against some of the highest-ranked RBs in the league this season, but certainly worth keeping on your fantasy radar.
Cam Newton
With Tom Brady officially gearing up for his first season NOT in a Patriots’ jersey, Cam Newton is ready to take over as the star QB of New England after being named starter this week. Newton has had his ups and downs in the past with Carolina, but he seems to be healthy and ready for this new opportunity. Cam can be a dynamite fantasy quarterback if he plays to his best ability.
Certainly, if you have the opportunity to draft the major stars like Christain McCaffery, Saquon Barkley, Ezekiel Elliot, or Alvin Kamara, don’t miss your chance. With such uncertainty surrounding the normality of the NFL season, anything is possible. No analyst can prepare you for who might contract Coronavirus, which will play a huge role in the way fantasy football plays out this year. Good luck to all and happy football season!
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