RELATED: See High-Priced Players to Trade For here
RELATED: See Lower-Priced Players to Trade For here

Earlier this week, our team over at Footballguys shared insights on high-priced and low-priced players to target in your dynasty leagues as well. It's time to dig deep and find those diamonds in the rough. 

Today's Question: Name a player who is likely a free agent in most dynasty leagues. What makes this player a sleeper?

Quarterback Sleepers

QB Tanner McKee, Philadelphia Eagles

Jason Wood: This is a particularly problematic question because the very nature of dynasty leagues is to create incredibly deep rosters with very little viable on the waiver wire outside of the annual rookie draft. Your best chance to find real value in the free agent pile is with backup quarterbacks who have an injury situation thrust them into the lineup. To that end, Tanner McKee is one of a handful of young backups that fit the bill. McKee has to compete with Dorian Thompson-Robinson for the Eagles backup role this year, but he's the better quarterback and has already displayed the ability to execute the Eagles offense. Most won't take him seriously because his playing style differs greatly from Jalen Hurts, but the Eagles would much rather augment their gameplan to let McKee throw to the likes of DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown than to risk Thompson-Robinson's turnover-prone ineptitude.  

QB Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts

Sigmund Bloom:  Jones might not be on a roster in 1QB leagues after he was released during the season. He has long speed as a runner and can connect in the deep passing game. The Shane Steichen offense should provide him with ample opportunities to show off those fantasy-friendly assets, and Jones should have an advantage in the camp battle because of experience. Jones will have matchup QB1 value in 1QB leagues if he wins the job.

QB Zach Wilson, Miami Dolphins

Zareh Kantzabedian: After flopping hard as the starting quarterback for the New York Jets, Zach Wilson is now the expected QB2 for the Miami Dolphins behind the frequently injured Tua Tagovailoa.

In New York, Wilson was utterly ineffective and often overwhelmed. He was traded to Denver in 2024, where he served as the backup quarterback to rookie Bo Nix and served under the tutelage of legendary head coach Sean Payton for one season.

After the 2024 season, Wilson signed with the Miami Dolphins as a free agent on a one-year deal to act as a viable QB2 option behind Tua Tagovailoa. Tagovailoa's recent past is mired by severe concussions that have prompted many discussions of his early retirement. He missed four games last year due to a concussion and another two due to a hip injury. Without Tagovailoa, Miami's offense struggled mightily, becoming predictable and inept at creating explosive plays. If Tagovailoa misses time this year, Wilson should provide QB2 value in super-flex leagues. Our eyes, however, should be further on the horizon.

Wilson now finds himself in the Geno Smith and Sam Darnold stage of his hero arch. All three started and failed as rookies for the Jets; two have redeemed themselves while we wait to see if Wilson can rise from the ashes. Like Smith and Darnold before him, Wilson may also prove himself worthy of QB1 starter status, providing dynasty managers with a steady QB2 as early as 2026.  

Wide Receiver Sleepers

WR Tim Patrick, Detroit Lions

Mike Kashuba: When your league has 28 bench spots, and you have to start 10 or 11 guys each week, an emergency flex is a nice option to have. He is the second or third option in the red zone, depending on the week, and he becomes easier to start if Jameson Williams or Amon-Ra St. Brown miss time. Patrick had eight targets inside the 15 last year and was used more than Jameson Williams in that area of the field. For a receiver valued outside the top 300 players, he has a path to relevance in an exciting offense. He's only rostered in 8% of leagues on Sleeper but can be a band-aid for a competing team with deep benches. 

WR KaVontae Turpin, Dallas Cowboys

Jeff Blaylock: As Jason pointed out, most players with any fantasy relevance are already rostered in deep dynasty leagues. However, diamonds can still be found in the rough. Look for players whose role on offense is growing. Primarily viewed as a special-teamer, KaVontae Turpin has seen his dual-threat role in the offense grow each season. Last year, he achieved career highs with 31 receptions and 420 receiving yards. He also recorded 16 rushing attempts and gained 92 yards on the ground. The Cowboys recently re-signed Turpin to a three-year contract worth $18 million while letting veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks leave in free agency. That kind of money indicates a commitment to utilize Turpin beyond special teams. Unless the Cowboys add another wide receiver via the draft or free agency, Turpin will be the team's third wide receiver with the potential to pass Jalen Tolbert as the wideout opposite CeeDee Lamb. Turpin is available in 86 percent of Sleeper leagues.

WR Jordan Whittington, Los Angeles Rams

David Zacharias: L.A. Rams wide receivers Cooper Kupp, Demarcus Robinson, and Tyler Johnson have left the building. Davante Adams (age 32) has been signed to join Puka Nacua as a starting wideout. Tutu Atwell re-upped, but only on a one-year deal. Second-year Whittington lurks as the Rams' fourth receiver. With an overall re-draft ranking of WR133 and a KeepTradeCut dynasty ranking of WR77, Whittington is not showing up on many fantasy owners' radar. It's not difficult to imagine circumstances (in addition to injuries) where Whittington could climb the depth chart within the next season or two: Atwell moves on at the end of his deal; Adams ages out; Whittington matures to the point where he's flat-out better than Atwell. Our Alfredo Brown ranks the Rams as the 9th-best offense in his power rankings. Earning a starting role in a high-powered offense would cause Whittington's value to skyrocket.

WR Joshua Palmer, Buffalo Bills

Andy Hicks: Palmer served out his rookie contract for the Chargers with unflattering returns. He averaged about 45 receptions for 550 yards per season and two to three touchdowns a year. His contract with the Bills is healthy, but most of the money is in the second season, with $15 million guaranteed overall. Khalil Shakir has limited upside but should lead targets, while Keon Coleman needs a great off-season to develop into what Buffalo hoped for when they spent a high second-round pick on him last year. Palmer projects below these two receivers, with the tight ends also expected to be targeted repeatedly. Palmer has shown improvement and looks ready to make himself a fantasy-relevant receiver should opportunities present. Those opportunities will be there early on. I expect Palmer to exceed expectations considerably.

WR Michael Gallup, Washington Commanders

Rachel Tootsiepop: Earlier this week, in our installment on high-priced players to target in dynasty leagues, I pinpointed quarterback Jayden Daniels as someone to trade for and mentioned the Washington Commanders signing Michael Gallup out of retirement. Gallup played for the Dallas Cowboys for six seasons, with his standout year occurring in 2019. Finishing 2019 as the WR24 in PPR formats, Gallup recorded 1,107 receiving yards and six touchdowns, highlighting his ability to make big plays. 

Currently rostered in only 9% of leagues on Sleeper, Gallup is a name to consider in deep dynasty formats. Given what Daniels and the Commanders' offense achieved last year, I want to acquire as many assets as possible from this high-powered unit. If Terry McLaurin or Deebo Samuel Sr. misses time, Gallup will be the next man up. Additionally, with Dyami Brown's strong playoff performance, it's clear that unexpected players can make significant plays. I don't want to miss out on the potential value Gallup could bring. Plus, for him to choose to leave retirement, I'm betting he's gunning to make an impact. 

Running Back Sleeper

RB Elijah Mitchell, Kansas City Chiefs

Julia Papworth: There was a time when Elijah Mitchell was the highly coveted backup of Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco until he suffered a hamstring injury in August 2024 and went on season-ending IR. Mitchell is now a member of the Kansas City Chiefs. Kareem Hunt does not have much tread left on the tires, and the Carson Steele experiment did not prove incredibly fruitful, so Mitchell could find himself the backup to Isiah Pacheco entering the 2025 season. Sure, Kansas City could grab someone in the draft to add depth, but with Pacheco missing nine games due to injury last season, a Chiefs backup running back stands a strong chance to see the field at some point. He is worth a stash, only rostered in 38% of Sleeper leagues.