Fantasy Football: 8 Sleeper Wide Receivers to Target in 2017

Cole Beasley, Dallas Cowboys

You aren't drafting Cole Beasley with dreams of him becoming Dez Bryant 2.0. His realistic upside is as a high-end WR3. But he averaged 11.8 PPR fantasy points per game in 2016 -- good enough for a flex starter -- and he’s available in the 13th round of your draft.

With Beasley as a late security blanket, you’re free to take chances on guys like Keenan Allen and Martavis Bryant earlier on. If they hit, Beasley’s a bye week fill-in. If they flame out, you don’t have to play waiver-wire roulette to fill your lineup.

Beasley’s a bargain if he merely repeats his 2016 production, but I expect him to improve. The Cowboys ran the ball more than any team in the league and threw it less than everyone but the Dolphins and Bills. That’ll change in 2017. Vegas predicts 9.5 wins, compared to 13 in 2016, which would mean the Dallas Cowboys won’t be in so many run-friendly game scripts. Plus, Ezekiel Elliott’s six-game suspension puts the offense squarely on Dak Prescott’s shoulders.

That’s all good news for Beasley, and good reason for you to make room for him at the end of your draft. —Brian Malone