Fantasy Football: One Deep Sleeper Candidate From Every NFL Team

C.J. Uzomah, TE, Cincinnati Bengals

No one doubts how talented Tyler Eifert is at the tight end position. When healthy, he is a candidate for double digit touchdowns and is a massive target in the middle of the field. But the Cincinnati Bengals' former first-round pick, through four seasons, has played in just 37 of a possible 64 games, including just 8 contests in 2016. Eifert was also held out of their latest preseason contest with reports that he is battling minor knee tendinitis, which has to be concerning.

During his absence last year, backup C.J. Uzomah showed a lot of promise, although an early ankle injury this summer has put him behind the eight ball in terms of earning additional playing time. The former Auburn Tiger began his college career as a wide receiver, and he still possesses the instincts and ability to be a fantastic weapon down the field.

In 2016 he posted 25 receptions for 234 yards and a touchdown in eight games as a part-time player, and Uzomah turned heads in the process. At the Auburn pro day, he posted a 4.62 40-yard dash at 262 pounds, and he certainly has the athleticism and ball skills to be an effective weapon at the position for this Bengals team. And given the durability concerns surrounding Eifert, Uzomah is a player to have your eyes on should he make the team once again this season.

Uzomah was primarily a backup in college, and his production was really minimal. He finished his college career with just 29 receptions for 435 yards and seven touchdowns, and his ability to transition to the tight end position is really a projection. But perhaps no position has been more inviting for college converts than tight end, which has seen former basketball players, quarterbacks and receivers with little to no production transition into effective and even elite-level weapons.

That said, Uzomah isn't likely to be a factor if Eifert remains healthy, and he isn't worthy of a roster spot at this point in the season. However, during the 2014 campaign in which Eifert missed all but one game, it is notable that Jermaine Gresham, who by that point was more of a blocker than receiver, finished the year with 79 targets. And given Eifert's inability to stay on the field, he may not prove to be the long term option at tight end for the Bengals, leaving the door open for Uzomah to grab the job for the future.