As I make my projections, there are always unique discrepancies between the consensus rankings and my own. Sometimes, they can be negligible, and others are vast. There are also potential league winners who are drafted in the double-digit rounds or not drafted at all. We won't always identify them, but if we try, we may get lucky and find one. Here are a few names of some guys I'm interested in drafting with my last couple of picks as potential flex options depending on my team's situation.
Over two of his last three seasons, when healthy, he has thrown for over 4,500 yards and 30 touchdowns. He has also scored two rushing touchdowns in those seasons. While he's not the rushing threat he was before, he's still a small positive, which gives him an edge over other players who can match that production, like Jared Goff and Matthew Stafford. While he's not the rusher like Justin Herbert or Caleb Williams, his passing volume covers the difference while throwing 30 touchdowns, something Herbert hasn't done in four seasons, while Williams hasn't done it in his young career. With Ceedee Lamb and George Pickens, two top-15 WRs returning, that reminds me of a top-5 QB, Joe Burrow.
This one is pretty controversial because it's two players, but essentially I believe in the backfield, and the decision between the two comes down to one question. Will J.K. Dobbins play more than 13 games? If he does, drafting a starting RB who can be an RB2/3 after the first six or seven rounds is a value. When healthy, he was the clear lead RB on the offense with at least 14 carries in nine of the ten games he played last season. If Dobbins isn't healthy, R.J. Harvey will be involved as a receiving threat, be the 1A in a committee with a rookie RB, and can be an RB2/flex in PPR scoring leagues. I've seen Harvey before Dobbins, and I think Dobbins is the real sleeper.
While I know he isn't the clear first target on the offense and hasn't reached 50 catches in his career, this is a bet on future production. With over 100 targets gone in the offseason and a large contract extension, he'll logically be expected to take on a larger target share. It won't be on the level of names like Luther Burden III and Christian Watson, but I would prefer him over D.K. Metcalf and Marvin Harrison Jr who are drafted ahead of him. Dealing with injuries, I wouldn't expect him to start hot, but when he's your WR4, you don't need him to. With Josh Downs and Tyler Warren, he won't be your WR2, but a solid flex you can get after the first seven rounds.
This isn't an exciting name, but it's also not an exciting position to find sleepers. However, with the injury to rookie WR Jordyn Tyson, I would expect Johnson to be the second target in the offense. Coming off the best season of his career, he finished with over 100 targets, and I anticipate him having a similar role. The issue is that he hasn't scored at least five touchdowns in three straight seasons. The team brought in Travis Etienne to bolster the run game, and I don't expect this offense to make significant jumps in efficiency, so I don't see top-five upside. However, to get top-12 production for the first few weeks for someone you drafted in the double-digit rounds and stream the position after gives a solid last-resort option.