2018 NFL Fantasy Sleepers: Hidden Gems in the NFC North

Most veteran fantasy owners know who the big players will be in their leagues. So what they really want to know is the 2018 NFL fantasy sleepers.

Competitive leagues aren’t decided by the big names. They’re decided by the players nobody sees coming. The unexpected contributors who often push an owner over in a close match one week. These guys can often be the most invaluable. It’s all a question of timing, risk and knowing who might be poised for a big step up. The NFC North could see a number of such types this year thanks in large part to their rich array of quarterbacks.

Here is a name from each team to watch.

Green Bay Packers:  Geronimo Allison

Don’t be fooled by the Packers drafting three wide receivers. The odds are none of them will see the field much as rookies. This team loves to develop a steady pipeline and they’ll have to wait for their turns like everyone else. That includes Geronimo Allison. The receiver enters his third year with the team has seen his role grow in 2017 despite missing Aaron Rodgers for most of that time. He caught 23 passes for 253 yards. Now with Jordy Nelson out of the picture, his opportunities figure to grow even larger. That 6’3 frame will look awfully enticing in the red zone.

Minnesota Vikings:  David Morgan

The Vikings have a new offensive coordinator in John DeFilippo. One has to expect his priorities for the offense will be different from Pat Shurmur. Looking back at his brief run in Cleveland, DeFilippo developed a strong love for utilizing the tight end in his offense. That held true during his time in Philadelphia as well. Of course, this means Kyle Rudolph should reap the benefits, but so could David Morgan. The third-year tight end didn’t get much action last year but he’s got the sort of skills DeFilippo can utilize in two-tight end sets.

Detroit Lions:  Kerryon Johnson

The offensive staff hasn’t changed for the Lions, so it doesn’t look like they’ll get anything different out of the original running backs Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick. That’s why the drafting of Kerryon Johnson should be taken seriously. He’s a much more complete type of back. One who can catch but more so one who can provide a power element thanks to his bigger size and tough running style. If Matt Patricia makes them commit to running the ball more, and there’s reason to think they will given his defensive background then Johnson absolutely should be considered a major sleeper.

Next: 2019 NFL Mock Draft: Oakland Raiders Put AFC On Notice

Chicago Bears:  Tarik Cohen

Think about this. As a rookie in 2017, Tarik Cohen scored 150 fantasy points as an all-around weapon. He scored touchdowns as a runner, receiver, returner and even a passer. Keep in mind this was on a team coached by John Fox who’s about as innovative as a stone wheel. Cohen now falls under the guidance of Matt Nagy and Mark Helfrich, two men who are uniquely experienced in knowing exactly what Cohen can do as a player. They have a myriad of different, creative ways to get him the football in space. This is the last thing defenses wanted to see.