Might as well throw a “sleeper” in here. In fact, given where Jalen Nailor of the Raiders is being drafted, he’s not a sleeper—he’s comatose.
That’s despite the fact that Nailor got a three-year, $35 million contract from a Vegas team that didn’t do much else at wide receiver. Despite the fact that the fifth-year-pro could be the No. wideout for the Raiders this year.
And, as Derek Brown pointed out at Fantasy Pros, despite the fact that if you peel back his stats a little, there’s reason for optimism.
“Yes,” he said, “last year Nailor had only a 10.3% target share, 1.19 yards per route run, and a 10.8% first-read share (per Fantasy Points Data). None of those metrics will or should get you excited, but when we dig deeper, his per-route numbers are QUITE INTERESTING. Last year, among 109 qualifying receivers, he was 33rd in separation and 51st in route win rate. As a perimeter receiver among the same sample, his numbers look even better (141 routes) as he was sixth-best in separation and 13th in route win rate.”
This isn’t to say that Nailor is going to come from nowhere to be a top-10 wide receiver. Or even a top-25 fantasy receiver. But even if all he is a viable WR3 or ‘flex” option, we’re talking about a weekly fantasy starter who is essentially free.
Is that a good thing? It sounds like it’s a good thing.