Last Call for Sleepers

Rawls’ brief run last year was more productive than any regular-season stretch Michael has enjoyed. But Michael might hold the edge in raw talent. He’s at least more athletic, earning a SPARQ score in the 99th percentile vs. the 16th for Rawls.

Rawls remains the safer bet for fantasy production. But Michael might be the better investment at his 14th-round ADP.

James White, RB, Patriots

This entry doesn’t take much explanation. We’ve seen what White can do sans Dion Lewis.

With Lewis sidelined for last year’s final 8 games, White racked up 33 catches for 358 yards and 4 TDs. He added another 41 yards and 2 scores on 15 carries to rank 6th among RBs in PPR points over that span. (He was 11th in non-PPR.)

Now, a chunk of that production came in a 10-catch Week 13 outing. White finished with 2 or fewer grabs in 4 of those final 8 games. All told, though, was ranked among the top 24 PPR RBs in 5 of the final 8 weeks — including 3 top-7 finishes.

White seems set to step back into the same role at least early on this season. Lewis’ latest knee surgery is expected to sideline him 8-10 weeks. That makes him a strong candidate for the PUP list, which would cost him the first 6 games. His availability and effectiveness beyond that remain in question. It’s within the realm of possibility that White spends the entire year as New England’s pass-catching RB.

Tajae Sharpe, WR, Titans

Sharpe isn’t appearing here because of the 60-yard catch he made in last weekend’s preseason game. He’s appearing here because he’s been building momentum all offseason.

Sharpe impressed immediately in spring workouts, earning 1st-team reps. That’s no small feat for a 5th-round rookie — even in a weak Titans WR corps.

He opened training camp in the starting lineup and continued to shine.

“I would put him in the category of a natural football player who understands the game,” WRs coach Bob Bratkowski said in early August. “He operates at a level of a third-year professional. He’s got it figured out. He knows what it takes to be a pro, which is rare for a rookie.”

Sharpe’s strong play has rolled right into preseason action. He caught 2 balls for 35 yards in the opener, posted a 6-68 line in Week 2 and then had that long catch-and-run in the 3rd exhibition.

Sharpe leads all WRs in yards per route this preseason, according to PFF. And only 2 WRs have earned a better overall grade from PFF.

QB Marcus Mariota has been talking up his new toy all along the way: “[Tajae] makes it easy… creates separation in and out of [routes]… going to continue to expect these kinds of things out of him.”

Sharpe’s strong play was at least part of the reason Tennessee felt comfy dealing WR Dorial Green-Beckham to Philadelphia. That locks the rookie into the starting lineup — although he’d earned that role anyway.

Sharpe will need to contend with a run-heavy offense and a TE in Delanie Walker who will gobble up targets. But he looks like the type of talent who could blow by any reasonable statistical projection.

Kenny Stills, WR, Dolphins

We named Stills our Breakout Player just a couple of seasons ago, and even we were sleeping on this guy all offseason.

It was tough not to doze off after his quiet 2015 debut in Miami. Stills finished with just 27 catches for 440 yards and 3 scores. He was never a fantasy factor. And the late-season emergence of 1st-rounder DeVante Parker made Stills even tougher to love heading into 2016.

But he’s created a constant buzz all offseason. Adam Gase revealed shortly after becoming Miami’s HC that he tried to trade for Stills when he was in Chicago. The head man also mentioned multiple times that Stills would be more involved in the offense this year. Then he was 1 of the standouts of Fins training camp.

It’s all translated to the field in preseason action, where Stills has been heavily involved and productive. He’s hauled in 8 balls for 124 yards and 2 scores, looking in sync with QB Ryan Tannehill — something we didn’t see last season.

More importantly, Stills has been running as the #2 WR ahead of Parker. In Thursday night’s 3rd preseason game, Stills was on the field with Jarvis Landry for all 7 of Miami’s 2-WR snaps.

Between Gase’s arrival, an up-tempo system and what looks like a crappy defense, the Dolphins passing game could surprise this year. And Stills looks like a big part of it. The WR did leave Monday's practice with a back injury, but it's reportedly not believed to be serious.