Fantasy Football 2018: Top 5 Sleepers, Busts

As the 2018 NFL Football season comes charging at us like a running back on a mission, the fantasy football season is also coming up.

If you're a fantasy football player, you may be looking at the players in this year's draft pool and wondering which ones might be the smart pickups — and which ones might be worth avoiding early on.

We reached out to Aaron Larson, Fantasy Football expert and contributing writer for Dynasty Football Factory online. Larson, a native of Oak Creek, has provided for us his top 5 sleepers and busts for 2018.

A sleeper in this context is defined as a player who might perform better than expected this year. And a bust is defined as a player who may perform below expectations this year.

Here are Aaron's Top 5 Sleepers and Top 5 Busts

Sleepers:

QB: Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals

Andy Dalton is a proven NFL quarterback that will almost definitely play all 16 games this season. He has the proven stud receiver AJ Green to go along with up and coming John Ross. Best of all you can get him at the tail completion of your draft.

RB: Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns

Rookie running backs have had a great streak of rising to the top of crowded backfields in recent years. I see Nick Chubb as this year’s rookie sleeper, eventually supplanting Carlos Hyde and getting plenty of goal-line carries in the revamped Cleveland offense.

WR: Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams

Cooper Kupp saw 23 red zone targets in 2017. Only Jimmy Graham (26) and Keenan Allen (24) saw more, while Davante Adams tied with 23. Kupp is poised to take a step forward in 2018 and could finish as a top 12 fantasy receiver.

TE: David Njoku, Cleveland Browns

Cleveland added new quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers headed into 2018, but Njoku could prove to be one of their best offensive weapons. Tight ends have a history of taking big steps forward in their second NFL seasons, and as a large athletic red zone target, Njoku perfectly fits the mold of breakout tight end.

Busts

QB: Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans

Watson should have a fine year, but there is no way he can continue the pace he was on before injuring his knee in 2017. The biggest problem with him is how high he is getting drafted. You can get Russell Wilson one round later or Cam Newton two rounds later and use the earlier pick on a top end WR or RB.

RB: Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings

I simply don’t think Cook can sustain the 4 game pace he started with last season. Especially coming off of the ACL injury and with a healthy Latavius Murray ready to steal goalline carries. Much like Watson, I think Cook will have a fine season, but not as good as his current draft price.

WR: Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings

I can’t imagine Thielen reproducing last year’s performance, but that’s how he is being drafted. New Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins is known to spread the ball around and has never supported a true top fantasy receiver.

TE: Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers

The combination of age, injury history, and new weapons in Carolina are enough to keep me away from drafting Greg Olsen in 2018. There are just too many other tight ends I would rather take my chance on.

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Main Image, Patch File Photo

Submitted Photo of Aaron Larson