With the turn from July to August, we have entered the final stretch of the NFL offseason. Training camps have come to conclusion, pre-season games have stirred local controversy. But the best part, fantasy football drafts are finding their way onto personal (and sometimes work) calendars. As readers start to prep their Mike Mayock 2.0 big boards and debate who is worth the first overall pick this year, those who are looking at making a deep playoff run are doing something else. The’yre exploring the coveted late rounds, and looking for sleepers. One name that should be on everyone’s sleeper list for a late WR3 or Flex needs to be Courtland Sutton.
Fantasy Sleeper
Sutton absolutely killed it at training camp. The 40th overall pick out of SMU, who is listed at 6’3” 218 lbs., turned heads all summer. Back shoulder fades, jump balls, sideline toe taps, you name it this guy has it in his arsenal. His route running was crisp and he was spinning defenders around as if they were being twirled in a local swing dance competition. This is someone who is not only finding his way onto the field this year; he is making a push to be the WR1 in a handful of offensive packages. Sutton not only impressed coaches, but he also impressed the local media.
The local media’s narrative for Sutton has shifted from wondering if he’s going to be the Broncos WR3 to arguing if he makes Emmanuel Sanders or even Demaryius Thomas the slot receiver this year. While it’s likely he will be the WR3/slot receiver for the majority of snaps on the field, where Sutton is really going to shine is in the red zone.
Match-Up Nightmare
Sutton is going to be an absolute nightmare for defenses in the red zone. His size and skill, and two very talented receivers who will already be drawing attention from defenses are going to give him a distinct advantage early on in the season. This is something that Case Keenum has already started to pick up on.
Keenum is already starting to hone in on his chemistry with Sutton, placing throws that only he can make a play on. It’s only a matter of time before Sutton becomes the second, if not the first read in red zone situations. The average CB height in the NFL is 71.89 inches or just a hair under 6’ tall. The average CB1 height is 71.93 inches, meaning the average matchup for Sutton will look like 75 inches lined up against 71.84 inches. With an average 3-inch height advantage, coupled with a 35.5-inch vertical, expect Sutton to be a red zone target for Keenum.
Back shoulder fades, jump balls, sideline toe taps, you name it this guy has it in his arsenal.
His route running was crisp and he was spinning defenders around as if they were being twirled in a local swing dance competition.
Sutton and Thomas are going to be the Two Towers of the West this year. While one draws the CB1, the other will have a distinct height advantage against almost all other secondaries in the NFL. Save yourself a waiver wire acquisition and use a late round draft pick on Sutton, this guy is going to do some damage early and often.
