8 Fantasy Football Sleepers for Week 1

Brock Osweiler, QB, Houston Texans

In 2015, the Chicago Bears finished 30th against the pass, according to our schedule-adjusted Defensive Passing Net Expected Points (NEP) per drop back metric.

This is a defense that allowed 8.0 adjusted passing yards per attempt (the fourth-highest in the league), and the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. On top of all that, they may be without top corner Kyle Fuller this week as he recovers from a knee scope.

The sample size is small, but Brock Osweiler wasn't exactly elite last year, but this matchup is so enticing. Last year, Osweiler was below average, ranking 26th in Passing NEP per drop back among the 46 quarterbacks to record 100-plus dropbacks, and he was 30th in that same group in fantasy points per attempt. Not great but not awful.

Osweiler will also have an interesting array of weapons at his disposal in wideout DeAndre Hopkins, who finished fourth in the NFL in Reception NEP last year, and Lamar Miller, who ranked 28th in Rushing NEP per carry among the 72 backs with 50-plus carries on the season. If he's healthy, Will Fuller, a first-round pick with 4.32 40-speed, is expected to start and add a deep-threat element to the offense.

There is some uncertainty here, for sure, but there is also a lot to be excited about.