7 Deep Fantasy Football Sleepers for Week 1

Jordan Wilkins, RB, Indianapolis Colts

Yahoo! Ownership: 34%

Rookie running backs were in vogue this fantasy draft season. From Saquon Barkley to Royce Freeman to Kerryon Johnson, fantasy owners loaded their rosters with first-year backs. One rookie that seems to have slipped through the cracks a bit is Jordan Wilkins.

The former Ole Miss running back is available in nearly two-thirds of fantasy leagues but could produce like his higher-drafted counterparts from the start. A hamstring injury to presumptive Colts starter Marlon Mack in the first preseason game has seemingly moved Wilkins to the top of the depth chart for Week 1. Mack seems to be a longshot to play in what is shaping up to be a plus matchup against the Bengals.

Wilkins should be able to find success against a Cincinnati defense that allowed the fourth-most rushing yards and fantasy points to opposing running backs last season. Our preseason ranks have their rush defense in the bottom-10 of the NFL. Also helping out Wilkins' cause in Week 1 is game-flow.

The Colts are a 2.5-point favorite in what Vegas sees as the fourth-highest scoring game (48.0 over/under) of the week, possibly leaving the Colts to lean on the run while easing quarterback Andrew Luck back into his first regular season game since 2016.