Sleepers: 2 Cornerbacks to Target

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A fantasy draft is all about obtaining the most value with each selection. Value is available throughout a draft; grabbing it is one of the most important keys to a successful fantasy team. This article specifically targets deep sleeper value (players that can be found later in a fantasy draft). To point out this value, we asked our staff to look deeper than the Top 150 and identify players that should significantly outperform their late draft position. These players should be your targets in the second half of your draft. Thanks to the folks at TheIDPShow.com for the ADP. 

RELATED: See Undervalued Cornerbacks here >>>
RELATED: See Overvalued Cornerback here >>>

Here are the players who received the most votes:

• Taron Johnson, Buffalo
• D.J. Reed, New York Jets

And here are all of the players mentioned and the reasons why.

Sleepers Receiving 2 Votes

Taron Johnson, Buffalo

Kyle Bellefeuil: Johnson operates as the nickel for the Buffalo defense, spending just about all of his time in the box and slot area, close to the action. His role has led to Johnson hitting the 90 tackle mark in three of his last four seasons, compiling a career-best 98 tackles (72 solos) in 2023. Going outside the top 15 cornerbacks, it seems there are IDP drafters who are sleeping on how productive Johnson is.

Tripp Brebner: Bills slot cornerback Taron Johnson has finished as a CB1 in three of the past four seasons. He was a CB2 with 3.0 sacks in the other (2021). He just signed a three-year, $31 million extension. The defense under head coach Sean McDermott should be substantially similar in 2024. There's no reasonable explanation for his omission from the top 15 cornerbacks by ADP.

D.J. Reed, New York Jets

Kyle Bellefeuil: Reed has been quietly productive since joining the Jets, averaging 78 tackles and 10.5 passes defended over his two seasons in New York. Teams will likely take their chances testing Reed more often than his ultra-talented counterpart on the outside, Sauce Gardner. If you're looking for a cornerback in deep true-position leagues where you start a minimum of two at the position, Reed is worth a look.

Gary Davenport
There are a couple of things that IDP managers should look for in cornerbacks. One is consistent tackle production—it offers a weekly fantasy baseline that comes in handy. The second is playing opposite an elite cover corner—that means consistent targets. Reed checks both those boxes. In each of the past three years, Reed has recorded at least 75 stops and 60 solos, including 76 tackles in 2023. And while he's a fine coverage player in his own right, playing with Ahmad Gardner tends to get him thrown at. Last year's top-20 finish among cornerbacks in fantasy points per game was no fluke—that's Reed's IDP floor.

Bonus Sleeper Cornerbacks

In addition to the two sleepers listed above, these players got a single vote each.

Brandon Stephens, Baltimore

Gary Davenport: In a blurb about Stephens, asking, "Guess who the most targeted cornerback in the entire NFL was last year?" feels a tad rhetorical, but sure enough, it was Stephens, who was thrown at 118 times despite a respectable passer rating against of 80.6. Even better, Stephens has been in the league three seasons. In two of those years, he has topped 70 stops, including 74 in 2023. He has returned at least one interception for a score in all three years—including multiple times twice. Oh, and Stephens opens the season in Arrowhead against Patrick Mahomes II and Kansas City's new-look passing game.

Kool-Aid McKinstry, New Orleans

Tripp Brebner: The best formula for a CB1 season is a full-time role that transitions the player to the slot in subpackages. The Saints are developing rookie Kool-Aid McKinstry for these duties in OTAs. Incumbent CBs Paulson Adebo and Alontae Taylor have taken their lumps as pros. McKinstry was considered a first-round prospect by many draft analysts. Eventually drafted in the second round, he might be a windfall for the Saints and fantasy gamers. If he wins the role, he's training for the opposite Marshon Lattimore, and he's the perfect draft pick for fantasy gamers chasing the rookie corner rule.

Rasul Douglas, Buffalo

Joseph Haggan: Douglas's last four seasons have been nothing short of spectacular from an IDP standpoint. Over that span, he has 259 tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, 14 interceptions, 49 passes defended, and three touchdowns. The man seems scheme-proof, too. He played for three different teams in those four years. Douglas is a sure tackler with an undeniable nose for the football. He is a certifiable CB1 that gets lost in the shuffle.

Terrion Arnold, Detroit

Joseph Haggan: Arnold finds himself in a position where he may get picked on as a rookie. The Lions have an incredible defense and an especially stout secondary. They added Carlton Davis this off-season to be their CB1, Brian Branch has already proven to be one of the best slot corners in the league, Kerby Joseph has shown ball-hawking ability, and Ifeatu Melifonwu finished 2023 as a big play wrecking ball. Arnold is the only unknown NFL commodity. Cornerbacks produce high-level IDP production by getting volume snaps and being heavily targeted. With the rest of the secondary striking fear into its opponents, Arnold will likely be the first corner tested and attacked on this team.

Paulson Adebo, New Orleans

John Norton: Adebo is among the most underrated corners in the NFL and fantasy leagues. Playing opposite one of the best in Marshawn Lattimore, Adebo is heavily targeted by offenses. He gives up a lot of completions but not much after the catch or deep. That combination means a lot of tackles. Adebo has at least 51 solo stops in all three years as a pro. He was 60-16-0 with four picks, two forced and two recovered fumbles, and a whopping 18 passes defended. That was good enough to make him a top-three corner in most leagues, and it was not a fluke. 

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