Fantasy Football: One Deep Sleeper Candidate From Every NFL Team

Kenyan Drake, RB, Miami Dolphins

As an athlete, very few backs could compete with Alabama running back Kenyan Drake coming out of the 2016 NFL Draft. He was explosive (4.45 40) at 210 pounds, and he was a big-play specialist for the Crimson Tide behind workhorses like Derrick Henry and T.J. Yeldon. But even as a third-round pick by the Miami Dolphins, it was apparent that he didn't have the instincts or physicality of an inside runner.

Drake failed to make much of an impact as a rookie, and he didn't see the field much following the emergence of Jay Ajayi. Drake still occupies that role behind current backup Damien Williams, and his stock in the dynasty world continues to fall as concussions have limited his opportunities over the summer.

But make no mistake, Drake is immensely talented as a space player and receiver, with obvious room to grow if he ever matures into more than just a specialty player. The reason he makes this list, however, is because NFL players, with coaching, have the potential to develop. In addition, the NFL is clearly a passing league, with most NFL backfields employing a platoon of weapons capable of filling different roles. Feature backs are rare, and specialists can play a significant role in fantasy.

While Ajayi is entrenched as one of the few feature backs in the league, let's not forget that he plummeted in the NFL draft due to reports that his knee was a ticking time bomb, and that his career would likely be short. He also runs with a physicality that exposes him to a lot of contact, increasing his chance at sustaining injuries.

That being said, it must be noted that it is extremely rare for a player who wasn't featured in college -- like Drake -- to become a major contributor on the NFL level. Drake had just 233 carries in his college career, although he was obviously overshadowed by immensely talented guys at Alabama. Players like Felix Jones, Peyton Hillis, Pierre Thomas or Priest Holmes are perhaps examples of college role players who carved out NFL roles. The Saints are hoping to do something similar with Alvin Kamara.

For Drake to really become more than a bigger version of Tavon Austin, it will take the convergence of multiple factors, and the unlikelihood of it all happening is reflected in his price. While I remain doubtful that he will ever develop into a competent inside runner, his explosiveness as a multi-purpose weapon is hard to ignore at his price, and he is worth a backend spot on a deep dynasty roster.