Fantasy Football: One Deep Sleeper Candidate From Every NFL Team

Malcolm Brown, RB, Los Angeles Rams

This Los Angeles Rams roster is just teaming with unproven talent waiting to break out. Unfortunately, this Rams roster is teaming with unproven talent who haven't broken out. Names like Jared Goff, Tyler Higbee, Josh Reynolds, Justin Davis, Mike Thomas, and Gerald Everett are all talented players with the potential to outperform expectations if new head coach Sean McVay can somehow turn this Rams offense into a competent unit.

But the player who probably is the closest to being a relevant fantasy asset is little known backup running back Malcolm Brown. The former top high school recruit was a disappointment throughout his college career at Texas, with injuries and an inept offense certainly affecting his performance. He was signed by the Rams as an undrafted free agent following the 2015 NFL Draft.

Brown is big back at 5'11", 225 pounds with good feet and enough speed. The biggest questions on him coming out of college beyond production and durability were his creativity and instincts as a runner, but considering how quickly he has climbed the depth chart, the Rams clearly have been impressed with what he can bring to the table as the lead backup to Todd Gurley.

In the 2016 preseason, he really made his mark, rushing 27 times for 155 yards in three games, earning a spot on the 53-man roster for much the regular season. The team brought in Lance Dunbar to offer a complementary role to Gurley and serve as a pass-game weapon, but he will begin the season on the PUP list and has struggled to regain his form following knee surgery.

The only other non-Gurley back to get meaningful action this preseason is rookie Justin Davis, who is an exciting player with incredible burst, but who couldn't stop putting the ball on the ground in his first NFL contest. As it stands, this is Brown's job, and he has more ability than perhaps some are giving him credit for.

Should Gurley miss time in 2017, expect Brown to be a major factor in this backfield, and he is talented enough to be more than just an average placeholder. In deeper formats, the Gurley owner should certainly consider rostering him, but he should receive consideration from all owners if he can continue to develop this preseason.