Fantasy Football: One Deep Sleeper Candidate From Every NFL Team
Xavier Grimble, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
With James Conner and Juju Smith-Schuster already widely owned, one player on this Pittsburgh Steelers offense who could emerge from obscurity is Xavier Grimble. The former USC Trojan has been an annual disappointment ever since he was a five-star recruit coming out of high school, with injuries and inconsistency obscuring his natural talent.
But the Steelers have been high on Grimble, keeping him around on the practice squad and 53-man roster for the past two seasons, and they have been looking for a long-term answer at the position since Heath Miller retired. They swing and missed on Ladarius Green, and they took another hack today, swinging a trade for Vance McDonald, who is likely an upgrade over Jesse James but is far from a lock to seize the start role long term.
Grimble finished the 2016 season with 11 receptions for 118 yards and two touchdowns, demonstrating some of his playmaking ability in the process. However, he also has the reputation for dropping easy passes and has failed to make much of an impression this preseason.
The young tight end is certainly not guaranteed a spot on this roster, and he could be displaced by lesser talented players who are simply more consistent with their opportunity. But he's someone to at least keep an eye on.
While Miller was never a flashy player, he exceeded 750 yards in both 2012 and 2014, and it's not like injuries and suspensions aren't a risk with passing game weapons like Le'Veon Bell and Martavis Bryant. Grimble certainly isn't worth a roster spot in any format just yet, even in the deepest of leagues, but he is a player to watch as the final week of the preseason unfolds.