Sammy Watkins is considered major fantasy football sleeper

CBS Sports pointed to Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Sammy Watkins as a primary sleeper in fantasy football for the 2019 season.

It might be a bit weird to think that fantasy football leagues are already starting up and conducting their draft days, but with the dust of free agency largely settled and the NFL Draft behind us, it makes sense for some people to fill the doldrums of the offseason with some drafts of their own.

Early in the fantasy football analysis for 2019 is word that Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Sammy Watkins is being considered a major sleeper. The Chiefs would certainly love to see Watkins produce as much as some draft analysts believe he will, because it would mean staying healthy for a full season—something that’s only happened twice in his five-year pro career.

Watkins missed several games last season with a foot injury suffered midseason against the Cleveland Browns. He tried to return before the season was over but played only a single series in that game against the Rams in primetime and the Chiefs finally held him back for the playoffs. He started 9 of 16 games and lived up to those critics of his signing who said he couldn’t be trusted to stay on the field given the rate of pay that Brett Veach provided him.

Yet CBS Sports seems to think that Watkins should be able to put all of that behind him, or at least isn’t worried about this foot injury being a lingering concern. In fact, their primary offensive concern for the Chiefs is Tyreek Hill and how much he will play, if at all. If Hill is forced out for any reasonable amount of time, it makes Watkins a primary fantasy football target this offseason.

"The uncertainty surrounding Tyreek Hill leaves the Chiefs’ offense in a position where it might have to replace over 1,600 yards from scrimmage and 13 total touchdowns. That’s not all going to come from Watkins, but it would mean a considerable jump in productivity from the 40 catches for 519 yards and three touchdowns he put up over 10 games last season, a 64-catch, 830-yard, five-touchdown pace over a full season."

Watkins could certainly carry the Chiefs offense if needed as a primary receiver. He’s served in that capacity before and, when healthy, he’s near impossible to bring down after the catch. While defenses would learn to key in on him, the Chiefs also drafted Mecole Hardman to make sure the field stays plenty vertical for defenses.

Altogether, any and all of the Chiefs receivers could put up stellar numbers, but they also each come with their own risk. Watkins is currently being called underrated or undervalued. It will be interesting to see how the season plays out.