With the 80th selection of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals spent the first of two third-round picks on potential fantasy football surprise wide receiver Jermaine Burton.
Although the Bengals were once considered one of the best 3WR sets in the league, the team did not bring back Tyler Boyd and has contract issues with currently franchise-tagged player Tee Higgins — although he did show up for training camp. Burton will look to bolster the wide receiver room starting Week 1, as long as he can avoid scout rumors that call him an “undisciplined player.”
Below, we’ll look at how Burton fits into the Bengals’ offense in 2024. Burton currently comes off the board with an average draft position (ADP) of 16.08. As the WR76 in drafts, he has multiple opportunities to surpass his current ADP, making him a fantasy football dark horse in both PPR and non-PPR leagues this season.
With Tee Higgins on the team, Jermaine Burton will be the third option for Joe Burrow. He has concerns off the field/in the locker room, but as far as his talent goes, Matt Harmon is a big fan: “Jermaine Burton has the receiving profile I’d bet five times on.”
There are character issues here too, but the benefits are clear. With Tyler Boyd out of the way, Burton should at least be used in three-receiver sets.
*View Justin Edwards’ full player profile here*
Fantasy Football Sleeper: An ADP Bargain
He’s currently listed as the WR76 on 2024 Fantasy Football draft boards at 16.08, but drafters are proceeding with caution with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins standing in his way. But given how much the Bengals are expected to pass this season, Burton could provide secret spike weeks.
The downside to Burton is that he may not get enough playing time, but he has the ability to accomplish his goals incredibly efficiently.
*Check out 4for4’s award-winning rankings here*
You can read Justin Edwards’ full report on Jermaine Burton at 4for4:
What is a fantasy football sleeper?
A “fantasy football sleeper” is a player who is typically undervalued or overlooked in the draft but has the potential to exceed expectations and provide significant fantasy production.
How can I find running back fantasy football sleepers for the 2024 season?
Running back insider tips for the 2024 fantasy football season include young players who could make a significant impact and players who are expected to take on a larger role in their respective backfields.
What factors should I consider when evaluating a fantasy football sleeper?
When evaluating a fantasy football deep-seated prospect, consider factors such as his potential role in his team’s offense, his past performance and production, any changes to his situation (such as a new team or new coaching staff), and his overall talent and ability.
Is it a good strategy to target fantasy football sleepers in drafts?
Targeting surprise players in fantasy football drafts can be a good strategy, as it may allow you to find undervalued players who can provide significant fantasy production, but it’s important to balance your roster with more established and consistent players as well.
How can I identify potential 2024 fantasy football sleepers?
To identify potential dark horses in fantasy football, you can research players who have the potential for more playing time, who play in favorable offensive systems, who have shown strong performances in previous seasons, and who may be flying under the radar for a variety of reasons.
Who is wide receiver Jermaine Burton?
Burton was lined up wide on most of his snaps (80.1%) last season, but has experience out of the slot, particularly in 2022 when he was lined up inside at a 39.3% rate.
Over the past two seasons, Burton has caught 35 slot targets for 421 yards, or 12.03 yards per target. Out of 171 qualified receivers in the entire FBS in ’23, that would have been the 11th-highest rate.
His versatility in the lineup and his ability as a route runner have led both a pure metrics analyst (JJ Zachariason) and a more film-oriented analyst (Matt Waldman) to draw a comparison to Robert Woods, who was a phenomenal fantasy player when he was introduced to a great offense (2017-2021, Rams).
We can certainly see that happening with Burton, but we also have to consider character issues that kept him off some teams’ draft lists, which is likely why he fell to the third round. But the talent is there.
Who are some of the current dark horse picks in RB fantasy football that will finish outside of the first ten rounds?
Some options for fantasy managers could be Jerome Ford, Trey Benson or JK Dobbins.
Who are the other top wide receiver sleepers in fantasy football in PPR leagues?
Surprise candidates among wide receivers for fantasy leagues include Curtis Samuel, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Joshua Palmer.
*Check out 4for4’s award-winning fantasy football rankings here*
