Devin Funchess (WR, CAR) - 2016 Fantasy Football Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target ~155

CURRENT ADP: 167

ANALYSIS: Devin Funchess, entering his second season out of Michigan, stands a chiseled 6’5’’ and 236 lbs. When Kelvin Benjamin was sidelined for the entirety of the 2015 season with a left ACL tear, Funchess became an immediate fantasy sleeper, but was simply not polished enough to make an immediate impact. In his first seven games, the 21-year-old averaged three targets and one reception for a total of 90 receiving yards, but he broke out in Week 9 against the Packers, totaling three receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown. Over the last nine games of the season, he averaged 4.67 targets and 2.67 receptions, compiling 383 receiving yards and five scores.

Benjamin, Greg Olsen and Ted Ginn will certainly command a ton of the targets this year for Carolina. However, Cam Newton threw 35 touchdown passes to eight different players last year, and the presence of those other weapons will alleviate some of the defensive pressure on Funchess.

Funchess is currently being drafted at 13.01 on fantasy football calculator as the 56th wide receiver off the board, making for a nice sleeper with high touchdown upside in a young and explosive offense for the Carolina Panthers. Funchess has WR2 upside and is being drafted as a WR5, making him one of the more intriguing sleepers this summer.