7 Deep Sleeper Defensive Linemen

Photo: Ron Chenoy, USA Today Sports

A fantasy draft is all about obtaining the most value with each selection. Value is available throughout a draft, and grabbing it is one of the most important keys to a successful fantasy team. This article specifically targets deep sleeper value (players that can be found very late in a fantasy draft). To point out this value, we asked our staff to look through IDP ADP from TheIDPShow.com and identify players that should significantly outperform their late draft position. These players should be your targets late in your draft.

Related: 8 Undervalued Defensive Linemen
Related: 5 Overvalued Defensive Linemen

Here are the defensive linemen who received the most deep sleeper votes:

• Randy Gregory
• Drake Jackson
• Joe Tryon-Shoyinka

And here are all of the players mentioned and the reasons why.

Player Receiving 3 Votes

Randy Gregory, Denver Broncos

Kyle Bellefeuil: The Broncos made a hefty investment in Randy Gregory, signing him to a five-year $70 million contract last offseason. Unfortunately, Gregory struggled to stay healthy, only appearing in six games during the 2022 season. However, when Gregory played, he made an impact. In the six games Gregory logged, he notched a pair of sacks, had seven quarterback hits, and brought the heat off the edge with a 17.5% pressure rate, per Pro Football Focus. Talent hasn’t been the issue with Gregory throughout his career, it’s been his ability to stay on the field. There’s no doubt drafting Gregory is a bit of a gamble. However, he’s currently being drafted outside of the Top-65 defensive lineman. Given his low cost to acquire, Gregory is worth a late dart to see if he can stay healthy and deliver ln his second season as a Bronco.

Gary Davenport: In 2022, the Broncos handed Gregory a five-year, $70 million free-agent contract. The return on investment in Year 1 was…not so good—12 tackles and two sacks in six games. It was a disappointment that only served to underscore the durability issues that have dogged Gregory throughout his career. But Gregory generated 20 pressures on just 114 pass rush snaps last year, and his pass rush win rate last season before getting hurt was an impressive 17.5 percent. Those are better numbers than a score of players who are being drafted ahead of him this year. Is there any guarantee Gregory will stay on the field in 2023? No. But getting a talented starter for what amounts to nothing on draft day is worth that risk.

Tripp Brebner: Is there a more enigmatic duo of bookends in the league than Randy Gregory and Frank Clark? Gregory epitomizes the cliche, "Can't stay on the field." When he is out there, he's clearly a skilled pass rusher. He fits nicely into new defensive coordinator Vance Joseph's weak-side edge role, where he can use his athleticism in space to get upfield in an aggressive scheme. He's interesting in big-play-scoring formats with true-position designations.

Players Receiving 2 Votes

Drake Jackson, San Francisco 49ers

Kyle Bellefeuil: There is an opening across from star Nick Bosa along the San Francisco defensive line. With both Samson Ebukam (559 snaps in 2022) and Charles Omenihu (573 snaps in 2022) moving on during free agency, the 49ers will turn to Drake Jackson to help fill the void in his second season. Jackson, San Francisco’s 2022 second-round pick, had an up-and-down rookie year. Jackson did flash his talent as a rookie, collecting three sacks in a four-game span (Weeks 3-6). However, he was inactive for five of the team's last six games (including playoffs). Jackson has been reportedly grinding all offseason, bulking up his frame to get ready for the heightened workload. The 49ers bought in minimal competition, and it appears it’s Jackson’s job to lose. Jackson is a late-round pick that could pay dividends if he hits his stride in year two, playing along a talented 49er defensive line.

Matt Montgomery: Opportunity is knocking in San Francisco this year, and the first shot opposite of the elite Nick Bosa will be Drake Jackson. Jackson is a second-year man from USC who didn’t garner many statistics last season but wasn’t exactly playing a bunch. Look for the former second-round pick to improve upon his 14-tackle, three-sack rookie season with many more snaps on a defense loaded with credible talent. It has been documented that Jackson is taking the role more seriously than last year and focusing on building up his body more this year to handle the additional load.