Fantasy Football Sleepers
Written by Bob Whalon, Monday August 30 2010
This fantasy football article is not going to tell you that Adrian Peterson and Chris Johnson are the top players to pick. If you don't know that, then you shouldn't be wasting other people's time by ruining an otherwise competitive league. No, the purpose of this article is to help you find the diamonds in the rough in the middle to late rounds of your draft. That's where championships are won. And that's why I won, 2 of the 3 fantasy football leagues I was in last year, including the Playerpress Writers League.
Jay Cutler, QB, Bears
After the turd Cutler threw up last season, fantasy nation has soured on Cutler. You can use that to your advantage. He deserved your scorn last season with 7 mutli-INT outings. That's the kind of thing that kills your team. The reason to draft Cutler in the middle rounds this season is that Mike Martz is his new offensive coordinator. Martz improves offenses instantly everywhere he goes. Cutler isn't a flashy QB, but he has a canon for an arm and waiting on him will allow you to draft stud WRs and RBs early.
Eli Manning, QB, Giants
I actually drafted Manning in the 9th round of a 10-team, 16 round draft this year. By waiting to take him I have guys like Jonathan Stewart and Hines Ward who can't even start for my team. Manning threw for career highs in yards (4,021) and TDs (27) last year. That's not what you'll get from Aaron Rodgers or Drew Brees, but those guys might cost you a first or early second round pick. I backed him up two rounds later with my next Sleeper.
Chad Henne, QB, Dolphins
The reason Henne is a viable option as a backup QB in 2010 is named Brandon Marshall. Henne had a good season without Marshall, but now he has a legitimate #1 WR and lethal red-zone target. Over the last three seasons, Marshall has accumulated at least 1,100 yards and 100+ catches. And he had Kyle Orton chucking him the rock last season. Henne is better than Orton and now he's a viable fantasy QB with Marshall to catch his passes.
Arian Foster, RB, Texans
There may be people out there who are not aware of Ben Tate's season ending injury. That means that it's only Foster and the human fumble-machine, Steve Slaton vying for carries in Houston. Slaton is also coming back from season-ending neck surgery and seems destined for the 3rd down role. Foster showed something special in the final two games last year, rushing for 216 yards and 3 TDs. Most fantasy magazines were printed in April and don't even have him listed among the top 50 players. You can use your opponents dated lists to grab a top-20 RB in the 6th round.
Jonathan Stewart, RB, Panthers
I already told you I have Stewart on my bench. That's because I was able to scoop "The Daily Show" up in the 6th round. I know what you're thinking. DeAngelo Williams is the starter in Carolina. Not exactly. Stewart actually had more carries than Williams last year and finished with 1,272 yards and 10 TDs. He isn't a pass catcher so he's less valuable in PPR leagues, but he is the unquestioned short yardage back. 1,200 yards and 10 TDs in the 6th round? What's not to love?
Clinton Portis, RB, Redskins
Don't laugh. I saw Portis go in the 7th and 8th rounds of drafts this past weekend. While he's got some serious mileage on his tires, that's exceptional value for the unquestioned #1 RB in a Mike Shanahan offense. Shanahan loves to run the football and Portis had back-to-back 1,500 yard seasons under him in Denver. Plus Larry Johnson and Willie Parker are old and done. Although it might seem like Portis has been around for a long time he's only 28. He won't carry your team, but he's a great guy to have for those bye weeks.
Pierre Garcon, WR, Colts
Garcon's draft value is being held down by the other weapons in Indy, namely Wayne and Clark. Yes, both of them will get their looks, but Peyton won't ignore the guy who led all players with 21 catches and 251 receiving yards in the postseason. He's the unquestioned #2 WR in a pass-first offense and he won't ever see double coverage. The best part is that he can be had in the 7th or 8th round.
Mike Wallace, WR, Steelers
Who? Well he just happens to be Santonio Holmes' replacement as the #2 WR in Pittsburgh opposite Hines Ward. Ward is the possession receiver while Wallace is the deep threat. He has 4.33 - 40 speed, so he can fly. With Roethlisberger's suspension making other owners afraid to draft a guy who will be catching passes from Byron Leftwich for 4 weeks, you should man-up and take this potential top-20 talent available in the 7th or 8th round. You won't be sorry.
Johnny Knox, WR, Bears
This speedster posted a nice 45-527-6 line in his rookie year. And now Mike Martz is bringing his "Greatest Show on Turf" offense to Chicago. Cutler certainly has the arm to get him the ball downfield and Martz will have him flinging it all over the place. Don't waste your time with Devin Hester, take Knox in the in the 6th or 7th round instead.
Jermichael Finley, TE, Packers
He's not exactly a sleeper since he's going in the top 5 to 7 TEs in most drafts, but he will probably outperform most of the other top picks. Only 4 TEs saw more red zone targets than this 6'5, 250-pounder last season. With Aaron Rodgers as his QB in the Packers pass-happy offense, Finley is sure to provide great value after the big name TEs are off the board. I actually think he'll finish as a top-3 TE in 2010.
John Carlson, TE, Seahawks
How would you like to get a TE who has caught at least 50 passes and 5 TDs in each of the last two seasons in the 13th round? That's exactly what I did and I couldn't be happier with my backup TE. Actually, considering that my starter, Owen Daniels, is coming back from surgery Carlson just might be my starting TE. Gotta love that value.
Dustin Keller, TE, Jets
Want a guy you can get with your last draft pick who will actually contribute? Then Dustin Keller is your man. Keller was on a bunch of Sleeper lists last year, then proceeded to lay an egg (522 yards and 2 TDs). Then in the playoffs, he totaled 181 yards and 3 TDs in 3 games. It's that kind of potential that makes him worth a flier at the end of any draft.
If you're looking for sleepers among Kickers or Defense/Special Teams, please send me an invite to join your league at this website. I could use some easy money playing in a league with suckers like you.
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