Top 10 Fantasy Sleepers
By Joe Brown
Love of Sports Correspondent
There’s an abundance of sleeper lists out there, but this is a compilation of some guys who could be pleasant surprises available in the fourth round and beyond.
Everybody and their mother thinks they know what a sleeper is. However, you’ll see I tried to throw a few updated sleepers that you might not find on other lists.
This also considered recent transactions and preseason performances. Let me know what you think.
Top 10 Fantasy Sleepers
1. Thomas Jones, RB, New York Jets
By not investing a high draft pick or pricey free agent in the offseason, the Jets have shown their commitment to Jones, as they should. He was a workhorse in Chicago and came to the Jets as the focal point of the offense. Last year wasn’t great, but he has some things going for him that could point to a Top 10 RB ranking when it’s all said and done. First, the addition of long-time Steeler offensive line stalwart Alan Faneca will open holes that weren’t there last year. Also, they signed serviceable veteran Damien Woody. Second, young studs D’Brickshaw “The Dancing Bear” Ferguson and C Nick Mangold will help man the front line. Finally, Jones is one of the few backs who’s on a team that isn’t a RBBC (running back by committee) backfield.
2. Bryant Johnson, WR, San Francisco
He’s still fairly young and is in line to end up being the main beneficiary of the pass-happy express offense of Mike Martz. In Arizona, Johnson did a fine job picking up any scraps of the best WR tandem in football, with Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. If Martz can make an ex-safety cut by the Rams (Mike Furrey) the league leader in receptions, imagine what he could do with Johnson.
3. Jon Kitna, QB, Detroit
This isn’t based on Kitna’s skill level. It’s due more to him being undervalued this year after Mike Martz left town. He’ll be throwing to potentially one of the better pair of receivers in the league, in Roy Williams and the super-talented Calvin Johnson. A bigger commitment to the run and the freedom to call audibles under new offensive coordinator Jim Colletto could prove a lot of doubters wrong this year.
4. Jerricho Cotchery & Lavernous Coles, WR, New York Jets
These guys should both be bumped up about 10 spots in all the fantasy preview magazines since the addition of Favre. Cotchery’s shown consistency with 82 catches each year for the last two years. Coles has had some solid seasons in his career and finally gets a gun slinging quarterback.
5. Ray Rice, RB, Baltimore
Rice goes from “deep sleeper” to just “sleeper” since Willis McGahee’s injury puts his status for the first game in question. Even if he does play in that first game you can bet Cam Cameron will be cautious with overloading the veteran back.
6. Vince Young, QB, Tennessee
From a fantasy perspective, VY didn’t bring much to the table last year. However, he did lead his team to a playoff appearance. The addition of Chris “Mr. 4.24” Johnson should provide some nice high percentage completion passes he could take to the house. Also, the addition of TE Alge Crumpler should do wonders to at least increase some of Young’s stats. The WR won’t strike much fear in opposing defenses. Justin Gage is about as good as it gets in Dixieland, and that isn’t saying much.
7. Sidney Rice, WR, Minnesota
I could’ve put Bernard Berrian here, but pretty much every other publication has him as a sleeper already, so no thanks. I like Rice because he’s tall, has good hands and decent speed. Plus, he has a year under his belt. He was a monster at USC (the other one…Go Cocks!). He’s one year away from the magical “third year” for receivers, so he’s a good candidate for keeper leagues.
8. Brandon Jackson, RB, Green Bay
Store this one under, “super duper deep sleeper.” Ryan Grant was the waiver wire wonder last year. He’s a decent back who took the league by storm last year. This year, with #4 gone and the ability to sneak up on teams gone, I just don’t see why he’s going in the first and early second rounds of most drafts. Jackson’s a much quicker and faster back. He was great at Nebraska and is still young. Call this one more of a hunch, but I think Brandon might be a pleasant surprise for some owners this year.
9. Lee Evans, WR, Buffalo
Many owners have soured on him since he has failed to live up to expectations, myself included. However, I’ll likely give him one more shot. He finally has a perceived threat in rookie wideout James Hardy. Let’s be honest, Josh Reed wasn’t doing Lee any favors. With another year and full offseason with QB Trent Edwards, I think we see a nice bump in Evans fantasy relevance.
10. Andre Hall, RB, Denver
He filled in for two games last season when injuries ravaged Denver’s backfield, and he performed nicely. With fifth-round pick Ryan Torrian’s injury looming large, Hall’s in a better position to succeed. I’m not sold on Selvin Young and Torrian was a lot of people’s sleeper this year, so I’m going with Hall. Also, this preseason he has looked great.
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Comments
Gary Lloyd on 08/15 at 04:29 PM
Also, I’d throw in Kevin Smith from the Detroit Lions.
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