Fantasy Sleepers

Sleepers

As critical as it is to hit home runs with your early draft picks, many championships are won by hitting it big with your middle and late round picks. Below, I give you five players at each position that should majorly outperform where they are ranked or typically being picked (according you Yahoo).

Quarterbacks

1. Peyton Manning – I don’t care about his injury, his new receiving core, or the new offense he will run. I consider him to be the greatest player of all time and history will show you that he dominates in fantasy. He’s being picked somewhere after 50. That’s ridiculous!

2. Philip Rivers – The sports world can be cruel. He was the trendy pick for MVP last pre-season. Now he’s barely inside the top ten quarterbacks taken in drafts so far this year. He lost Vincent Jackson but is surrounded by a much deeper, healthier, and happier group of receivers. If he cuts out the interceptions, look out!

3. Matt Schaub – Injuries and a running centered offense have caused Matt to fall in rankings. I’d be happy to take him to take him where he is ranked (116). He has put up top 10 numbers in numerous seasons, and he could do it again this year.

4. Jake Locker – Originally tabbed as a possible number one overall pick, Locker fell in the draft last year then spent most of the season on the bench. Rumors out of Titan’s camp are that Locker is looking like the starter. He’s not even being drafted in many leagues right now. He has the weapons around him and the physical tools to have some big games.

5. Kevin Kolb – This is all about potential. If he finally reaches it, he can thrive throwing it to Fitzgerald and Floyd. Of course he was supposed to break out last year and didn’t…

Running Backs

1. Chris Johnson – Many of you are thinking, why is he a sleeper… he is being picked at the back end of first rounds? I don’t think it’s high enough. I would take him in the top 5 this year for sure.

2. Reggie Bush – Currently being picked past pick 70, Bush is a steal for sure. He had his best season ever last year, and he will perform like that for the entire season this time around. In PPR leagues he is even better!

3. Stevan Ridley – This guy is taking over as the lead back in a dynamic Patriots offense. He will take over all BJGE’s carries and has way more upside. He can catch it out of the backfield and can bust any play into a long one.

4. James Starks – The Packers don’t throw it often, but Starks is the only back worth anything on the roster. If you ask me, I’d take a workhorse back playing on the best offense in the league for my bench. He is ranked outside the top 100 too.

5. Kevin Smith – News out of Lion’s camp is that Best won’t be cleared for weeks. Leshoure is out for a couple games already due to a suspension. That leaves Smith with two potential gems to start the season. You can get him late too… I mean possibly even on the waiver wire.

Wide Receivers

1. Brandon Lloyd – He dominated fantasy in 2010 with Kyle Orton and Tim Tebow throwing it to him. Don’t you think he can do it again with Tom Brady? Don’t know if he’ll put up Randy Moss numbers but he has that potential.

2. Desean Jackson – He is healthy and happy. Vick is back. And Andy Reid still likes to throw. Any questions?

3. Eric Decker – Playing with Peyton Manning could mean he gets 100 catches this year. And with his speed, that means he’ll be among the leaders in yards then too. He is ranked outside the top 25 WR’s currently so nab him.

4. Randall Cobb – As a rookie last year, Cobb had some big games, but also some downers. With Driver being weeded out, Cobb could be a dynamic slot receiver for Aaron Rodgers. That would make him worth taking past round ten.

5. Earl Bennett – Bennett is going undrafted in most drafts. But in deeper leagues, he should be picked and put on your bench. He still has great chemistry with Jay Cutler and could emerge opposite Marshall as a quality number two.

Tight Ends

1. Jermichael Finley – I was in a mock draft today where Finley slid to late in the sixth round. For a guy that will nearly certainly catch double digits TD’s, I don’t get it. He plays for the mighty Packers and is their best short yardage TD option.

2. Jacob Tamme – When paired with Manning in Indy for half a season, he put up top 5 numbers. That chemistry should be there again in Denver so expect similar numbers. He is ranked right around 100 overall. That’s a steal.

3. Owen Daniels – Currently falling into at least the ninth round, Daniels also could be an elite tight end. He dominated before his injury a couple years ago. Last year, he was splitting time with Dreessen (who is gone now) and coming back off injury (which is now fully healed).

4. Jared Cook – Many championships were one because of this guy’s late greatness. If he can continue that production, he is worth much more than his current price of a twelfth round pick.

5. Greg Olson – Olson is arguably the number two target behind Steve Smith for young Cam Newton. Yet he is ranked outside the top 150 overall. This guy will easily outdo that number. Pick him up!

So there you have it. These guys should all outperform where they are ranked/being drafted. Don’t let it happen in your draft. Draft these players and you may experience championship glory!

Andrew