Who Are The Biggest Fantasy Football Sleepers This Year?

hellblazer

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For those of you who play in leagues, who do you think some underrated sleepers or breakout stars are?

I'm looking at Bernard for the Bengals, Austin for the Rams, Vereen/Dobson for the Pats and Bell for the Steelers off the top of my head.

Thoughts?
 


From the minds at ESPN

The Top Five
Staff Sleepers (MORE »)
By Fantasy Staff
1. Ryan Tannehill, QB, Miami Dolphins

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Will this be Tannehill's breakout season? The QB struggled in his rookie year, earning only 171 fantasy points, but confidence is high to start '13 and the addition of Mike Wallace will give him both a downfield passing option and significant fantasy upside.

2. Justin Forsett, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

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Forsett averaged 5.9 yards per carry as a backup for the Houston Texans last year, and with Maurice Jones-Drew still recovering from a foot injury, Forsett could be in line for chances. If you're planning on owning MJD, keep an eye on Forsett in the later rounds.

3. Julian Edelman, WR, New England Patriots

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Someone has to catch those passes from Tom Brady, and Danny Amendola can't get 'em all. Creativity has long been a staple of offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels' résumé, so look for him to find ways to manufacture touches for talented but injury-prone Edelman.

4. Emmanuel Sanders, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

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While Antonio Brown will be No. 1 to replace Mike Wallace, Sanders equally has a big opportunity. His quarterback trusts him, and Sanders convinced the Steelers front office to match an offer made by the Patriots during the offeseason to keep him around.

5. Jordan Cameron, TE, Cleveland Browns

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Cameron is one of KC Joyner's five most undervalued tight ends
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to enter the season. He's big and athletic, and his new playcallers are Rob Chudzinski and Norv Turner, who have spent their NFL lives turning tight ends into fantasy stars. Cameron is projected for 69 points this season.
 
For those of you who play in leagues, who do you think some underrated sleepers or breakout stars are?

I'm looking at Bernard for the Bengals, Austin for the Rams, Vereen/Dobson for the Pats and Bell for the Steelers off the top of my head.

Thoughts?


Thoughts???? You listed 4 rookies and Vereen? You suck! Those are my thoughts!
 
From the names you listed sounds like you're looking for undervalued players rather than true sleepers. In that case I'm expecting big things from Dwayne Bowe and TY Hilton. Lamar Miller also looks like great value though he's rising in the rankings of late.

For true late round sleepers, there's a few I really like:
Rob Housler - Palmer loves his tight ends and is going to have to throw all day
Alshon Jeffrey - Seems like he's finally putting it together
Stepfan Taylor - probably not worth draft in normal leagues but keep an eye on him. has all the talent in the world and the guys ahead of him are injury prone and terrible
Justin Blackmon - suspended 4 games and huge character issues but he turned it on late last year
 
Semi sleeper, Golden Tate is gonna rack up some catches this year. Seahawks #FTW

I love my Hawks but I try not to draft any of those guys in Fantasy leagues, simply because Carrrol likes to spread it around a lot, not to mention run the ball with Lynch. Plus, every other WR not named Percy Harvin is a 2nd WR type. Tate, Sidney Rice, Doug Baldwin, and a pretty good tight end in Zach Miller will all get equal shares. So yeah, Tate might have a better year than last but I don't think he'll catch more than 60-65 balls or so with maybe 6-7 TDs.
 
Yea, more of a flex / 3rd WR at best. I am gonna try and draft @DangeRussWilson though if I can get him later on.

I love my Hawks but I try not to draft any of those guys in Fantasy leagues, simply because Carrrol likes to spread it around a lot, not to mention run the ball with Lynch. Plus, every other WR not named Percy Harvin is a 2nd WR type. Tate, Sidney Rice, Doug Baldwin, and a pretty good tight end in Zach Miller will all get equal shares. So yeah, Tate might have a better year than last but I don't think he'll catch more than 60-65 balls or so with maybe 6-7 TDs.
 
I like Julian Edelman who I took somewhere around the 12th round in my league. It's only a matter of time before Amendola gets hurt and he's Brady's favorite target.
 
Keep an eye on Bryce Brown (RB Eagles). This guy is a beast. Reminds me a little of Bo Jackson. He may be a good sleeper in the later rounds. I can see him getting a good amount of carries, and if McCoy gets hurt, watch out. Has a bit of a fumbling problem, but I think he gets it corrected.
 
Seyi Ajirotutu may very well end up as Philip Rivers' favorite target this year for SD. He could be this year's Danario Alexander.

Also Dallas Clark may get a lot of targets from Joe Flacco with Boldin gone, Pitta hurt and now Visanthe Shiancoe cut.

I've heard some talk that Mike Vick could have a good year under Chip Kelly as well.

LaMichael James is a young stud RB/kick returner for SF and if Frank Gore goes down (who's 30 and had 321 carries last year) could see a lot of action.


If you're in a defensive league take a look at Dwight Freeney (looking fresh for SD) and Terrell Suggs with Dumervil attracting attention from the other outside LB position for Balt.
 
I'd put Gronk as a sleeper too if he ends up on the PUP list. He'd be back for week 7 and presumably healthy.
 
I'd put Gronk as a sleeper too if he ends up on the PUP list. He'd be back for week 7 and presumably healthy.

How can the most talked about player going into the season (even more than Tebow) be considered a sleeper. Everybody is watching his injury updates and he'll rise and fall wildly based on them. If he's on the PUP I wouldn't touch him short of round 15. I can't remember a time when drafting and holding a player who's supposed to miss 6-10 weeks has panned out. Vincent Jackson in the holdout season, Manning in the neck surgery season, etc. It seems clever at the time but your team hurts badly as soon as bye weeks and injuries to your active players with the wasted roster spot, and if/when he eventually comes back guys who miss half the season almost never play well their first month back.

If you guys want a truly deep sleeper who could end up being the guy who wins you your league, or, more likely, amounts to nothing... Denard Robinson. The guy is listed at RB, the position with the least depth, yet he's playing on special teams, wide receiver, as well as quarterback. Given that Henne and Gabbert suck there's a chance if he plays well he could end up being their starting QB or at least getting more than the 15 snaps per game the coaches currently expect. He's a real longshot, but if he comes good, you could have this year's breakout running QB, and be able to start him as a running back, essentially giving yourself two QBs.

I'm not saying it's a certainty by any means. The guy still needs to learn the NFL, his game is based on speed yet he'll no longer be the fastest guy on the field, and he has fumbling issues, which is pretty much the same as banging the coach's wife in terms of getting in his doghouse. Still, if he starts putting up some points and getting more snaps, grab him off waivers, the guy could end up winning you your league.
 
How can the most talked about player going into the season (even more than Tebow) be considered a sleeper. Everybody is watching his injury updates and he'll rise and fall wildly based on them. If he's on the PUP I wouldn't touch him short of round 15. I can't remember a time when drafting and holding a player who's supposed to miss 6-10 weeks has panned out. Vincent Jackson in the holdout season, Manning in the neck surgery season, etc. It seems clever at the time but your team hurts badly as soon as bye weeks and injuries to your active players with the wasted roster spot, and if/when he eventually comes back guys who miss half the season almost never play well their first month back.

If you guys want a truly deep sleeper who could end up being the guy who wins you your league, or, more likely, amounts to nothing... Denard Robinson. The guy is listed at RB, the position with the least depth, yet he's playing on special teams, wide receiver, as well as quarterback. Given that Henne and Gabbert suck there's a chance if he plays well he could end up being their starting QB or at least getting more than the 15 snaps per game the coaches currently expect. He's a real longshot, but if he comes good, you could have this year's breakout running QB, and be able to start him as a running back, essentially giving yourself two QBs.

I'm not saying it's a certainty by any means. The guy still needs to learn the NFL, his game is based on speed yet he'll no longer be the fastest guy on the field, and he has fumbling issues, which is pretty much the same as banging the coach's wife in terms of getting in his doghouse. Still, if he starts putting up some points and getting more snaps, grab him off waivers, the guy could end up winning you your league.

Thx, I'll keep my eye on Robinson. Regarding Gronk what I've heard is that if he goes on the PUP he'll be ready to go by the time he gets off of it. And a lot of peeps may overlook him with the Hernandez debacle commanding the news.