Sleeper Watch

Josh Reed had a solid rookie season. Buffalo’s second-round pick caught 37 passes for 514 yards, and reached the endzone twice (both scores coming in the season’s first three weeks), very respectable numbers for a first-year wide receiver. This year, however, we expect far more.

Peerless Price has packed his bags for Atlanta, leaving Reed as the Bills’ #2 receiver, a role he should fill admirably. With defenses focusing on stopping both Eric Moulds and Travis Henry, Reed should find plenty of opportunities to display the skills that earned him the 2001 Biletnikoff Award as college football’s top receiver.

The LSU product showed flashes of greatness last season, and should be even more comfortable in Buffalo’s offense now that he has a year under his belt. Reed combines toughness with good hands, and his leaping ability makes up for his lack of size (5′10″).

Reed might not post quite as gaudy numbers as Price did in 2002, but he should keep Buffalo’s passing attack rolling, and become a very valuable fantasy asset. Keep him in mind on draft day.