Sleeper Watch

If you’re in a standard fantasy league, you’ll probably only be including wide receivers listed first or second on their teams’ depth charts on your 2005 cheat sheets (with a handful of exceptions such as the Colts’ Brandon Stokley). In deeper formats, however, finding productive #3 receivers is often a key to success, and one such WR worth keeping an eye on is St. Louis’ Kevin Curtis.

Last year, Curtis was a fantasy non-factor, compiling 322 receiving yards and two scores through week 16. But once most fantasy leagues’ title games were all wrapped up, the former third-round pick caught fire. In the regular season finale, Curtis hauled in six passes for a season-high 99 yards in the Rams’ 32-29 home victory over the Jets. The following week, he was a key factor in his team’s wild card win in Seattle, breaking the century mark with a total of 107 yards. And when St. Louis was eliminated from the playoffs in a 17-47 drubbing at the hands of the Atlanta Fancons, Curtis was one of the Rams’ few bright spots, picking up 128 yards on seven receptions, including a 57-yard touchdown.

If this trend continues, the speedy #3 receiver could be quite a steal in the late rounds of this year’s drafts. Just make sure that in IDP leagues, you don’t wind up adding Oakland safety Kevin Curtis to your roster by mistake…