Sleeper Watch

Between 1999 and 2003, Jeremiah Trotter was a fantasy blue-chipper, recording 115 tackles or more in every full season (he missed four games in 2002, and still finished with 91 stops). With production like that, fantasy owners had no reservations about drafting him with an early pick last year, his first back with Philadelphia after a two-year stint in the nation’s capital. Yet the former Pro Bowler wasn’t quite himself in 2004, and turned into a huge fantasy disappointment, compiling just 63 solo tackles and six assists, with very few peripheral stats (one sack, one pass defense) to pad those numbers.

Needless to say, Trotter remained undrafted in many leagues this year. When he was ejected prior to the opener and picked up just two tackles in week 2, it looked like the owners who had passed on the veteran linebacker were right.

That impression turned out be a mistake, however. In week 3, Trotter reached double figures in tackles with ten, and also forced a fumble as the Eagles outlasted the Raiders, 23-20. In both of the two following weeks, Trotter made nine solo stops. Following Philadelphia’s week 6 bye, he was a key factor in his team’s narrow victory over San Diego by contributing a sack, an interception, a forced fumble, and three passes defended to go along with five tackles and four assists.

Thanks to his slow start (as well as Philadelphia’s bye), Trotter’s season totals aren’t particularly eye-popping, which means that he remains available in a surprising number of leagues. Currently, he doesn’t rank among the top 20 tacklers in the NFL, yet in his last four games, Trotter has been among the very best fantasy linebackers. If he’s still going to waste on the waiver wire in your league, grab him before somebody else does.