Sleeper Watch

Poor Maurice Clarett. Right when he’s starting to win over critics with a change of attitude, just as he’s saying and doing all the right things to change skeptics’ minds, he runs a sluggish 40-yard dash and finds his stock falling lower than the odds of Doug Brien being handed the keys to New York City anytime soon. Such is the nature of the NFL combine, where it sometimes seems that a few dashes and drills can be as important as a player’s collegiate performance over several seasons. Yet not every combine tale is as depressing as Clarett’s. Troy Williamson, for example, was all smiles.

In his January Mock Draft, Ben Kearon already saw Williamson as cracking the first round. After wowing the scouts with a 4.38 40, the talented wide receiver might just hear his name called with one of the first 15 picks on April 23.

Williamson displayed considerable promise at South Carolina, leading the SEC with 835 receiving yards last year. He was particularly lethal at the start of the year, racking up 545 yards and four touchdowns in four September contests, including a tremendous 210-yard, three-TD effort in a 34-3 rout of South Florida. Thanks to his strong showing at the combine, his decision to enter the draft rather than playing out his senior season with the Gamecocks is turning out pretty well…

Fantasy owners should, of course, temper expectations for any rookie WR, and Williamson is no exception to that rule. Yet if he finds himself in the right situation, the 6′2″ receiver could turn into a contributor sooner rather than later. And as a long-term keeper in a dynasty league, his prospects are looking very bright indeed.