Sleeper Watch

Before we get to this week’s Sleeper of the Week, let us take a minute to visit two key points regarding my idea of “what really is a ‘sleeper of the week’ anyway?” Point one; a sleeper is someone that has a 90% chance of being out there on the average league’s waiver wire. In other words, they are available for you to pluck from the sweet vine of fantasy football oblivion and insert into your line-up for a one week spark that will leave your opponent blinking with wonder and surprise at your genius. Okay, that may be laying it on a bit thick, but you get the idea. The plan is to provide you with a sleeper player that is available for you to use. What would be the point of trying to sell you on New England’s rookie running back Laurence Maroney at this point? He’s long gone and probably starting on some team in your league (or at least he should be. Hint, hint).

Which leads to us to the second point, a sleeper is not necessarily someone you’ll play every week. It would be great if a week-in, week-out caliber player is still floating out on the waiver wire for you to grab going into week 4, but it’s not likely. So, unless something truly miraculous happens and a virtual nobody becomes a fantasy football stud in less than a week’s time (and yes, it does happen, but I have to think back to 1999 and Kurt Warner to really name a solid one), most sleepers have a limited shelf life on your team.

All of which, now said, leads me to this week’s sleeper, Charlie Frye, quarterback for the Cleveland Browns.

I don’t know how many of you watched the Baltimore/Cleveland game but I did and Frye looked like a future Hall-of-Famer the first half of that game. 15 of 18 for 210 yards and a touchdown against a monster Baltimore defense. Very impressive (and for a ½ second there I actually thought the Browns were going to win that game). But what really impressed me about Frye was neither his unexpected accuracy nor his sudden awareness on the field, but his nerve. Frye was sacked seven times in the game but that stat is a pale shadow of the reality. #9 was constantly getting pummeled in the backfield and yet he kept coming back for more. I did not think he would survive the game intact yet somehow he stayed alive and kept his team competitive until the very end. Not bad for a second year QB out of the University of Akron who is only three games into his first starting season.

Now, I could tell you it was Frye’s display of leadership and courage on the field last Sunday that made me pick him as my sleeper pick for Week 4. Or I could try and sell you on the idea I recommend him based on his potential to make big plays. But why waste time trying to make something look better than it is? Bottom line: I’m recommending Frye this week because of his highly favorable match up against the hapless Oakland Raiders.

The Raiders have been horrible in the first two weeks of the season and I believe it is a trend in the making. Admittedly, the Raiders were pretty good against the pass in weeks one and two, but hemorrhaged so badly against the run that I am convinced they spent the entire off week working to defend against it. What does that translate to? A defense that is so focused on not overrunning the play or being bitten by the draw, that they no longer blitz effectively. This equals to plenty of time in the pocket and a big day for Charlie Frye.

Keep in mind, Frye is a sleeper pick and is subject to all the highs and lows of any long shot. I’m not telling you to bench Peyton Manning or Carson Palmer or any other solid QB play this week, but if you are looking for a bye-week fill-in, or if you’re scrambling for a second guy, Frye is not a bad option this week.

By the way, Frye showed up on the injury report Monday morning. It simply states “general soreness” which is to be expected after being repeatedly thrown under a bus as he was against the Ravens. The good news is nothing is seriously damaged and he will start in Week 4. Good luck!

 
Working as a freelance technical writer, KC is currently stationed at a site in Michigan and is happy to admit she has jumped on the Wolverines bandwagon. Hey, when in Rome… She can be found around the Cafe under the name latraffic. Go Blue!
 

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