Sleeper Watch

Offense, offense, offense! Every year at this time, the media spotlight focuses its glare on quarterback and running back prospects, sometimes to the exclusion of everything else. This year is certainly no different, thanks to high-upside players such as Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart, and Vince Young. Yet the class of ‘06 features a number of intriguing defenders as well, and IDP owners will find plenty of talented rookies to bolster their rosters.

Defensive end Mario Williams and linebacker AJ Hawk are widely considered this year’s top two defensive prospects, but don’t overlook Texas safety Michael Huff. Solid defensive backs are hard to find, particularly since many of the elite NFL cornerbacks have little fantasy value in many scoring formats, and Huff has the potential to step in and post solid numbers straight away.

Huff looks like the complete package, combining great speed, leaping ability, and hands with strong tackling skills, range, and leadership. He also possesses uncommon versatility, a trait which makes him a somewhat risky fantasy option. Throughout his career, the 2005 Jim Thorpe Award winner has shuttled back and forth between safety and cornerback. Several scouts project him as a CB at the NFL level, a switch that might put a damper on his fantasy value.

Huff will most likely be the third defender chosen in the draft, with somewhere in the neighborhood of picks eight through ten (Buffalo, Detroit, Arizona) looking likely. Pay close attention to which team’s jersey he winds up wearing on draft day, and in particular, where that team intends to play him. If it looks like he’ll stay at safety, he could be a very intriguing fantasy prospect.

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