Sleeper Watch

Is it just me or does it seem like there are a decidedly limited number of quality wide receivers out there this draft? Once you get past the top five or six, it’s a weak field. This proves to be a real problem considering a number of leagues carry three WR slots to a team. Then add in the fact that wide outs in general run incredibly hot and cold in regards to fantasy football statistics. Unlike their quarterback and running back counter parts, wide receivers do not score touchdowns on a consistent basis. Even the elite receivers such as Chad Johnson, Steve Smith, or Marvin Harrison left managers out in the cold without a touchdown 9 weeks out of 16 last season.

As such, because of the slim pickings at the table this year at the wide receiver position, I’m going to tell you two things that will help you be a success in this upcoming fantasy football season. First and foremost, don’t wait until the third round to draft a wide receiver. Yes, I’m suggesting going against the grain of stacking up at running back and using your number two draft pick on one of the top wide receivers. In fact, I am even going so far as to suggest using your third-round pick on a second wide receiver if any of the top wide outs are available. I realize some of you will think this is fantasy football suicide because the trend of hoarding running backs has been around for so long a lot of people can’t think of drafting any other way, but if you look at the players available, there is a lot of depth at running back and quarterback. There is zero depth at wide receiver.

However, if you find yourself late in the draft and still staring at a vacancy in the #2 and/or #3 wide receiver positions, I have a suggestion. Here is the Sleeper of the Week – Brandon Marshall. A second year man out of the University of Central Florida, Marshall is big, fast, and poised to have a monster year in Denver, especially now that the wire reports Rod Smith is expected to be out with injury until week seven of the regular season.

Here are Marshall’s selling points:

• He is lining up opposite Javon Walker who will draw most of the down-field attention, leaving Marshall open to exploit one-on-one coverage.
• He has a strong chemistry with QB Jay Cutler which was built through training camp and over the season last year where they were both rookies working together on the second squad.
• He has the raw talent to be a premier receiver on any team in the NFL (comparable in talent and awareness to the likes of Terrell Owens).
• He totaled 18 catches, 287 yards and a touchdown in the last seven games of last season, even though he only started one of those games and was never the primary receiver.

Best of all, even though the buzz about Marshall is starting to pick up, he is still falling to the bottom of drafts or is not being drafted at all. He is dirt cheap in salary cap leagues and he is only in his second year if you’re looking for possible keepers. For the savvy manager, this is an opportunity to steal a wide receiver who will potentially finish in the top fifteen at his position this season. It doesn’t get much better than that. As always, good luck!

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