Sleeper Watch

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Well folks, it’s that time again. As most of us prepare for our drafts, it’s time we talk about those players who we might want to target in late rounds or buy a little higher on than most, to assure ourselves of the getting that player we all like to call a “sleeper.” That’s right everyone, the NFL Fantasy Football Season is here. And I’d like to start off the season by talking about some players at key positions that might be worth taking a look at on draft day.

Quarterback:

Chad Pennington, Free Agent – Call it a hunch, but wherever this guy ends up, I think he’ll be successful. Personally, I think it’s Miami, since it was Tuna that drafted him in the first place. He’d be great mentor for Chad Henne, and he fits perfectly into a system developed for Ronnie Brown. He’ll be able to dink and drop off passes out of the pocket and should find ample room to get the ball to developing receivers Ted Ginn and Derek Hagan. Not to mention, he’ll have a pretty big target in Ernest Wilford as well. And what if he goes to the Vikings? He still has plenty of options there as well, in Adrian Peterson, Chester Taylor, Sydney Rice, and Bernard Berrian (whose value might be hurt a little by the lack of Chad’s superior arm strength). Case in point, he’s not a bad QB to take a flier on towards the end of your draft, especially in two QB leagues.

Alex Smith, 49ers – I know, I know, you’ve heard it all before right? He’s still the leading guy coming into the preseason. He possesses the most talent out of all the QB’s on the 49er’s roster and he’s got the biggest arm out of all of them too. Don’t forget Mike Martz was brought on to develop this offense, and he worked wonders for the career of John Kitna. Smith will be working with much more talented WR’s this year with the additions of Isaac Bruce and Bryant Johnson. Throw in Arnaz Battle, Vernon Davis, and two excellent receiving RB’s in Frank Gore and DeShaun Foster, and there you go, finally some weapons to work with. He’s definitely worth a gamble this year, especially if there are slim pickings at QB in your league.

Running Back:

Justin Fargas, Raiders – Here’s a guy who is simply going too late in drafts. Does anyone remember the name Chester Taylor? Well Fargas is in that same situation this season. Sure McFadden is getting all the love early on, but this Raiders team is going to run, run, and run. And there’s no telling if McFadden will be to hold up for entire season. Let us not forget, Fargas ran for over 1,000 yards last season, and he just got a nice contract in the off-season, so he will be seeing the field. Taylor and Peterson were both valuable last season, and it won’t be any different in Oakland’s backfield this season. If you go early on McFadden, like what is happening in a lot of drafts already, you had better pick up Fargas. Or if you like to be the “rub it in your face” type of owner, be sure and take Fargas a little early, and reap the benefits of what will surely be a solid flex play each week in your lineup.

Steve Slaton, Texans – I have Slaton here because of who is in front of him. We all know how durable Ahman Green has been since coming over to Houston. We saw the likes of Ron Dayne and Darius Walker step in and produce admirably last season in Green’s absence. So what did Houston do this off-season? They went and signed another back with the great durability that Green possesses in Chris Brown. While both backs will likely be taken, Slaton will probably go undrafted in most leagues. Houston’s zone blocking system is great for Slaton, and will help him adjust to the NFL game at a much quicker pace. He is a much more talented back than Walker and that should vault him past Darius on the depth chart. If you don’t want to take a flier on him during your draft, be sure and get ready to snap him off of waivers as soon as Green and Brown go down.

 
Wide Receiver:

Darrell Jackson, Broncos – Does anyone remember this guy? This was the same receiver that put up three 1,000 yard seasons in seven years at Seattle, and had 900 yards in a fourth season that was shortened to only 13 games. He went to San Francisco last year and completely busted, thanks to a porous offense and a severe case of stone hands. Well the Bay Area is far behind Mr. Jackson, and he is on a team that likes to move the ball. Not to mention, he’ll be their #1 guy for at least the first two games of the season. Jackson is still young enough, at 29, to be able to make an impact. He’ll be the perfect complement to Brandon Marshall and super slot receiver Brandon Stokley. I’d expect around 60 catches, 800 yards, and 7 TD’s from Jackson. This is a great value from a guy who you should be able to nab in the final rounds of your draft.

Jerricho Cotchery, Jets – With the Brett Favre trade now in our rear view mirrors, who is the most likely to benefit from this deal? I feel it is Cotchery. He had 82 receptions last year and only 2 TD’s. I expect both of those numbers to take a jump. He should now be valued as an upper tiered WR2, and definitely moved up draft boards. Favre has the ability to get Cotchery the ball. Jerricho possesses great playmaking ability, and with his new best friend at quarterback, that should lead to more scores. I look for Jerricho to get to at least 10 TD’s this season, and should be a great value to reach for with a 6th round pick, especially in PPR leagues.

Robert Meachem, Saints – I have officially jumped on the Meachem bandwagon. After his forgettable rookie season, he took the off-season to work out with David Patten, who prepared him for the rigors of the NFL lifestyle. His dedication certainly showed in his first preseason game. He had over 100 yards receiving, and a spectacular TD catch in which he broke three tackles. His main competition will be Deverey Henderson, who suffers from stone hands quite often. If his preseason is a sign of things to come, I anticipate Meachem having a huge impact on not only the Saints, but on your fantasy squad as well.

Other names to watch for this season:

Drew Stanton, Lions – Kitna is on short leash, and the front office is eager to see what this kid can do.

Brady Quinn, Browns – If Derek Anderson proves to be a one-year wonder or gets hurt, believe me, you want this kid on your roster.

Ryan Torain, Broncos – Showed flashes of skill before getting hurt. He will be out for up to 3 months. We all know how fickle the devil is, and he’ll be eager to see what he has in this young runner from Arizona State.

Kevin Jones, Bears – Not fully healthy, and likely to start the season on the PUP list, but given the options behind Matt Forte, if he falters, my guess is the Bears will have no problem going to Kevin Jones.

Mike Hart, Colts – Joseph Addai is a little fragile, and Hart is the most talented back out of a group including Kenton Keith and Dominic Rhodes. This is the handcuff you want if you are an Addai owner.

Steve Breaston, Cardinals – If Boldin or Fitzgerald go down, he gets to be this years Bryant Johnson. The only difference is? This kid has talent.

Sinorice Moss & Steve Smith, Giants – Amani Toomer has to go sometime right? Moss is having a great preseason, and is catching almost everything thrown his way. Smith, on the other hand has already become a reliable weapon for Eli, and I fully expect his progression to continue this year.

Well folks, there you have it. Those are my Preseason Sleepers for 2008. I know some are going out on a limb, but they wouldn’t be considered sleepers if everyone knew about them right? Good luck in your drafts in the upcoming weeks. And I’ll be back first thing starting Week 1 to get you going.

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