Sleepy Sleepers: Fantasy Hibernation

So, we all know what sleepers are.

At least, hopefully if your reading this article you know what a sleeper is. If not, a sleeper is a fantasy player that you project to do good but is not necessarily on other people's radars when it comes to the draft.

In this slide show I'm going to have a few people that you may want to draft late, if they're not already taken.

MOSTLY this slide show will be about some people you may want to keep an eye on as the season progresses and are not quite worth drafting right away but may be worth getting to open your team up to a play off berth come the last few weeks of the season.

REMEMBER, only a few of the people on this list are actually worth drafting, and that's completely up to you.

I'm just here to guide the way.

So lets do this.

Mark Sanchez - QB New York Jets

Mark Sanchez is the most poised rookie QB I have seen in years.

With Brandon Marshall possibly going to the Jets, Sanchez may have a huge upside. I would recommend picking him up off waivers, especially if you are weak at the QB position.

Shaun Hill/ Nate Davis- QB San Francisco 49ers

Shaun Hill is the starting QB for the 49ers, could be a good bench warmer if he shows up. But I probably wouldn't draft him, or even pick him up off waivers.

And the other guy, out of Ball State.

He isn't starting. Don't draft him.

But keep an eye on Nate Davis because he could be a real pick up if he passes Shaun Hill and Alex Smith on depth chart, especially if Crabtree signs by that time.

If Nate Davis turns out to be the best QB on the depth chart, and he can even be average, like Trent Edwards average, the 49ers offense could be dangerous.

Kerry Collins- QB Tennessee Titans

It seems like no one remembers the Titans went 13-3 last season with Collins under center, yeah, its true, Chris Johnson exploded as an offensive force.

But you don't win 13 games without someone who can throw, in comes Collins. Keep an eye on him late in the season.

Don't be scared to draft him late, I got him as Mr. Irrelevant in one of my drafts.

Rashard Mendenhall- RB Pittsburgh Steelers

Last year, before his injury, Mendenhall was looking very solid. Looking to split carries with Parker this year, Rashard is definitely someone to keep an eye on.

Julius Jones/ TJ Duckett/ Edgerrin James- RB Seattle Seahawks

So Julius Jones is the starter, but TJ Duckett is the third down back, and Edge was just recently signed. Just keep an eye on the backfield in Seattle, there could be a lot going on.

Chester Taylor- RB Minnesota Vikings

Chester Taylor is always forgotten because of All Day being in the backfield in Minnesota.

Before last year, Taylor was talked about as a possible starter on any other team, until the explosion of Peterson.

With Favre under center look for a lot of two back sets, and a lot of screen passes.

Chester Taylor is definitely not starting material, fantasy-wise. But he definitely is emergency back material. Should be getting touches every Sunday.

Percy Harvin- WR Minnesota Vikings

Most people who have been watching the pre-season know that Percy isn't much of a sleeper anymore seeing as how he now has a QB and has been used as a weapon in the Wildcat.

If for some reason Percy slips to you in a late round and your looking for an impact bench player, take a chance on Harvin.

Josh Morgan- WR San Francisco 49ers

With Michael Crabtree looking like he's going to holdout until the Apocalypse, Shaun Hill is going to need someone to throw to. Yeah he has Isaac Bruce but he's definitely slowing down.

Thats where Josh Morgan comes in, with the drafting Crabtree, Morgan will definitely be trying to step up his game to solidify himself as a go-to guy this season.

Look to pick him up in the last or second to last round or maybe even in free agency, especially if Shaun Hill, or Nate Davis, start making plays.

Nate Washington- WR Tennessee Titans

As a member of the Steelers, Washington has shown sparks of brilliance.

This season he has the potential to not only win the starting job in Tennessee but to become a major threat down the stretch.

With the drafting of Kenny Britt, Washington will be working extra to keep himself on the field.

All eyes have been on Justin Gage this year, everyone seems to be forgetting about Washington, but I definitely think he will have a showing this year.

Look to pick him up off of waivers or draft him late if you think he will have a great season, which I really think he could.

HUGE upside to picking up Washington.

Steve Smith/ Mario Manningham/ Sinorice Moss/ Hakeem Nicks- WR New York Giants

With Plax and Amani out of New York, the WR core of the recent champs is looking a lot younger.

With Domenik Hixon a solid pick as the No. 1 receiver in New York, with the inexperience at WR, the Nos. 2 and 3 spots go to Smith and Manningham, but really, they are up for grabs.

With a recent show of greatness in the preseason, Nicks is looking great.

But with the inexperience, like I said, the Giants really have a LOT of potential at the WR position. I wouldn't recommend drafting any of these guys, but definitely keep an eye on who Eli is throwing too, you could steal a huge sleeper off waivers.

Earl Bennett- WR Chicago Bears

Earl Bennett. HUGE SLEEPER HERE.

He is one of the starting WRs for Chicago, behind Hester, and has the potential to steal that spot away from him.

Bennett was on a Vanderbilt team with one, Jay Cutler.

Look for Cutler to be throwing Bennett's way over, and over. Seeing as how he is the only receiver he has trust in since he had thrown to him in college.

Draft him late, or pick him up off waivers.

Donald Lee/ Jermichael Finley- TE Green Bay Packers

So right now, Donald Lee is the starter for the Packers.

BUT.

As any Packer fan knows, Jermichael Finley has been lighting up this pre-season and all of camp.

Finley will be a Pro-Bowl tight end in this league someday but as of now, Donald Lee has the starting spot.

If your have a deep league or you're not looking to get a great tight end but a sufficient one, look no further, snatch up Lee late, and you can even pick up Finley off waivers because it is Lee's job to lose, and they will both be getting looks.

John Carlson- TE Seattle Seahawks

Again, like Harvin at receiver, John Carlson shouldn't be much of a sleeper.

With Houshyamama (championship!) now at receiver for the Hawks, it could definitely open up the middle for the Hawks making Carlson a great pick.

Going undrafted in a lot of leagues, he could definitely be a huge sleeper this year.

If you are looking for a huge year out of Carlson though, (as I am), try drafting him around the 11-13 rd range. If you let him slip, you may lose him.

Brandon Pettigrew- TE Detroit Lions

He is a monster! So athletic and ridiculously good, but since he is a rookie no one expects him to do much, he is on nearly nobody's radar.

Being on the Lions doesn't help.

I wouldn't recommend drafting Pettigrew, but I would watch out for him because if he becomes a target for Stafford, he could be a real threat.

Green Bay Packers Defense

With the new defense in place, and the Packers really taking to Dom Capers defense, look for the Pack to light it up with some hard hits and lots of interceptions.

Garrett Hartley- K New Orleans Saints

With the Saints poised to have a very potent offense, Hartley should be putting up a lot of kicks. Mainly extra points, but it almost guarantees points out of your kicker.

That's the ONLY reason I have a kicker on my sleeper list.

I promise.

Sooooooo.....

Don't take my word for it, but all of these guys have potential to help your team out, so at least give 'em all a look.

Don't make me say I told ya so.