Fantasy owners know who these guys are at this point.

But when it comes to name recognition, these players did not necessarily have it in terms of fantasy football before the start of this season. Names like LaDainian Tomlinson, Matt Forte, and Brian Westbrook jump off the pages of fantasy football magazines. Before the start of the 2009 season, Steve Smith of the Giants was known only as the other Steve Smith.

And now, he is the Steve Smith to own in fantasy leagues.

Six players mostly unbeknownst to the fantasy public earlier this year have established themselves as legitimate fantasy presences this season. A few of these players even have long-term value for those in keeper and/or dynasty leagues.

If the price is right, now is the time to stock up on some of this explosive fantasy talent. Especially with the fantasy playoffs right around the corner.

Ray Rice, RB, Ravens

Clearly, Rice has become the featured running back in the Baltimore offense. He has come a long, long way from being one of the most undervalued running backs in fantasy mock drafts this summer.

Rice has kicked touchdown vulture Willis McGahee to the curb, catapulting his fantasy value into the upper echelon of fantasy running backs. But can he continue to handle a full work load?

The Ravens are counting on him to do so. Fantasy owners, too.

Analyzing the Schedule

Potential Cupcakes: Bengals (9), Browns (10), Lions (14), Bears (15)
Potential Beasts: Steelers (12), Steelers (16)

Really, is anyone scared to have their fantasy studs face the Steelers these days? Rice should have serviceable numbers against any tough defense he faces going forward because of his ability in the passing game.

Buy if you can. Rice was just traded in my competitive keeper league along with Jason Witten for Miles Austin and Darren Sproles. He is attainable for a pretty fair value, as you can see, which is surprising considering how good he has been for fantasy purposes.

Steve Smith, WR, Giants

Yes, the Giants' passing game has stumbled recently and the defense is getting run over by the opposition. If anything, the lack of defense in New York is good news for Smith as the Giants figure to be playing keep up with opponents going forward.

Of all Eli Manning's targets, Smith remains the No. 1 option despite a few recent down weeks. Expect the G-men to re-emphasize his presence in the coming weeks.

Analyzing the Schedule

Potential Cupcakes: Falcons (11), Cowboys (13), Redskins (15)
Potential Beasts: Broncos (12), Eagles (14)

Smith's schedule the rest of the way is hit or miss. But the Giants do figure to face some adversity going forward, which could lead to some shootouts.

Granted, Smith put up big numbers —like the rest of the Giants' offense—against vastly inferior opponents earlier this season. He needs to re-establish himself as the playmaker in the offense.

Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Steelers

Mendenhall took over for an ailing Willie Parker earlier this season and has yet to relinquish the reins to the starting job. He took advantage of a few soft defenses but now must prove he can continue to perform down the stretch.

Parker and Mewelde Moore could start eating into Mendenhall's touches if he falters. Ball control and pass protection have been an issue in the past.

Analyzing the Schedule

Potential Cupcakes: Bengals (10), Chiefs (11), Raiders (13), Browns (14)
Potential Beasts: None

Perhaps fortunate for Mendenhall, the schedule down the stretch is not all that frightening. In fact, an injury of his own—ironic as it would be—might be the only thing that could derail Mendenhall's second half.

Try selling an underperforming big name in a package deal that includes Mendenhall.

Mike Sims-Walker, WR, Jaguars

Sims-Walker and the rest of the Jaguars' passing game could not take advantage of the Titans' secondary last weekend, which seemed like the first time any team could not take advantage of Tennessee's beleaguered crew.

A disturbing theme developing in Jacksonville: Poor fantasy performances for most of the offense on the road. Just NFL&id=4243" target="_blank">peep Sims-Walker's numbers for proof.

Analyzing the Schedule

Potential Cupcakes: Chiefs (9), 49ers (12), Dolphins (14), Browns (17)
Potential Beasts: Jets (10)

At this point, Sims-Walker may only be start-able when Jacksonville plays at home. If the Jags can show some life on the road, however, he does have some decent plays down the stretch.

Wide receiver-needy fantasy owners should be able to buy relatively low on Sims-Walker after a down week. He has decent upside after a few stellar showing earlier this season.

Joe Flacco, QB, Ravens

Ray Rice is not the only fantasy star—and second-year NFL player—on the rise in Baltimore.

Flacco has established himself as a QB 1 in fantasy leagues at the mid-way point of the NFL season. For where he was being drafted in fantasy drafts this summer, Flacco is in the running for fantasy steal of the year.

Analyzing the Schedule

Potential Cupcakes: Bengals (9), Browns (10), Packers (13), Lions (14), Bears (15), Raiders (17)
Potential Beasts: Colts (11), Steelers (12), Steelers (16)

The Colts have one of the stingier pass defenses in the league but if that is as tough as Flacco's second half is, talk about a great setup for Flacco owners.

Be aggressive in pursuit of Flacco. His owners likely will not give him up easily but he may be riding the pine on a Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, or Drew Brees owners' bench.

Donald Driver, WR, Packers

Greg Jennings was fawned over by fantasy owners all offseason but Driver has stolen his thunder to date this year. Now Jennings finds himself on time-to-sell lists while Driver is a buy-able commodity.

The ole' veteran has been around for a long time and continues to get the job done, even when fantasy experts think the game may have passed him.

Analyzing the Schedule

Potential Cupcakes: Buccaneers (9), Cowboys (10), 49ers (11), Lions (12), Bears (14), Seahawks (16), Cardinals (17)
Potential Beasts: Steelers (15)

Talk about a set up for the Packers' passing game. Jennings could be sold for a great price right now after a good weekend against Minnesota, but fantasy owners would not be wrong to hold onto him.

Driver, meanwhile, needs to find his way into fantasy starting lineups. He could be buried on some owner's bench. Save Driver from the fantasy abyss before the favorable schedule kicks in, which is this weekend.