Fantasy Football Sleeper Spotlight: Jabar Gaffney

A typical fantasy football league consists of 12 teams, nine starters (QB, two RBs, three WRs, TE, K, D) and anywhere from five to seven bench players. If you go with the latter bench allotment, you’re looking at 16 roster spots or 192 draft picks. By that definition, any sleeper should have an average draft position about 180 or higher.

Denver Broncos WR Jabar Gaffney doesn’t quite reach the 180 threshold, checking in with a ADP of 170 (61st WR) according to Mock Draft Central. He is, however, undervalued as the Broncos’ number one receiver.

He will not confuse anyone for Brandon Marshall, and in some ways that’s a good thing. He quietly goes about his business. Last year he hauled in 54 passes for 732 yards and two TDs. Head coach Josh McDaniels is comfortable with Gaffney, having brought him over from New England last year.

So far, Gaffney has had a productive preseason. He caught two passes for 37 yards in the opener against the Bengals. He followed that up with six catches for 98 yards in the second game against Detroit.

The Broncos have several talented young WRs, but they will have growing pains. Eddie Royal is in his third season, but was an utter disappointment last year when many were expecting him to put up Wes Welker numbers.

'The Broncos drafted rookies Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker, but both have battled foot injuries. Unfortunately, Thomas’ injury was an aggravation of a previous foot injury and it is still lingering, while Decker battled multiple injuries in college.

Thomas is the most talented WR on the Broncos, and will eventually take over as the top receiver; I just don’t see that happening this season. When you are adding WR depth late in your draft, don’t be afraid to take an unsexy pick like Jabar Gaffney. You don’t have to be sexy, as long as you’re steady.

What are your thoughts on the Broncos’ WRs?

Also check out:
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- 2010 Top 25 Fantasy TE Rankings
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- 2010 Top 15 Fantasy K Rankings