Fantasy Football Sleepers: 23 Late-Round Options Who Should Be Point Machines

The first order of business for every fantasy football league is to determine a draft order. It's a simple task, but one that has vast emotional ramifications. Fantasy owners nationwide will toss and turn during the nights leading up to their draft, losing sleep at the nightmarish thought of receiving an unfavorable first-round selection.

But here's a secret: Your first-round pick isn't that important.

Sure, you can grab a stud like Adrian Peterson or Maurice Jones-Drew in the first round, but one player does not win you a championship.

Championship teams are built in the middle and later rounds of the draft. That's where you fill out your roster with diamonds in the rough—guys like Brandon Lloyd, Mike Williams, Peyton Hillis and LeGarrette Blount. Those are the players who will win you a league. They will get you that extra 11 points when you're down by 10, and they will pick up the slack when your first-round pick falters.

So, while first-round picks are crucial to any fantasy team's success, don't spend too much time analyzing the top tier players. Instead, look deeper into depth charts and find the pieces to a title in the later rounds of your draft.

Jacoby Ford

Legions of players post absurd 40-yard dash times, but only a select few successfully translate that speed onto the field. Raiders wide receiver Jacoby Ford appears to be one of the exceptions after a promising rookie season.

The former Clemson Tiger ran a 4.28 40 at the 2010 combine, making him a natural target for Al Davis and the Raiders. But, unlike so many failed Oakland speedsters before him, Ford averaged 18.8 yards per reception and returned three kicks for touchdowns.

Ford could easily emerge as the Raiders' No. 1 receiver this season, and he should only improve from last season.

Dexter McCluster

Dexter McCluster provides a very similar skill-set to Jamaal Charles, but it's only a matter of time before the Chiefs integrate him into their offensive scheme. Kansas City drafted the Ole Miss standout with a second-round pick last year so, even though he was hardly a factor in 2010, the team must have plans for him.

McCluster's speed allows him to play a variety of roles for the Chiefs. Last year alone, he played running back, slot receiver and returned kicks. Assuming he is granted an expansion, McCluster could be a major factor for both the Chiefs and your fantasy team.

Jimmy Graham

Every offensive player on the New Orleans Saints has considerable fantasy value. Few teams can boast such a potent passing attack that manages to get so many different players involved.

The latest benefactor of the Saints scheme is tight end Jimmy Graham. As a rookie in 2010, Graham was relatively anonymous until the team's final three regular season games when he caught four touchdowns.

New Orleans cut incumbent starter Jeremy Shockey and didn't draft a tight end, which all but solidifies Graham's ascension to the starting role. Needless to say, he will have immense fantasy value and, if he happens to fall into the later rounds of your draft, pull the trigger on a sure-fire contributor.

Pierre Garcon

Because Pierre Garcon got off to such a dreadful start in 2010, everybody seems to be under the impression that he had a terrible year. Wrong. Garcon actually made great strides in 2010, racking up 20 more receptions and two more touchdowns than he did in 2009—he just didn't turn it on until the later half of the season.

Despite those early struggles, Garcon still tied Reggie Wayne in red zone targets with 20. Peyton Manning clearly trusts Garcon, and he is the team's only true deep threat.

Johnny Knox

Every summer, fantasy football "experts" speculate about which Bears receiver will finally breakthrough and become the team's No. 1 receiver. We've heard talk about Devin Hester, Earl Bennett and Devin Aromashodu, but everybody overlooks one guy who may have already established himself as the team's top target: Johnny Knox.

Knox led all Bears wide receivers in receptions and touchdowns (51-5) in just his second NFL season. As Knox continues to develop chemistry with Jay Cutler and hone his skills, he should progress accordingly.

If Chicago did not believe they had a potential stud in their receiving corps, then they would have drafted somebody by now. However, they must be confident in one of their players, and that guy is likely Johnny Knox.

DeMarco Murray

By drafting DeMarco Murray with a fourth-round pick, the Cowboys all but announced their intentions to part ways with long-time workhorse Marion Barber. (More recent developments suggest Dallas will hold onto him due to salary cap issues, but either way, he will be an afterthought.) Most assume that Dallas is eager to allot Felix Jones a significant workload, but that might not be the case.

Instead, the 'Boys might actually look towards Murray to shoulder a bulk of the carries. Earlier this summer, Jean-Jacques Taylor of the Dallas Morning News predicted that Murray would win the job and Jones would serve as a change-of-pace back.

Murray is the only rookie on this list because he will fall into the latter rounds of your draft, whereas most rookies are wildly overvalued. Keep tabs on Murray's performance in camp and, if he starts making noise, draft him.

Tony Moeaki

During the 2010 NFL draft, the Chiefs had the opportunity to snag athletic tight ends Jimmy Graham or Aaron Hernandez at the tail end of the third round. Instead, Kansas City opted for little known Iowa Hawkeye Tony Moeaki.

Moeaki quietly enjoyed a great rookie season, recording 47 receptions for 556 yards and three touchdowns. Those are outstanding numbers for a rookie tight end, and Matt Cassel should only look Moeaki's way more in 2011.

Mike Goodson

The odds of DeAngelo Williams returning to Carolina appear increasingly slim by the day. Next in the Panthers running back hierarchy is Jonathan Stewart, but the oft-injured back is sure to be drafted way too high in your draft.

Instead of gambling on Stewart, fantasy owners might be better served grabbing Mike Goodson with a late-round flier. While both Stewart and Williams were sidelined with injuries last season, Goodson started three games and finished the season with 103 carries for 452 and three touchdowns, tacking on 40 receptions for 310 yards.

Goodson is a dynamic back who could play a major role in Carolina's offense even when Jonathan Stewart is healthy next year.

C.J. Spiller

Every single season, rookie running backs get overvalued and drafted way, way too high. Some fantasy owners think they're getting the next Adrian Peterson; however, rookies rarely make that kind of an impact. Moreover, drafting a running back with an undefined role is extremely dangerous.

Last year, C.J. Spiller was heralded because of his high draft status, but failed to live up those expectations. This season should be a different story, however. Marshawn Lynch is completely out of the picture and Fred Jackson was only mediocre last season.

Chan Gailey gave Spiller a season to learn, and he has since become an afterthought in most fans' minds. Spiller will likely garner a huge workload this year and could produce like a first- or second-round fantasy draft pick.

Aaron Hernandez

Disregarded by many fantasy owners as the "other Patriots tight end," Aaron Hernandez still put up great numbers during his rookie season. Although he lurked in the shadows of touchdown machine Rob Gronkowski, Hernandez caught 45 passes for 563 yards and six touchdowns.

Had Gronkowski not stolen the spotlight, Hernandez would be praised as a star in the making. While he will be largely overlooked by fantasy owners, Hernandez has unique athleticism for a tight end—if he manages to improve his numbers in 2011, he will be a top-flight tight-end option.

Emanuelle Sanders

As Hines Ward and Antwan Randle El digress into the final stages of their careers, the Steelers are slowly ushering in a new wave of wideouts.

First, there was rising superstar Mike Wallace, and next on the list might be 2010 third-round pick Emmanuel Sanders. The former SMU Mustang quietly caught 28 passes last season and saw his role in the offense steadily increase throughout the season.

Sanders is an electric player with great speed. Don't expect him to put up huge numbers, but he will most definitely see an increase in targets which greatly increases his fantasy value.

Jared Cook

With so much uncertainty regarding their quarterback, wide receiver and coaching situations, drafting anybody from the Tennessee Titans will be tricky. However, there is one player (besides Chris Johnson) who you can rely on for production this season: tight end Jared Cook.

After spending his rookie year on the bench, Cook caught 29 passes for 361 yards in 2010. With Bo Scaife slated for free agency, Cook will likely inherit starting tight-end duties. Based on the great strides he made from 2009 to 2010, he should be one of the Titans' primary offensive targets.

Arrelious Benn

When Tampa Bay drafted wide receivers Arrelious Benn and Mike Williams in the 2010 NFL draft, one of them figured to step in as a starter and make an immediate fantasy impact. Popular opinion tipped Benn as the favorite. After all, he was drafted two rounds higher than Williams and enjoyed a fantastic career at Illinois.

However, Williams won the battle and Benn soon became an afterthought in the Buccaneers' passing attack.

But Benn still managed to show glimpses of the player Tampa Bay hopes he will become, including a four-reception, 122-yard performance in a nail-biting Week 15 win. Benn is more gifted than anybody else the Bucs can throw next to Mike Williams, and he should become a serviceable fantasy wideout in 2011.

Brandon LaFell

Cam Newton needs somebody to throw to.

With Steve Smith trying to flee Carolina, the Panthers might soon present a receiving corps consisting of David Clowney, David Gettis, Armanti Edwards and Brandon LaFell. Even if none of them produce great numbers in 2011, at least one should surface as a viable fantasy option.

The best bet is probably 2010 third-round pick Brandon LaFell. He caught a modest 38 passes during his rookie season, but that's actually an impressive number considering Carolina's quarterback play. LaFell has the physical tools to be a dominant receiver, and 2011 could be a breakthrough year for him.

Ben Tate

Had Ben Tate not suffered a season-ending ankle injury during the first game of the 2010 preseason, he might have seized the Texans' starting running back role. Instead, the 2010 second-round pick watched from the sidelines as Arian Foster became a star.

Fortunately for Tate, the NFL is now a "running back by committee" league. Foster recorded 327 carries last season—a number that the Texans will surely want to lower. Houston will probably allot plenty of carries to Tate in order to keep Foster fresh.

Houston boasts one of the league's deadliest offenses, so every player, including backups like Ben Tate, possess fantasy value.

Danny Amendola

Because of their physical similarities, some might view Rams wide receiver Danny Amendola as a poor man's Wes Welker. He's a nifty, quick, sure-handed receiver, but has not achieved any real notoriety around the country.

But what so many fail to realize is that Amendola might already be on par with Welker. Last season, both caught 86 receptions. If you're still not impressed, consider that Amendola caught more passes than the likes of Greg Jennings and Calvin Johnson.

Even though the Rams drafted a pair of wide receivers in the 2011 draft, Amendola's role as the team's top receiver should remain secure. He has tremendous fantasy value and should be drafted in all leagues.

Anthony Armstrong

Despite playing on an offense tormented by disarray, Redskins rookie wide receiver Anthony Armstrong managed to snatch 44 receptions for 871 yards and three touchdowns—an average of 19.5 yards per catch.

Things seem to be settling into place in Washington. Mike Shanahan brought two running backs and a promising possession receiver on board, and John Beck figures to overtake quarterback duties. With a stable quarterback in place and a year of experience under his belt, Armstrong has the potential to break out as the 'Skins primary deep threat, and one the league will soon come to know.

Mike Williams

Mike Williams' triumphant return to the NFL spotlight was heartwarming, but it would never have been so engaging had he not made an immediate impact. Williams emerged as Seattle's No. 1 wide receiver, catching 65 passes for 751 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

The fantasy world caught onto Williams' success, but because he sparsely reached the end zone, his value was limited. But with another year back in the league, Williams should only get better and, if the Seahawks can acquire a quarterback like Kevin Kolb, he could be a stud in 2011.

Toby Gerhart

When the Vikings scooped up former Standford star Toby Gerhart in the second round 2010 draft, they received some puzzled looks. Second-round draft picks are extremely valuable and often spawn immediate starters, but Gerhart would step into a backfield rotation behind perennial Pro Bowler Adrian Peterson.

Gerhart gained some steam as a fantasy sleeper prior to last season, but received only 83 carries. However, he was pleasantly solid with those reps, averaging four yards per. Minnesota seems intent on limiting Peterson's workload in order to keep him fresh, so Gerhart's role should only increase. Remember, Gerhart was a Heisman Trophy runner-up just two years ago, and he has the build of an NFL running back.

All owners who draft Adrian Peterson should pick up Gerhart as insurance, but by the end of the 2011 season he might be a valuable commodity for any fantasy team.

Davone Bess

The goal of fantasy football—at least to a very simplified degree—is to predict how each player will perform on any given Sunday. We pour over stat lines, injury reports and match up histories in order to assemble the best lineup possible.

So why isn't Davone Bess already a heralded fantasy option? The guy epitomizes consistency. Over the past two seasons, Bess has caught a combined 150 passes for 2,078 yards and seven touchdowns. Last season, he caught four or more passes in 12 of Miami's 16 games.

Bess doesn't post flashy numbers, but he might be one of the single most reliable players in fantasy football. Chad Henne relies on Bess as his safety blanket, and there is no reason to believe his fantasy value will go anywhere but up.

Jordy Nelson

Jordy Nelson captured America's attention with a breakthrough performance in Super Bowl 45, but the Packers wide receiver has been slowly making a name for himself over the past three years.

Though Nelson was lost in Green Bay's endless shuffle of offensive weapons during his first two NFL seasons, he became a more visible target for Aaron Rodgers in 2010, catching a career-high 45 passes. But, after a huge performance in the Super Bowl, the potential departure of James Jones to free agency and the aging of Donald Driver, Nelson could be in line for a big year in 2011.

Every player on Green Bay's offense is a valuable one, and Nelson could be the next star to emerge from Lambeau.

Stephen Williams

Not everybody can land a marquee wide receiver like Larry Fitzgerald, Vincent Jackson or Andre Johnson. So what's the next best thing? Picking up their teammates. Wideouts who play alongside star receivers are often beneficiaries of favorable matchups and hence greater production.

This logic does not always ring true, but whoever lines up next to Larry Fitzgerald definitely has added value. Assuming Steve Breaston leaves for free agency and the Cards acquire a quarterback, sophomore Stephen Williams could become a heralded fantasy player.

Williams only caught nine passes last season, so he is an extremely deep sleeper; however, he is seething with skill and an expanded role might boost him into a fantasy stud.

Jason Campbell

Despite quarterbacking an offense devoid of any top flight weapons, Jason Campbell managed to throw for 2,387 yards and 13 touchdowns in 12 starts last season. He was hardly a viable fantasy option due to that lackluster supporting cast and his own struggles, but that should change in 2011.

Youngsters like Jacoby Ford, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Louis Murphy and Zach Miller should improve and continue to develop chemistry with Campbell. Ultimately, Oakland should boast a very formidable offense in 2011, and Campbell's production should rise accordingly.

Percy Harvin

In his first two NFL seasons, Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin has quietly become a great fantasy option. Thus far, he has compiled 131 catches for 1,658 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Harvin has been marred by a series of migraines that have forced him to miss a whopping 11 games; however, he told the Virginian-Pilot earlier this summer that he may now be migraine free. It's scary to think about the numbers Harvin could post in a full, migraine-free season. And, if Sidney Rice bolts for free agency, Harvin will inherit the No. 1 receiver role, further boosting his fantasy value.