Fantasy Football 2011: Sam Bradford and the Best Sleepers at Every Position

If you're anything like me, then you're a diehard who begins drafting in mock fantasy leagues as soon as teams have their rosters in place. Fellow nerds and I take plenty of notes and anticipate where certain players will be drafted, all in the attempt to land those coveted sleepers when the real draft day comes.

These sleepers, which are often the key to winning league trophies, may be more difficult to predict in 2011.

The lockout has made this an offseason of a different breed to say the least, and it could affect the statistical outputs of many players. Take special notice of players with new teams and injured ones who have not had access to team trainers. They could be much greater risks than in years past.

Consistency has always been a key variable in the formula for fantasy football success, and this year will be a true testament to that. Many players in familiar systems could have a huge boost over former studs on new teams, at least early on.

The point is, there are several new aspects to be addressed this offseason, and that could make it more difficult to predict how players will do. There has never been a surefire way to tell who will be a stud or a dud, and now we have to look harder at players and in a shorter amount of time.

Nevertheless, I'll do my best to spare you some of the number crunching. Here are some of the best sleepers to look forward to at each position.

Quarterback: Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams

It's hard to believe that a number one draft pick who had one of the most promising rookie seasons in recent memory would be considered a sleeper this year.

But according to recent statistics from Pro Football Focus, that's exactly what Sam Bradford is. Bradford, on average, is the 15th quarterback taken in drafts. By most accounts, this means he is selected as a backup quarterback and will likely be riding the bench in favor of a household name.

If that's the case in your league, Bradford could be the steal of the year if snatched-up in a middle or late round. Josh McDaniels is the new offensive coordinator in St. Louis, and should dial-up plenty of aerial attacks for Bradford and his arsenal of new weapons.

We saw it happen last year and witnessed Kyle Orton throw for over 3,600 yards and 20 touchdowns in just 13 games in the same scheme. If that system catches on in St. Louis, and it will, an even higher ceiling can be expected under Bradford's stewardship.

The Rams' 2011 schedule also looks enticing for Bradford-owners. The Rams have seven games against opponents who ranked in the top 10 in touchdowns allowed last season. This will include two matchups against both the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks and a game against a Dallas secondary that allowed a league-worst 33 passing touchdowns a year ago.

Add the benefit of having Steven Jackson in the backfield, and you can expect that Bradford will face many defenses that will load the box at given times. If Jackson stays healthy, Bradford's fantasy potential will be through the roof.

Running Back: Tim Hightower, Washington Redskins

Ryan Torain has shown much promise in his limited carries, averaging 4.5 yards per attempt over his young career. We caught a quick glimpse at the punishment he is capable of dishing out to defenses last season.

Unfortunately for Torain fans, a quick glimpse is probably all we're going to get. His history of injury is much more documented than his history of gashing defenses. This training camp provided the same scenario, as he has missed time with a broken hand.

Enter Tim Hightower, who is riding the momentum of a promising preseason game and encouragement from his coaches. With Torain's fragility on display yet again, the starting running back job could be Hightower's to lose.

An offense that will likely have John Beck under center on Week 1 will not likely have much to look forward to. This could be a deal-breaker for many fantasy owners, but we've seen many successful fantasy seasons from running backs that were part of a sputtering offense. Just ask Peyton Hillis or Steven Jackson.

I'm not saying Hightower is as good as them, but he does provide a reliable option for the Redskins to move the chains. He gives them a legitimate pass-catching option out of the backfield and remains one of the few options they have to counter the blitz. Expect to see him on the field often, Torain or not.

HIghtower's current average draft position is 163, according to Goaheadscore.com. He could wind up being a late pick that turns into a feature back for weeks to come.

Just try not to get too distraught over his fumbling issues.

Wide Receiver: Lance Moore, New Orleans Saints

Lately, Mario Manningham has occupied most of the "sleeper" talk for wide receivers after Steve Smith parted ways to go to Philadelphia.

I'm aboard the Manningham bandwagon (or 'hamwagon for short) and am confident that he will have a big season. It's just a subject that is well addressed lately, so I'd like to focus on Lance Moore, a receiver that is getting far too-little attention.

The Saints offense has often intrigued me from a statistical standpoint. They're a successful pass-heavy team that consistently puts points up on the board, much like the New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts and Green Bay Packers.

So why does it feel like the only wide receiver from this team worth drafting is Marques Colston? We can find tertiary and quaternary receivers in these other offenses, and many will put up plenty of points. Why is this not the case in New Orleans?

Well, while we figure that out, an easier conclusion can be drawn. Colston is coming off microfracture surgery in his knee, as well as a wrist procedure. He remains one of the toughest receivers in the game, but having to play through so many injuries has made his game-by-game production inconsistent in recent years.

Moore provides a little more consistency where Colston doesn't. Moore's 2008 and 2010 years look very similar, averaging just above 70 catches and nine touchdowns. He missed most of 2009 with a shoulder injury.

Over his last 10 games in 2010, Moore had less than four catches just once and scored five of his eight touchdowns in that period. They aren't overwhelming numbers, but having consistency absolutely speaks volumes in an otherwise feast or famine offense.

If Colston has to play through more pain in 2011, and it's likely he will, a huge opportunity could be given to Moore.

Tight End: Owen Daniels, Houston Texans

It really is amazing how amnesic we can be, even when a player like Owen Daniels gets injured.

Maybe amnesic isn't the right word. Maybe we're all just hesitant or cautious when it comes to the once elite tight end in Houston. Coming off of an ACL injury is always an uphill battle, and his season in 2010 reflected that. We weren't wrong for feeling the way that we did.

2011 will be a different story.

Daniels finished last season on an absolute tear, racking up 22 catches, 271 yards and two touchdowns over his final four games. Despite it being such a short period, it absolutely dwarfs the output of his first seven games where he netted 16 catches for 200 yards and zero touchdowns.

It was a brief look, but a look nonetheless, at the elite form of a forgotten talent.

The point being, Daniels came on especially strong down the stretch and appears to have shaken the last bit of rust off of a serious knee injury. If this production continues to trend upwards, Daniels could once again be a top-five tight end in an offense that should score no shortage of points.

Kicker and Defense: Don't Bother

I agreed to take a position-by-position look at the best sleepers in fantasy football. Having already addressed quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end, that leaves me with just kicker and defense.

Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you, but there is no such thing as a sleeper on defense or a sleeper kicker. Why? Because they should never be picked before the last few rounds of the draft anyways. The one exception is if you're in a customized league that divvies out crazy point-values for those positions.

And if you're in one of those leagues, I do not want to be friends with you.

Generally, defenses are much more difficult to predict than positional players, adding to the pointlessness of wasting a high pick on one. I would take my chances on a defense in late rounds or just play the waiver wire week-to-week.

Get your fantasy points with more reliable wide-receiver or running-back options in those precious middle rounds instead.

As for kickers? I will be severely disappointed in anyone who selects one before the last round. There just isn't a big enough discrepancy in points between them to warrant different tiers. If he's accurate and plays on a high-scoring offense, grab him but in the final round.

That is the only rule you will ever need to follow when drafting kickers.