Fantasy Football 2012: Top Player and Sleeper to Draft at Each Position

In order to win in fantasy football, you need a combination of elite, highly regarded players to perform up to expectations and under-the-radar, late-round picks to produce.

By getting consistent points from players you selected in the mid-to-latter portions of the draft, you can often get a leg up on the opposition, which may have done a terrible job identifying sleepers.

If you want to look like a guru in 2012, here is a list of top players you should gun for early and a sleeper at each position.

QB: Tom Brady / Josh Freeman

If you think back to the 2007 season, Tom Brady had Josh McDaniels as his coordinator and a major deep threat in the passing game. He ended up breaking the NFL touchdown record by putting up 50.

In 2012, McDaniels is back to his offensive-coordinator duties in New England, and the Patriots have acquired Brandon Lloyd and groomed Rob Gronkowski to score TDs.

Expect another elite season from the signal-caller.

Freeman had an awful year in 2011, throwing just 16 TDs compared to 22 INTs. That was a significant regression from his sophomore campaign, but he’s now in great shape, with a new coach in Tampa Bay and a new attitude.

Don’t be surprised to see the Buccaneers QB bounce back in a major way. 

RB: Arian Foster / Ryan Williams

Foster has been one of the top backs in football for the past two seasons, and we should expect yet another amazing year from the Houston Texans' undrafted star.

He’s got the ability to attack on the ground, behind an amazing offensive line; the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield; and Matt Schaub back under center, which will keep defenses from stacking the box.

Williams is going to split carries with the oft-injured Beanie Wells and could easily eventually earn the starting nod from coach Ken Whisenhunt.

The Arizona Cardinals have a lot of problems at the QB position, with Kevin Kolb always an injury risk and John Skelton yet to prove he’s much more than a decent backup. They will rely heavily on their ground game, and Williams will be a big part of that. 

WR: Calvin Johnson / Brandon LaFell

Unless you are a firm believer in the “Madden curse,” it’s clear that Megatron is in line for another amazing season.

Matt Stafford has remained healthy and has formed an incredible rapport with Johnson, who put up a ridiculous 96 receptions, 1,681 yards and 16 TDs in 2011.

If he can improve on those numbers—and it’s entirely possible—there is no way that any receiver comes off the board before him.

LaFell is a solid sleeper because of his No. 2 status in the Carolina Panthers passing attack.

He’s going to see a ton of single coverage, as the Panthers will be employing Cam Newton, Mike Tolbert, Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams in their ground game, keeping defenses honest and close to the box.

With Steve Smith the only one the opposing secondary can afford to double in most situations, expect LaFell to get a lot of targets from Newton, who should be an even better pocket passer during his second season.

TE: Aaron Hernandez / Kyle Rudolph

Everyone believes that Rob Gronkowski is going to have the best year of any TE, but another Patriot might surpass him.

According to Greg A. Bedard of The Boston Globe, Wes Welker may be demoted to the No. 2 option in the passing attack because of Hernandez.

Remember, Welker caught 111 balls in each of the past two seasons, meaning that the former Florida TE would be getting a lot of those looks.

While he may not score as often as the Gronk does in the red zone, he’d pick up a ton of receptions and can seriously move once he catches the football.

Rudolph is a great sleeper at the position, as he has Gronk-like size, athleticism and catching ability. He’s also one of the only serviceable weapons in the Minnesota Vikings offense.

QB Christian Ponder will look for Percy Harvin deep, but he’s going to have to check down—and likely quite often—to Rudolph, who will be his safety net. That could add up to major points in 2012.