Fantasy Football Sleepers 2012: Underrated Studs Who Will Score Big Points

Anyone who has ever played fantasy football knows that the key to success in your draft is not what happens in Rounds 1-5, but everything coming after that. 

Sure, your superstars are nice to have and make for easy points each week, but the depth and bargains are what put you over the top as the season wears on. In that regard, it is very much like real football.

Since there are so many options for you to choose from, it is important that you don't start fishing for bargains before you have to. 

Here are a few underrated players you need to target, along with the round in which you should add them. 

Randy Moss, WR, San Francisco 49ers (Target Round: 10)

In no way, shape or form do I feel that Moss will be anything close to what he was in his prime. He is 35 years old and returning to the NFL after a year away. It would be impossible to expect him to be a true difference maker. 

However, Moss gives the 49ers two things they desperately need in order to upgrade their passing offense with his size and downfield speed. 

The 49ers built a team around smaller possession receivers. Therefore, whenever they got in the red zone, it was easy to stop them from scoring touchdowns. 

At 6'4", Moss is still a matchup nightmare for cornerbacks. He is going to get touchdown catches, I can promise that. 

Alex Smith doesn't throw the ball downfield, Therefore, I don't know how much Moss' speed will be utilized, but it is a good thing to have in your back pocket. There will be some big plays for him, just not enough to make him a star. 

Mark Ingram, RB, New Orleans Saints (Target Round: 7)

For a team that doesn't run the ball much, the Saints managed to finish 2011 ranked sixth in the NFL in rushing yards. 

While they do love to split time between three players, Ingram actually led the team in carries last year despite missing six games due to injuries. Since he was a first-round pick in 2011, the Saints are going to give him every opportunity to take full advantage of being the feature back. 

Having said that, injuries are going to be a concern with Ingram. He has to prove himself adept at staying on the field before you trust him as a full-time starter, though that does work to your benefit. 

Since he missed so many games in 2011, there is going to be hesitation on everyone's part to draft him. Each round he moves down, the more valuable he becomes. I don't see a 1,000-yard runner, but 700-800 yards with about seven or eight touchdowns is well within reach. 

Denver Broncos Defense (Target on Waiver Wire)

When people draft defenses before the last two rounds, it makes me want to pull my hair out. There is no rhyme or reason for ever doing that.

Unless you are getting the Steel Curtain, they won't make that much of a difference. 

That said, there is always a place for them on your team, and there will always be games when they do big things that you weren't expecting. 

The Denver Broncos are my sleeper defense heading into the year.

Ignore their stats from last year because they had a terrible offensive system that always kept them on the field far longer than they should have been. 

Look at the talent they have, particularly with Von Miller, Elvis Dumervil and the apparently ageless Champ Bailey.

Plus, with Peyton Manning playing quarterback, their defense won't be asked to do as much this season. 

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