Fantasy Football Picks 2012: Sleeper Target for Each Offensive Position

In fantasy football, pinpointing the most quality sleepers is the quickest route to a title.

After all, most teams are going to get a nice return on their top players. It is those who maximize value with bargain acquisitions that find the path to success. 

Here are three guys who can all be had either on the cheap or late in your draft who will win a few games for your team. 

*Average draft position according to NFL.com.

Josh Freeman, QB, Buccaneers 

Average Draft Position: 259.4

Sleeper QBs are a tough one. There are plenty of people out there calling Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III sleepers, but I'm not buying that. They are too good to be sleepers. 

Josh Freeman, on the other hand, is coming off a terrible season. Among other things, 2011 saw his touchdown pass total drop to 16 from the 25 he put up in 2010. 

Freeman has been erratic in the preseason. However, with an improved receiving corps that includes Vincent Jackson, and a new coach in Greg Schiano, I expect him to put up some solid fantasy numbers. 

He should be considered a solid backup. 

Projection: 3,952 yards, 23 touchdowns

Ben Tate, RB, Texans 

Average Draft Position: 138.2

Tate is not going to be a consistent producer. After all, he's backing up a player who is a lock to be among the first three choices in every fantasy draft in Arian Foster. 

However, Tate will still produce, and could be a star should Foster miss any games. That makes Tate an instant target for anyone taking Foster. He flourishes in the Texans' zone-blocking system. 

Last season, he rushed for 942 yards and four touchdowns at 5.4 yards per carry. 

This is not just a wise pick for teams taking Foster, either. Tate will see time in all games. In a pinch, he will be able to jump into a lineup and give you something. He only had two games last season in which he didn't rush for at least 40 yards. 

Tate is a nice late-round pick. He is a good running back to have on the bench with tremendous upside. 

Projection: 854 yards, 7 touchdowns

Torrey Smith, WR, Baltimore 

Average Draft Position: 94.8

Torrey Smith had some huge games last season, and he ended up with over 800 yards and seven touchdowns. He is ready to improve on those numbers in 2012.

Smith missed some time this preseason with a sprained ankle, but he was back for the Baltimore Ravens' third preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

He had eight catches and 103 yards in that game. Smith is on his way to a big season in Baltimore.

Projection: 78 catches, 1,057 yards, 9 touchdowns 

Jared Cook, TE, Titans 

Average Draft Position:

If you plan on waiting to select a tight end, Cook should be your target. At 6'5" and 245 pounds, Cook can move. He is a big play waiting to happen, who was second in the league last year at 15.5 yards per catch.

The 25-year-old has over doubled his receiving yards in each of his first three seasons, and he is coming off a year in which he went for 759 yards, 49 catches and three touchdowns.

Cook figures to be one of Jake Locker's favorite targets. In the Titans' third preseason game, when the starters stayed in for much of the contest, his two catches for 40 yards were second on the team.

Projection: 62 catches, 807 yards, 6 touchdowns