Fantasy Football Sleepers 2012: Identifying a Week 1 Sleeper at Every Position

After a month or more of training camps and mostly meaningless preseason games, the start of the 2012 NFL regular season is just hours away. That also means fantasy football seasons are set to begin as well. 

Here's a quick look at some potential sleepers in Week 1 of the regular season. We tagged one for every position besides kicker. 

Quarterback

Jake Locker, Titans

Locker will make his first NFL start Sunday, and it comes against the AFC Champion New England Patriots. But let's not write off Locker just yet for Week 1. 

The New England defense is still young and unproven despite adding a couple of potential studs in Chandler Jones and Dont'a Hightower, and Locker has weapons to play with in Nate Washington (1,000 yards in 2011), Kendall Wright (2012 first-round pick) and tight end Jared Cook (another sleeper). Running back Chris Johnson could keep the the Patriots' safeties honest. 

I'm not sure this game will turn into a track meet, but Locker should have opportunities to throw the ball downfield. Points will be available. If you're iffy in Week 1, Locker isn't the worst option. 

Running Back

Ronnie Brown, Chargers

At this point, Ryan Mathews (collarbone) playing in the Chargers' opener Monday would be nothing short of a minor miracle. He still hasn't been cleared for contact and few predicted him to heal in time to play anyway. 

If Mathews is in fact ruled out, Brown will assume the starting role for San Diego. He could get 20 or more touches in that role, leaving the possibility open for a big fantasy impact against the Raiders' defense, ranked No. 27 against the run last year. 

Receiver

Justin Blackmon, Jaguars

You find me a secondary that played worse than the Minnesota Vikings last season and I'll find you a liar. They should be better in 2012, but this is still a team that should rank in the bottom-third of passing yards allowed this season. 

The Week 1 beneficiary of that porous defense might be Blackmon, who showed No. 1-receiver ability during the preseason. He's big, physical and catches anything thrown his way. Once the ball is in his hands, cornerbacks have a hard time bringing him down. 

The Jaguars will need to protect Blaine Gabbert, but 80 yards and a score from Blackmon should surprise no one. 

Tight End

Kyle Rudolph, Vikings

Percy Harvin may get the most targets among the Vikings' receivers in 2012, but Rudolph will probably be a close second. Throughout camp this summer, Christian Ponder often looked the way of his 6'6" tight end. 

Week 1 obviously represents our first true look at the connection this season. While ESPN projects Rudolph at just 42 yards, he could double that with a touchdown if Ponder's tendency to target him continues against the Jaguars. He should start in most leagues. 

Flex

Titus Young, Lions

Fantasy owners should get to know the name Titus Young, because he could be the verge of a breakout season in 2012. It should start in Week 1, too. 

Young, a second-round pick of the Lions in 2011, has everything needed to put together a monster fantasy season: A talented quarterback (Matthew Stafford, check), a pass-heavy offense (the Lions threw the ball at a higher percentage than any team in football last season, check) and a weapon opposite him (Calvin Johnson, check). 

Young will get to face a young and rebuilt secondary on the fast turf of Ford Field to kickoff the 2012 season. If you're in need of a flex, Young is your man.

Defense

Buffalo Bills

If you trust in Buffalo's defensive upgrades this offseason and the ineptitude of the New York Jets offense in three preseason games, the Bills are an easy choice for Week 1. 

New York couldn't block a college defensive line this preseason, and the Bills may now have one of the better front fours in football with Mario Williams, Marcell Dareus, Kyle Williams and Mark Anderson together. 

There may not be much coming from the special teams, but there's no reason to think the Jets are going to be able to score many points against this defense in Week 1.