Fantasy Football 2013: Highlighting Top WR Sleepers for Coming Season

With several big-name receivers hauling in injuries instead of touchdowns, identifying fantasy football sleepers is more important than ever. 

While the rash of injuries to star receivers like Percy Harvin and Michael Crabtree takes sought-after fantasy targets off the market, it also opens up opportunities for up-and-comers. This means picking the right sleeper receiver is high stakes. 

Someone is going to hit paydirt on receiver sleepers, and I'm determined to nail this opportunity. Here are the three I have my eye most firmly on. 

Golden Tate, Seattle Seahawks 

Golden Tate is going to help the Seahawks not spend too much time ruing the absence of Harvin.

Tate will enter his fourth year in the league ready to continue on the improvement in production he showed in his first three seasons.

Last year, Tate reached career highs in catches, yards and touchdowns at 45, 688 and seven. And these are even career highs if one catch and one touchdown are subtracted like I'm sure all Packers fans are doing right now. 

However, there is one stat even more impressive than these, and that is he hauled in 45 catches off just 68 targets. 

Tate obviously built a nice chemistry with quarterback Russell Wilson last year, and Wilson should be asked to do even more with his arm this year. That means more opportunities for Tate and more production. 

Tate will be a consistent producer this year and well worth a roster spot. 

Vincent Brown, San Diego Chargers

Vincent Brown is turning into a sleeper-list staple. It was this time last year when the Chargers wide receiver was one of the most commonly referenced sleepers out there.

However, that all changed when he broke his ankle in the second week of last year's preseason. He went on to miss the entire season.

So, we are right back where we left off a year ago. Brown is a talented youngster on a team that needs him to produce.

The Chargers don't have a clear-cut No. 1 receiver, and Brown could start to command a lot of looks. While he only has compiled 19 catches for 329 yards and two touchdowns in the NFL, he showed great signs of promise near the close of his 2011 rookie campaign.

If he and the sinking Philip Rivers can regain that chemistry and Brown can stay healthy, this 24-year-old has a chance to be one of the biggest steals in fantasy drafts.

Emmanuel Sanders, Pittsburgh Steelers

With receiver Mike Wallace defecting to the Miami Dolphins this past offseason, there is going to be a much bigger opportunity for Emmanuel Sanders to produce. 

Sanders will be entering his fourth season in the NFL with a chance to become a fantasy staple.

After a promising rookie season gave way to an injury-riddled second year, Sanders was limited to slot duty for the Steelers in 2012. He performed well with 44 catches for 626 yards and a touchdown. These aren't eye-catching numbers in the world of fantasy, but a nice season out of the slot. 

Those numbers will improve this year. 

He won't be limited to the slot this season. Sanders will be charged with taking Wallace's spot in the starting lineup. While Antonio Brown will undoubtedly remain the No. 1 target, I wouldn't expect Sanders to be far behind.