Fantasy Football Week 6: Lesser-Known Sleepers Primed for Breakout Games

Fantasy football has as much to do with research and staying ahead of the curve as it does drafting. You may be stuck with some of the guys you select in the draft, but the difference between average and great rosters often lies in finding competent sleepers to fill the void.

The 2014 season has been more of the same in that regard. From undrafted free agents bursting onto the scene to unprecedented injuries opening up more snaps, there's no shortage of lesser-known options across the board to select from. 

It goes without saying that starting a waiver addition comes with huge risk, but navigating the waters carefully can allow you to snag someone who is about to step into more touches or a player on the cusp of replacing an injured or struggling starter.

Here are a few names you'll be glad you picked up once Week 6 is over with.

Storm Johnson, RB, Jaguars

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The Jacksonville Jaguars' backfield is as wide open as any position in the NFL, and a late-round rookie running back is storming (couldn't resist) to fill it.

Only one team has less rushing yards per game than Jacksonville, but Storm Johnson will help to change that in Week 6. According to the Florida Times-Union's Ryan O'Halloran, head coach Gus Bradley indicated he could get a big share of the touches:

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We won’t know for sure until Sunday, but Bradley sure indicated like Storm Johnson would be getting a big shot at playing against the Titans. The Jaguars are searching for a run-game pulse and Johnson – fourth on the tailback depth chart during camp – will be the next one up.

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Starting running back Toby Gerhart was ruled out for Sunday's game with a foot injury, opening up a heap of carries. Denard Robinson will be the change-of-pace back, but as told by Gerhart's 48 carries, the Jags prefer to pound the rock between the tackles.

Johnson showed his potential with a 20-yard scamper last week, and he goes up against a porous Titans run defense that has allowed 136.8 yards per game on the ground this year—26th in the league. Ben Tate rushed for 124 yards last week in Tennessee, and that was a game in which the Browns trailed virtually all game.

It will take favorable matchups for any Jaguars rusher—much less an unproven one—to emerge as a serious fantasy option, but that's just the case in Week 6. He is owned in less than one percent of ESPN leagues, but that will soon change.

Mohamed Sanu, WR, Bengals

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Albeit a much more recognizable name for those keeping up with fantasy and the NFL, Mohamed Sanu is primed to go from deep sleeper to breakout performer in the span of one injury.

That injury, of course, didn't happen to Sanu, but rather A.J. Green. The Bengals' star wideout and the focal point of the passing offense is ruled out for Sunday after reaggravating a toe injury in practice, per ESPN's Coley Harvey.

Sanu, a third-year wideout out of Rutgers University, had his breakout performance in Week 2 against the Falcons—the game that Green left early from with an injury. Instead of reinventing the wheel, Andy Dalton simply decided to turn his deep balls to Green into deep balls to Sanu, and it resulted in his 84 yards and a touchdown.

He even had 70 yards and a score in a lopsided Week 5 loss to the New England Patriots, so it's apparent that he can have a big day no matter the matchup. The Carolina Panthers rank 16th against the pass so far this season, allowing at least 83 yards from the opponent's top wideout in every game from Week 2 on.

The man who is, at least for now, the Bengals' top receiving option is only owned in 30.8 percent of ESPN leagues. But he's starting in nearly two-thirds of those leagues, which goes to show just how high his expectations are for this weekend.

It's safe to say Sanu has already had his breakout performance, but he's yet to post a Green-esque stat line of 100-plus yards and a touchdown. Don't be surprised if he does so on Sunday.

Eric Ebron, TE, Lions

The Detroit Lions made no secret of their high hopes for Eric Ebron when they drafted him in the first round in May, and he has certainly come on slow. But Week 6 should signal a big change in that regard.

The rookie tight end goes up against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, and a favorable matchup along with injuries around him should allow Ebron to have his best performance yet. 

Ebron was a stranger to the field early in the season, but he began seeing regular time in Week 4 and broke out with 34 yards and a touchdown against the New York Jets. Star wide receiver Calvin Johnson is listed as doubtful for Sunday, which should leave Matthew Stafford searching for big vertical threats in the passing game.

The Vikings gave up 142 yards in their first three games against promising tight ends, and that's not to mention the eight total passing touchdowns allowed in the last three weeks. Ebron should continue that trend with an uptick in touches for Week 6.