Fantasy Football Sleepers 2015: Analyzing Top Value Picks at Each Skill Position

One of the biggest keys to success in fantasy football is finding value, and there is no shortage of players with the ability to either break out or return to form despite modest draft stock entering the 2015 regular season.

As important as it is to hit on early draft selections, it is tough to win without unearthing some gems. Fantasy prognosticators often get down on certain players for myriad reasons, including coming off a bad season, injuries and other factors. That negatively impacts their value in the eyes of many, but it can lead to them becoming big-time sleepers.

With the 2015 campaign quickly approaching and fantasy draft season already upon us, here is a look at the top sleepers to target at each skill position in your draft.

Quarterback: Matthew Stafford (DET)

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

In terms of pure talent, there are few quarterbacks in the NFL who can measure up to Detroit Lions signal-caller Matthew Stafford. Unfortunately, that hasn't always led to fantasy greatness due to the inconsistencies in his production.

The former No. 1 overall draft pick is coming off a solid season in which he threw for 4,257 yards, 24 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, although that didn't put him among the elite fantasy quarterbacks by any means.

Even so, he was able to accomplish some of the main goals he set entering the 2014 campaign, according to ESPN.com's Michael Rothstein:

Stafford limited his mistakes and increased his efficiency last season. If he can maintain that dynamic while also bettering his volume in terms of yardage and touchdowns, then he could easily have a top-10 year at the position.

The former Georgia standout threw 29 touchdowns in 2013, averaged roughly 5,000 yards passing per season between 2011 and 2012 and found the end zone a remarkable 41 times in 2011, so he is no stranger to fantasy dominance.

In fact, he has been robbed of even greater production over the years due to concentration lapses from his pass-catchers, per Pro Football Focus:

Drops shouldn't be as big of a problem for Stafford in 2015 since he still has Calvin Johnson, and Golden Tate is entering his second season in Detroit's system.

In terms of the quantitative stats, Stafford's should go up for a few reasons. There is less certainty with regard to the running game since Reggie Bush signed with the San Francisco 49ers. Also, the defense may not be as dominant in 2015 after losing defensive tackles Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley.

The Lions may need to go back to winning some shootouts, which means Stafford will be slinging it more often, and he should outperform his No. 14 and No. 13 rankings at the quarterback position by ESPN.com and Yahoo, respectively.

Running Back: Bishop Sankey (TEN)

Opportunity is often half the battle in fantasy football, and Tennessee Titans running back Bishop Sankey should have that on his side in spades during the 2015 season.

Many heralded Sankey as an immediate fantasy star entering the 2014 campaign, but the rookie struggled to find his footing, as he registered just over 700 total yards and two touchdowns. That modest production has caused many to write him off, but that seems premature.

The fact of the matter is that Tennessee really doesn't have any other running back options. Shonn Greene is out of the picture, which means Dexter McCluster and rookie fifth-round pick David Cobb will serve as Sankey's main competition.

Despite that, the second-year back is ranked No. 41 at his position by ESPN.com and No. 38 by Yahoo behind several players who will primarily serve as backups.

That is bizarre considering the fact that head coach Ken Whisenhunt gave Sankey a vote of confidence following his disappointing rookie season, according to John Glennon of the Tennessean:

"I certainly feel like Bishop Sankey can be an outstanding running back for us," Whisenhunt said. "We didn't get a chance to give him enough carries to show everybody else that he can do that, so hopefully that'll be something that we do a better job of next season."

In addition to that, the arrival of rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota shouldn't be underestimated with regard to its impact on the running game.

The reigning Heisman Trophy winner is a major threat with his legs, which means the Titans will have an opportunity to add a great deal to their playbook, and that should help increase Sankey's chances of success.

As pointed out by Andy Benoit of Sports Illustrated, Mariota and Sankey look to be an ideal combination in Tennessee's backfield:

Robert Griffin III helped make Alfred Morris a top fantasy commodity with the Washington Redskins during his rookie season, and Mariota could do something similar with Sankey.

If you can nab Sankey as your flex, then don't hesitate to do it, as he could end up registering RB2 or even RB1 numbers by the time the season is said and done.

Wide Receiver: Victor Cruz (NYG)

New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz was among the best fantasy players at his position just a couple years ago, but after a down season and a major injury, expectations are seemingly much lower for him entering 2015.

The 28-year-old wideout suffered a torn patellar tendon last season, which forced him to miss all but six games. Despite that, he has been working out fully with the team during training camp, and he looks to be in remarkable shape, according to Jordan Raanan of NJ.com:

Cruz topped 1,500 yards and scored nine touchdowns in 2011, and he followed that up with nearly 1,100 yards and 10 scores in 2012. His 2013 production was down a bit, as he racked up just 998 yards and four touchdowns in 14 games, but the offense is much different now.

Quarterback Eli Manning enjoyed the best season of his career statistically in 2014, as he threw for 4,410 yards and 30 touchdowns while throwing just 14 interceptions and registering a personal-best completion percentage of 63.1 percent.

He also attempted a career-high 601 passes under offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo, and that volume could increase even more in 2015.

The Giants signed Shane Vereen as a pass-catching back, and Odell Beckham Jr. figures to be the top target among the wide receivers. That will leave the intermediate stuff open for Cruz, and that is where he truly excels.

Per NFL on ESPN, analyst Ryan Clark is expecting big things out of the Giants' receiving corps during the upcoming campaign:

Despite his past success, Cruz is only ranked No. 50 among fantasy wide receivers by ESPN.com and No. 45 by Yahoo.

If Eli and the G-Men continue to throw the ball at will like they did last season, then Cruz could be a monster in point-per-reception formats. At the very least, he'll be a reliable No. 3 fantasy receiver or perhaps a No. 2 even though he's being treated like a No. 4 or No. 5 at this point.

Tight End: Vernon Davis (SF)

To call San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis' 2014 season a disappointment would be a gross understatement, as the two-time Pro Bowler suffered through what was by far the worst year of his career.

Davis caught a mere 26 passes for 245 yards and two touchdowns, as he became an afterthought within San Francisco's offense. That came on the heels of a 2013 campaign that saw him go for 52 receptions, 850 yards and 13 scores.

That suggests Davis still has it in him to put up big numbers, and Joe Fann of 49ers.com doesn't believe the former Maryland star has lost much of his speed or athleticism, if any:

Davis and the Niners lost their way last season, but wide receiver Anquan Boldin has little doubt that new head coach Jim Tomsula and new offensive coordinator Geep Chryst will do everything in their power to re-integrate the talented tight end into the offense, according to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle:

San Francisco's defense has a different look this season, and that should help Davis. Running back Frank Gore is gone and replaced by the combination of Carlos Hyde and Bush. Without a true workhorse in the fold, the Niners may lean more toward the passing game in 2015.

Also, Torrey Smith has replaced Michael Crabtree at wide receiver, which means the 49ers now have a guy who can take the top off the defense. That should create more space for Davis to operate.

Many fantasy owners probably feel betrayed by Davis after 2014, but with rankings of No. 26 on ESPN.com and No. 20 on Yahoo, his value is undeniable.

If the 49ers are truly committed to him this season, then he could very well return to the ranks of fantasy starters at tight end in 2015.

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