Fantasy Football Draft Day Sleepers: Third-Year Wide Receiver Breakouts

Eric StashinJun 23, 2010

There are certain mantras fantasy owners believe in. For example, fantasy baseball owners believe in the third-year starting pitcher breakout. For football owners, it’s the idea that a third-year wide receiver may finally break out.

There’s no real reasoning behind it. Maybe they have just become accustomed to the game. Maybe they have finally worked their way up the depth chart and will be receiving regular snaps. Whatever the reason, here are a few third-year receivers who could prove excellent sleepers on draft day:

Pierre Garcon (Indianapolis Colts)

He was solid last season, with 47 receptions for 765 yards and two touchdowns, benefiting from the absence of Anthony Gonzalez. While Gonzalez is likely to return to the field in 2010, there’s no guarantee that Garcon hasn’t done enough to overtake him as the No. two receiver.

Not that it really matters. We all know that with Peyton Manning at the helm, the Colts are going to spread the ball around the field. When you throw the ball over 550 times, there are plenty of passes for everyone to flourish.

He had at least five catches in each of the Colts' three playoff games, but his biggest mark was in the AFC Championship, where he caught 11 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown. That performance alone shows you just how good he could be. A 1,000-plus yard season certainly wouldn’t be a surprise.

Davone Bess (Miami Dolphins)

No longer seen as a potential top receiver thanks to the presence of Brandon Marshall (click here to view my thoughts on Marshall’s arrival in Miami), he will be given the chance to thrive away from the spotlight. He had 76 catches for 758 yards last season, despite having a young quarterback at the helm and no other real threat in the passing game.

Now, Henne has a full year of experience under his belt and defenses will have to direct their attention to Marshall. That could draw some double teams, helping to free up Bess. Don’t forget, a healthy Ronnie Brown just adds another wrinkle for defenses to focus on.

Bess has shown his ability and, with the other weapons around him, he could emerge as a must-use fantasy option.

Early Doucet (Arizona Cardinals)

Steve Breaston has shown what the third receiver in Arizona is capable of (77 catches for 1,006 yards in 2008).

Granted, the quarterback is different, but someone needs to step in after Anquan Boldin was shipped to Baltimore. He hasn’t been given many opportunities yet (31 catches through two seasons), but he has as good a chance as anyone to emerge from the pack.

I wouldn’t call him a must-own option, but he’s certainly a player to eye over the first few weeks of the season. He easily could prove usable in all formats.

Eddie Royal (Denver Broncos)

Is someone who already had a 91-reception season really a breakout candidate? When you struggle as much as he did in 2009 (37 receptions for 345 yards), it’s a fair statement.

He’s likely to be forgotten on draft day, but we all know the potential he has. Without Brandon Marshall, someone will need to step up. I’d look for Royal to have a bounce-back season, making him well worth a flier in the late rounds of your draft.

Devin Thomas/Malcolm Kelly (Washington Redskins)

Donovan McNabb’s acquisition is going to have a fairly large impact on the Redskins' offense. He’s the best quarterback they’ve had in some time, meaning the wide receiver group is either going to need to step up or be exposed.

Santana Moss may be on the downside of his career. The tight ends will perform, but the Redskins need to get production from the outside.

Either one of these two guys have the potential to flourish with a top quarterback throwing them the ball, so watch them early on and see what happens.

What are your thoughts on these guys? Who has the best chance to have a big year? What other third-year receivers are you looking at?

Don’t forget about our 2010 rankings:

Also, make sure to check out our recent rookie rankings:

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