Fantasy Football: NFL's Top Sleeper Candidates
To win a fantasy football league, you need strong performances from your blue chip, early-round studs.
But almost every team in a fantasy league has one or two Pro Bowl talents. So what separates the league champions from the cellar dwellers?
Sleepers.
It's the seventh-rounder who performs like a first-rounder, the free-agent pickup who turns into a Pro Bowler. The truly knowledgeable fantasy owners find these diamonds in the rough, and use their contributions to make a push towards a championship.
Here are a few sleepers that could win a fantasy league.
Zach Miller: Raiders TE
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ESPN ADP (Average Draft Position): 126.7 (12th amongst TEs)
Last season, Zach Miller caught 66 passes for 805 yards and three touchdowns. In most leagues, Miller was ranked between 10th and 15th amongst all NFL tight ends.
In drafts this year, Miller has been treated as if 2010 will be a repeat of 2009.
However, Miller will benefit in 2010 from a huge upgrade at the quarterback position in Oakland.
Last season, he put up extremely solid numbers with JaMarcus Russell and Bruce Gradkowski throwing him the ball. In other words: a sixth-round pick and one of the biggest draft busts in NFL history.
This year, Jason Campbell will run the offense. Campbell is not an elite QB, but still a sizable upgrade over Miller's previous passers.
In addition, Campbell has shown a tendency to target his TEs heavily. Chris Cooley always received lots of looks in Washington, and had solid success.
If you miss out on the Antonio Gates/Dallas Clark/Vernon Davis-tier of tight ends, don't reach for a mid-level option like Greg Olsen, Heath Miller or Kellen Winslow.
Just wait about seven rounds and grab Miller.
Mike Williams: Buccaneers WR
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ESPN ADP: 148.8 (60th amongst WRs)
The name of Mike Williams has been sullied by the former Detroit Lions first-round bust (that Mike Williams is attempting a comeback with Seattle).
This Mike Williams is very interesting.
A first-round talent that dropped to the fourth round because of character concerns, Williams has earned the No. 1 spot on Tampa Bay's wide-receiver depth chart.
He has also been impressive in both of Tampa's preseason games.
To be sure, Tampa Bay is not exactly the most dynamic offense. They will be depending on the unproven Josh Freeman at quarterback, and Kellen Winslow may still be the top target in the offense.
But when you consider that Williams is going undrafted in shallow leagues and is a late-round pick in deep leagues, it's a no-brainer.
Grab him with one of your last few picks, and don't be shocked if he puts up borderline WR3 numbers. Or maybe even more.
Bernard Scott: Bengals RB
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ESPN ADP: 147.2 (54th amongst RBs)
This sleeper requires some "outside the box" thinking.
Bernard Scott currently does not have the starting job in Cincinnati. He is the backup behind Cedric Benson.
But Benson has shown a propensity for injuries throughout his career. And Scott is right there to take advantage.
Even if Benson stays healthy, Scott will get his opportunities. He is a far better receiver than Benson, so he will likely spell him on many third-down situations.
Plus, Scott is having a fantastic training camp and preseason, and is even receiving some goal-line carries.
Worst case, Scott could be a bye week plug-in.
But if Benson either struggles or goes down with injury, Bernard Scott could be one of the best RBs in fantasy football. The Bengals are a run-dominated offense, and he would be the beneficiary.
He's certainly a higher upside pick than Laurence Maroney, Correll Buckhalter, Marshawn Lynch and Leon Washington, all of whom are going before Scott in ESPN drafts.
Snatch him in the late rounds, stash him on your bench, and hope for the best.
Michael Bush: Raiders RB
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ESPN ADP: 103.7 (37th amongst RBs)
Missed out on the rush for RB2s in the third and fourth round of your draft?
Then Michael Bush is your man.
The third-year man out of Louisville has been stellar in limited carries with Oakland so far in his career. His career 4.6 YPC average hints at his overall ability.
It was thought that Bush would end up in a timeshare with Darren McFadden, but McFadden's hamstring injury has kept him out throughout the preseason.
The door is open for Michael Bush, and there's no reason to think he won't take full advantage.
In the worst case scenario, Bush receives about 50 percent of the carries in Oakland and most of the goal-line opportunities, making him a fantastic bye-week replacement.
But he has the upside of a borderline RB1.
Taking Bush at around pick No. 100 is basically a no-risk option. It's a no-brainer. This guy needs to be on your roster.
Jabar Gaffney: Broncos WR
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ESPN ADP: Undrafted (75th amongst WRs)
Jabar Gaffney has bounced around the NFL for years, playing in Houston, New England and now Denver.
He has failed to make a real impact on fantasy football leagues, and as a result, he is not given much respect on draft day.
However, let's take a closer look.
Gaffney is coming off the best season of his career in 2009, with 54 receptions for 738 yards and two touchdowns. He showed an obvious rapport with his new quarterback, Kyle Orton, but was clearly the second option behind star receiver Brandon Marshall.
Now, Marshall is gone. So where will all those targets go?
While preseason statistics should be taken with a grain of salt, Gaffney has been the recipient of lots of targets from Orton thus far.
In two games, Gaffney has eight receptions for 135 yards. Over a full season, that would equal a 1,100 yard year.
The chances of such a season are unlikely. But considering his 2009 statistics and increased targets, a season between 800-900 yards is certainly achievable.
Considering his extremely low average draft position, he's worth a flier at the end of your draft as a potential WR3 in the vein of Kevin Walter in his prime.
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