Fantasy Football: Sleepers of the Future

Allow me to tell you about an American institution this week: one of the first writers for Sports Illustrated. A man that leads the Yankees in sacrifices to this very day, who, during his tenure in the Bronx, led the league in triples and homers (after the live ball era) and is on the list of players with 100+ career three baggers.

And what if I told you every American sports fan, and then some, know his name, but not his face? And his crowning achievement in fame? His nadir of notoriety? Losing his job.

The man is Walter Pipp.

The misfortune of fracturing his skull on a practice pitch was that Lou Gehrig replaced him. It's a modern day idiom in our everyday vocabulary. And it's so convenient that I'm going to pounce on it for the purposes of this week's fantasy input.

Finding the next guy that'll emerge to find use on a weekly basis is going to need one of two traits: creativity or injury. Predicting the future isn't easy, and the basis of fantasy analysis is taking the pertinent information and digesting it to reveal probable outcomes.

So while all of these running backs may look more fool's gold than the real thing right now, they're not far away. And it's your job to pick one, two, or all, that you're convinced will turn from carbon to diamond.

Dimitri Nance, RB, GB

It took all of one week for Pack coach Mike McCarthy to go from describing Brandon Jackson as an every down guy to designating his backfield a committee and one waiting for "someone to get really hot" and breakout as the leader.

Newsflash—it's not Jackson.

He was a high second round pick behind AJ Hawk (that class has really paid off!) for the Packers, and has never materialized as the starter, this being his third attempt in similar fashion. Last time, Ryan Grant, undrafted and off the Giants practice squad, became the hero. This time, allow me to introduce you to the protagonists, John Kuhn, 260 lb full back, and Dimitri Nance, undrafted rookie, signed off the Falcons practice squad and thought only to add depth last Wednesday.

Guess what? He suited, played, and will get 10 carries this week. Grab the potential rough diamond now.

Danny Ware, RB, NYG

The world saw Brandon Jacobs's various displays of ineptitude last week, and then watched him repeat them on the sidelines, too. Bradshaw is a small back, the starter and primary carrier, and has feet made of glass. Color me shocked when he is stricken with injury in the next week or two.

I don't see Jacobs emerging with an increasing workload, and I don't see Bradshaw staying healthy on that workload alone. The opportunity is there for Ware—whether he has the talent to make the most of it is a separate issue.

Chris Ivory, RB, NO

Reggie Bush's injury was inevitable. He's never played a 16-game season. Deshawn Wynn couldn't win the same opportunity in Green Bay last time this happened, and won't beat out Ivory. Newly signed Ladell Betts was beaten out in training camp by Ivory—so I'd expect a payout soon with the now practicing rookie.

He's the perfect candidate for an increased role and the only handcuff to Pierre Thomas.

Keiland Williams, RB, WAS

I don't like repeating myself. I mentioned all the reasons to grab this rook back when Willie Parker and Larry Johnson were on the roster. Portis just isn't long for this role—his tires are threadbare and bald.

Anthony Dixon, RB, SF

Gore's outstanding talent and undeniable status aren't in question here, but his injury history certainly makes him eligible for contention here. Dixon may not have all-year-long value like the other guys on this list could, but what he does have is a chance.

Gore has played 122 of 124 offensive snaps for the Niners so far, and historically it's always proven fantasy gold for his backups.

Bernard Scott, RB, CIN

Scott is not on here because of some compelling evidence about the club's valuation of him or some deeper secret about Cedric Benson. It's one undeniable factor: talent. Of all the one or main-back backfields in the NFL, this is the only situation where the backup is more talented and only second on the depth chart because of a lack of seniority.

Eventually, that will change, and of all the Wally Pipp candidates out there, Benson is the ripest.

Check out: www.HattyWaiverWireGuru.com