Top Fantasy Football Sleeper on All 32 NFL Teams in 2011
What could potentially be the worst effect of no games being played next season because of the lockout? A world with fantasy football, of course!
Evey year, there are 'washed up' veterans who make an impact, as seen with Brandon Lloyd or players who come out of nowhere to help you win your league.
Here's a look at the best sleeper candidates for each team in the NFL.
Arizona Cardinals: RB Beanie Wells
1 of 32
Chris "Beanie" Wells disappointed greatly last season and did not warrant such a high draft pick.
Wells, though, should get the majority of the goal-line carries and will probably be the starting back for the Cards in 2011, even though Arizona spent a second-round pick on the speedy Ryan Williams.
Wells has immense talent and could fall in a lot of drafts this summer.
Atlanta Falcons: WR Julio Jones
2 of 32
Julio Jones is a physical specimen at 6'4''. He ran in the 4.3s at the combine and can catch passes in tight windows.
Jones improved tremendously his junior season, showing why he was considered an elite wide-receiving prospect.
With an elite talent like Roddy White playing opposite of him, Jones will have opportunity to make an impact on the field.
White was consistently double teamed at the end of last season, so Jones could be a perfect candidate to take some of the burden.
Baltimore Ravens: WR Torrey Smith
3 of 32
The Ravens offense has lacked a legitimate speedy threat for years, but that will change with the recent drafting of Torrey Smith.
Smith can become a perfect compliment to Anquan Boldin and will stretch the field, allowing Joe Flacco to finally show off his arm strength.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Buffalo Bills: RB C.J. Spiller
4 of 32
Many people drafted Spiller fairly high last year with the hope that he could be a poor-man's Chris Johnson.
Spiller disappointed, but he still has potential. He can catch passes and is a threat to score every time he touches the ball.
Spiller will compliment the bigger Fred Jackson, but will still receive a fair amount of carries.
Carolina Panthers: QB Cam Newton
5 of 32
Though Newton has to refine his passing game, his great running skills can make him a great fantasy option.
Newton will run and should start from Day 1 for the Panthers.
Without weapons in Carolina, Newton could feel the pressure to make plays on his own, which will lead to a lot of quarterback runs.
Chicago Bears: WR Johnny Knox
6 of 32
Though Knox really is not a sleeper anymore, after his breakout season last year, he will enter only his third season in the league.
If Jay Cutler can continue to improve, Knox can take another step forward, becoming the No. 1 target in Chicago.
Cincinnati Bengals: WR Jerome Simpson
7 of 32
Jerome Simpson broke out at the end of last season for the Bengals, finally justifying the team's second-round selection in 2008.
Teams will be keying in on stud A.J. Green, so Simpson can build off from the latter part of the season.
With great speed, he can stretch the field and be a viable option for whoever is quarterbacking the Bengals.
Cleveland Browns: RB Montario Hardesty
8 of 32
Yes, star Peyton Hillis will be drafted high, but he has been injury prone his entire career.
With a career high of 270 carries last year, Hillis could be in for an injury-plagued season.
Montario Hardesty missed all of last season, but was drafted in the second round in 2010, so the potential is there.
Even if Hillis does not get injured, Hardesty should still see a large amount of carries.
Dallas Cowboys: RB Felix Jones
9 of 32
Felix Jones is another name who disappointed, but he will be the lead back in 2011 for a loaded Cowboys offense.
Jones should be able to catch passes and make an impact with his speed.
Though the Cowboys drafted DeMarco Murray in the third round, he is more of a situational back.
Denver Broncos: QB Tim Tebow
10 of 32
In three games starting last year, Tebow ran for 199 yards.
Tebow probably won many people their leagues with his great fantasy play down the stretch.
With a willingness to run, Tebow should be able to run for more than 600 yards next season, with close to seven-to-eight rushing touchdowns.
He will go later in drafts, but could end up being a top fantasy quarterback.
Detroit Lions: QB Matthew Stafford
11 of 32
Though Stafford is injury prone, he can be a fantasy stud if healthy for the entire year.
The Lions have a top-five receiver with Calvin Johnson and a solid tandem of running backs with Mikel Leshoure and Jahvid Best.
Stafford could put up top-10 fantasy-quarterback numbers in that offense.
Green Bay Packers: WR Jordy Nelson
12 of 32
Nelson was Aaron Rodgers' top target in the playoffs, and he should move into the starting lineup with James Jones expected to leave in free agency.
Nelson is a solid possession receiver and will form a great tandem with Greg Jennings.
Rodgers can make all his weapons around him better, and Nelson will benefit greatly.
Houston Texans: TE Owen Daniels
13 of 32
Daniels came back from a serious ACL injury last year and performed admirably down the stretch.
He struggled for most of the season, but was arguably a top fantasy tight end at the end of last season.
Daniels seemed to fully recover from his injury and with Andre Johnson on the outside, the seams will open up for the talented Daniels.
Indianapolis Colts: WR Austin Collie
14 of 32
Collie could have had a huge fantasy year if not for the two concussions he suffered.
In the pass-happy offense, Collie receives plenty of targets from Peyton Manning, who trusts Collie's great hands.
If healthy, Collie could prove to be a solid No. 2 fantasy receiver next season.
Jacksonville Jaguars: WR Mike Thomas
15 of 32
Thomas is a smaller at 5'8'', but with unbelievable speed, he is a threat to score.
He formed a nice dynamic with David Garrard and should be a solid fantasy sleeper, especially with Mike Sims-Walker expected to leave.
Kansas City Chiefs: WR Jonathan Baldwin
16 of 32
At 6'5'', Baldwin will have the height advantage over every corner in the league, making him a great red-zone threat.
Baldwin will play opposite of stud receiver Dwayne Bowe, so he should receive single coverage on most downs.
Also, with Jamaal Charles opening up the offense, Baldwin will see eight-plus targets a game.
Miami Dolphins: RB Daniel Thomas
17 of 32
Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams are expected to leave in free agency, so the burden of carrying the run game will fall onto the shoulders of second-round pick Daniel Thomas.
Thomas was a workhorse at Kansas State. He can pound the defense inside and break a few runs to the outside.
The Dolphins will feed him carries so Thomas can be a great sleeper.
Minnesota Vikings: RB Toby Gerhart
18 of 32
The Vikings could potentially have Christian Ponder starting for them, so the majority of the offense will focus around the running game.
Though Adrian Peterson is the best running back in football, he cannot shoulder the entire load.
Gerhart could spell Peterson on third downs and possibly receive six-to-10 carries a game.
New England Patriots: WR Brandon Tate
19 of 32
The Patriots had a prolific offense in 2010, and if Tate can improve, he can give the offense a sorely needed deep threat.
Tate has legitimate 4.3 speed and could be one of Tom Brady's favorite deep-play targets.
Tate seems fully recovered from his ACL injury he suffered two years ago.
New Orleans Saints: TE Jimmy Graham
20 of 32
Four of Graham's five touchdowns came in the final three games of the season.
At 6'6'', Graham is a huge target in the red zone, and with Jeremy Shockey's release, Graham will be the main receiving threat at the tight-end position.
Graham will quickly become one of Drew Brees' favorite targets.
New York Giants: WR Mario Manningham
21 of 32
With the status uncertain for Steve Smith, Manningham will take over in the starting lineup across from Hakeem Nicks.
Manningham quietly had nine touchdowns to go along with 944 yards.
He should improve on those numbers. In Manningham's final three games, he caught 16 passes for 346 yards and four touchdowns.
New York Jets: RB Shonn Greene
22 of 32
Greene will most like take as the starter pushing LaDanian Tomlinson to a reserve role.
Greene will receive close to 20 carries a game in a run-oriented offense. He may fall to the mid rounds in fantasy drafts, even though he is likely to put up solid starting numbers.
Oakland Raiders: WR Jacoby Ford
23 of 32
Jacoby Ford may be the fastest player in the league.
If Jason Campbell can get the ball to Ford on fly routes or even in open space, he will be a fantasy threat at wide receiver.
Ford will benefit from such a strong running game with Darren McFadden.
Philadelphia Eagles: TE Brent Celek
24 of 32
Celek had an abysmal year last season after big things were expected from him.
Drops haunted him throughout the year. Eventually Celek became more of an in-line blocker because of the Eagles offensive-line struggles.
With the addition of legendary offensive line coach Howard Mudd and first-round pick Danny Watkins, the Eagles line should tremendously improve, allowing Celek to run his routes.
Pittsburgh Steelers: WR Emmanuel Sanders
25 of 32
Sanders improved as the season went on and with deep speed, he could possibly push for more playing time.
Sanders proved to be a deep threat for the Steelers, which are tough to stop with Sanders and Mike Wallace on the field together.
Another offseason should help improve the raw-but-talented Sanders.
San Diego Chargers: WR Malcom Floyd
26 of 32
Vincent Jackson may not re-sign with the team, leaving Floyd as Phillip Rivers' No. 1 target.
Though he missed five games, Floyd still had 717 receiving yards with a 19.4 average per pass.
At 6'5'', 230 pounds Floyd is deceptively quick, very much like Jackson.
San Francisco 49ers: WR Michael Crabtree
27 of 32
Crabtree has seemingly fallen off the map after a promising rookie season.
His immense talent is being wasted because of the lack of any consistent quarterback play.
Crabtree though has enough talent to become a playmaker with a quarterback. He is a possession receiver who uses his great skills in running after the catch.
Seattle Seahawks: WR Mike Williams
28 of 32
Williams had a breakout season last year and will continue to improve.
He is a red-zone target with his immense size (6'5'', 235 pounds) and could be the top target for whoever lines up under center for the Seahawks.
Williams is a solid possession receiver who will be entering his second season since his comeback.
St. Louis Rams: TE Lance Kendricks
29 of 32
One of the Rams main goals this offseason was to upgrade the receiving threats for Sam Bradford.
They spent a second-round pick on the pass-catching tight end Lance Kendricks who can spread the defense from the tight-end position.
Kendricks has solid hands and could develop into Bradford's security blanket.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: WR Arrelious Benn
30 of 32
The Buccaneers drafted Benn in the second round last year, and while he did not have a bad rookie season, his numbers pale in comparison with fellow rookie Mike Williams, who had 11 touchdowns and close to 1,000 yards.
Benn, though, has as much talent as Williams, and you can expect teams to shadow Williams, leaving more window of opportunity for Benn to make an impact.
Tennessee Titans: QB Jake Locker
31 of 32
Locker could be a solid fantasy quarterback because of his great running abilities. Locker ran in the mid 4.5's at the combine and used his elusiveness at Washington to get away from opposing defensive players.
Locker will have to improve his horrid accuracy, though, as that is the one aspect of his game that is holding him back.
Washington Redskins: RB Ryan Torain
32 of 32
Torain perfectly fits Mike Shanahan's one-cut running system.
He averaged 4.5 yards per carry, but durability will be a concern for him. Torain should open the year starting and he could be a nice late-round sleeper. He can catch the ball and is a tough, hard-nosed runner.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=600 "Post-June 1 Trade Candidates ☎️")
.JPG?w=600 "TO Talks Cowboys Relationship")
.jpg?w=600 "Taylor Heinicke Retiring")
.jpg?w=600 "49ers OC Hypes Mike Evans 🤩")