Fantasy Football Sleepers: 7 Undrafted Players You Need on Your Roster

The consistent players are well-known in fantasy football, such as Adrian Peterson, Steven Jackson, Tom Brady, or whoever. 

But in a way, fantasy football can be a complete crap shoot. 

You might be displeased with how your wide receiver corps turned out, or you might be thinking that your second running back spot is a weakness. 

However, you should not fear. 

Every year there are players that come out of nowhere and produce very promising seasons in the eyes of fantasy owners. 

In fact, I once picked up Miles Austin during the second week of the 2009 season. Two weeks later he burned Kansas City for 250 yards and two touchdowns, finishing the year with over 1,300 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Even last year, I added Steve Johnson of the Buffalo Bills to my roster several weeks into the season, which resulted in 10 touchdowns and over 1,000 yards without costing me a draft pick.

If you look hard enough and follow the games, you should be able to find a free-agent gem, but for now, here are seven players that should be on your radar.

Lance Kendricks, Tight End, St. Louis Rams

Rookie Lance Kendricks is not your typical tight end; he's a hybrid player that will rarely be held back as a blocker.

Think of Aaron Hernandez in New England, because Kendricks is a more talented version of him. 

Kendricks was playing with the first-string offense in St. Louis the second he walked into Rams Park. 

He finished the preseason with three touchdowns, which is impressive considering how little playing time the starters get in the preseason. 

Also, you can just sense it if you watched any of the Rams preseason games—him and quarterback Sam Bradford just have a natural chemistry. 

He already looks like Bradford's favorite target, even over Danny Amendola (who had 85 receptions in 2010), so if you're lacking at the tight end position, you might want to keep a very close eye on Kendricks. 

Beanie Wells, Running Back, Arizona Cardinals

After a promising rookie year with the Arizona Cardinals, former first-round pick Beanie Wells generated a lot of fantasy buzz in 2010. 

Unfortunately, he was a huge bust. 

He ended 2010 with only 397 rushing yards and two touchdowns, missing three games completely due to injury. 

But you must remember, the Arizona Cardinals were an awful football team in 2010. However, with Kevin Kolb at quarterback, they are a much better team. 

That is not to mention, Wells' knee injury really debilitated him for the entire season last year. What we saw was not the true Beanie Wells. 

Meanwhile, he rushed 10 times for 63 yards against the San Diego Chargers during the preseason, and he finished the preseason with a 4.8 yards per carry average. 

With second-round pick Ryan Williams out for the year with a knee injury, Wells will get a high number of touches each game.

And further, with opposing defenses focused on the Kolb-to-Larry Fitzgerald threat, Wells should have every opportunity to make plays.  

Matthew Stafford, Quarterback, Detroit Lions

At some point this season, your quarterback is going to have a bye week, or worse, your quarterback could be seriously injured. 

Quaterback is a very important position in fantasy football, so you will be in trouble if you cannot find stability within your starting passer. 

If you need a replacement, then there are possibly some better options available in free agency—depending on your league—such as Sam Bradford (St. Louis Rams) or Matt Cassel (Kansas City Chiefs). 

But if neither of those guys are available and you really want some production, then take a look at Matthew Stafford. 

Stafford has the talent, experience, ability and the offensive weapons to put up great numbers. He just hasn't been able to stay on the field in previous seasons due to injuries. 

The injuries will almost guarantee that Stafford is available, but if he's healthy in 2011, then he can you get through that bye week, or even replace your injured quarterback. 

Tim Hightower, Running Back, Washington Redskins

In recent years, the Washington Redskins have offered nothing of value to fantasy owners outside of Santana Moss. 

However, ignore what the Redskins typically produce and pay more attention to what coach Mike Shanahan is known for—producing solid rushers. 

Rookie Roy Helu will certainly be depended on, but the guy you want is Tim Hightower. 

Hightower showed some flashes while he was with the Arizona Cardinals, but he was never able to reach his full potential since the Cardinals practically abandoned the run in recent years. 

Hightower didn't play in the Redskins' fourth preseason game, but in the first three games he racked up 170 yards and two touchdowns. 

The Redskins will not be a great football team given their quarterback situation, but that will force them to depend on Hightower and their rushing attack.

And if Hightower is unavailable, then certainly keep an eye on Helu as he develops.  

Greg Little, Wide Receiver, Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns have had terrible luck at the wide receiver position in recent years. 

Braylon Edwards was a No. 3 overall pick in 2005, but he didn't come close to fulfilling expectations. 

The Browns used two second-round picks on Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi in 2009, but they are both dangerously close to being labeled as busts. 

However, it appears that their 2011 second-round pick could finally be the guy that comes through for them. 

Little is a first-round talent out of North Carolina, but his stock slipped since he was among the multiple Tar Heels suspended for the 2010 college season for off-field issues. 

At 6'3" and 230 pounds he is a nightmare for cornerbacks, and if Colt McCoy continues his growth, then the Browns will finally have a suitable quarterback, which will benefit Little. 

Wait a few weeks and see how he adjusts, and if he gradually gets better each week, then you should grab him. 

Marshawn Lynch, Running Back, Seattle Seahawks

Marshawn Lynch rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of his first two NFL seasons with the Buffalo Bills, but after a drop in production and some legal problems he completely fell off the map. 

That is, until the Seattle Seahawks picked him up four games into the 2011 season. 

Lynch finished with 737 yards and six touchdowns in only 11 starts. 

Probably the most well-known moment of his 2010 season was his 67-yard touchdown run against the New Orleans Saints in the playoffs, which sealed the victory for Seattle and ended the Saints' season. 

Lynch figures to the primary runner for Seattle in 2011, and with their dismal quarterback situation, he will certainly be depended on. 

Thomas Jones, Running Back, Kansas City Chiefs

Thomas Jones is being undervalued in almost every fantasy league there is. 

Jones rushed for 896 yards and six touchdowns in 2010 while playing second fiddle to Jamaal Charles, but he turned 33 years old in August. 

It's true that he's getting old, but he has given us no reason to think he has lost a step. 

The Chiefs were the top rushing offense in the NFL in 2010, but Charles is still primarily cut out to be an outside runner, so Jones will still see plenty of inside carries. 

Also, he's still spry enough to knock out a mouthy rookie receiver in the locker room, so he's not completely helpless against the young players. 

Kendall Hunter, Running Back, San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers offered running back Frank Gore a three-year extension this offseason that's worth up to $21 million. 

It's hard to figure out why, considering he has only played all 16 games in a season once in his six-year career, and he appears to be on the downswing. 

However, if Gore does in fact miss some time due to injury, then the 49ers won't be throwing the ball very much with the horrendous Alex Smith still at quarterback, so you can expect rookie Kendall Hunter to get a lot of carries this season. 

Hunter led the NFL in preseason rushing yards with 231 and a 6.6 yards per carry average. 

Even if Gore stays healthy and remains the starter, Hunter will still probably see a decent amount of carries in 2011.