Fantasy Football Week 1 Projections: 3 Sleeper WRs That Will Blaze a Trail

Every week of the NFL season, some no-name fantasy football owner uproots one of the favorites in the league because he got "lucky" with a receiver that would be on most teams' benches.

But the reality is, fantasy football is a game about matchups, and those who play the matchups best generally win more.

Whether said owner played an obscure receiver because he liked the matchup or merely forgot to change his lineup is irrelevant: he played the matchups better, and burned you because of it.

Here are three sleeper WRs in Week 1 that will either help you or leave you enraged. And we all know, you enraged is not a pretty sight.

3. Malcom Floyd, WR, San Diego Chargers

We all know Malcom Floyd, the seven-year pro who had a breakout campaign last season with Philip Rivers tossing him the ball. In addition to the unusual spelling of his first name, Floyd also had an unusual season for a 29-year-old last season, racking up 717 yards and six touchdowns.

I think Floyd is one of those players who has gotten better with age. It also doesn't help getting single coverage while opposite wideout Vincent Jackson gets all the attention. Floyd plays the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1. Their corners are good but their safeties can definitely be beat. Floyd made a living stretching the field last season.

2. Plaxico Burress, WR, New York Jets

I'm still surprised by the number of people that don't believe much in Burress' abilities. I know he's missed a lot of time, but he's still a very talented player and is still in great shape for his age.

He impressed the Jets in training camp and showed with his diving touchdown catch against the Cincinnati Bengals in the preseason that he still has it.

Remember, he formed one of the greatest quarterback-receiver tandems in league history with New York Giants QB Eli Manning. He faces a suspect Dallas Cowboys secondary/defense in Week 1.

1. Nate Burleson, WR, Detroit Lions

It seems every year that it's Nate Burleson who ends up randomly scoring big points and infuriating an opposing team's manager. He had a game where he caught one ball for four yards last season, and another where he caught seven balls for 113 yards and a touchdown.

Who was the big game against? Oh, just the measly little defense of the New York Jets.

Burleson is notoriously erratic throughout the fantasy football season, but if you can catch lightning in a bottle, it could mean the difference between winning and losing your matchup.

With young stud QB Matthew Stafford at the helm and Calvin Johnson drawing defenders, Burleson could see a lot of one-on-one matchups against veteran corner Ronde Barber against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1. Barber's a respected veteran, but he's also 36 years old now, and he's lost a step.