Week 3 Fantasy Football Sleepers: 5 Forgotten Players You Should Start

Heading into Week 3, fantasy owners are either celebrating early success, or reeling from misfortune. And since many injuries have taken place across the league, it would not be surprising to see owners in need of a player to start for a week, or even long term.

If you fit the above description, then make sure to check out these five forgotten fantasy sleepers that you should consider starting in Week 3.

1. Matt Hasselbeck

Yes, Hasselbeck is old, and clearly in decline. But he has a solid team around him, with a great defense, a good running back, and good receivers to throw to. Most notably Kenny Britt.

Any fantasy owner who had Michael Vick and saw him go down with injury can take the forgotten Hasselbeck for a quick fix at quarterback. While Hasselbeck is not going to put up career stats anymore, he will put up a solid 18-22 points.

For a quarterback that most owners would not have drafted, that's not bad.

2. Thomas Jones

It must have been devastating for any fantasy owner who selected Jamaal Charles with a high pick, likely even as high as the No. 1 overall pick, and then saw him go down with a season-ending injury. Charles is an integral part of any fantasy team with him on it and fantasy owners are scrambling left and right now to fill the void left by his dominating presence.

But look no farther than one spot below on the depth chart. Thomas Jones, while aging and with elite days behind him, is still an able running back. And on a team like the Kansas City Chiefs, there will be plenty of running to be had by this veteran. 

Jones will not dominate for you, but he will still has something left in the tank and will certainly put up solid numbers. Enough hopefully to keep a fantasy team afloat with a consistent running back.

3. Deion Branch

Chad Ochocinco has struggled to make anything happen with the New England Patriots so far this season. Perhaps he is having trouble learning the system, or that his best days are now finally behind him. He is not exactly rejuvenating his career like many fans and experts expected him to, catching only three balls so far in the first two games.

Therefore, with defenses focusing on slowing down Wes Welker, Deion Branch is a player that most fantasy owners had forgotten about and can be a sleeper.

Already having accumulated 222 yards, Branch is a smart player and knows how to get open, despite his age. And with Tom Brady having excellent rapport with him from the beginning of the 21st century, expect Branch to see plenty of catches this season. Especially if Ochocinco's struggles continue.

4. Steve Smith

Steve Smith may not be a sleeper in the sense that he was not taken at all in the draft. But many fans had written Steve Smith off after posting two lackluster seasons, believing that the wide receiver was done and his career was nearing an end. Therefore, Smith possibly languished on fantasy benches for two games this season.

It is now obvious that the wideout still has plenty left to contribute.

Few seem to recall that just two seasons ago, the Carolina Panthers were among the best teams in the NFL and had their postseason run cut short by a turnover machine named Jake Delhomme. Then for two straight seasons, the Panthers had to put up with poor play by Delhomme and Jimmy Clausen.

Enter Cam Newton, and Smith finally has someone to throw the ball to him.

Now, Smith deserves to start on every single fantasy team at the wide receiver position. Expect him to dominate again, as long as Newton can continue to put up big yards.

5. Kerry Collins

Just like Hasselbeck, Kerry Collins' best years are clearly behind him. And with Collins posting less than impressive numbers in both of his two starts, he has completely fallen off the radar for most fantasy owners.

But one should consider taking him if, like Hasselbeck, they are in need of a quarterback after losing Vick and/or Peyton Manning to injury. 

Collins is overall a solid quarterback, and he benefits from the Colts being a pass-heavy team. As he continues to get more comfortable with the Colts offense, he will continue to improve in effectiveness.

Especially when one considers that Collins has a very talented team around him, including the likes of wide receiver Reggie Wayne, tight end Dallas Clark, and center Jeff Saturday, all three of whom are among the very best in the NFL at their positions.

Collins can turn out to be a surprisingly solid quarterback for a fantasy team in desperate need of one. Not a bad idea to pick up this potential sleeper.