Fantasy Football Sleepers: 5 Players on the Rise

Yes, there are still some sleepers left that can potentially help your 2011 Fantasy Football team.  I'm ready to point out five of them, as a matter of fact.

Some lesser-known players saw their stock rise a little bit after their Week 4 performance. There are also still a few players who haven't been performing too well but stand a decent chance that their fortunes may change.

However, are there truly any "sleepers" left at this point? Sure there are. They might not be players who will be in your starting lineup, but they should provide decent bye-week relief or emergency fill-in help.

Just last week I wrote about two players who were relative newcomers in Buffalo WR David Nelson and Denver WR Eric Decker.  If either of them are still available in your league, pick them up right now! 

So, who are the new kids on the block this week?  And no, none are named Joey McIntyre or Donnie Wahlberg.

Here are five guys who are worth a look and may be worth adding to your roster for depth.

TE Jared Cook, Tennessee Titans

Jared Cook could still be considered a sleeper in most leagues and is likely available. His stats through four games are not overly impressive: Seven catches for 149 yards and one TD.

Plus, they are even skewed a little bit due to his 80-yard TD reception last week against Cleveland. Take away that one play and his stats more truly read like this: Six catches for 69 yards.

However, Tennessee head coach Mike Munchak indicated last week how much he loved Cook's athleticism and that they may use him as the third wide receiver in some formations.

Of course, that was in response to what the Titans' plans were for the passing game now that No. 1 receiver Kenny Britt is out for the season.

In the Titans' first full game without Britt, Cook still only caught two passes but took one of them for that 80-yard score.  This is why he's worth considering because he does have good receiving skills.

The only question is, how many looks (targets) will he get? Will they look to him more with Britt out or about the same?

At this point, I'm willing to bet that his targets continue to increase and therefore his production will too.

WR Victor Cruz, New York Giants

Victor Cruz entered this season fourth on New York's depth chart at wide receiver. But a few things have happened since then.

First, starting WR Mario Manningham sustained a concussion in Week 2.  Then, Brandon Stokley graciously faded into the background and ceded his spot on the depth chart.

This has allowed for Cruz to step forward and he is taking advantage of his opportunities. 

Cruz broke out in Week 3 against Philadelphia with three catches for 110 yards and two TDs.  In Week 4, with Manningham back in the lineup, he still posted another six catches for 98 yards.

The word in New York right now is that Cruz is the third receiver and is also getting in the mix for the No. 2 spot.  This could mean a lot more targets and production as the year goes on.

RB Ryan Torain, Washington Redskins

You probably remember Ryan Torain from last season after he took over the starting role in Washington.  Heading into this season, most people probably forgot about Torain since there wasn't much buzz surrounding him.

The arrival of Tim Hightower and drafting of Roy Helu basically pushed Torain down the depth chart. Plus, you just never know what head coach Mike Shanahan is going to do with his running backs.

However, Torain proved to be a good runner last season but struggled some with his pass protection, as he wasn't as dynamic as Shanahan would like as a receiver out of the backfield. 

In Week 4, however, Hightower was benched; paving the way for Torain to have a pretty good game. He rushed 19 times for 135 yards and one TD.

It's still a risky move to add Torain at this time because Shanahan changes runners at a moments notice. Nonetheless, if Hightower continues to struggle it looks like Torain is the first one off the bench to replace him.

Running backs are almost always productive under Shanahan's scheme, it's only a matter of choosing the right guy to start on your fantasy team.

If you have room on your roster, Torain is worth a flyer at this point.

WR Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers

Antonio Brown may or may not be considered a sleeper at this point, depending on your perspective and your fantasy league. He was on many sleeper lists heading into the season after a strong preseason showing.

He has kind of flown under the radar so far this year, mainly because he hasn't scored yet.  However, he seems to have quietly overtaken Hines Ward for the No. 2 receiver position.

Through four games, Brown has posted 15 receptions for 223 yards. That's a healthy-almost 15 yards per reception average.

Brown has averaged about eight targets per game from QB Ben Roethlisberger and hasn't posted less than four catches in the past three games.

He will eventually start getting into the end zone as he matures into his role.  If he's still available in your league right now, he's worth making room on your bench for.

WR Preston Parker, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Preston Parker has been quietly coming alive in Tampa Bay.  He seems to have surpassed Arrelious Benn on the depth chart and is starting to solidify himself as the No. 2 receiver.

In fact, he actually has better numbers than No. 1 receiver Mike Williams. Williams has 15 catches for 155 yards and one TD, while Parker has 16 catches for 223 yards and one TD.

Passing TDs have been hard to come by for Tampa Bay receivers (only three total), so that makes picking up Parker less than tantalizing.

However, this isn't about finding a weekly starter for your fantasy team.  It's about finding depth and players who can start in a pinch.

Just like the others, Parker fits that bill.