The word "sleeper"
has several definitions. But in the world of fantasy football, it refers to a player who comes out of nowhere and exceeds statistical expectations.
The 2007 NFL season was a virtual cornucopia of sleepers, as Derek Anderson, David Garrard, Earnest Graham, Ryan Grant, Kenny Watson and Wes Welker were just a few of the players that made significant contributions for their respective teams when far less was expected of them in fantasy land. Some sleepers are impossible to predict (Grant saw a chance only after several backfield injuries occured in Green Bay), while other prognosticators take the easier path and label a player like Marshawn Lynch a sleeper for 2008.
Unless you lived under a rock last season, Lynch is not a sleeper.
In our never ending quest to assist fantasy owners in their quest for a league championship, here's a look at 10 deep and legitimate sleeper candidates headed into this season.
Sleepers can sometimes emerge from behind injured starters, so it's hard not to like Bradshaw this season. He won't top the Giants' depth chart, but he will be second behind the injury-prone Brandon Jacobs. If Jacobs can't avoid injuries again this season, Bradshaw could become a fantasy starter. He's a solid handcuff for Jacobs and is well worth a look in the middle to late rounds of all drafts.
Burleson had some real sleeper value with Minnesota earlier in his career, but he failed to meet expectations and fell off the fantasy radar. With Deion Branch likely to miss part of the season with an injured knee, however, Burleson's draft stock has been renewed. If he earns a prominent role in Seattle, the Nevada-Reno product could push 60-70 catches in 2008. He'll have even more value if you receive points for return yards.
Forte is in a tremendous situation in Chicago and should compete with Adrian Peterson for the top spot on the depth chart. GM Jerry Angelo thinks Forte can be a three-down back, so the Tulane product should see his share of opportunities. In fact, no one should be at all shocked to see Forte emerge as the starter and develop into a prominent back, both between the white lines and in the world of fantasy football.
Gaffney seems destined to become another former Florida wideout to fail at the NFL level. He struggled in Houston and failed to make Philadelphia's regular-season roster, but he's in a tremendous situation in 2008. With Donté Stallworth now in Cleveland, Gaffney is the favorite to start in the league's most prolific offense. As a result, he should produce career bests across the board.
Gonzalez showed a lot of potential in the absence of Marvin Harrison, as he finished with 37 receptions and 576 yards as a rookie. He was also solid down the stretch for fantasy owners, scoring three touchdowns in the final four weeks. With one season of pro experience under his belt and the incomparable Peyton Manning under center, Gonzalez could make an even greater impact in 2008
With Bernard Berrian (Vikings) and Muhsin Muhammad (Panthers) out of the mix, Olsen will see a much larger role in Chicago. Much like fellow Miami products Bubba Franks, Jeremy Shockey and Kellen Winslow, Olsen has the skills and abilities to be a No. 1 fantasy tight end. He could turn into one of the better draft bargains of the season, so take a chance on him in the middle to late rounds.
With Javon Walker (Raiders) out of the mix and a glut of unspectacular wide receivers in a competition to start opposite Brandon Marshall, Scheffler has a chance to see a far greater role in Denver's pass attack this season. He's a solid red-zone threat and has developed a nice rapport with Jay Cutler, so look for Scheffler to emerge into a viable No. 1 fantasy tight end in 2008.
Smith was a productive runner at Central Florida and has a ton of sleeper value in an unimpressive Detroit backfield. Tatum Bell, who was inactive for most of last season, and the oft-injured Brian Calhoun are the lone backs in the mix for carries, so Smith has a chance to start right out of the gate for Rod Marinelli. He should be targeted as a No. 3 fantasy back in most fantasy drafts.
Fantasy owners should remember the name Chris Taylor. He missed last season with an injured knee, but Taylor is a favorite of the coaches and a nice fit for the team's zone-blocking scheme. Veterans Ahman Green and Chris Brown are brittle and past their primes, so Taylor could move into a more prominent role for Gary Kubiak. He'll be worth a late-round flier in leagues with 12 or more teams.
When the Denver Broncos select a running back in the NFL Draft, fantasy owners need to take notice. So it's no shock to see Torain on our list of potential sleepers. Mike Shanahan thinks the Arizona State product has first-round talent, so he could become the next Olandis Gary or Mike Anderson to emerge out of the Mile High City. He's definitely a fantasy player to watch in the preseason.
