Anyone who has been in a competitive fantasy football league knows that the later rounds of the draft and the waiver wire often decide the champion. Grabbing a breakout player or a couple of solid contributors for almost nothing is the difference between a good team and a great team. With that in mind, here are three sleepers for each position. I'll provide a trendy sleeper (meaning a favorite of many experts), my sleeper (self explanatory) and a deep sleeper (a player who might not be starting but may be worth a roster spot at some point).
Quarterback
Trendy Sleeper - Josh McCown TB
Josh McCown was a well regarded prospect in his younger days and he put up some big numbers in relief duty last
Only time will tell if McCown can carry over his success from 2013.year for Chicago. While he could turn out to be the next Matt Cassel, I like his chances to succeed considering he has two big targets in Vincent Jackson and rookie Mike Evans.
My Sleeper - Ryan Fitzpatrick HOU
Ryan Fitzpatrick is a quarterback who has had some success in the past, both in fantasy and real football. His big games came with the Buffalo Bills who are not in the same stratosphere as Houston when it comes to receivers. Throwing to Andre Johnson and DeAndre Hopkins will have a tendency to cover up some mistakes.
Deep Sleeper - Kirk Cousins WAS
I am by no means guaranteeing that Cousins will see the field in 2014, but with RG3's injury history I wouldn't bet against it. The Redskins offense should be much more dynamic this year with the addition of Desean Jackson to go along with Pierre Garcon. Keep an eye on Cousins if Griffin has to miss time.
Also: Early NY Jets Fantasy Predictions
Running Back
Trendy Sleeper - C.J. Spiller BUF
Last year Spiller was the trendy candidate to have a huge season, this year he is a trendy pick to be a sleeper because last year's owners won't touch him. I'm not recommending that you draft Spiller, I won't do it myself. The buzz is there though and so is the talent.
My Sleeper - Bishop Sankey TEN
I know it is borderline to call him a sleeper, but I'm using the term because I think he will be undervalued simply
Bishop Sankey is going to do big things, have him on your fantasy team.because he is a rookie. I cannot say enough about Sankey's skill set and I think that he could sniff top 10 RB status. He is compact but powerful and has good quickness, couple that with nice receiving ability and you have a potential fantasy beast. The only thing that could limit his potential is Tennessee getting blown out of the stadium early.
Deep Sleeper - Devonta Freeman ATL
Freeman is an undersized back who will likely start out number three on the Falcons depth chart. I expect him to blow by Jaquizz Rodgers early in the season due to his abilities running, catching and pass blocking. I think that by midseason he will be taking carries from Steven Jackson and he could even see some starts if Jackson goes down with an injury again in 2014.
Wide Receiver
Trendy Sleeper - Tavon Austin STL
Here is a guy with some similarities to CJ Spiller. Both have electrifying ability, both underperformed last year and
Could Jerrel Jernigan be the WR to own from the G-Men?both are being hailed as potential breakout candidates this year. One difference is that Austin likely won't cost you too much and the rewards could still be huge.
My Sleeper - Roddy White ATL
Roddy White shook owner's faith last season by ruining their chances at competing for a title. Most of the year was plagued by injury, which was an anomaly for the dependable White. I'm not saying that he'll be incredibly cheap in this year's draft, but I am saying that I'm taking him and expecting vintage production.
Deep Sleeper - Jerrel Jernigan NYG
Jernigan would appear to be mired on the bench behind Manningham, Randle and high draft pick Odell Beckham.
However, last season Jernigan was a big part of the offense in the last
Tight End
Trendy Sleeper - Ladarius Green SD
Green has been a sleeper for a while now it is really just a question of opportunity, unfortunately Green is mired
Ladarius Green WILL be big-time, but will it be in 2014?behind future hall of famer Antonio Gates. The Chargers started to use Green for some deep shots last year and he will likely continue to get the ball more in 2014. If he gets the starting job this year, Green immediately moves up to a top 5 option in my book.
My Sleeper - Zach Ertz PHI
I would go with Ladarius Green as well if he weren't so widely publicized already. With that said, Ertz seems to be on the verge of getting a starting job himself. He was developing a nice chemistry with Nick Foles last season and I would look for Ertz to take a big step forward in production in 2014.
Deep Sleeper - Troy Niklas ARI
Niklas is a rookie and he does not have a great deal of experience at the tight end position. What he does have is a great work ethic and a boatload of raw talent. Succeeding in his rookie season is far from a sure thing, but I would at least keep Niklas on your watch list.
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