Which Players Will be This Year's Sleepers?
We are only three months away from the beginning of the 2013 NFL season and while that fact alone will get a lot of fans very excited, the thought of fantasy football brings more people into it. There are always going to be those stud players that everyone wants or gets in the first round that will likely produce in a big way. I am looking for the sleepers to get when it is time for your 2013 draft. I think I have identified 10 players who you may be able to get after the fourth round that will help your team more than a higher pick.
The league is set up these days to a point where looking for wide receivers that can have a big season becomes a very important part of the draft preparation. I know that I have a few of these players on this list higher than I would some other stars just due to the team they are on or the opportunity that they are likely to get. It is always my favorite time of year getting ready for draft day. There will be people like myself who spend way too much time working on who they want to draft.
I’m hoping I can save you some time with these picks and you won’t have to work as hard for your own draft. There are mostly receivers in this list, but I have thrown in a few running backs and even a quarterback who could really help. It is an ever-changing world around fantasy football, along with who will be the studs and duds coming up this season. Here is my list of 10 fantasy football sleepers for the 2013 season.
Andy Schmidt is a columnist/writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter @ASchmidtSports, like his Facebook page or add him to your network on Google.
10. WR Alshon Jeffery, Chicago Bears
Jeffery may have had only 24 catches last season, but I expect more passes his direction this season and he could turn into the No. 2 fantasy wide receiver opposite Brandon Marshall.
9. QB Matt Flynn, Oakland Raiders
Flynn is in a new system and could be a quarterback that can be taken late in the draft and used if your starter were to go down for a week or two to keep your team afloat.
8. WR Ryan Broyles, Detroit Lions
Broyles is still recovering from an ACL tear and may not be ready for Week 1, but any receiver opposite of Calvin Johnson is going to see a lot of passes thrown his way.
7. WR Cordarrelle Patterson, Minnesota Vikings
I have to believe that Patterson will be a target that Christian Ponder will be looking for quite a bit. He may have a rookie season of 50 or 60 catches.
6. RB Giovani Bernard, Cincinnati Bengals
Bernard may not be the lead running back right away, but he is someone worth drafting with the final pick and keeping on the bench for the first couple weeks.
5. RB Eddie Lacy, Green Bay Packers
Lacy appears to be heading towards being a starter as a rookie. That can only mean good things. He may be someone worth taking as a second or third running back.
4. WR Justin Blackmon, Jacksonville Jaguars
Blackmon had 64 catches last season and has the talent to haul in closer to 80 this season if the running game can offset things.
3. WR Tavon Austin, St. Louis Rams
Austin should be the focus point of the offense and after a season with 114 catches to finish his college career, he could be the rookie of the year.
2. RB Lamar Miller, Miami Dolphins
Miller will likely be a lead running back and that means a lot more touches than the 51 carries he got last year.
1. WR Danny Amendola, New England Patriots
Amendola moves to a much better situation for his skills and should top 90 catches this coming season. I wouldn’t let him slip past the fourth or fifth round even with his injury history.
