Fantasy Football 2014: 5 New Sleepers Coming Out of Preseason Week 2

2014 Fantasy Football: 5 New Sleepers After Week 2 of the Preseason

Travis Kelce Kansas City Chiefs
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Week 2 of the 2014 NFL preseason will end Monday night, with the Cleveland Browns taking on the Washington Redskins. Fantasy football owners will have their eye on Cleveland's quarterbacks, since a Week 1 starter is expected to be named on Tuesday.

Here are five new fantasy sleepers coming out of Week 2 of the preseason.

5. Santonio Holmes, WR, Chicago Bears

Santonio Holmes Chicago Bears
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5. Santonio Holmes, WR, Chicago Bears

Santonio Holmes Chicago Bears
Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sportsa

Holmes signed with the Bears over the weekend, and with Marquess Wilson (broken collarbone) expected to be out until at least midseason the veteran will likely become the team's No. 3 wide receiver. Just how much the 30-year old has left remains to be seen, but Holmes is someone fantasy owners can keep an eye on as the preseason winds down.

4. Matt Cassel, QB, Minnesota Vikings

Matt Cassel Minnesota Vikings
Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

4. Matt Cassel, QB, Minnesota Vikings

Matt Cassel Minnesota Vikings
Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Cassel's presence on this list should not surprise my avid readers (both of you). He is all but certain to start Week 1 now, and fantasy relevance, based in part on how much he'll be throwing the ball, does not look far off with the Vikings facing a sampling of the league's best quarterbacks from Week 2-Week 6.

3. Lorenzo Taliaferro, RB, Baltimore Ravens

Lorenzo Taliaferro Baltimore Ravens
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3. Lorenzo Taliaferro, RB, Baltimore Ravens

Lorenzo Taliaferro Baltimore Ravens
Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

Taliaferro had 16 carries for 59 yards and a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday night, and he now has 29 carries for 130 yards through two preseason games. Bernard Pierce and Ray Rice are currently ahead of him on the depth chart, along with Justin Forsett perhaps, but Taliaferro's role in Baltimore's third preseason game will be worth watching.

2. Blake Bortles, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars

Blake Bortles Jacksonville Jaguars
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2. Blake Bortles, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars

Blake Bortles Jacksonville Jaguars
Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Bortles has played very well through two preseason games, going 18-for-28 for 277 yards. He is expected to see a full quarter with the first-team offense Friday night against the Detroit Lions, and if he plays well the team's plan to have him sit all season should change. Once undraftable in single-season leagues, Bortles is now worth a look as a QB2.

1. Jonathan Stewart, RB, Carolina Panthers

Jonathan Stewart Carolina Panthers
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

1. Jonathan Stewart, RB, Carolina Panthers

Jonathan Stewart Carolina Panthers
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Stewart had four carries for 26 yards and two touchdowns against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night. After battling a hamstring injury since prior to training camp, he looks healthy enough to earn a significant role and be draftable in 12 and 14-team leagues.


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