Fantasy Football Index Magazine "Ask the Expert" Question for the week: Name your sleeper for the fantasy playoffs -- a player who has been average to below-average this season, but will help carry teams to fantasy titles the rest of the way.
One obvious answer is Fred Jackson. He should get more carries now that new BUF coach, Perry Fewell, has decided to give Jackson the main RB duties for the Bills. A real sleeper is Larry Johnson CIN. He has a favorable schedule and has shown some flash for the Bengals filling in during Cedric Bensons' absence. He will not top 100 yards as he did Sunday but he could do some damage with 10 carries a game and DET, SD and KC all ahead. If Benson misses more time, Johnson could see his value soar. As for a WR pick, Jason Avant PHI is making his move and DeSean Jackson missing this week helps him.
ASK THE EXPERTS appears weekly at http://www.fantasyindex.com/ with answers to a new question posted Thursday morning.
Sam Hendricks is the author of Fantasy Football Guidebook, Fantasy Football Tips and Fantasy Football Almanac 2009, all available at his website, http://www.ffguidebook.com/ , at all major bookstores, and at http://www.amazon.com/. He is a 19-year fantasy football veteran who regularly participates in the World Championship of Fantasy Football (WCOFF), National Fantasy Football Championship (NFFC) and finished 7th overall in the 2008 Fantasy Football Players Championship (FFPC).
This year he is 4th overall in the Fantasy Football Players Championship (out of 228 players) going into Week 13.
Fantasy Football Tips: 201 Ways to Win through Player Rankings, Cheat Sheets and Better Drafting ($9.95) www.amazon.com/dp/0982428669
Fantasy Football Guidebook: Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football ($19.95 on sale for $17.95) http://www.amazon.com/1602640203
Showing posts with label Sleepers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sleepers. Show all posts
Friday, December 4, 2009
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Sleepers players-Who will be the 2009 Fantasy Football Sleepers?
Time to look at who could be significant Sleeper candidates in 2009. Remember by definition sleeper is someone who is not expected to do well and far exceeds their expectations. So sometimes it will depend on what the "expected stats" are to begin with that determines how much they exceed them. In other words it is easy to exceed low expectations.
If anyone tells you that they know who the Sleepers will be for sure, ignore them completely because nobody knows with certainty who will shine. But I can offer a few possibilites and why:
QB
Trent Edwards, BUF-Any QB throwing to two Top 30 WRs deserves consideration for Top 10 performance. On most rankings he is 17th.
Kyle Orton, DEN-If (this is a big IF) Marshall plays nice, then Orton has two Top 30 WRs and a decent TE option in Scheffler. He is projected at QB18 now. That is a lot of room for improvement.
RB
Cedric Benson, CIN-Had a good finish to 2008 and could keep it going if he can fend off Bernard Scott who looks to be pushing him. Either are good candidates for Sleeper.
Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG-The #2 at the Giants will be more of a RBBC then most. Current ranking is around 40ish. But an injury to Jacobs pushes Bradshaw into the Top 15 and if not he could be top 30 even in a time-share.
WR
Nate Burleson, SEA-A healthy Hassleback and TJH to watch by the better corners means Burleson may have some good looks this year.
Chris Henry would get the other nod but he is screaming up the rankings so people are aware of him based on his preseason performance. Instead I will pick James Jones GB. He and GB look to have a great season ahead as A. Rodgers starts his first week 1 without a huge cloud called Favre overhead.
TE
Brent Celek, PHI-McNabb (and or Vick) will take advantage of having a healthy TE permanently on the field.
Brandon Pettigrew, DET-Rookies usually do not see the field much their first year, but DET is desperate. Expect bigger things from Pettigrew especially if he gets Stafford to start with them as Stafford-Pettigrew may become a household phrase in the Big D.
K
Vinateri, IND-IND will not be as good this year in terms of offensive production, Peyton has been sacked way too many times this preseason. So look for more FGs and less TDs. Adam is ranked conservatively at K15. He makes a nice choice for Top 5.
Shayne Graham, CIN- Ranked K17 in many polls if the Bengals have a healthy Palmer look for more scoring. Their Def was not as bad last year as everyone thinks.
Defense/ST
Green Bay-Switched to the 3-4 and the offense looks to be clicking on all cylinders too.
Arizona-They have an easy Fantasy Playoff stretch, as they face @SF, @DET and STL in weeks 14-16.
Sam Hendricks, Author:
Fantasy Football Tips: 201 Ways to Win through Player Rankings, Cheat Sheets and Better Drafting ($9.95, www.amazon.com/dp/0982428669)
Fantasy Football Guidebook: Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football ($19.95 on sale for $17.95) http://www.amazon.com/1602640203
Fantasy Football Almanac 2009: The Essential Fantasy Football Reference Guide ($12.95, http://www.amazon.com/1602643989)
If anyone tells you that they know who the Sleepers will be for sure, ignore them completely because nobody knows with certainty who will shine. But I can offer a few possibilites and why:
QB
Trent Edwards, BUF-Any QB throwing to two Top 30 WRs deserves consideration for Top 10 performance. On most rankings he is 17th.
Kyle Orton, DEN-If (this is a big IF) Marshall plays nice, then Orton has two Top 30 WRs and a decent TE option in Scheffler. He is projected at QB18 now. That is a lot of room for improvement.
RB
Cedric Benson, CIN-Had a good finish to 2008 and could keep it going if he can fend off Bernard Scott who looks to be pushing him. Either are good candidates for Sleeper.
Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG-The #2 at the Giants will be more of a RBBC then most. Current ranking is around 40ish. But an injury to Jacobs pushes Bradshaw into the Top 15 and if not he could be top 30 even in a time-share.
WR
Nate Burleson, SEA-A healthy Hassleback and TJH to watch by the better corners means Burleson may have some good looks this year.
Chris Henry would get the other nod but he is screaming up the rankings so people are aware of him based on his preseason performance. Instead I will pick James Jones GB. He and GB look to have a great season ahead as A. Rodgers starts his first week 1 without a huge cloud called Favre overhead.
TE
Brent Celek, PHI-McNabb (and or Vick) will take advantage of having a healthy TE permanently on the field.
Brandon Pettigrew, DET-Rookies usually do not see the field much their first year, but DET is desperate. Expect bigger things from Pettigrew especially if he gets Stafford to start with them as Stafford-Pettigrew may become a household phrase in the Big D.
K
Vinateri, IND-IND will not be as good this year in terms of offensive production, Peyton has been sacked way too many times this preseason. So look for more FGs and less TDs. Adam is ranked conservatively at K15. He makes a nice choice for Top 5.
Shayne Graham, CIN- Ranked K17 in many polls if the Bengals have a healthy Palmer look for more scoring. Their Def was not as bad last year as everyone thinks.
Defense/ST
Green Bay-Switched to the 3-4 and the offense looks to be clicking on all cylinders too.
Arizona-They have an easy Fantasy Playoff stretch, as they face @SF, @DET and STL in weeks 14-16.
Sam Hendricks, Author:
Fantasy Football Tips: 201 Ways to Win through Player Rankings, Cheat Sheets and Better Drafting ($9.95, www.amazon.com/dp/0982428669)
Fantasy Football Guidebook: Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football ($19.95 on sale for $17.95) http://www.amazon.com/1602640203
Fantasy Football Almanac 2009: The Essential Fantasy Football Reference Guide ($12.95, http://www.amazon.com/1602643989)
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