Bring Forth The Sleepers!

Everybody always wants to know the sleepers. I think its because everybody wants to pick up that 4th round out of some small school, watch him explode and then spout off about how brilliant he was for making that pick, when, in reality, it was mostly luck. The same person often fails to mention how those risky picks he made in the 6th and 7th rounds blew up in his face.

I don't listen too much to pre-season sleeper talk. Once a player is mentioned as a sleeper in more than a few publications, I tend to stay away. Once a player is labelled a sleeper his draft position grows a lot higher than his potential ceiling ever was. So my sleepers are a bit different than most. They're not undrafted rookies out of St. Vincent's Southern Christian Academy in Division III. They are players you are probably quite familiar with. They are players that seem to be vastly underrated coming into this season. Hell, I've seen some of these guys on the busts lists of some publications.

What I'm NOT suggesting is that you reach for these players. I'm merely suggesting to keep them in mind if you miss out on some coveted players at these positions earlier. I'm just saying that if Peyton Manning slips to the middle of the second round and you're trying to decide between Manning and Ronnie Brown, take Manning because Brandon Jacobs is likely available in the third.

Quarterbacks

Eli Manning - I'm not saying Eli Manning is a great QB. He makes a lot of mistakes at bad times that costs his team games. That kind of thing is coach-able, though. Wants not coach-able is his tremendous arm strength and ability to air the ball out. Manning will put up yardage and TDs. As long as your league doesn't penalize you too much for INTs, Manning should be a fringe starting fantasy QB this year, with the potential!

Jason Campbell - Campbell seems to be grasping Al Saunders offence now. Need I remind you Saunders is responsible for making QBs like Trent Green a fantasy force? Campbell also has some excellent weapons to throw to (Moss, Randle El, Lloyd, Cooley, Betts, Portis, SELLERS). He should be at least as valuable as guys like Matt Leinart, Jay Cutler, etc. this year.

Byron Leftwich - Leftwich should be healthy this year and should make a serviceable QB2 with a bit of upside. It's hard to draft him, though, knowing his receiving corps is among the weakest in the league.

Running Back

Brandon Jacobs - A year and a half ago, Jacobs was the trendy must have running back. He was supposed to take over for Tiki Barber and be a stud. He's done nothing since then to change that, though everybody seems to have soured on him a bit. This guy will provide similar value to guys like Ronnie Brown and Willie Parker but an entire two to three rounds later.

Cedric Benson - Nobody has faith in this guy except, I presume, the Bears. Benson is THE guy on a team that has to run the ball to be effective. The Bears traded Thomas Jones to open a spot for Benson and even the most ineffective RB can rush for 1000 yards if you give him enough touches.

Tatum Bell - Bell is a very talented back; do not question his talent. The problem in Denver was fumbling, which did not go over well with Mike Shanahan. Bell is in Detroit now, playing the position that Mike Martz so effectively used Marshall Faulk in. It also looks more and more like Kevin Jones is going to miss a large chunk of the season, if not all of it. Remember one thing....Jones isn't so talented that Bell can't keep Jones on the bench when Jones does return.

Julius Jones - Jones has been slipping DEEP into drafts, well behind Marion Barber III. Here's the thing...he's still the starting running back on a good offense. I'm not saying you need to draft him in the first 5 rounds but he makes a nice option for teams looking for depth at running back in the mid rounds.

Tony Hunt - Brian Westbrook owners listen up: draft Tony Hunt. If someone else picks him up, you're going to be sorry. Westbrook will get injured for some of this season and Hunt will post good numbers as his replacement.

Wide Receiver

Deion Branch - Branch will post WR2 numbers at worst this year (barring injury) but is being drafted as more of a WR3. The perfect reason to pick a third RB instead of addressing WR too early.

Santana Moss - Moss has huge playmaking ability. He just didn't have someone that could throw the ball to him for most of last year. Enter the strong armed Jason Campbell.

Jerry Porter - Looking more and more like the starter in Oakland. Yeah, it's Oakland, but Porter has plenty of explosiveness and is going UNDRAFTED in many leagues. And excellent depth receiver that should post WR2/3 numbers.

Troy Williamson - Somebody has to catch the ball in Minny. Not the most ringing endoresment. Williamson has the physical gifts to be a solid NFL receiver, he just needs some consistency. He's also of that age where receivers tend to make the next step, so there are worse guys to take a flyer on.

Tight End

Tight end is so deep this year that there is really nobody to label as a "sleeper" unless you're playing in some masochistic, ultra deep league that starts two tight ends. If that's the case:

Eric Johnson - Was a solid pass catcher at one time in San Fran. Now playing with Drew Brees.
Tony Scheffler - Good pass catcher. Liked him better before Denver signed Daniel Graham.
Visanthe Shiancoe - Minny paid him A LOT of money, so I assume they will try and get him the ball as much as possible.