Top 10 Fantasy Football Sleepers of 2008 May 23, 2008

Top 10 Fantasy Football Sleepers of 2008

 Every season there are always a handful of players that fly under the radar in fantasy drafts. These players are often undervalued because people don?t know enough about them and don?t want to take a mid-round chance on them in hopes of making their team a championship contender. Having a few sleepers in mind on draft day is not only essential, but it will give fantasy players a great opportunity to take a gamble on a player that could single-handedly put them at the top of their league standings. Here is a list of 10 sleepers to think about for the upcoming fantasy football season.

 
1. Kevin Smith, RB Detroit Lions

            Smith is coming off an incredible college career at Central Florida where he was the workhorse and excelled at it. Not only is he coming off a season in which he rushed for over 2,500 yards and scored 29 TD?s, but he also landed on a Detroit Lions team that is in desperate need of a big-time runner. He will be right in the mix with Kevin Jones and Tatum Bell to earn the right to be the Week 1 starter. And since RB?s are gold in fantasy, Smith could be a solid No. 2 back this year that could be available in the late rounds of drafts.

 
2. Michael Turner, RB Atlanta Falcons

            Turner is finally done being LT?s shadow and should be the starter in Atlanta. He has all the skills and ability to be a starter in the league and will get every chance to prove it for the rebuilding Falcons. Turner is a very fast RB, but also is a power runner. That could be a deadly combination for fantasy owners come September. Plus with rookie franchise QB Matt Ryan taking the snaps, Turner will be getting plenty of carries while Ryan learns how to play in the NFL. Look for Turner to be a steal as your No. 2 RB.

 
3. Donte? Stallworth, WR Cleveland Browns

            Stallworth is a big-play wide out who was underutilized in New England last season. He has all the skills to be a solid No. 2 WR if he can get the ball and I think that won?t be a problem in Cleveland where Stallworth will have the likes of Derek Anderson throwing to him. Last season, Tom Brady said that no one runs better after the catch then Donte? Stallworth. That should be enough reason to draft him as your 2^nd WR.

 
4. Dwayne Bowe, WR Kansas City Chiefs

            Bowe is a young and talented receiver who exploded on the scene in 2007. He is a big target at 6-2 220 lbs. and has great hands. Last season, Bowe finished with just under 1,000 yards receiving (995) and scored five TD?s and that was with a bunch of different QB?s throwing to him. It looks like Brodie Croyle will be the QB for the Chiefs to start the season and the two have already been building up good chemistry so look for Bowe to improve across the board this season. If Croyle can consistently get him the ball, then Bowe could push to be a No. 1 WR on fantasy teams.


5. Owen Daniels, TE Houston Texans

            Daniels had a solid 2007 campaign, but suffered when QB Matt Schaub was injured. When Schaub was healthy, Daniels was often his favorite target, especially in the red-zone. He finished with nearly 800 receiving yards and three TD?s and that?s without having his QB for almost six games. Daniels will still be available after the eighth round, but look for him to be a top 5 fantasy TE in 2008 with the return of a steady developing Schaub who loves throwing to his TE.

 
6. Aaron Rodgers, QB Green Bay Packers

            It is finally Rodgers? show in Cheese head Territory and look for him to be ready for the challenge. Rodgers showed glimpses of what he?s capable of against the Cowboys last year when Favre got hurt. He possessed the poise and leadership that a great QB needs to have to be successful and with the talent that Green Bay has at WR, Rodgers could be in for a breakout season in 2008. If you miss out on the Brady?s, Manning?s, Palmer?s and Brees?, then Rodgers might not be a bad selection later on.

 
7. Rashard Mendenhall, RB Pittsburgh Steelers

            Mendenhall is another rookie RB who might surprise in 2008. I understand that the Steelers already have a solid veteran in Willie Parker, but Mendenhall should still see the field and give Parker some breaks. He wasn?t drafted 23^rd overall for nothing. Mendenhall is a playmaker who can make things happen whenever the ball is in his hands and if Parker does get injured or continues to have fumblitis, then the back from Illinois could make some noise in the NFL. He could be a good fit for the flex position if he can get the ball enough.

           
8. D.J. Hackett, WR Carolina Panthers

            Hackett, like Stallworth, is moving on to a new place. The big rip on Hackett over the past few years has been that he can?t stay healthy. He only played in six games in 2007 for Seattle, but when in the lineup he was often a go-to-guy for QB Matt Hasselbeck. Now he will be playing alongside Steve Smith in Carolina and if Jake Delhomme can forget about his dreadful 2007 and bounce back then Hackett should have a nice season, especially with the fact that most of the defenses will be double-teaming Smith quite frequently. If healthy I see Hackett as a solid No. 2 WR in 2008.

 
9. Steve Smith, WR New York Giants

            We all saw how much Eli Manning loved this guy in the playoffs last season and that chemistry should only grow in 2008. Smith is quickly becoming the best WR in New York and could be in for some big numbers this season. Manning already has plenty of faith in Smith and with Amani Toomer getting older and Jeremy Shockey on the trading block; Smith could slide right into a starting slot in New York alongside Plaxico. He could be a bargain in fantasy drafts and should develop into a No. 2 WR in 2008.

 
10. Steve Slaton, RB Houston Texans

            Slaton is a small RB with blazing speed who has a reputation of being a playmaker. The fact that he landed in Houston only makes him an even more interesting player to watch in 2008. With injury-prone starter Ahman Green and the less than impressive Chris Brown as the players standing in his way, Slaton could become the starter in Houston later on and be a nice addition to fantasy teams. The big question with Slaton is his durability, especially in the NFL, but if he gets a few breaks and uses his speed properly then he could become a surprise bargain off the waiver wire.