Fantasy Football Sleepers (Free!)

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

Ok, the old-timers know me as the NFL prognosticator, newer folk don’t know me from squat. Let’s just say I’m getting close to making a living off of the NFL and fantasy leagues - 2003 is the goal.

If you play fantasy FB, you know the obvious picks, you also (should) know that championships are won in the mid and late rounds. (As the saying goes, “You won’t win your league in the early rounds, but you could lose it.”) Here’s my top sleepers, and a couple of busts, based on a 12 team re-draft league:

QB

Garcia - SF - I know, “he’s not a sleeper.” Well, he is in a way. He’s going anywhere from 2-5 on the QB list. What makes him a sleeper is that he should be #1. Tosses 30, runs 3 or 4, and has only 10-15 INTs.

Fiedler - MIA - Having a tough pre-season, but it’s hard to argue with a guy who tosses 20 and rushes for 4.

SUPER SLEEPER -
Henry Burris - CHI - He has two fragile guys in front of him, and has more athletic talent than either. Take him as your last pick and #3 QB. He could be starting by week 6 with Miller and Chandler in front of him.

RB

Clinton Portis - DEN -
Shanahan used a 2nd round pick on a RB. That should tell you enough. It’s even better with TD going to the IR and Mike Anderson becoming a FB.

Dorsey Levens - PHI -
Another guy you can grab late who will be starting by mid-season. He looks better than he has in 2 years and has the injury prone Staley in front of him.

Chester Taylor - BAL -
Name two NFL RBS who’ve torn the ACL on both knees…Terry Allen and Jamal Lewis. Need I say more?

SUPER SLEEPER (Tie)

-Leonard Henry - MIA - Rookie. Averaged 7.8 ypc in college at East Carolina.

-Jamel White - CLE - Apparently William Green and James Jackson aren’t all that. White has some moves and some serious speed. Good hands too.

Wide Receiver
Sleepers at WR are easy to find, which is why I always laugh when some guy takes a WR in the mid rounds…after about 20 they’re all equal on the charts…

**Chad Johnson -CIN
Brian Finneran - ATL
D’Wayne Bates - MIN
Dez White -CHI
Donald Driver - GB
Orande Gadsden - MIA
Ron Johnson - BAL
Rod Gardner - WAS
Jaquez Green - WAS
Chris Doering - WAS
JJ Stokes - SF
**

SUPER SLEEPER
He’s fallen off the charts, but will kill for where you can get him…

JOEY GALLOWAY - DAL

TE

Keep an eye on Randy McMichaell (MIA), Jason Dunn (KC), and Mikhail Ricks (DET).

SUPERSLEEPER

David Martin - GB - In the red zone, Bubba wil see double teams. Martin is quick and has great hands. He’ll be this year’s Pollard.

BUSTS -
Ricky Williams, Deuce McAllister, Robert Ferguson, James Stewart, Any TEXAN, Mark Brunell, Stephen Davis, Chris Weinke, Todd Peterson (actually, any kicker in Heinz field), Marty Booker.

Happy Drafting boys…

2

Gazoo, I’m getting in late here and you probably aren’t following this thread, but I just had to make one comment.

Henry Burris is flat out horrible. Even as the last pick and a 3rd QB he’s a waste. I’ve watched every snap he’s had in the preseason as well as a good chunk of time at training camp, and this guy eats it. He’ll probably make the team and you’ll see Mastrole as the practice team QB, but thats far from certain. The 4th preseason game will be a playoff between these two guys, and going in Mastrole has the fan’s preference and has simply been better, even though he’s always come in late in the 4th quarter. While there’s little doubt that the Bears have problems at QB, I doubt both players will be hurt at the same time for any stretch. Chandler will hold up better with a solid Bears starting line, and the fact he’ll be playing on grass (or at least NexTurf) more than that shit in Atlanta. Its also overstating the case to peg Miller as “injury prone” he’ll get banged up some, but I don’t see him having another freak injury like that Achilles.

3

Garcia a sleeper? good heavens where have you been keeping your head? He is listed 2nd QB (behind Warner) on most every FF expert list out there. But, yes he should post solid numbers.
Fielder He has moments of good play, he also has been prone to get on the wrong page and screw a game all to hell. He will be more consistant this year with the running game of ** Ricky Williams.** who by the way who had serious injuries the first two of his three years in the league. Snagging Edwards as a backup is not such a bad idea if you keen on** Nov Turners Offense.**

Here is a QB for you…
Vinny Testavertte He is throwing the rock very well, and the offensive system seems to actually be working for the Jets this year. He has a nice solid RB and good WRs.

Sorry to say your super sleeper Burris… no go. If your going to draft a QB on the bench draft go for Jake Delhomme - NO
On the RBs
Portis is a bit over hyped, he had a fumbling history in college, he fumbled in the preseason against Arizona. Gary and Anderson (in a single back set) will steal a good bit of his touches. Do not get me wrong, he will be good one day, but this season will not be his best, I would guess maybe 800 to 1000 rushing yards.
Leavens Yeah he might, but Westbrook? has been making some noises as well. I am not to up on the Philly camp.
But, I do not see Leavens such a great sleeper. More of a “Gonna get playing time and I am desperate for a RB”
Chester Taylor Yes Lewis had ACL surgery, second time (once was in college) and **Terry Allen **last I heard was backing up the RB position of New Orleans

I like Edwards - Miami to back up Williams, he has made a great comeback health wise after the freak ACL injury at the 99 pro-bowl.

Also I believe, Eddie George is underrated on most draft boards.

WR,s
Not going into all that, most I can see as possiblities.
You forgot** Santana Moss - Jets**
and yes Galloway has all but been forgotten after his injuries the past few seasons. Good eye on that.

we can go 'round on these more tommorrow, is time I get some sleep.

4

Gazoo, I’d like to hear your reasoning behind advocating Gadsden as a sleeper… How will he ever shine in that offense? Especially if you predict that Ricky will bust, which puts more pressure on Fiedler and will probably result in the same kind of offensive year as the last two for the Fins… spotty and inconsistent.

5

-I think Mike Alstott will have an above average year. Take away the touces of Warrick Dunn and add in spotty quarterback play and I think it’s likely that Alstott will have many more touches per game.

-Falcons defense. They have a new scheme which seems to suit them well (of course we all know about pre-season disclaimers), but look at who 6 of their games are against. Highly inconsistent or outright weak offenses in Tampa Bay, New Orleans, and Carolina. I suppose the same coule be said for the Tampa D, but they are expected to do well.

6

I tend to disagree with you Mully.
Pittman was hobbled in the preseason. I firmly believe once he gets out on the field it will be tough to get him to come off except for a breather.
Chucky is very excited about Pittman.

Pitman will be the main guy, Alstott will get a few extra carries for the first couple of games, But, Pittman is a Huge powerful runner who will steal many of the goal line TDs Alstott had last year.

7

T.J. Duckett from the Falcons - word is he’s a monster ala Jerome Bettis, but faster and younger. Only problem is he’ll be sharing carries with Dunn (and Vick, for that matter). But don’t be surprised if he becomes the “inside-the-10-yard-line” back for them, meaning TDs.

8

I’ve gotta go with Omniscient here. Have you had the opportunity to see Burris play? In my not so humble, rabid bears fan opinion, he sucks.

I was actually, jaw droppingly SHOCKED that Mastrole was cut in favor of Burris, and I have to wonder if it’s because Burris is such a great self marketer. He was on all the sports talk shows, talked about how he loved Chicago and he’s a really nice guy.

A really nice guy who can’t get anything done on the field…but a nice guy nonetheless.

I am interested, however, in your thoughts on Mikhail Riks. I got him in an autodraft and know nothing about him. When do you think he’ll see action?

Jar <-- the girl