As the 2015 NFL season
approaches and more importantly the fantasy seasons of over 33 million people,
many are looking for that diamond in the rough. Who will be that late round
draft pick that will yield first round production and lead your roster to
victory and ultimately glory? Well look no further gentlemen, the following
will give you confidence going into your drafts and gain you respect amongst
friends and enemies alike.
The first key to picking
a sleeper is confidence. Without it you’ll end up like Jeff who has been
suckling the teet of Matthew Berry’s top 300 since your league's inception. All
rankings should be a guideline and something to fall back on should your draft
take a turn for the worse, or should you consume one to many shots of 1800
tequila. To find top tier talent during the draft you must zig when others zag.
Were the first 6 picks of the first round all running backs? Then take a top
tier wideout and target some tier two backs with your second pick. Finding
sleepers is an easy process when you have the equation, which is as follows.
You're looking for players with great offensive lines and quarterbacks. Every
year some no name wideout will start catching balls from Peyton Manning and end
up becoming a weekly stud. According to last year the top three offensive lines
were Dallas, Seattle and New England, all which had some additions and losses
this offseason which may make for potential sleepers.
1. Joseph Randle, RB, Dallas Cowboys
Randle is a back with
two years of experience with the Cowboys who has been working hard to earn
their trust. He was slated to be the number two behind Darren McFadden until
McFadden took his favorite position on the IR. Randle has chemistry with the
Dallas offensive line already and looked good taking over for Demarco Murray
last season when he needed a break. As of this writing Randle has a strained
oblique and that may drop him a couple spots from his projected 4th round draft
stock, but picking up a guy like this in the 4th is a steal and a pick with
high upside, just ask Murray owners last year after he had 392 rushes. McFadden
isn’t becoming a threat anytime soon and with Tony Romo and Dez Bryant
commanding the respect of the defense Randle will have opportunities to
flourish.
2. Tyler Lockett, WR, Seattle Seahawks
No, not that Lockette.
This one can actually catch a 5 yard slant route without looking weaker than a
mixed drink after midnight. Lockett was a stud the last two seasons for Kansas
State in both the receiving and return game before being drafted with the 5th
pick in the 3rd round by the Seahawks. While he may not have
prototypical size, he is the most polished route runner in this year’s draft.
Watch his highlights if you don't believe me, this kid has a knack for finding
open space and with 4.4 40 speed he can turn open space into the end zone.
Don't let his lack of size scare you, he is on a team whose top two receivers
last year were Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse both hovering around six foot.
Lockett isn’t even projected to be drafted in most fantasy leagues making him
an excellent 15th or 16th round pick and someone with huge upside.
3. Duke Johnson, RB, Cleveland Browns
When thinking of the
Browns you rarely think of fantasy studs. More than likely you think of the
unimpressive careers of Jordan Cameron and the infuriating Josh Gordon. That is
all about to change my friends. The Browns have one of the best O-lines in the
league and number one in the AFC. Last season we saw impressive performances by
Isaiah Crowell and Terrence West, which unfortunately came crashing down after
Alex Mack was injured. Duke Johnson has a chance to get the majority of the
Browns touches on a team who wants to take as much pressure off the Quarterback
as possible. Johnson set all types of records at Miami and that university
boasts an impressive group of stud running backs such as Frank Gore, Willis
Mcgahee, Lamar MIller and Edgerrin James. Duke Johnson holds the all-time
rushing record over all of them. Currently he is projected to be drafted
somewhere around 7th or 8th round. I wouldn't be scared at all to take him at
the top of the 7th.
4. Amari Cooper, WR, Oakland Raiders
Can a 4th overall pick in the NFL draft ever be considered sleeper
material? Why yes they can. Coopers collegiate career speaks for itself, what
I’m more interested in is Derek Carr and the Raiders offensive line. Last year
the Raiders had the 2nd best offensive line based on sack percentage, with 4.4%,
tied with the New England Patriots. With the lack of competition at the wideout
position in Oakland, Cooper is far and away the number one with huge upside.
The Raiders pass the ball a lot, they were number one in the league last year
passing on 66% of all plays. Remember that's to guys like James Jones, Rod
Streater and Kenbrell Thompkins. Imagine what a supreme talent like Cooper
could do with balls coming his way that frequently. Cooper is currently
projected to go around round 9 or 10 in most leagues and that is a travesty.
Take this guy round 8 or 9 with confidence and watch as he tears a hole in your
flex position.
Well
that about wraps things up. Things to remember, don't trust anyone but
yourself. You have to make your own picks based on your own research. Every
year Matthew Berry predicts some sleeper that ends up being a bust, Toby
Gerhart and Cordarrelle Patterson for example. If you’re going to make a ballsy
pick do it with your own balls not someone else's. The above picks are just a
starting point and you should continue to look for players who can thrive on a
roster already surrounded with talent. With that in mind go boldly into your
drafts in the upcoming weeks, and try to stay sober until the 12th round at
least. Nobody wants to wake up the next morning and see they drafted Blair
Walsh in the 9th.