Fantasy Fix: Top 10 Sleepers
We ranked our positions and talked draft strategy earlier and regardless of who you select first, Fantasy Football championships are won and lost in the middle-to-late rounds. Finding first round production from a seventh round pick is the mission here.
With that said, let's run down our Top 10 Sleepers by position for the 2013 Fantasy Football Season.
Quarterback: Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams: Bradford is currently ranked outside the top 20 of fantasy QB's. Bradford threw for 3700 yards and 21 touchdowns last season. His 237 fantasy points were more than arms currently being drafted ahead of him like Ben Rothlisberger, Jay Cutler and Philip Rivers. Bradford may be poised to finally live up to expectations and make you a fantasy genius. He's worth a late round gamble. 2013 Fantasy Projections: 4000 passing yards, 25 touchdown passes, 12 interceptions, 120 rushing yards and 1 rushing TD.
Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals: Palmer won’t be one of the top 20 quarterbacks drafted this year, which means he's there for the taking with your last pick if you want to roll the dice. Last year in Oakland, Palmer finished tenth in passing yards (4,018) and 15th in touchdowns (22) while throwing to some guy named Rod Streater. This year he gets to throw to Larry Fitzgerald. Do I need to do the math? Ok, I will. 2013 Fantasy Projections: 4300 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, 14 interceptions, 50 rushing yards and 0 rushing TD's.
Running Back: Chris Ivory, New York Jets: Ivory is the only Jet I'd consider drafting this season. The J-E-T-S are going to S-U-C-K this year. However, Ivory will be the main man running the rock. He's a boomer or buster with durability issues and an injury history. It's all risk and upside with Ivory. Is he a Bo Jackson TECMO Bowl kind of back? Of course not, but I'm grabbing him with a mid-late round pick as Rex Ryan loves him some ground 'n' pound types. 2013 Fantasy Projections: 1,200 rushing yards, 7 touchdowns, 10 receptions, 120 rushing yards and 1 TD.
Ben Tate, Houston Texans: Tate totaled 1,000+ yards in 2011 as Arian Foster's backup. Last season, Tate had just 279 yards but a solid 4.3 yards per carry and two touchdowns. Foster's health is always a question and he's been out with back and calf issues already. Make Tate a late round target just in case Foster slips on a banana peel. 2013 Fantasy Projections: 750 rushing yards, 5 touchdowns, 7 receptions, 90 receiving yards, 1 TD.
Wide Receiver: Michael Floyd, Arizona Cardinals: Over Floyd’s last nine games as a rookie he actually outplayed Larry Fitzgerald with 37 catches, 471 yards and a touchdown. Now that he has an offensive minded coach and an actual quarterback throwing him the ball in Carson Palmer expect even better numbers this season. Draft him and watch your leaguemates cry at the end of the season. 2013 Fantasy Projections: 80 receptions, 1050 receiving yards, 6 touchdowns.
Emmanuel Sanders, Pittsburgh Steelers: Sanders has been the number three wideout in Pittsburgh for the last few seasons. With Mike Wallace defecting to Miami, Sanders should become one of Ben Rothlisberger's top options. Big Ben has to throw to someone. 2013 Fantasy Projections: 60 receptions, 850 receiving yards, 5 touchdowns.
Tight End: Jordan Cameron, Cleveland Browns: They are called sleepers for a reason fantasy playa's. Cameron has just 26 catches in two NFL seasons and Brandon Wheedon is his QB. Hold on, don't give up yet. New head coach Rob Chudzinski and offensive coordinater Norv Turner like to throw ball. This could be a great late round steal. Here's a bold prediction for ya: Cameron will have a better season than both Antonio Gates and Heath Miller combined. 2013 Fantasy Projections: 60 receptions, 650 yards, 6 touchdowns.
Tony Eifert, Cincinnati Bengals: If you're watching Hard Knocks this season then you're liking what your seeing from Eifert. The former Notre Dame end has size, hands and the redheaded rifle Andy Dalton throwing to him. Find a way to grab Eifert and buy me a drink later. 2013 Fantasy Projections: 52 receptions, 550 yards, 5 touchdowns.
Defense/Special Teams: Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Bucs had the best rush defense in the NFL last year and have added Darrelle Revis and Dashon Goldson to the secondary. Either the Pillsbury Doughboy is here or I smell turnovers. 2013 Fantasy Projections: 33 sacks, 15 interceptions, 9 fumble recoveries, 4 touchdowns, 1 return TD.
Kicker: Ryan Succop, Kansas City Chiefs: Succop set career-highs in both field-goal attempts (34) and kicks made (28) last season. He was also perfect in PATs. The problem was, he only got 17 of them. That should change this season in Andy Reid's offense. This will also be the final time I mention a kicker the rest of the year unless Bill Belichick sends Tebow out to try a dropkick. 2013 Fantasy Projection: 255 points.
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