Blount, destined for a breakout season.
Sleepers
Everyone has their own sleepers each year and some pan out and are stars while others do nothing and ride the pine. This is a list of sleepers/breakout players this year.
Quarterbacks:
Ben Roethlisberger (PIT) - Per game was same as Drew Brees last year
Josh Freeman (TB) - One more year under his belt, less picks I see and will have to throw in that division a lot to keep up.
Joe Flacco (BAL) - Good deep ball thrower just got his first deep ball target in Lee Evans
Jay Cutler (CHI) - Extra year to learn Mike Martz's system, plus a receiver who knows the system too.
Matthew Stafford (DET) - Detroit QB's last year added up to be a really good season if it was only one guy
Running Backs:
Darren McFadden (OAK) (I know, already had good season last year, but see him in top 5 or 6 at end of season.)
LeGarrette Blount (TB) - He had an amazing 2nd half last year. Yards per game was in top 3.
Felix Jones (DAL) - Will get more touches this year and he has big play ability. With Romo at QB defenses will have to play passing game more seriously.
Reggie Bush (MIA) - Will get a lot more touches than he did in New Orleans. He was still productive there and will be able to have the chance for more big time plays, which are fantasy week winners.
Michael Bush (OAK) - Had a 100+ yard game against KC last year when McFadden was hurt. If McFadden gets hurt this year he will get 20+ carries a game. Plus he is a good goal line back.
Ben Tate (HOU) - He was going to get a lot of carries last year until he got hurt in preseason. Expect him to take some carries away from Foster. His last preseason game he did amazing.
Roy Helu (WAS) - Washington has many backs, but Helu has the most upside of them all as a rookie. He had a solid preseason game last week as well.
Dark horse sleeper:
Delone Carter (IND) - Joseph Addai has done nothing in previous years and Brown has done nothing with his chances. Carter is going to get a decent amount of goal line carries as well.
Wide Receivers:
Vincent Jackson (SD) - Not a sleeper, but will have a great season after not playing a whole lot last year.
Mario Manningham (NYG) - Put up great stats last year and now he is the number 2 target, look for even better stats this year.
Kenny Britt (TEN) - He has loads of talent, just unable to put it together off the field lately. Hasselbeck will try to heave it up his way as much as possible. CJ2K will make defenses put more pressure up in the box which whould also help Britt out.
Chad Ochocinco (NE) - Look at how other redeivers put up numbers that went there. (Randy Moss, Deion Branch) He won't put up Moss numbers, but I see somewhere in between those two.
Lee Evans (BAL) - Finally got to a team with a good QB. Flacco's strength is throwing it deep and that is where Evans will be all day.
Jacoby Ford (OAK) - Got better throughout the year last year. He can get it done during special teams as well.
Dark Horse Sleepers:
Leonard Hankerson (WAS) - He will be a main target for John Beck. Washington will be down in almost every game, so there will be a ton of pass attempts as well.
Denarius Moore (OAK) - He is making top ten catches all the time during training camp this year and preseason. He is a rookie and he contributes in returns as well. He has blazing speed and will go up and snag the ball.
Tight Ends:
Greg Olsen (CAR) - Offensive coordinator was old TE and head coach was old coach in SD, so see them target Olsen almost like they did with Gates.
Kellen Winslow (TB) - Josh Freeman is still young and Winslow is extremely talented. Winslow is safety vaulve and more for Tampa Bay.
Tony Gonzalez (ATL) - No defenses will think about guarding him tight with WHite, Jones, and Turner all star athletes and players. There will be no attention towards him. Look for Gonzalez to have one final good to great season.
Quarterbacks:
Ben Roethlisberger (PIT) - Per game was same as Drew Brees last year
Josh Freeman (TB) - One more year under his belt, less picks I see and will have to throw in that division a lot to keep up.
Joe Flacco (BAL) - Good deep ball thrower just got his first deep ball target in Lee Evans
Jay Cutler (CHI) - Extra year to learn Mike Martz's system, plus a receiver who knows the system too.
Matthew Stafford (DET) - Detroit QB's last year added up to be a really good season if it was only one guy
Running Backs:
Darren McFadden (OAK) (I know, already had good season last year, but see him in top 5 or 6 at end of season.)
LeGarrette Blount (TB) - He had an amazing 2nd half last year. Yards per game was in top 3.
Felix Jones (DAL) - Will get more touches this year and he has big play ability. With Romo at QB defenses will have to play passing game more seriously.
Reggie Bush (MIA) - Will get a lot more touches than he did in New Orleans. He was still productive there and will be able to have the chance for more big time plays, which are fantasy week winners.
Michael Bush (OAK) - Had a 100+ yard game against KC last year when McFadden was hurt. If McFadden gets hurt this year he will get 20+ carries a game. Plus he is a good goal line back.
Ben Tate (HOU) - He was going to get a lot of carries last year until he got hurt in preseason. Expect him to take some carries away from Foster. His last preseason game he did amazing.
Roy Helu (WAS) - Washington has many backs, but Helu has the most upside of them all as a rookie. He had a solid preseason game last week as well.
Dark horse sleeper:
Delone Carter (IND) - Joseph Addai has done nothing in previous years and Brown has done nothing with his chances. Carter is going to get a decent amount of goal line carries as well.
Wide Receivers:
Vincent Jackson (SD) - Not a sleeper, but will have a great season after not playing a whole lot last year.
Mario Manningham (NYG) - Put up great stats last year and now he is the number 2 target, look for even better stats this year.
Kenny Britt (TEN) - He has loads of talent, just unable to put it together off the field lately. Hasselbeck will try to heave it up his way as much as possible. CJ2K will make defenses put more pressure up in the box which whould also help Britt out.
Chad Ochocinco (NE) - Look at how other redeivers put up numbers that went there. (Randy Moss, Deion Branch) He won't put up Moss numbers, but I see somewhere in between those two.
Lee Evans (BAL) - Finally got to a team with a good QB. Flacco's strength is throwing it deep and that is where Evans will be all day.
Jacoby Ford (OAK) - Got better throughout the year last year. He can get it done during special teams as well.
Dark Horse Sleepers:
Leonard Hankerson (WAS) - He will be a main target for John Beck. Washington will be down in almost every game, so there will be a ton of pass attempts as well.
Denarius Moore (OAK) - He is making top ten catches all the time during training camp this year and preseason. He is a rookie and he contributes in returns as well. He has blazing speed and will go up and snag the ball.
Tight Ends:
Greg Olsen (CAR) - Offensive coordinator was old TE and head coach was old coach in SD, so see them target Olsen almost like they did with Gates.
Kellen Winslow (TB) - Josh Freeman is still young and Winslow is extremely talented. Winslow is safety vaulve and more for Tampa Bay.
Tony Gonzalez (ATL) - No defenses will think about guarding him tight with WHite, Jones, and Turner all star athletes and players. There will be no attention towards him. Look for Gonzalez to have one final good to great season.
