Every year, fantasy owners dig deep in their notes to find that one player poised for a breakout season. Sleepers are the players who aren’t exactly household names quite yet, but have the potential to shine in the upcoming season. Let’s take a look at a few pros you should keep in mind for your lineup heading into 2012. We’ll have plenty more in the coming week.
Fantasy Football 2012: Sleepers To Keep An Eye On
Sleepers are always a big part of any fantasy football league. We break down the fantasy implications.
Titus Young, WR, Detroit Lions
Saying, "the Lions like to throw the ball," is an understatement. With all the questions surrounding the ground game, the aerial assault is sure to keep chugging along, assuming Matthew Stafford stays healthy. Young finished his rookie season on a high note, catching four touchdowns in the last four weeks. He is giving Nate Burleson a run for his money at No. 2 on the depth chart, and with reports indicating Burleson will run more out of the slot, Young can go to work opposite Megatron. Expect Young to pass Burleson sooner, rather than later.
Olsen battled for playing time with Jeremy Shockey last season. Shockey saw 62 targets from Cam Newton in 2011, so we can only assume the majority of those will add on to Olsen's 90 targets from last season. Newton also struggled to stay on the same page with Olsen after completing only half of his throws to his main tight end, a number expected to increase with a full offseason and a full year to work on chemistry under their belts.
The Raiders' offseason has been filled with talk about Darren McFadden and Carson Palmer, but Streater is making the most of his playing time. With 18 catches for 165 yards in three games, Streater is getting more recognition each week. None of the receivers in Oakland can seem to stay healthy, and if this trend continues, Streater will continue to see an expanded role.
Cobb is one of the most versatile players in the league. In college, he did everything for the Kentucky Wildcats, and he continues to perform multiple roles for the Packers. He’s already shown how much of an impact he can make as a returner. This year, he is expected to have an expanded role on offense. Donald Drive could easily be passed on the depth chart, and if Cobb does see more playing time, he has great talent around him to take pressure off from defenders. Plus, having one of the best quarterbacks in the league throwing to you doesn’t hurt.
Atlanta brought in Dirk Koetter this offseason, an offensive coordinator who loves using screen plays. Rodgers is a perfect fit for these types of plays. A quick, shifty back, Rodgers will surely see more targets from Matt Ryan this season. Michael Turner is getting older, and Quizz is receiving more carries as well this year. Expect his name to be called often in his second season.
See More:
