Fantasy Football Sleeper Picks
When it comes to fantasy football success, it’s important to assemble a cast of statistically significant players who may not be considered stars. Everyone knows that Tennessee Titans running machine Chris Johnson will be a great fantasy team asset, but it’s impossible to win without adding some depth to a roster. In preparation for the 2010 National Football League season, here are the best sleeper picks to create a strong supporting cast:
Devin Aromashodu: Sure, the Chicago Bears have a bigger name wide receiver in Devin Hester, but Aromashodu is a steal. Since it’s uncertain whether he’ll start or not, Aromashodu will be available really late in almost all league drafts. Given quarterback Jay Cutler’s arm and the Bears’ playing style, it doesn’t matter where Aromashodu is. There will be plenty of airing out, and thus plenty of catches for all receivers on the Bears.
Aromashodu is also literally Cutler’s biggest target and the two have shown some good chemistry in the past. Last season, in the final four games the pair connected for 22 completions, resulting in 282 yards and four touchdowns for Aromashodu. He was Cutler’s target 39 times, the same target rate as that of Dallas Cowboys receiver, and fantasy favourite, Miles Austin.
Matt Forde: Forde is probably hated by most fantasy owners for his inconsistent performances for the Bears last year, but this year he should be a nice late pick. The Bears’ new offensive coordinator Mike Martz is a wizard with the run and has a track record that should make any fantasy owner salivate. Martz was the mastermind behind the Rams’ Marshall Faulk-oriented offence and the last four running backs under Martz have all had at least eight touchdowns.
In Martz’s last 10 years of play-calling, he has opted to run within the red-zone about half the time, which means Forde will have a lot of opportunities to score.
Kevin Kolb: Kolb is the man who forced Donovan McNabb out of the Philadelphia Eagles organization. Now as the man at the helm of the Eagles offence, he is in a perfect position to produce great numbers.
Head coach Andy Reid loves the pass, and his offences have been ranked within the top ten in pass attempts and yardages for the past six seasons. Additionally, the Eagles have arguably the best receiver corps they’ve had in years. Remember Aaron Rogers’s numbers when he took over for Brett Favre in Green Bay? This is going to be even better.
Jason Snelling: Snelling will be playing back-up running back to Michael Turner for the Atlanta Falcons. After Turner’s injury last year, it’s likely the Falcons will be splitting handoffs between Snelling and Turner a lot more often to make sure Turner stays fit.
Young quarterback Matt Ryan will be given a lot of cushion through a running game, so Snelling should be seeing a fair amount of carries.
Derrick Mason: Mason is a great yet forgotten pick for this upcoming season. People seem to forget that the Baltimore Ravens receiver has had three straight 1000-yard seasons and been in the top 15 in the NFL in targets for 2009. Another statistical upside to Mason is that he was actually the 17th-best fantasy wide receiver in 2009 and yet ranks as the No. 41 wide receiver in this season’s draft. It’s important to remember that Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has publically announced that he will be attempting to throw for a career-high 4,000 yards next season as well.
Critics of Mason will say that with Anquan Boldin now on the Ravens, Mason will be seeing a less passes come his way. But Larry Fitzgerald played opposite Boldin in Arizona, and he seems to have done just fine for himself.
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