But as important as your initial pick can be, it pales in
comparison to the handful of selections you’ll make – or miss – several rounds
later. After all, as happy as you may be
to land Alshon Jeffrey or Julius Thomas now, they won’t be the bargains they
were last year for the savvy players that stole them late in the draft and rode
them into the postseason.
Fantasy veterans know the secret to great drafting is not
simply choosing the best players available, but doing so no earlier than
necessary. You may share my belief that Emmanuel Sanders is on the verge of a
breakout season; but you’re hurting yourself – and, worse yet, begging for
ridicule from your opponents – if you pull the trigger too early.
Who are this year’s hidden gems? Let’s take a look at my Sleeper Picks of 2014,
broken down by position.
(Note: ADP, or “average
draft position,” indicates where the player is typically being selected within
his position.“QB14” means he’s the 14th quarterback taken on mock
draft sites. Compare to my Fantasy Fools “FF” rankings).
Jay Cutler, QB,
Bears (ADP QB14; FF QB5). Long-time readers will be shocked to see this,
because I’ve always been a Cutler detractor. This
year, I'm prepared to see a lot more Good Jay than Bad Jay. With the blue-chip
receivers at his service, Cutler's arsenal is fully loaded. He could have an
elite year if he simply cuts down the boneheaded plays.
Josh McCown, QB,
Buccaneers (ADP QB24; FF QB11). He was masterful as
Cutler's replacement in 2013 and he was rewarded with a big contract and another
pair of talented, jumbo-sized receivers in Tampa Bay. Draft him as your backup
and you may be rewarded with starter-quality stats.
Zac Stacy, RB,
Rams (ADP RB14; FF RB8). Stacy proved he could handle
the bell cow role as a rookie. All he needs is for Sam Bradford to stay healthy
and give him some cover, and he could put up elite numbers.
Rashad Jennings, RB,
Giants (ADP RB21; FF RB14). His current ADP is virtually identical to his final
2013 ranking in Oakland, which makes sense only if you think he won’t keep his
new starting gig. With David Wilson retiring, only fourth-round pick Andre
Williams stands in his way. Jennings is no superstar, but he’ll handily
out-perform his draft position while posting strong RB2 numbers.
Mark Ingram, RB,
Saints (ADP RB49; FF RB28). A perennial
disappointment, Ingram is currently listed as the Saints' starting RB. With
Darren Sproles gone, and playing for a free agent contract, he’s absolutely
worth a late-round flier. His upside is high in this offense.
Emmanuel Sanders,
WR, Broncos (ADP WR28; FF WR19). The ex-Steeler steps into the lucrative role
vacated by Eric Decker, who is not blessed with Sanders’
speed or overall skill set. Peyton Manning has made stars of lesser talents
(see Decker, Eric).
Kenny Stills, WR,
Saints (ADP WR 51; FF WR32). With Lance Moore and
Sproles both out of the picture, Stills will get his chance to shine opposite Marques
Colston. Look for a quantum leap in production for the talented wideout,
assuming he can put his preseason quadriceps injury behind him. Brandin Cooks
is actually being drafted higher than Stills thanks to a stellar training camp,
but don’t fall for the rookie hype.
Markus Wheaton, WR,
Steelers (ADP WR57; FF WR38). The second-year speedster is already listed as
the starter opposite Antonio Brown, now that Sanders has moved on. Wheaton is a
gifted athlete with great hands, and he should benefit from opponents’ focus on
Brown.
Jarrett Boykin,
WR, Packers (ADP WR54; FF WR42). Boykin put up some
impressive numbers in 2013 when Randall Cobb was lost and before Aaron Rodgers
went down. With James Jones now wearing a Raiders uniform, the third-year
receiver has some serious breakout potential as the Packers' third wideout.
Next week: My oft-imitated, always controversial, yet
magically delicious Perfect Draft.
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