I’m known as Mr. Sleeper around this college fantasy football compound. This is partially because I have a tendency to doze off during our conference calls. But it is also because I have a knack for picking fantasy sleepers. Michael Crabtree, DeMarco Murray, Mikel LeShoure, Isaiah Pead and Bobby Rainey are all players that I stuck my neck out for in the preseason, well before they became household names. I also loved Case Keenum before his battle with Blake Joseph a few years back. Of course, we won’t mention the number of times I’ve deemed a player can’t-miss only to see the guy eventually go all Harry Houdini and disappear.
So this year I’ve decided to compile my All-Sleeper Team for 2011. These are the players whom I expect to be woefully undervalued on draft day, thus offering very high ceilings for those willing to invest a mid-to-late round selection. Please note that our staff shares the load when it comes to writing player previews, though a large percentage of players listed below were researched by yours truly. You can rest assured that my colleagues have their own takes on who deserves sleeper status. However you can also rest assured that this is the only list you’ll need.
(Disclaimer: Any team that trots out this entire group as a weekly lineup will likely not win anything. Remember, these are sleepers, not the best at their respective positions.)
2572 yards, 16 touchdowns and nine picks, with two scores on the ground.
I'm giving Mr. Sunseri another look-see. I've heard coaches rave about what he could do, but because one of those coaches was often Dave Wannstedt I had written it off as crazy mustache talk. Then I looked at Sunseri's numbers from a season ago (over 25000 yards passing with 16 touchdown passes against nine picks and a 65 percent completion percentage), and I realize I may have been a little rough on the rising junior. Now add to the mix that former Tulsa coach Todd Graham is now calling the shots and there's a very good chance that the Pitt signal caller emerges as one of the nation's top producers among BCS quarterbacks. Seriously. I don't put much stock in spring games, but Sunseri's 416 yards passing should make many take notice. Is there a little concern that Graham is going from Tulsa to a BCS conference? Sure, but the Big East is often a BCS fraud anyway, so it may not be that difficult. (Brian McDonald)
Deep Thoughts:
Though he’s a defense guy, if Todd Graham has proven anything it’s that he knows offense, leading some of the nation’s most prolific attacks at Rice and Tulsa. He hires innovative guys to run his offenses and he gets the hell out of the way. Major Applewhite led his offense at Rice, Gus Malzahn had some fun at Tulsa, and now the former right hand man of Rich Rodriguez, Calvin MaGee, will run the offensive show at Pitt.
Tino Sunseri, son of well-traveled assistant Sal Suneri, is clearly the son of a coach. He makes the right decisions and he’ll now be leading an offensive attack that will wing it all over the field.
The young Rhodes split carries with Gregory Ray last fall. With Ray moving on the job is now firmly his. He should see 200+ carries in 2011, giving him the potential be a 1200+ yard running back this fall. The Tigers are expected to spread things out a bit, which should provide more open running lanes for Rhodes. Still, it is tough to invest a high draft pick on a back that has yet to crack the century mark in a single game. (Alex Esselink)
Deep Thoughts:
In his C-USA Preview my colleague Alex astutely noted that offensive line woes will likely keep Jerrell Rhodes from truly breaking out. And while I agree with my colleague, I also see a team that will spread things out, thus allowing enough decent running lanes provided the Tiger O-line doesn’t just fall down immediately following every snap.
Rhodes’ 4.0 ypc from a season ago shouldn’t wow you, nor should the aforementioned offensive line questions. But this is a team that is scheduled to play a bunch of bad defenses, and Rhodes did show sparks against poor defensive units. He also missed two games in 2010, so his numbers could be a little prettier had he partaken.
Rickey Galvin has been described as "explosive" by pretty much everyone associated with the Washington State program, and with the continued development of Jeff Tuel (and the offense as a whole) we may have a big time sleeper back operating out of Pullman. Galvin broke his arm in the opener last year, so his coming-out party was delayed. This is a very talented back, and instead of spending too much time wondering what the hell he's doing at Washington State, let's just hope for the best, okay? (Brian McDonald)
Go ahead and laugh, but I’m feeling the Washington State offense in 2011. There is some real talent on this offense: underrated signal caller and two damn good wide receivers. And now we’re looking for Galvin to emerge as the first true back since Jerome Harrison was jitterbugging his way around Pullman to the tune of 1900 yards in 2005.
Galvin is poised to do more than replace the graduated James Montgomery; he’s ready to hit a whole bunch of home runs for Paul Wulff’s offense. He’s undersized so injuries are a concern, but this kid has something special.
Sleeper alert. Streater was able to post 30 catches for 481 yards and four scores last season, and this year's offense will feature more footballs in the air. Streater is worth a flyer. (Brian McDonald)
Deep Thoughts:
Streater is a bit more accomplished than the others on this list, though with Steve Addazio and Scott Loeffler now calling the offensive shots, there is a real possibility that Streater more than doubles his output from a season ago. After all, the new coach and offensive coordinator have played key roles in the recent happenings down in Gainesville; though we recognize that there is not a Tim Tebow hanging out at Temple.
This 6-4 target made the transition from JUCO look easy in 2010, and with a year under his belt and some real offensive minds calling the shots, the potential for a huge campaign is present.
Moore is another of my Big 12 sleeper specials. He's impressed many during Red Raider spring practice sessions, and he could be the guy designated to run downfield when Doege wants to sling it deep. This may be a guy that you actually spend a late-round pick on in almost any format. Low-risk, high-reward. (Brian McDonald)
Deep Thoughts:
Moore was a teammate of Cam Newton’s while at Blinn College, and while he didn’t have quite the impact of Mr. Newton a season ago, there is hope that Moore could truly emerge in Lubbock this season. At 6-4 and 210 lbs., he could be the deep threat and the, what the hell, throw it up to him guy in the Red Raider attack.
If there’s to be a deep threat, it could be Saunders, who scored three times and averaged 15.4 ypc last year. He returns as the top yardage guy, and the hope is that he’ll develop into the big-play receiver this offense needs with the departure of Jamel Hamler. (John Baker)
Deep Thoughts:
This sophomore won’t be the biggest target out wide for the Bulldogs, but he may be the best. Derek Carr will look his way early and often, and I especially like Saunders’ 19 carries for 166 yards a season ago.
Kelce, who checks in at an impressive 6'6" and about 250 lbs., sat out the 2010 season after a violation of team rules. Now he's back and ready to make up for some lost time. In short, this kid is a beast and a player you will want to reach for earlier than everyone else in your draft. The fact that a tight end this big saw eight carries out the Wildcat as a RS Frosh back in 2009 tells you exactly what kind of athlete we're discussing. Defenses will have their hands full with other Bearcats running all over the field, leaving this mismatch to wreak havoc against poor defensive backs. Provided Kelce can stay away from the shenanigans, we may have the one of the nation's best tight ends. (Brian McDonald)
Deep Thoughts:
I know that Adrien Robinson is a very good tight end in his own right, however Kelce is just one of those athletes. Draft him.
Running Back: Jamal Womble, NIU
2010 Stats: 712 rushing yards and eight scores as a JUCO.
One-time Tar Heel will be an immediate factor in the NIU backfield. He's a bulldozer once he gets rolling and he could become a force to be reckoned with in the MAC. Chad Spann is gone, and there are carries to be had. Womble is worth a middle-round look. (Brian McDonald)
Deep Thoughts:
With the news that Jasmin Hopkins, not Womble, will open the season as the starter, he is looking a bit dicey here. But I decided to leave him on the list as one to still keep an eye as the season begins. This bruiser never got rolling in Chapel Hill, and academic issues eventually killed his career in Carolina Blue. Of course, compared to some of the dumb things that Butch Davis’ boys have done of late, we can forgive a chap for some struggles in the classroom.
Besides Hopkins, one other concern with Womble is a big-fish-in-a-small-pond mentality. The wrong attitude and he won’t last long. However if Womble realizes that NIU is not your typical “mid-major” and that there is the real potential to resurrect his career, then we could really have something. I still believe this will be the case.
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