NFL Fantasy: Early Sleepers For Week 1 Games

May 1, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers first round draft pick Melvin Gordon speaks to the media at Charger Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Most of the rosters are set for the 2015 season aside from a few minor moves to come and perhaps some untimely injuries as yet unforseen. This means NFL fantasy owners can begin scouting the landscape for where the favorable matchups might be when they set their rosters heading into opening day.

Here are some potential sleeper picks they may want to consider.

Sam Bradford at Atlanta Falcons

The Chip Kelly offense is hard enough to stop outdoors in good or bad weather. Put it in a dome with all of that speed on the field. Not a bad way for things to start out as Sam Bradford tries to resurrect his career in the Georgia Dome against the Atlanta Falcons. Dan Quinn will do good things for their defense eventually, but an early hiccup should be expected against a well-coached Eagles offense.

Melvin Gordon vs. Detroit Lions

Losing Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley was not just about interior pass rush for the Detroit Lions defense. Both were also pretty damn good against the run too. Without their ability to demand multiple blockers, it could prove much tougher for the Lions to stop opposing runners. Add in the fact that San Diego improved their interior blocking and their highly touted rookie Melvin Gordon could give the home fans something to smile about.

DeAngelo Williams at New England Patriots

Bill Belichick is who he is. He finds ways to adjust but even he can’t cover up all of the losses his defense sustained in free agency, particularly Vince Wilfork in the middle. Rookie 1st rounder Malcom Brown may help, but the run defense for the Patriots may get more than they bargained for from the Pittsburgh Steelers, who will look to pound the football behind a solid front with veteran DeAngelo Williams in place of Le’Veon Bell.

Raiders defense vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Easily the most overlooked addition to the Oakland Raiders organization is head coach Jack Del Rio. Before joining the team he was having another successful run turning a downtrodden defense into a respectable one with the Denver Broncos. Del Rio is a defensive specialist and will undoubtedly have ideas in mind for a roster replete with talent but lacking direction. By the time he’s finished for opening day, the Cincinnati Bengals could end up being his first unexpected test subject.

Tyler Lockett at St. Louis Rams

There may not be a team better in league at finding gems on Days 2 and 3 than the Seattle Seahawks. Kansas State wide receiver Tyler Lockett may be their latest. Though undersized at 5’10”, his mixture of speed, precise route running and soft hands makes him an offensive weapon that Russell Wilson could take full advantage of against a division opponent like the St. Louis Rams who have never seen the rookie in action before. NFL fantasy owners should watch him very carefully in the preseason.

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