NFL Fantasy: 5 Sleepers Who Will Become 2015 Starters
By Erik Lambert
December 21, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders running back Latavius Murray (28) runs with the football against Buffalo Bills cornerback Ron Brooks (33) during the third quarter at O.co Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Bills 26-24. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Early in 2014, Odell Beckham Jr. was at best a gamble for NFL fantasy owners trying to get back into their leagues. Fast forward a few weeks following his return and they wouldn’t dare have had him on the bench regardless of the matchup. There is little question a handful of unknowns out there will be doing the same in 2015.
Here are some names to keep an eye on during the drafts.
Latavius Murray (RB, Oakland Raiders)
Bit by bit fans have gotten glimpses of the potential running back Latavius Murray has when he joined the Oakland Raiders as a 6th round pick. So far injuries and a muddied depth chart have made it difficult for him to take off. Expect that to change under new head coach Jack Del Rio, who will emphasize running the ball to protect quarterback Derek Carr. If Murray can stay on the field, it won’t be long before he’s off the market.
Sam Bradford (QB, Philadelphia Eagles)
Chip Kelly believes in his system enough to constantly interchange players as if they were gears in an clock. That includes the quarterback position as he calmly flipped Pro Bowler Nick Foles to St. Louis for the talented but injury-prone Sam Bradford. It’s a huge gamble, but given nature of that offense Kelly will find ways to keep him out of harms way. Bradford has been close for a long time. This could finally be the year he breaks through.
Steve Johnson (WR, San Diego Chargers)
Remember this guy? Most NFL fantasy owners don’t as his venture to San Francisco was a disaster. It’s easy to leave him for dead, but some forget he’s landed softly with the San Diego Chargers where he gets a chance to be an offense more geared to throwing the ball with star quarterback Philip Rivers. Johnson could emerge to become one of the steals of the off-season, burning down fantasy boards in the process.
Maxx Williams (TE, Baltimore Ravens)
The big surprise here is not only that Maxx Williams is the only rookie on this list, but the fact he’s also a 2nd round pick. Not even a 1st. Still, he enters a Baltimore Ravens offense with Marc Trestman and a quarterback in Joe Flacco who love to use the tight end. He’s got that athleticism-soft hands combination to make him a threat down the field and in the red zone. Much will depend on how quickly he develops.
Miami Dolphins Defense
They were pretty good last year but seemed to struggle down the stretch. Now the Miami Dolphins defense is totally revamped with the arrival of Ndamukong Suh and Jordan Phillips to their defensive front. Opponents might as well forget about running the ball, and with Cameron Wake and Olivier Vernon on the edges, this unit will rack up fantasy points from their front alone. Never mind Brent Grimes lurking in the secondary.