NFL Fantasy Football: Biggest Sleepers By Position
By Erik Lambert
Nov 9, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant (10) runs with the ball during the second half at MetLife Stadium. The Jets defeated the Steelers 20-13. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
With every sure-thing, there are always NFL fantasy football sleepers to watch for. Here are some ones to consider in 2015.
QB: Jay Cutler
Indeed a very big sleeper. Jay Cutler has remained a notoriously unreliable fantasy player for years, having moments of brilliance and the next week completely ruining life for his owners. What gives this year a chance to be different rests in how the Chicago Bears have reconfigured their offense. They plan to run the ball considerably more in an effort to curb his bad decisions when passing, have hired a respected offensive coordinator in Adam Gase known for his smart play calling, and also added more speed to they offense with the likes of Eddie Royal and Kevin White. This should lead to more big plays, and with them more fantasy output from the erratic 32-year old.
RB: Carlos Hyde
The old war horse Frank Gore has trotted his way out of town. Now the San Francisco 49ers are prepared to put their young stallion in Carlos Hyde to work. That was the very reason he was drafted. He’s in an offense built to make use of his talents and has a defensive-minded head coach who will want to maintain that physical mentality especially with all the losses suffered on defense. Provided he stays healthy Hyde will see lots of carries and is behind an offensive line still plenty dangerous.
WR: Martavis Bryant
Antonio Bryant is the main man for the Pittsburgh Steelers but people began to see flashes of what the team got in rookie Martavis Bryant last season. In a reserve role he still managed to score eight touchdowns. At 6’4″ with vertical speed he is a rare type of receiving threat the Steelers have every reason to exploit more in 2015. With Le’Veon Bell out on suspension, that also means they will be throwing a lot. Another great sign of fantasy numbers.
TE: Virgil Green
When you have Julius Thomas in the offense along with a bevy of wide receivers, there is no need to use two tight ends. Now Thomas is gone, leaving a void at the position the Denver Broncos are really hoping to fill quickly. That was a big reason they worked hard to re-sign Virgil Green. A reserve on the roster for the first four seasons of his career, some have felt he deserves a change to become a bigger factor in the passing game beyond just a good blocker. He has the size and hands based on the few opportunities he’s had. The time may be perfect for him to get a longer look.
Defense: Tennessee Titans
The rankings don’t show it, but the Tennessee Titans had a pretty decent defense in 2014. So based on the host of additions they’ve made during this off-season there is a good chance they could become one of the surprise standouts in 2015. Brian Orakpo arrives to bolster their outside pass rush. Perrish Cox and Da’Norris Searcy bolster what was a leaky secondary. Most importantly, ageless defensive mastermind Dick LeBeau arrives from Pittsburgh to lend his assistance as well.
Kicker: Josh Brown
A common strategy in finding productive kickers during NFL fantasy football seasons is following offenses that have a chance to be very productive during that season. One team that is poised to do just that is the New York Giants. Already possessing Eli Manning and Victor Cruz, the arrival of Odell Beckham Jr. gives them a chance to become genuinely explosive in 2015, which should mean more field goals and extra point chances for veteran kicker Josh Brown.