Fantasy Football Sleepers: 5 Players To Grab, Week 1

Sep 3, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) on the sidelines in the fourth quarter of a preseason game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Cardinals defeated the Broncos 22-20. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

At last! Actual football is about to be played again, and with it glorious fantasy football. Week 1 is set to kickoff and certainly league owners are looking for every advantage they can find. Here is a quick rundown of possible sleepers they can pluck if they’re in a bind.

Carson Palmer (QB, Arizona Cardinals)

Normally this talented and experienced but injury-prone quarterback wouldn’t be the first choice on most fantasy starting lineups. Still, Carson Palmer has a real chance to get off to a great start this season.

He’s at home, boasts a strong cast of wide receivers but most importantly faces a New Orleans Saints defense that is reeling from several key losses including pass rusher Junior Gallette (released), safety Jairus Byrd (knee), and cornerback Keenan Lewis (hip). It’s the perfect recipe for a big day out of a quarterback.

Davante Adams (WR, Green Bay Packers)

Jordy Nelson is out for the year, so automatically the next man up should be a prime fantasy option. That will be second-year man Davante Adams, who came on strong late in 2014 and appears ready to take on a heavier workload.

He’ll have Aaron Rodgers pulling the trigger, which is a benefit to any receiver. To top it off he matches up against the Chicago Bears, who boasted the 30th ranked pass defense in 2014 and are in the middle of a massive overhaul to a 3-4. That should give Adams a serious chance to produce right out of the gates.

Darren McFadden (RB, Dallas Cowboys)

He’s going to get the start, so Darren McFadden is the best fantasy choice for the Dallas Cowboys at running back, at least for now. He runs behind an excellent offensive line with a capable quarterback in Tony Romo to help keep extra defenders out of the box.

Facing him will be the New York Giants. While division games are always a challenge, the Giants defense as a whole has struggled lately, particularly against the run. They allowed 120 yards per game in the preseason. Their star Jason Pierre-Paul likely won’t play and they also have problems at safety as well. It’s harder to imagine McFadden not running well.

Greg Olsen (TE, Carolina Panthers)

He remains one of the most consistently good and underappreciated tight ends in the NFL. All Greg Olsen does is his job and does it well. The Pro Bowl he reached last year was validation of it. Now with Kelvin Benjamin out, he’s unquestionably the #1 pass target for Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers offense.

His first matchup will be against a Jacksonville Jaguars defense that has struggled a lot the past couple years and didn’t show many signs of improvement in preseason (26th ranked pass defense). If Newton gets adequate protection, Olsen could be poised for major production.

Miami Dolphins Defense

This was a pretty solid defense last year. So what happens when you add perhaps the best defensive tackle in the NFL to a pretty solid defense? The Miami Dolphins are eager to find out as they prepare to unleash their new front four featuring prized free agent Ndamukong Suh in the middle.

They go against a Washington Redskins offensive line that looked more than a little shaky at times during the preseason. Never mind they also prepare for a quarterback in Kirk Cousins who has spent most of his career as a backup. It’s really hard to not see this defense setting the tone early.

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