In the world of Fantasy Football, we’re always looking for the next breakout star. Every year, we make sleeper lists and every year there are guys who never even crossed our mind that end up as Fantasy studs. Although this isn’t necessarily a sleeper list, today I’ll be touching on a handful of players worth monitoring over the next few months. All are young players nearing their prime and most are in a position to take a big step up their respective team’s depth chart. Note that I dug relatively deep and avoided players already being discussed on early sleeper lists (eg. Jerome Simpson, Montario Hardesty, Jared Cook).
Andre Roberts – Cardinals
First of all, consider the Cardinals depth at wide receiver. Larry Fitzgerald is the clear number-one and will be among the NFL leaders in targets. After that, it’s a free-for-all. Steve Breaston was the #2 in 2010, but is an unrestricted free agent and unlikely to return. Assuming he is out and restricted free agent Early Doucet is tendered, either Doucet or Andre Roberts will be the starter along side Fitzgerald. Stephen Williams and Max Komar saw some work in 2010, but Roberts emerged down the stretch and is clearly ahead of that duo. Roberts, a rookie in 2010, sat behind both Breaston and Doucet on the depth chart throughout the season, but with Doucet out during weeks 16 and 17, Roberts saw 20 targets on 78 pass routes in just those 2 games. The Cardinals offense is unlikely to be spectacular in 2011, but the team rarely throws to the tight end, making its #2 wide out fantasy relevant. Monitor his progress.
Kerry Meier – Falcons
A 5th-round draft pick in 2010, Meier would’ve been on a few fantasy rosters early last season with Michael Jenkins sidelined, but suffered a pre-season knee injury that cost him the entire year. Meier has plenty of competition, but is back in the fold in 2011. Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez will handle a majority of the targets, but Michael Jenkins is far from a superstar as the #2 Wide Receiver and Harry Douglas was less than impressive as a fill-in while Jenkins was out. This opens the door for Meier, who could be in line for a decent role this season.
Jalen Parmele – Ravens
Parmele’s name has popped up a few times over the last few days with speculation swirling that the Ravens will cut Willis McGahee, as expected. If McGahee is, indeed, cut loose, Parmele jumps up to #2 on the running back depth chart. Ray Rice is clearly the team’s workhorse, but far from an elite goal line back, a role that helped McGahee to 19 total rushing scores over the last 2 seasons. With full back Le’Ron McClain also set for free agency, Parmele is in line for a role that could include a half dozen carries every week, most of which would come near the goal line. If the Ravens cut McGahee and fail to replace him via free agency or the draft, Parmele will see a larger role and take over as Rice’s handcuff.
David Reed – Ravens
The Ravens are on record as saying that Reed has a bright future at wide receiver—a future that could begin to take form in 2011. Anquan Boldin is signed through 2013, but Derrick Mason has only 1 year remaining on his contract and both TJ Houshmandzadeh and Donte’ Stallworth are currently unrestricted free agents. It’s worth nothing that the Ravens already signed James Hardy and Brandon Jones to futures contracts and they could target a deep threat in the draft or free agency. For now, though, Reed sits in the #3 slot and could easily be in for 10-15% of the targets in 2011.
Eric Decker – Broncos
Prior to the 2010 season, the Broncos logjam of rookies and possession receivers was a nightmare for fantasy writers—a nightmare that led everyone to overlook the year’s top fantasy scorer at wide receiver, Brandon Lloyd. Lloyd is back in 2011 and fellow veteran and unspectacular, but reliable Jabar Gaffney is expected to join him in the starting lineup. Eddie Royal and Demaryius Thomas are technically in the mix, as well, but both are recovering from serious injuries. Enter 2010 3rd round draft pick Eric Decker, who should be in line for an increased workload in 2011. Decker saw only 8 targets in his rookie season, but did play a season-high 52 snaps in the team’s season finale. The recovery of Royal and Thomas are a big factor in Decker’s 2011 snaps, but there’s no question that Decker has an opportunity to fly up the depth chart over the next few months.
Dorin Dickerson – Texans
Dickerson played only 23 snaps in 2010, spending 11 of the team’s 16 games on the inactive list. The Texans 7th round pick last year, Dickerson is a converted college tight end that could figure into the team’s #3 Wide Receiver mix if unrestricted free agent Jacoby Jones is not resigned. Andre Johnson and Kevin Walter are the projected starters, but Dickerson’s main competition for the #3 job, assuming Jones is left go, is David Anderson. Dickerson likely needs a bit more seasoning before he makes a big impact, but his progress is worth monitoring over the next few months.
Jarett Dillard – Jaguars
Jarett Dillard can’t catch a break. The Jaguars 5th-round pick in 2009 broke his right ankle during his rookie season and missed all of the 2010 campaign with a stress fracture in his foot. With Mike Sims-Walker set for unrestricted free agency, Dillard could immediately be thrown into the team’s starting lineup. Even if Sims-Walker is brought back, the #3 wide receiver job is wide open with only Mike Thomas ahead of him on the depth chart. UFA Jason Hill could be re-signed as competition for the job, but Kassim Osgood and Tiquan Underwood are unlikely to give Dillard much trouble. Keep an eye on Dillard, especially if Sims-Walker hits the road.
Lex Hilliard / Patrick Cobbs – Dolphins
I’m going to group these guys together because either one of them could end up in a larger role in 2011. The Dolphins have used the Ronnie Brown-Ricky Williams committee attack each of the last two seasons, but both are unrestricted free agents. One of them could return, but both won’t be back. That opens the door for one of Lex Hilliard or Patrick Cobbs (both restricted free agents). Neither has much experience, but both have done well in a small sample of work. It’s worth monitoring this duo if they end up battling it out for the #2 RB job.
Emmanuel Arceneaux – Vikings
Who? If there’s one guy on this list you probably don’t recognize, it’s this guy. Arceneaux spent the last 2 seasons playing in the Canadian Football League, but signed a 3 year deal with the Vikings in January. Considering the team’s significant question marks at the wide receiver position, Arceneaux is a name to keep in mind. Sidney Rice is likely to be an unrestricted free agent, which could mean his time in Minnesota is over. Percy Harvin would then be the top receiver, but he’s had chronic migraine issues. Bernard Berrian and Greg Camarillo can easily be eclipsed by Arceneaux if he’s up to the task and both Greg Lewis and Hank Baskett are unrestricted free agents. Could Arceneaux be a guy who comes out of nowhere and ends up starting in the NFL after an impressive showing in the pre-season thanks to a receiving unit full of question marks? I’d say it’s unlikely he makes that much of an impact right off the bat, but it’s a situation worth monitoring.
Adrian Arrington – Saints
Although he’s likely to be re-signed, Lance Moore is an unrestricted free agent. Assuming he’s brought back, the Saints wide receiving unit is likely to remain the same, with Marques Colston, Moore, Devery Henderson, and Robert Meachem handling the top 4 spots. Still, considering how high-powered this passing attack continues to be, the overlooked Adrian Arrington is worth a mention. A 7th round pick by the Saints back in 2008, he’s still yet to be given a chance to make an impact on a consistent basis, but did catch 7 of his 9 targets for 79 yards in week 17 of the 2010 season – the only game he was active all season. Again, there’s a major logjam at wide receiver in New Orleans, but remember this name if Moore is let go or one of the starters goes down with an injury.
Victor Cruz – Giants
Remember this guy? After an impressive showing in the pre-season, Cruz was lost for the entire regular season due to injury. He’s back in 2011 and will compete for, at least, the #4 WR job. Hakeem Nicks is the clear #1, but Steve Smith is an unrestricted free agent and his return is in question. Mario Manningham will also be ahead of Cruz on the depth chart, but Ramses Barden is the only other real competition for Cruz. There is a bit of a logjam here, sure, but it’s another high-scoring offense with a few question marks at wide receiver. Don’t overlook this popular 2010 sleeper the year after.
Chad Hall – Eagles
On an offense as high-powered as the Eagles, it’s hard not to mention all of its wide receivers. A player very similar to the Patriots Danny Woodhead, Hall didn’t play much in 2010, but ended up with 9 carries and 17 targets. The highlight of his season came in week 17 when he hauled in 6 of 8 targets for 84 yards and 1 score against the Cowboys’ starters. Hall is stuck behind DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, Jason Avant, and Riley Cooper, but could easily stay on the roster as the #5 wide receiver, a #3/4 half back, and a back-up kick returner. Although he’s unlikely to see more than a few touches per game, there’s always that chance he could be the next Woodhead.
Cam Morrah – Seahawks
One of my favorite deep, deep sleepers, Morrah currently sits #2 on the Seahawks tight end depth chart. John Carlson is a decent pass catcher, but has spent a lot of time blocking and not much catching passes over the past 2 seasons. Morrah is stuck behind Carlson on the depth chart for at least 1 more season, but watch for him to see a few more targets in 2011 than the 24 he saw in 2010. If he can avoid the drop (4 in 2010), he could force his way onto the field as a pass-catching tight end/ slot receiver. Consider that after playing just 36 snaps during the first 11 weeks of the season, he played 205 the rest of the way, including the 2 playoff games.
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