Fantasy Football Sleepers Part Two

Image: Jason Hill

Last week I touched on a few potential Fantasy Football Sleepers and this week I want to continue that theme with a few more young players that have enormous Fantasy Football Potential. These players probably won’t finish on top statistics wise, but could provide you with some good depth if you have some of your top players get injured, or if you need to start different players due to a bye week.

Disclaimer: Last week I mentioned the Dallas Cowboys receiver Isiah Stanback, scratch that. Just days after that article he injured his shoulder on a kick return, it was the same shoulder he had surgery on last year that caused him to miss his rookie year. Not a good omen for a 2nd year player trying to learn a new position.

RB DeAngelo Williams, Carolina Panthers:
I really liked Williams in college and I thought the Panthers made an excellent pick when they drafted him in the first round (27th overall) in the 2006 NFL Draft. Williams struggled a little bit as a rookie, but last year, even though Carolina struggled, Williams rushed for 717 yards and 4 touchdowns with an impressive 5 yards per carry average.

This year the Panthers drafted yet another running back in the first round when they selected Jonathan Stewart 13th over-all. Selecting Stewart that high might have signaled the demise of Williams, but instead it looks to have motivated him. Williams has had an excellent pre-season and looks to have a breakout season with Stewart breathing down his neck. DeAngelo has been the leading running back in the pre-season rushing for 188 yards and 3 TDs with a monster 7.2 yards per carry average. Against the Redskins Williams ran for 101 yards, including a dazzling 60-yard TD run.

TE Gijon Robinson/ TE Mike Hart, Indianapolis Colts
Obviously Dallas Clark is the top tight end on the team and for that matter one of the top tight ends in the NFL, but Clark has struggled to stay healthy in his career, he hasn’t missed many games, but he (Clark) has suffered from four concussions throughout his career and a broken leg in 2003. Enter small school stud Gijon Robinson, we always knew he was a heck of a blocker, but I have been highly impressed on how well he has fit into the Colts powerful offense. Robinson has been the Colts leading receiver for the Colts this pre-season catching 10 passes for 133 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Also keep in mind the Colts drafted RB Mike Hart from Michigan this year. Hart has looked very impressive for the Colts in the pre-season, out of all the running backs on the Colts roster, Hart has looked the best with a team leading 7.7 yards per carry average. He is not going to beat out Joseph Addai, but if Addai gets injured look for Hart to get plenty of carries. Hart has football speed but doesn’t clock very well on the track (4.69), but don’t tell me he can’t play in the NFL. For his (Hart) career against the Big 10 at Michigan he ran for over 5,000 yards and 41 touchdowns with a 5 yards per carry average.

RB Andre Hall, Denver Broncos:
He didn’t get many carries last year, only 44, but he made the most out of them with 216 yards, 2 touchdowns and a nice 4.9 yards per carry average. I have a feeling Hall is going to be “The Man” this year for the Broncos. Hall (5’ 10” 210 lbs) has been the leading running back for the Broncos this preseason carrying the ball 24 times for 113 yards and a touchdown.

WR DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles:
Jackson is only a rookie, but he is a speedy threat to take the football into the end zone every time he touches the ball. Desean Jackson was the fastest receiver last year at the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine running a 4.35 forty yard dash. If your Fantasy Football League allows points for return yards and touchdowns, then Jackson could give you some nice fantasy points. Jackson was thought to be a little raw as a receiver, but he is developing rapidly with the Eagles. In the pre-season he has caught 16 passes for 189 yards including a scintillating 76 yard punt return for a touchdown against the Patriots.

WR Jason Hill, San Francisco 49ers:
I just loved this kid coming out of college (Washington State), he was a touchdown machine and hugely productive on the football field recording 32 career touchdowns. Then he ran a blazing 4.32 second 40 yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine and the San Francisco 49ers selected Hill in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft. The 49ers, on their official website, gushed about Hill: "Even though Southern California’s heralded duo of Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith receive most of the press, if you ask any Pac-10 Conference defensive coordinator or defensive back which receiver they fear the most, they all say in unison one name – Jason Hill," the Niners wrote. So fast forward to 2008 and Hill is finally coming into his own, he has looked very good this pre-season, it looks like Mike Martz is working his offensive magic on Hill. He has caught 7 passes for 147 yards and 1 TD so far.

WR Jerome Simpson, Cincinnati Bengals:
Disgruntled receiver Chad Johnson has a partially torn labrum in his left shoulder, he will attempt to play through the injury, but he needs surgery and it’s questionable how effective he will be. Remember Johnson missed all of the mini camps and came to camp late, I think the Bengals are getting tired of his antics. Enter Jerome Simpson, this receiver has immense talent, physical talent right up there with the elite receivers in the league. Simpson just came from a small school (Coastal Carolina) and is extremely raw. I had Simpson rated as a pre-draft third rounder in my 2008 NFL Draft Big Board and the Bengals picked him with the 46th pick in the second round. Simpson has looked very good early and will get every chance to show what he can do and has been the leading receiver in the pre-season catching 9 passes for 144 yards. The Bengals worked out Simpson and fell in love with his ability. Check out this video of the selection.