It’s easy to create a very long list of 2011 fantasy football WR sleepers, but we shortened the list to the players that are truly under the radar. There is some very good talent to be found late in a fantasy football draft which can make you look like a genius amongst you peers by season’s end. Usually these players don’t have much hype surrounding them before the season, while ideally filling in fantasy rosters as the No. 3, 4 and sometimes 5 wide receiver who could potentially start depending on the weekly matchup.
With that being said, Atlanta Falcons’ rookie Julio Jones is a borderline sleeper at this point. He has been gaining fantasy value with his recent preseason play and the fact that the organization traded so many picks to draft him and cut two veterans shortly after he hit the field for the first week of practice. It’s obvious that the Falcons have invested highly in Jones and Head Coach Mike Smith will make a conscious effort to provide him chances to shine. If you’re one of those fantasy players who wants the ‘sexy’ pick that most of time ends up being a reach, you’re probably going to have the Alabama rookie on your team. Others will look further into the pool of prospects to find the best value pick.
Top 6 WR Sleepers for 2011
Malcom Floyd, San Diego Chargers – The 29-year-old will be the third option for Philip Rivers and the San Diego passing attack this season with fellow receiver Vincent Jackson and tight end Antonio Gates getting more passes thrown their way. That’s ok for Floyd’s owners since the Chargers throw the ball at a high rate combining with his ability to catch deep passes for touchdowns and big plays. An injured hamstring made him sit out a handful of games in 10′ campaign and he still had 717 yards and a career-high six touchdowns. It’s not far fetched to think he could top 1,000 yards receiving for the first time in his career with around 8-10 touchdowns even with Jackson and Gates being healthy.
Lee Evans, Baltimore Ravens – According to reports, offensive Coordinator Cam Cameron and signal caller Joe Flacco are talking highly of Evans, the recent free agent signee who caught three touchdowns on 105 yards receiving in the week 7 matchup in Baltimore last year as a member of the Buffalo Bills. The veteran missed three games last season and had his worst year in terms of production in receiving yards (578) and receptions (37). That will certainly change this season, now playing with an above-average quarterback and on a team that has a chance to contend for a Super Bowl. Evans will compliment teammate Anquan Boldin in the passing game and will be a regular fantasy contributor once again as a solid No. 3 fantasy option.
Jason Hill, Jacksonville Jaguars – It looks like the fifth-year pro out of Washington State has surfaced as the No. 2 receiver behind Mike Thomas in Jacksonville after seven catches and 145 yards in the last two games of 10′. Hill is mostly unproven after starting his career in San Francisco with three unproductive years and will need to earn his targets to become a reliable flex option. The Jags have a run-first style and an undesirable quarterback situation with starter David Garrard getting older and not among the elite while rookie Blaine Gabbert is in his rearview mirror. Hill should be drafted late, if at all, with the idea that the opportunity is there for him to take.
Nate Washington, Tennessee Titans – Here is a late-round pick that has the upside of now playing with quarterback Matt Hasselbeck who could prove to be more productive and consistent then Kerry Collins and Vince Young were the past couple seasons. Hasselbeck will need to stay on the field without injury for Washington to have a fantasy relevant season because rookie Jake Locker isn’t ready to be the leader of the team just yet. The Titan’s Kenny Britt is the team’s No. 1 receiving option right now but could be suspended for off-the-field legal issues and has a history of being hurt, which could open the door for Washington to get the most targets in the passing game at some point in the year. Although he has never topped 700 yards receiving and six touchdowns in a season, this could be the year at age 27 that he becomes an above average fantasy player.
Arrelious Benn, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – This is a talented player headed into his second year in the league with some concern about his surgically-repaired knee that was injured late last season. The word out of camp is that the knee is progressing well and that Benn should be ready for the season-opener. He made a couple big plays in his rookie season with his best game coming in Week 14 against the Washington Redskins with 122 yards receiving on four catches. He turns 25-years-young next month so that knee should heal quickly adding even more talent to a young Tampa Bay offense with LaGarrette Blount in the backfield and Milke Williams and Kellan Winslow as No. 1 and 2 receiving options for quarterback Josh Freeman. Fantasy owners should highly consider drafting him as a late-round flier.
Titus Young, Detroit Lions – Don’t go drafting this second-round pick rookie out of Boise State unless you are in a very deep league or a dynasty league. Young may prove to be a worthy pickup on waivers after the first couple of weeks depending on how fast he learns the offense, but don’t be surprised if he starts building rapport with Stafford early on. Young has a 4.40 40-yard dash time and possesses good to above average hands. He is no stranger to making big plays, which is what we saw him do on the college level with relative consistency. The youngster has been given the No. 3 wideout job even with a hamstring injury preventing him from practicing very much so far in this abbreviated training camp, which puts into question how productive he will be with those limited reps. Consider him a deep sleeper as of now who could be injected with an adrenaline shot around the middle of the season.
Hope you found these 2011 WR sleepers helpful. Make sure to keep up with our most recent fantasy football content to stay on top of your game.
