:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/1294575/GYI0062001178.jpg)
Many times when playing fantasy football, the eventual champion of your league is the one who correctly picked the most or best "sleeper" players with late round draft picks. This guy not only nabs some of the obvious, top tier players but also picks up backups that turned into starters or guys who were poised for a breakout year. Obviously, if you can do this with consistency, you're going to do very well in fantasy football.
So, today let's discuss the potential sleeper or breakout candidates in fantasy football for the Kansas City Chiefs this year. To make sure we're all on the same page, here is a great definition of a "sleeper" pick from Fantasy Toolbox:
A draft term for a NFL player that an owner believes is going to have a breakout season. These are usually players who are not rookies, but they can be. For the most part they are not well known NFL players. For example, Edgerrin James would not have been a sleeper for the 1999 season, because many people knew he was going to have a good to very good season. However, Kurt Warner would have been because very few people expected much performance from him, yet he was the leading player in most leagues in 1999. Usually sleepers are drafted in the middle to late rounds of a draft.
Are we clear? Good. After the jump, let's talk about the Chiefs' potential sleepers.
Yahoo! Fantasy Football supports SB Nation and pigskin awesomeness. It’s also the #1 Fantasy Football game thanks to dazzling player research, instant stats with free live scoring, iPhone, Android, and iPad apps this season. Plus, new scoring categories for long receptions and rush plays. (Yes!) Sign up at yahoo.com/fantasyfootball
WR/RB Dexter McCluster. Labeling McCluster a sleeper seems like an obvious choice. He's got speed, wasn't involved in a lot of games last year and was a huge playmaker in college. That said, it's hard to see a lot of room for McCluster in this offense with the new additions. With Jonathan Baldwin and Steve Breaston on board, where does that leave McCluster? His impact could be felt greatest on returns, not on offense.
Fantasy Sleeper: No.
WR Jonathan Baldwin. The Pittsburgh Panther rookie is another enticing choice for 2011 fantasy sleeper and I'm going to throw my hat in the ring for him. I don't think Baldwin is going to get 1,000 yards and 100 catches, or anything close to that. But where I do see Baldwin's fantasy potential is near the goal line, when defenses are keyed in on Jamaal Charles, Le'Ron McClain and Bowe. He could end up with a multi-touchdown game against the right defense.
Fantasy Sleeper: Yes.
FB Le'Ron McClain. Thomas Jones is 32-years old and entering his 12th season. You might say that bodes well for the 26-year old McClain nabbing some playing time from Jones. Unfortunately, Thomas Jones is tough as nails and frankly doesn't get injured very often. However, when McClain was asked to step in full-time in 2008 in Baltimore, he had a great season. Throw in the goal line looks he's going to get and I think you have to pick up McClain as a handcuff for Jamaal Charles.
Fantasy Sleeper: Yes.
WR Steve Breaston. The recent Arizona pick up is a tough one to decide if he's a sleeper or not because he's been pretty good in the past. After going over 1,000 yards in 2008, Breaston had consecutive 700+ yard receiving seasons. Depending on when Jonathan Baldwin starts/plays, Breaston's veteran experience could get him some looks early on from Matt Cassel. However, Breaston never has been a touchdown scorer so I'm going to speculate that he's going to remain in his role as a No.2/3 receiver and keep doing what he's been doing.
Fantasy Sleeper: No.
TE Tony Moeaki. Yes, yes and yes. You could spend a high draft pick on a Tony Gonzalez or a Antonio Gates. Or you could potentially steal Tony Moeaki off the waiver wire and get a great pick up for nothing. With the Chiefs' new receivers and improved running game, expect defenses to forget about Moeaki once in a while.
Fantasy Sleeper: Yes.
WR Jerheme Urban. I think Urban is on this team because he's a fantastic team player that Todd Haley loves. He'll just have to prove he can put up big numbers if given the opportunity.
Fantasy Sleeper: No.
Thoughts on these picks?