Every year in fantasy football circles everyone has their own take on sleepers and 2009 is no different. Sleeper picks can make or break your team, so consider all options during mock drafts. You never know when someone will have a breakout season. Here are some of my thoughts on RB sleepers that can make a significant impact in 2009.
2009 Fantasy Football Sleeper Predictions: Running Backs
Shonn Greene – New York Jets
While Thomas Jones is still the starting RB, he’s on the wrong end of the 30 and if he gets hurt, all signs point to Shonn Greene being his replacement, with Leon Washington still being the third running back or RB being used. more frequently in passing situations. Shonn Greene makes a great “wife” if you draft Thomas Jones into fantasy football. He would aim to draft Greene around the 13th round in typical fantasy drafts.
Matt McGuire, a writer for Walterfootball.com also puts Shonn Greene on his sleeper list. According to McGuire, “If Thomas Jones continues to hold out and is cut, Greene could become a viable RB3. We know the Jets love Greene because they traded him in the third round. For now, Jones is still on the roster.” roster, so we need to see how this plays out before we solidify his fantasy projection in August.”
Andre Brown – New York Giants:
Now that Derrick Ward is leaving the Giants to play for the Tampa Bay Bucs, Brown is the leading candidate to replace Ward as the third RB in the Giants’ “three-headed monster” running game. Brown has the same build as Derrick Ward, so he could easily fill this role, so it’s worth keeping an eye on him in the preseason. He claims him in fantasy football only if he gets the backup job for Brandon Jacobs or if he gets used heavily in the “three-headed” attack and is successful in that role. If you have a great preseason, look to draft him around round 14 right before you take on a defense or kicker.
Cafe Glen – San Francisco 49ers
Frank Gore’s injury history makes Coffee a must-have pick for Gore owners. He would look to draft him around the 12th round in most fantasy drafts and keep a close eye on him during the preseason.
James Davis-Cleveland Browns
Jamal Lewis is getting old and if he were to get hurt, Davis is the favorite to replace him as Cleveland’s starting running back. Davis is a power running back who could return value to fantasy owners who are willing to take a chance on him around the 13th or 14th round in fantasy drafts. He looks closely at training camp and the preseason battle between Davis and Jerome Harrison to see who emerges victorious this year.
Derrick Ward – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Ward has a chance to be this year’s Michael Turner. Fantasy Sports writer Patrick O’Neill says in his article Fantasy Football Sleepers: Running Back Rankings in Fantasy Football 2009, “Derrick Ward has so many things going for him in Tampa Bay that it’s almost silly.” Ward has mostly been used as a backup RB in the past, but now he has a great opportunity to become the starting RB in Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay is a team that likes to run the ball and I think Ward has the chops to succeed in this system.
According to FFToolBox.com, Ward is an underrated sleeper. “Ward is the best bet to make it as a star than Graham in the Tampa Bay backfield, and he’s an excellent mid-round option as a #3 option capable of producing 1,200 rushing yards as well as 40 receptions with 7 total.” TD in 2009,” states FFToolBox.com. Tampa’s defense is good enough to keep most games close, giving Ward a great chance to see a lot of touches every game. However, Earnest Graham he can steal some of his carries at the goal line and this can lower Ward’s TD totals.
Felix Jones-Dallas Cowboys
It’s not football unless we talk a little about the Dallas Cowboys, so last but not least we have Felix Jones. Jones will get more carries per game, I think, than most people realize. He has the explosiveness to score almost every time he touches the ball and could put up big numbers for savvy fantasy owners willing to take a chance on him in the middle or late rounds of fantasy drafts.
