I think Sidney Rice in Minny is looking pretty good so far, and that team is desperate for a #1WR to step up. I really think its going to be him. Williamson will be a nice deep threat on the other side, but I dont see him with the size or the consistent package of skills to be any team's lead guy. Rice has looked good on the slant, over the middle, and hasnt dropped anything that Ive seen. This team will have a solid running game, teams will be forced to respect that, and it should open things up for the passing game. Take it with a grain of salt because he's only going to be as good as the QB Jackson allows him to be, but theyre both young, and I expect they'll develop a solid chemistry. Childress is an excellent offensive minded coach, so he'll find a way to get Rice in position to make plays. I can see him among the top 2 or 3 rookie WRs this season.
Brandon Jackson is in position to succeed in Green Bay, and that job appears to be his to lose. He's looked nice so far, and should be the lead back this year for the Pack. This D will be pretty good, so he'll get plenty of touches in close games.
I expect Matt Shaub will light up teams this year more than most think. He's looked good so far in Houston, and this team's D is still in question, so the points and passing #s will be needed to compete.
Leon Washington, though he certainly looks small, looks great for the Jets, and he makes plays. Jones will still be the lead back, but this team will have to find a way to get this kid on the field as often as possible.
Im completely buying the Santonio Holmes hype. He finished strong last year, has looked great so far this preseason, hits the homerun, has attitude and wants the ball, and has an aging #1 needing help on the other side. Holmes steps up as the lead WR in Pittsburgh this year.
I think Matt Leinart is going to light up the league this year. He's been looking good, and for however much the new staff may want to run the ball more this year, this team's best players still are at QB and WR. Some teams run to set up the pass. Some pass to set up the run. This team will pass to set up more of the pass. He's been highly underprojected, imo.
As much as it pains me to say it, the Dallas team has looked really good so far. Any starting player on that O would be a value pick. Wade Phillips will run his D, and stay out of the way on O. And the points will fly. I can definitely see them as the top team in the NFC this year.
Joe Addai has the look of a rising fantasy stud with the Colts.....surprise, surprise.
Wes Welker has been the one WR in New England who's truly developed the chemistry with Brady. He'll catch a whole lot of balls running underneath those track stars on the outside. He'll lead that team in catches this year.
Michael Turner has looked like the beast we all think he is. More than one team will regret not making a serious play for this guy by season's end.
And I havent seen much of him yet in camp or preseason, but I still expect DeAngelo Williams to step up this year in Carolina. Foster is simply NOT a starting NFL running back. And I do NOT own Williams on any fantasy teams.
And Colts' rookie LT Tony Ugoh is going to be just fine. He's being well coached and looks like a player.
I have to disagree on a few of these.First, Sidney Rice has struggled in camp from what I've read, and if the Robert Ferguson signing tells you anything, it should be that Rice will be buried on the depth chart this year. Williamson is the #1, and Ferguson/Wade will end up at 2/3. They know Rice is a project. He may become one of the best receivers in this year's draft class, but it's going to take time. I'm guessing 3 years.
Schaub has not been particularly impressive thus far for the Texans. They like his leadership abilities, but he struggled bigtime against the Bears. He looked better in week 2, but keep in mind, it was against a weak Cardinals secondary. I don't doubt he's got some talent, but I really don't see him being much of an upgrade over Carr, unless that o-line learns how to pass block in a hurry.
I agree on Holmes, but he's hardly a sleeper these days. Although I do think he could outperform his ADP of WR34 right now, but probably not by much. He is a homerun threat, and great with run after catch, but he won't get many red zone looks with Ward, H. Miller, and Parker there.
NFL teams clamoring for Turner won't have to wait long. He's a free agent after this year. He didn't go anywhere cause the trade price was too high.
I think Leinart is being projected right around where he belongs.
Agree on Welker and Leon Washington though.
(However, Washington probably won't be much more than a glorified 3rd down back. And keep in mind, they've already been trying to find ways to get him on the field. Last year, he lined up at WR more times than any other RB not named Reggie Bush. But he'll make a better NFL player than a fantasy player. He's not suited to be an every down back.)
To the original poster, Marcus Colston's don't happen. It was such a rarity, that you can almost never predict someone to do it again (at least on that scale), cause it may never happen again.
That said, a few of my favorite sleeper candidates are:
James Jones - Jennings continues to disappoint, and Jones catches everything. He also fights for the ball and is willing to go over the middle and make the tough catch. Plus, the Packers have been using a lot of 3 and even 4 wide receiver sets, so even when he is the 3rd WR behind Driver and Jennings, he should still get plenty of opportunities to produce.
Jerome Harrison - I've got a feeling that Jamal Lewis doesn't last the season as the starting RB in Cleveland. I just don't think he's anywhere near the back he used to be. Harrison reportedly is fighting for a roster spot trying to win the RB3 job, and is still behind Jason Wright, but I don't see him being cut. He's already shown great ability in passing situations and will likely end up as the 3rd down back for now, and he has more talent than Wright, so I wouldn't be surprised to see him as the starter in the Cleveland backfield by the end of the year (whatever that's worth).
Demetrius Williams - I see the 2nd year receiver taking over Mason's job by mid-season. I think he has a great future opposite Clayton.
A few others, but I think have already been mentioned: Jacoby Jones, Laurent Robinson, Malcolm Floyd