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2010 SLEEPERS: WR'S & TE'S
by Scott Mickels
Published: August 23, 2010, 4:22 pm
WR'S
 Malcolm Floyd, WR, SD: Once given the chance, Floyd made the most of his opportunity last year. He set career highs in receptions (45) and yardage (776) which almost equaled his totals from his first four seasons combined (52 and 821). With Vincent Jackson suspended through the first three games, Floyd will step in as the Chargers' #1 and could develop some very valuable chemistry with his quarterback in the process. At 6-5, 220 he's a big target in the red zone and will surely those looks when Antonio Gates is double-teamed. Sure, he'll be fighting for some looks with Gates, and eventually Jackson, but keep in mind LaDanian Tomlinson and his 50 receptions a year are long gone. Of course, that's 50 more receptions to go around. If he can build on the consistency he showed last year in which he averaged just over 3 receptions and 54 yards in the last 12 straight weeks of the season, he could be a steal in the later rounds.
 Laurent Robinson, WR, STL: Before a broken fibula derailed his '09 season, Robinson was showing a ton of promise catching 13 balls for 167 yards and a score in his first three games. He's got great hands, great speed and should start along side Donnie Avery likely as the Rams #1. The talent and upside is definitely there evidenced by his 37 receptions and 437 yards his rookie year in Atlanta. However, injuries have cut his last two seasons short, so needless to say, he is an injury risk. Still, with that said, if he's able to stay healthy, he's talented enough to get open consistently. He has a great chance to set career highs in just about every category as he's easily the most talented receiver the Rams have. It's no secret the Rams are a bad team and will be playing from behind a lot. Obviously, that means they'll be throwing the ball a lot too. Having a rookie quarterback under center could hurt his numbers a bit, but like I said, Robinson knows how to get open and Sam Bradford, if he throws like he did at Oklahoma, is accurate enough to hit the open man regularly.
 Devin Thomas, WR, WAS: This could finally be the year the third-year receiver out of Michigan State breaks out. He made good strides last year improving on his rookie campaign and has the talent and potential to progress even more this year with Donovan McNabb under center. In fact, the combination of McNabb and Mike Shanahan as coach could pay big dividends for Thomas. They both love to spread the ball around and throw to the tight end, but did you know McNabb's and Shanahan's 3rd leading receiver typically averages around 50 receptions a year? That's virtually double his production of last year. He'll likely be the third option behind Santana Moss and Chris Cooley, but at the same time, they could both be used as decoys from time to time, which could help Thomas' numbers as well. He should be the #2 across from Moss and barring injuries or any unforeseen off-the-field issues, Thomas is primed to break out in a big way. If you couldn't justify grabbing him in your draft, he's definitely someone to keep on your radar as the season progresses.
Others to note:
Devin Aromashodu, WR, CHI: Has looked sharp in pre-season and despite being listed as 3rd on the Bears' WR depth chart, Mike Martz's offense gives the slot a lot of looks; see Az Hakim.
Mohamed Massaquoi, WR, CLE: Even though he's listed behind Josh Cribbs as the #2, Massaquoi is the true #1 receiver in Cleveland. He was 3rd in the league last year for average yards per reception (18.4). While he may not match that average again, he should lead the team in targets for the second straight year.
Mike Williams, WR, TB: With Antonio Bryant sent packing, Williams has a great chance to slide in as the Bucs' #1 receiver. He really is a great talent; he just needs to get his you-know-what together. And aside from Kellen Winslow, and maybe Michael Clayton, Josh Freeman simply has no one else to throw to.
TE'S Jimmy Graham, TE, NO: A poor man's Antonio Gates, he's being touted as the next big thing at tight end. Like Gates, he's a former basketball player that just happened to try out playing football. As a result, he showed some great potential his senior year at Miami and now finds himself in the NFL. He's considered a totally raw talent with tremendous upside. He's big, athletic and has the ability to stretch the field which fits in perfectly with the Saints' offensive scheme. Unfortunately, he's been injured most of the pre-season with an ankle injury. He's behind Jeremy Shockey and David Thomas on the Saints' depth chart, so it's possible he's still another year away. However, Shockey is an injury risk and David Thomas has reached his ceiling. Let's face it, Thomas was a product of the New Orleans' system. If it wasn't for Shockey getting hurt and the fact Drew Brees was throwing him the ball, Thomas wouldn't have had near as good numbers as he did. The facts are Graham has more upside than either Shockey or Thomas and consequently it will only be a matter of time before he's the Saints' tight end of the future, if they don't consider him that already.
 Jermaine Gresham, TE, CIN: The former Oklahoma Sooner missed the entire '09 season due to a knee injury. Yet, his stock was so high, he was still the top tight end taken in the draft. He's got great hands, is incredibly athletic and should give the Bengals a solid option at tight end for the first time since the days of Rodney Holman, and even back in the day he wasn't used that much. The Bengals have made it known they're a run-first offense, but if the drafting of Gresham is any sign of things to come, he'll be a factor in fantasy sooner rather than later—no pun intended. They sure didn't draft him in the first round to simply block. With a notorious trio of Chad Johnson, Terrell Owens and Antonio Bryant in the mix, Gresham may have trouble getting looks, but at the same time, he could be left in a lot of man-to-man and he's easily quick enough to separate from just about any linebacker. He's just another one of those newfangled tight end/receiver hybrids in the mold of Antonio Gates. He may not break out this year, but it's only a matter of time before he's considered among fantasy's top 10 at the position.
 Zach Miller, TE, JAX: I think we've all heard and frankly are tired of the "other Zach Miller" remarks, as if that's endearing somehow. That's like calling him "the other white meat". Hey, I like pork chops, but I digress. The Jags are big on the converted quarterback and it seems a very realistic possibility that he could supplant Marcedes Lewis at the starting tight end spot. He has the talent to win the tight end job in Jacksonville as he's much more skilled than Lewis, but has been hampered by a foot injury this pre-season. It's not something that should linger, but early on it may affect whether he starts or not. Once he does become the Jags starter, which I do believe will happen this year at some point, he is primed to improve on his '09 numbers. I'm not going to come out and call him a breakout candidate, he may still be a year or two away, but if he's the starter he could make a decent stop-gap for those bye weeks. Consider Miller a high-end #3 with low-end #1 upside provided everything goes right.
Others to note:
Shawn Nelson, TE, BUF: His four-game suspension puts a bit of a damper on this. Nevertheless, he's a quick, big athletic tight end with great hands. Not worth drafting, but someone to keep in the back of your mind because of his upside.
Tony Scheffler, TE, DET: Could be the main beneficiary as the “receiving” half of the Lions' two-headed monster at tight end. Brandon Pettigrew is more the “blocking” half, leaving Scheffler to do what he does best on passing downs, stretch the field.
Jerramy Stevens, TE, TB: With Kellen Winslow hampered by a sore knee, the same knee he's had surgery on multiple times over the years, Stevens is only one big hit to that knee away from being the Bucs' starting tight end. I realize handcuffing a tight end isn't common, but if you draft Winslow, handcuffing Stevens could be a smart move.
 Scott Mickels, FPM Staff Writer/Editor, Member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association
Support FPM! You can send your questions and comments to Scott at scottmickels@fantasyplaymakers.com
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