20. Delanie Walker, Tight End, Tennessee Titans
Walker had his most productive year since starting with the NFL in 2006. Last year, he played his first season as a Titan, and even though he played under not so desirable quarterback conditions with Jake Locker, then Ryan Fitzpatrick, he finished the year ranking 12th overall among tight ends. Walker’s 38.1 yards per gain on 60 targets in 2013 were incredibly impressive, compared to his previous years with the San Francisco 49ers, and he earned solid fantasy points for those who acquired him from the waivers.
Approaching the 2014 season, Walker still remains under the radar in mock drafts, which makes him a nice sleeper pick if chosen in later rounds. The Titans’ addition of new head coach, Ken Whisenhunt, could see Walker taking on a role similar to that of tight end, Antonio Gates.
19. Charles Clay, Tight End, Miami Dolphins
Clay was an underrated tight end starting the 2013 season, but ended up ranking seventh overall in fantasy points as the season ended. As a top target of quarterback, Ryan Tannehill, Clay had just four less receptions than No. 1 wide receiver, Mike Wallace last year. With defenses focused on limiting Wallace, Clay will continue to see many looks from Tannehill in the red zone.
The 6’-3” tight end should continue building on his performance from last season, easily remaining a top-10 tight end once again in 2014. Clay makes a fantastic late-round draft option according to current mock drafting results.
18. Jordan Reed, Tight End, Washington Redskins
While Reed was healthy during his rookie season in 2013, he made some fantastic receptions in the nine games he played for the Redskins. Quarterback, Robert Griffin III, should continue looking Reed’s way, especially while wide receivers DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon are drawing double coverage.
If Reed can stay upright in 2014, he is bound to have more notable weeks, mirroring that of his Week 7 last season where he had 134 receiving yards and one touchdown, scoring 19.40 fantasy points. If you wait to draft a tight end, Reed has good sleeper potential.
17. Kyle Rudolph, Tight End, Minnesota Vikings
Rudolph, with his massive 6’-5” 265 pound frame, has the ability to be a beast in the end zone. This could work out very favorably for Rudolph in 2014 under Norv Turner’s offensive system, where he will look to put Rudolph’s attributes to work. Unfortunately, Rudolph only played eight games last season due to injury, but his yards per gain increased from his previous year to 39.1. A new coaching system should have the 24 year-old tight end improving his stats this season, nudging him back into top-10 territory as he was in 2012.
16. Tre Mason, Running Back, St. Louis Rams
Mason was selected by the St. Louis Rams in this years’ draft. Coming off of two amazing years from Auburn, where he rushed for over 2,800 yards and had 31 rushing touchdowns, he makes more than a subtle threat to the Rams’ sophomore running back, Zac Stacy entering his rookie season.
Where Stacy easily gets drafted by the second round in current mock drafts, Mason still sits available until much later rounds. With his versatile pass-catching capabilities, Mason, who averaged 5.8 yards per carry in college, makes quite a nice sleeper pick to stash as he easily has the ability to de-throne Stacy as the Rams’ starter in 2014.
15. Khiry Robinson, Running Back, New Orleans Saints
Robinson, who originally went undrafted until the Saints picked him up last season didn’t have much opportunity to show off his skills in 2013. This was the case up until the Divisional Playoffs against the Seattle Seahawks where Robinson had 57 rush yards, including one rushing touchdown. As a rookie with very limited playing time during his whole season, to score against the NFL team with the staunchest defense was quite an accomplishment.
The Saints are now without the multi-functional running back, Darren Sproles entering 2014. While it is not highly advisable to draft any Saints running back too highly because they are such a pass-heavy team, Robinson makes deep sleeper fantasy option as he has the potential to encounter a larger role in the teams’ offense this year.
14. Toby Gerhart, Running Back, Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars aren’t exactly the most glamorous team that Gerhart newly signed with, but the point here is he will now be the featured running back for his own team. As the primary back up to Minnesota Vikings running back, Adrian Peterson, for the past four years, Gerhart has never had much opportunity to shine on his own.
What makes Gerhart appealing as a fantasy football sleeper with potential breakout ability in 2014, is the fact that he averaged a phenomenal 7.9 yards per carry for the 36 times he carried the ball last season. At just 27 years-of-age, and not very much mileage on his body, Gerhart could easily reward RB1 status in 2014, and is a gem of a draft if you can pick him as your third or fourth running back choice.
13. Lamar Miller, Running Back, Miami Dolphins
Miller fell insanely short of expectations last year, ranking 38th overall in fantasy points among fellow running backs, and scoring just two rushing touchdowns on 709 yards. When the Dolphins signed veteran running back, Knowshon Moreno, the first thought regarding Miller’s future fantasy value in 2014 is that he is doomed.
However, since Moreno joined the team, he hasn’t been the same and had recent arthroscopic surgery performed on his knee. Miller, who looked effective at last month’s minicamps taking all the first-team’s reps seems to have a chance to retain his starting role and prove his capabilities. Worth only a late-round draft pick as depth to your bench, Miller might just surprise those who select him.
12. Andre Ellington, Running Back, Arizona Cardinals
Making his rookie debut with the Cardinals in 2013, Ellington impressed with both his rushing and receiving skills. When given the opportunity to carry the ball, Ellington proudly rushed for an average of 5.5 yards per carry on 118 attempts. This year Ellington will carry the torch for his team since fellow starting running back, Rashard Mendenhall, recently announced his retirement from the NFL.
Head coach, Bruce Arians claims that Ellington will be given the opportunity to tote the ball 20-plus times per game, for which he could easily rack up 100-plus rush yards per game. Throw in some touchdowns, and fantasy football owners could see Ellington evolve into an RB1 during the course of the season. Don’t hesitate to draft Ellington if he is in your fantasy scope this year.
11. Kenny Britt, Wide Receiver, St. Louis Rams
Scrap the last couple of bad seasons with the Titans, and fast forward to Britt as a member of the Rams reconnected with his old coach, Jeff Fisher. If Britt can shelve the attitude the 6’-3” wide receiver might do more good than harm in 2014. So far this offseason, Britt has been showing great progress at the teams’ minicamps and organized activities. On the edge of potentially becoming WR1 material, Britt, who was plagued with injuries on his former team, may have the recipe for success awaiting him.
Worth drafting in later rounds, Britt’s sleepy past might reward fantasy owners some quality fantasy points for those who entrust in him in 2014.
10. Michael Floyd, Wide Receiver, Arizona Cardinals
Floyd, ending his 2013 season with over 1,000 receiving yards on 65 receptions, is entering into his third year with the Cardinals. Finishing ahead of fellow wide receiver, Larry Fitzgerald in receiving yards, Floyd is not someone to pass up when in need of drafting a WR3 for your fantasy team.
With the potential to reward WR1 points, look for Floyd to continue his pace as another 1,000-plus receiving yard season hopefully lies in his future. If he can just increase his receiving touchdown from the mere five he had in 2013, Floyd has value as an under-the-radar fantasy prospect.
9. Terrance Williams, Wide Receiver, Dallas Cowboys
Williams had a solid rookie premiere and made for a decent fantasy football roster plug-in when necessary in 2013. As the No. 2 wide receiver alongside Dez Bryant, Williams faces no other significant receiving competition. With Bryant and tight end, Jason Witten drawing the attention of defenses, Williams should be receiving more looks from Tony Romo this year.
During 2013 Williams had 44 receptions, 736 receiving yards and five touchdowns. The Cowboys are a pass-heavy team, so Williams’ numbers should increase in 2014, along with his fantasy potential.
8. Cecil Shorts, Wide Receiver, Jacksonville Jaguars
Shorts has been the victim of inadequate quarterbacks and pesky hernia injury, which should hopefully be in the past starting the 2014 season. He will resume the No. 1 receiving role with fellow wide receiver Justin Blackmon suspended indefinitely, and nowhere in sight. If newly drafted quarterback, Blake Bortles starts, things could look up for Shorts.
Shorts produced well in 2012, and if his receptions remain consistent, we could see numbers more like that season where he fell just short of 1,000 receiving yards and had seven touchdown scores. Where WR1 numbers would be quite the stretch for Shorts at this time, if drafted as a No. 4 receiver for your team, he could finish the season more in the tune of a lower-end WR2.
7. Marvin Jones, Wide Receiver, Cincinnati Bengals
Jones had some remarkable plays in 2013, namely in Week 8 against New York where he had four touchdown scores off of eight receptions for 122 yards. If Jones didn’t have anyone’s attention, he surely did after that performance. While he never repeated a game like that again in 2013, Jones showed us a major sampling of what he could accomplish in the future, given the opportunity.
Clearly, Jones has the potential to score big fantasy points as the No. 2 wide receiver opposite A.J. Green. Andy Dalton should easily pass for another 4,000-plus yard season, which means plenty of action for Jones, who should earn a draft spot as a WR3 on your fantasy football roster.
6. Jake Locker, Quarterback, Tennessee Titans
Locker was playing effectively for the Titans before he ended his 2013 season early due a nasty hip injury he suffered in Week 7. With much to prove entering into his fourth year with the Titans, Locker stands to improve under the wing of Ken Whisenhunt. He achieved his highest passer rating of his career this far in 2013 and had just four interceptions in the seven games in which he played.
As the 2014 season gets underway, Locker makes a nice sleeper material as a potential QB2, worth drafting as a reliable backup for your team. Last year’s seventh-ranking quarterback Philip Rivers loss of Whisenhunt looks to be Locker’s gain this season.
5. Geno Smith, Quarterback, New York Jets
Yes, Smith was pretty underwhelming during his 2013 rookie season. However, some improvements have been made to the teams’ roster with the addition of the polished wide receiver, Eric Decker, tight end, Jace Amaro, and veteran running back, Chris Johnson. Johnson’s skilled playmaking abilities on the ground should help take the heat off of Smith.
The team added Michael Vick, but it appears at this time, the starting job is Smith’s to lose and that is definitely something he’ll strive to prevent from happening. Obviously, don’t run out and draft Smith as your starter, but keep in mind that he has that sleeper potential to evolve into a respectable backup fantasy quarterback if called to duty.
4. Josh McCown, Quarterback, Tampa Bay Buccaneeers
Even though McCown played nearly flawlessly the weeks he covered for the injured Jay Cutler in 2013, he still goes undrafted until extreme late rounds in current fantasy football mock drafts. We know he no longer has the dual-threat Bears’ wide receivers at his disposal, but he does have Vincent Jackson, and rookie Mike Evans out of Texas A&M to pass to.
McCown is coming off some pretty awesome 2013 statistics in the eight games he played, such as a 66.5 percent passer rating, just one interception and 13 touchdown scores. Entering 2014, McCown under his former coach, Lovie Smith, definitely deems worthy of drafting as a backup quarterback, who may suffice as your starting quarterback if need be.
3. Ryan Tannehill, Quarterback, Miami Dolphins
Tannehill and the Dolphins’ pricey wide receiver purchase Mike Wallace didn’t exactly turn heads together in 2013. However, despite their lackluster connection, Tannehill still finished the season as the 16th ranked fantasy football quarterback. With room to improve in 2014, and the emergence of the Dolphins’ tight end Clay as discussed above, Tannehill could improve his numbers from last season.
New offensive coordinator, Bill Lazor whom Nick Foles reaped the benefits from last season, now can work his magic with Tannehill. Draft Tannehill as a backup now, but keep in mind his sleeper potential to suffice as a QB1 at some point during 2014.
2. Jay Cutler, Quarterback, Chicago Bears
Speaking of the Chicago Bears’ dual-threat wide receivers, Brandon Marshall, and Alshon Jeffery, as mentioned above, they’re all Cutler’s once again this year. Cutler should be even more in synch with Marc Trestman, this season, and Marshall and Jeffery will be beasts again on the field. Let’s not forget the fabulous pass-catching skills of Matt Forte, and the presence of tight end, Martellus Bennett.
Now if Cutler can’t become a top-10 quarterback with this amazing team of elite athletes, perhaps he should seek other career opportunities. Cutler’s health is a weighting factor of course since he hasn’t completed 16 games since 2009. Provided he remains healthy all season, Cutler could evolve from a typical backup quarterback draft pick to a starter this year.
1. Ben Roethlisberger, Quarterback, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have plans to use the no-huddle even more in 2014, which should benefit Roethlisberger and those who trust to draft him as their starting quarterback. Finishing the season last year as the 12th ranked fantasy quarterback, Roethlisberger could be a QB1 sleeper in the making.
Even though the Steelers lost Jerricho Cotchery and Emmanuel Sanders, they’ve gained Lance Moore and Martavis Bryant to compensate. Look for Roethlisberger to cross the 4,000 yard passing mark again, and if he can limit his interceptions he’ll reward top-10 fantasy numbers in 2014.