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Back Page Flying under the radar: A look at sleepers
By Bob Harris, Special to CNNSI.com Is there anything better than walking away from your Fantasy draft knowing you’ve just stomped the living kapok out of opposition? OK, hearing them admit you just stomped the kapok out of them before they begin to beg for your mercy is pretty cool. Whatever the case might be, I think you see where I’m coming from here. And I’m pretty sure some of you are wondering how you can get in on the fun. Wouldn’t it be nice to know how one goes about delivering a draft day drubbing? The best part is you're half way there right now. You're online, reading, researching, studying and in general collecting the kind of background information necessary to pull off a major draft day coup. Even if you're not the only person in your league browsing the Internet, the very fact that you're reading this article is indicative of an owner who takes his team seriously. Since you're already doing the research, it won't be hard to start picking up on the key to fielding a successful Fantasy team: And the key is drafting for value. Which means "buying low." You want to look for players who for whatever reason, aren't the focus of intense, national scrutiny because you can often select them with a draft pick much lower than more highly publicized players who might not be as productive. In other words, you're looking for players "flying under the radar." They're not necessarily sleepers, but they're probably not household names either. At least not yet. The following list represents a small sampling of players at various positions who meet my criteria: Michael Pittman, RB, Cardinals: Thomas Jones is currently listed as the No. 1 halfback in Arizona for one reason and one reason only: Pittman will miss the team's Sept. 16 regular season opener at Washington while serving league-mandated one-game suspension. Of course, since the Cardinals sit out this year's opening weekend thanks to the NFL bye, Pittman won't actually serve his suspension until Week 2. Which essentially makes him a non-factor until Week 3. And then what? Then Jones is going to have a very hard time keeping Pittman off the field. New offensive coordinator Rich Olson, who last served as Norv Turner's QB coach in Washington, has said from day one that he views Pittman as a Stephen Davis-type back who will be able to stay on the field every down. The bottom line here says Jones just doesn't have tools to hang with Pittman, one of only two NFL running backs to lead their team in both rushing and receiving last year. The former Fresno State star is a versatile player who brings halfback's speed, fullback's power and above average receiving skills to the table. As long as he stays healthy, Pittman is likely to make Olson -- and perhaps you -- look very smart. Jamal Anderson, RB, Falcons: Anderson has looked extremely sharp in limited action this summer and some observers believe the veteran is even quicker than he was in 1998 when he racked up a team-record 1,846 rushing yards during Atlanta's run to the Super Bowl. Asked how his surgically reconstructed right knee is holding up this summer, Anderson told Joseph Person of the Macon Telegraph, "No problems. No tendinitis, no swelling, no inflammation. ... It's unbelievable because it feels like I'm back." Not that he wasn't back last year. The fact that Anderson managed to grind out 1,024 yards less than a year after tearing his ACL against the Cowboys in 1999 should have been more than enough to tip us off as to where he might stand this summer. "I thought it was incredible what he accomplished last year, coming off a major knee surgery," head coach Dan Reeves noted. "I thought he got better as the year went along." That said the 2000 model Anderson was a far cry from the pre-injury model. The former Utah star finished the year with only two 100-yard rushing games and his 3.6-yard per carry average was well below the 4.5 he averaged in '98. While we're not looking for Anderson to be as productive as he was back in '98, he could certainly come close. Reeves agrees. "I don't think there's any question he's much farther along right now and much more confident in his leg than he was," the coach explained last week. "Having a year under his belt without any setbacks is going to make his leg that much stronger." Anderson essentially said the same thing following a short touchdown run against the Steelers in the preseason opener when instead of breaking into the team's traditional "Dirty Bird" dance, he simply stood in the middle of the end zone pointing at his right knee. If Anderson comes even close to regaining his pre-injury form, a top-10 season is well within his reach. Which makes him a very interesting prospect if he slips down to the 20th pick overall -- something I've witnessed often this summer. Watch him. Travis Henry, RB, Bills According to the latest reports out of Buffalo, Bills head coach Gregg Williams still hasn't decided on a starting running back for the season opener. Rookie Travis Henry appears to be the leading candidate, but Shawn Bryson and Sammy Morris continue to work with the first-string offense. Williams plans to play each back one series with the starters this Thursday against the Steelers and decide some time after the game. But the Bills probably won't have the same kind of three-pronged attack like they did last season and Henry has averaged 5.7 yards per carry in the preseason. Morris has averaged 3.8 and Bryson 2.9. "They've all looked good," Williams said. "We've got one more game [to evaluate]." Like they need it. This one was decided long ago, whether you opponents want to believe it or not. Here's what I wrote about Henry in my running back preview published at this very site back on July 17: "As of today, I'm looking for the 5-9, 220-pound Henry -- the only true halfback on a roster loaded to the gills with glorified fullbacks -- to emerge as just that this summer. "Why Henry? "For starters, I like his running style. Henry hits the hole quickly and runs close to the ground. That low center of gravity, his powerful lower body and remarkable sense of balance often allow him to turn a 2-yard run into a 5-yard gain and 5-yarders into eight. "I was also impressed with the way he overcame a perceived lack of speed by posting a blistering 4.35-second 40 in front of God and everybody in Indianapolis while many of his "faster" contemporaries chose not to run for time at the scouting combine. "In fact, it's hard not to like a guy who ran with determination and consistency that ultimately allowed Henry to leave Tennessee as the school's all-time leading rusher. "And I'm not alone in my opinion. ... I recently came across a piece written on June 17 by veteran Buffalo News columnist Larry Felser that I found especially compelling. "According to Felser, Henry 'already eliminated the "running back by committee" option' in Buffalo and he went on to state: 'Presumably Henry will get the ball 20 to 25 times' in most games. ... "I'll also remind you of the rumors that ran rampant at Tennessee early last year indicating that Jamal Lewis decided to declare for the 2000 draft as a junior because he feared Henry's presence might keep him off the field and hurt his chances of being a first-round pick." Hey, the earlier you notice these guys the better off you are. Folks are starting to catch on to Henry now, but if you happened to take part in any early drafts, you probably would have seen slugs like J.R. Redmond go long before this kid. Ben Gay, RB, Browns: Travis Prentice has been limited to working almost exclusively on special teams as of late with James Jackson, Jamel White and the legendary Ben Gay getting all the reps in both practice and games. Ben Gay? A couple of months ago, 21-year-old Benjamin Gay Jr. could be found cleaning out bedpans in a Spring, Texas nursing home. Which is where the whole thing began. You see, Gay was once held in the same esteem as legendary Texas running backs Earl Campbell and Eric Dickerson when he rushed for 2,217 yards, scored 21 touchdowns, earned USA Today first-team All-America recognition and was pursued vigorously by every college football factory in the country. Cleveland head coach Butch Davis happened to run one of those factories -- the University of Miami -- at the height of "Gaymania." Given all the hype, why hasn't anybody heard of him before now? Good question. Without recounting the entire tale, let's just say Gay had a hard time keeping commitments and that he hasn't played a full season of college football since. "I took some time off from football to learn about the game of life," Gay said, sparing his listener -- and himself -- the less-than-flattering details. "When I was away from football, I learned how to be a better person. Now I'm energized because I'm playing football again, and football keeps me pure. "I know this is my last chance. I'm not going to blow it. There's no better place for me to be right now than in Cleveland playing for the Browns." Those familiar with Gay's past are suspicious. Or at the very least cautious. Davis for example, called Gay an 80-1 shot to make the team before training camp opened. "It's way too early to anoint him as the next Gale Sayers, but he's done some things I didn't believe he could do," the coach said at the time. ""He's a little unique, isn't he? It's not surprising what he's done. What's surprising is that he's gotten the opportunity. A lot of times, some guy's supposed to be the next best thing on the planet, and the next thing you know, he just disappears into the woodwork." While the former Texas high school hero has been impressive with the ball in his hands, he almost got quarterback Kelly Holcomb killed when he missed a blitz pick-up against Tampa Bay. But he'll learn to block -- if he sticks around long enough. Asked if Gay should be considered a legitimate prospect, Cleveland director of football operations Dwight Clark said: "We had several teams inquiring if he would make the team and if we'd trade him, and we're not. He keeps showing big-time ability. He's big and fast, elusive, powerful and has excellent vision. You watch him, and you cross your fingers that you've really got something. "But he's rusty, and my gut feeling is it's going to take a year, another training camp, before he has a coming-out year." I'm looking for Gay to start getting significant playing time in November before claiming the starting job in December. Does that make him a first-round pick? Don't buy him unless the price is right. Mike Sellers, H-back, Browns: Don't overlook H-back Mike Sellers on draft day. Seriously. From Day 1, the Browns have told anybody willing to listen that Sellers is going to play a prominent role in their offense this year. More specifically, offensive coordinator Bruce Arians intends to move the former Redskin all over the field in an attempt to create mismatches. That means Sellers might line up as a fullback, tight end or wide receiver at any given time and depending on the play call, throw a block, catch a pass and even take an occasional handoff. Don’t laugh; Sellers has a knack for turning short passes into long gainers, and Davis insists the 275-pounder could catch 70 passes this year. James McKnight, Chris Chambers, WR, Dolphins: If speed kills, the Dolphins are going to start leaving some bodies in their wake this season. Head coach Dave Wannstedt has been impressed with free agent acquisition James McKnight. The coach recently told reporters, "James McKnight is everything I had hoped from a player standpoint and more as a person. I didn't realize he had the type of work ethic, the film study and all those things off the field it takes to be a winner. He is a heck of an addition to our team." Team officials also like the way McKnight has gone out of his way to help rookie Chris Chambers, a promising, but unpolished youngster who needs all the help he can get. Both McKnight (who was recently timed at 4.3-second over 40 yards) and Chambers (who reportedly ran a 4.31 on a fast track at Wisconsin) have speed to burn. Chambers also has a knack for making acrobatic catches. According to Wannstedt, "[Chambers'] athletic ability is as good as anybody we have, as far as speed and jumping and all that stuff. He's similar to Oronde [Gadsden] as far as strength and leaping ability, but he has the speed of [James] McKnight or one of those guys." Anybody wondering why NFL teams covet speed should look no further than Miami. After finishing the 2000 season with only 22 pass completions of 25 yards or more, the Dolphins decided speed was the answer. And so far this summer, McKnight and Chambers have delivered a remarkable increase in offensive firepower. McKnight's 72-yard catch-and-run against the Chargers two weeks ago represented the Dolphins' longest pass completion -- exhibition or regular-season -- in five years. Chambers hauled in a 41-yarder in that same game. According to the Miami Herald, several Dolphins, including McKnight and cornerback Terry Cousin, have compared Chambers with Minnesota wide receiver Randy Moss, which is clearly a reach. However, Chambers is an unusually strong, fast and athletic player with a chance to emerge as a productive player this year. If nothing else, these guys should put an end to the run that's allowed Oronde Gadsden to lead the team in touchdown receptions for three straight years. Byron Chamberlain, TE, Vikings: According to Bill Williamson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, the presence of new tight end Byron Chamberlain shouldn't be overlooked, since the former Bronco will probably be used to help account for some of the catches Robert Smith made in the past. ESPN insider John Clayton believes the Vikings have a candidate for the Pro Bowl at tight end. Clayton recently wrote, "Byron Chamberlain, signed from the Broncos, is well-coached in running routes and has a great ability in catching the ball. With the NFC in transition at tight end, Chamberlain could go to the Pro Bowl with a 50-catch season." Based on his four-catch, 50-yard outing against the Steelers on Aug. 16, Clayton's prediction doesn't sound like such a reach. Especially when you look back on the track record offensive coordinator Sherman Lewis established during his years in Green Bay when throwing to the tight end wasn't the exception but the rule. Vikings head coach Denny Green has been singing Chamberlain's praises since his arrival from Denver. But only because Chamberlain has been earning that praise with his play. A career backup during his days in Denver, Chamberlain seems intensely focused on taking advantage of his opportunity. According to Green, "[Chamberlain] is a guy that we can get the ball to. He is a very smart player. He can work underneath or down the field. We have to be able to get the ball to the tight end to take some of the pressure off of the outside. Having Jake Reed will force people to play a lot of 'cover 2' and to do that you have to be able to break it down by running the football and getting the ball to your tight end and [Culpepper] keeping the ball himself." Cam Cleeland, TE, Saints: A Pro Bowl-caliber player when healthy, 6-4, 272-pound Cam Cleeland is an above-average receiver who pulled in 54 passes for 684 yards and six touchdowns as a rookie in 1998. However, the former Washington star has missed 24 of the last 32 regular season games due to a variety of injuries, including a ruptured Achilles' tendon that sidelined him all last year. By all accounts, Cleeland's almost unnatural speed and athletic ability could easily make him the most critical factor in the offense this season, the element the offense lacked a year ago. According to tight ends coach Bob Palcic, a healthy Cleeland "has it all." According to Jeff Duncan of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, "[Cleeland] was the missing element in the offense last season. Without his ability to threaten the deep middle on seam routes, the offense bogged down as defenses concentrated on Horn and the running game. "Saints coaches believe the 6-4, 270-pound Cleeland has Tony Gonzalez-type skills. He has great hands and the speed to burn linebackers in coverage. ... [Offensive coordinator] Mike McCarthy felt Cleeland could have caught 10 touchdown passes last season before his injury. ..." That would be acceptable. The thing that really gets me about Cleeland is the fact everybody -- and by everybody I mean players, coaches, scouts, front office types -- who sees what he's capable of first hand says the same things. Saints GM Randy Mueller is no different from the rest. ... The former Seahawk exec describes Cleeland as "a linebacker's worst nightmare." He also called him the Saints' best player in training camp before his injury. "He's not where he was last year, but if he gets there, he may be as valuable an addition as we have," Mueller said. "I had never been around a tight end like him. He was as good as I've ever seen." Hmmm. ... Gonzalez. ... Has it all. ... As good as I've ever seen. ... Pretty high praise considering the sources. But I was sold back in '98 when I asked Mike Ditka, who was head coach of the Saints at the time, for his impressions on Cleeland. The first words out of his mouth were, "He's like a big deer. A big, fast deer." But it wasn't so much what he said that clued me in, it was the way he immediately became more animated and excited while he talked. And when "Iron" Mike gets excited about a tight end, so do I. Laveranues Coles, WR, Jets: Coles is coming on strong after a rookie season in which he never really played up to his sub-4.4 speed. Coaches and teammates felt he lacked the intensity necessary to get the job done every time the ball was snapped in 2000. That's no longer the case. The second-year speedster is currently slated to open the season as the starting receiver opposite Wayne Chrebet and the word out of team headquarters says Coles has been playing at full speed this summer. He's also playing at a higher level and with more consistency than he did last year. "He's not even the same guy," Hackett recently noted. Of course, the coach isn't telling us anything we haven't already heard from Testaverde and other teammates, who continue to call Coles the most improved player on the roster. One note on Coles: The above-mentioned sub-4.4 speed seems to accurately represent the Jets' company line, but it's hard to say how fast Coles actually is. However, I can tell you that coaches at Florida State insist he ran a -- hand-timed -- sub-4.2 second 40 for them a couple of years back. Do I believe them? Not necessarily. But the truth is speed in general -- and 40 times in particular -- represent a rather inexact science. Whether it's a late thumb on the start, a quick thumb on the finish or the fact that one man's 40 yards is another man's 38 yards, teams tend to keep actual speed to themselves. And as a general rule of thumb, 40 times released for public consumption are usually a player's original scouting combine time -- whether we're talking about a rookie or a ten-year veteran. So how fast is Coles? Let's go with "really fast" and leave it at that. Ernie Conwell, TE, Rams: If you're looking for a player with a strong base of support among those who know the game well, look no further than Ernie Conwell. According to Rams tight ends coach Wilbert Montgomery, "Ernie's pass-catching skills have really gone to another level. I think he raised that bar himself. He said, 'This is something that I have to do if I'm going to make a contribution to this team. I've got to improve my catching ability.' And he's done it." Jim Thomas, who covers the Rams for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, recently wrote the following: "The long wait is over for TE Ernie Conwell. He hasn't been an NFL starter since suffering a devastating knee injury midway through the 1998 season. Now, the knee finally feels right and Conwell is back in the starting lineup, still running the 40 in the 4.6 range. Martz plans to make use of that speed, and Conwell's disruptive tendency in the open field." Long time Post-Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklasz recently wrote that Martz was probably more excited about Conwell than any player in camp. Hey gang, we're talking about a new component in the league's most prolific scoring offense. A guy who hasn't played for two years after suffering devastating knee injuries. Conwell could easily become one of this year's top value picks if you have the nerve to wait long enough before calling his name on draft day. Kevin Dyson, WR, Titans: Dyson appears to be nearly at full speed; he's cutting hard and running crisp routes. And less than a year after undergoing reconstructive knee surgery, the former first-round draft pick certainly didn't seem to be bothered by lingering effects from the procedure as he hauled in three passes for 41 yards in an Aug. 11 win over Chicago. Based on the 4.4-second 40 Dyson posted during a recent workout -- and the fact he predicted he'd be running 4.3s before long, it's probably safe to assume his recovery is well ahead of schedule. CNN/SI's Peter King lent further evidence supporting this theory --- in a Postcard from Camp feature --- when he wrote: "Steve McNair sent Dyson flying up the left sideline on a go route, working against a corner whose number I didn't catch. McNair rainbowed one 45 yards in the air. Dyson stretched, stretched, stretched -- and gloved it. Great throw. Great test of Dyson's speed. Great catch." After pulling in seven passes (for 78 yards) over the last two week, Dyson heads into Thursday's preseason finale tied for the team lead in receptions with Chris Coleman, who has seven catches for 138 yards after appearing in three preseason games. All of which seems to indicate the former first-round pick will be ready to open the season as the starter opposite Derrick Mason and we can forget all about head coach Jeff Fisher's plan to limit him to fewer than 25 plays per game early this season. How many guys have you seen flying under the radar recently? I bet you'll see a lot more when you start looking for them. Bob Harris is Editor and Webmaster of the TFL Report and Senior Editor for Fantasy Sports Publications. His work is prominently displayed in all four FSP Fantasy annuals -- Fantasy Football Pro Forecast, Fantasy Football Experts Poll, Fantasy Football Cheatsheets and the Fantasy Football DraftBook. ... Look for all four on newsstands nationwide or Order them online now!
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