Around this time of the year, friends from college, co-workers and family members all begin to ask you the same question, "You know any good sleepers?" If you're like me, you offer a boring handful of names that the major prognosticators have divulged as their sacred hidden gems for the upcoming season and never share your own secret stash. Some of you have probably already compiled a mental list of players for the annoying guy in the adjacent cubicle. Let me guess, you got Kyle Orton, Joe Flacco, Knowshown Moreno, Ray Rice, Anthony Gonzalez, Donnie Avery and Miles Austin.If it was a closer friend maybe you would let him or her in on Jamaal Charles, LeSean McCoy, Brent Celek and Jared Cook. The level of sleeper an individual offers you is always a good gauge of your friendship with that person. Today you can consider yourself my best friend because I am offering up my classified list, the guys I feel almost nobody is currently talking about that just might help you win your fantasy league.
Frank Summers, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
If your league puts an emphasis on touchdowns, Frank "The Tank" Summers is a player to definitely keep an eye on. The 5-foot-10, 242-pound Jerome Bettis clone could emerge as the Steelers' short-yardage and goal-line option if Rashard Mendenhall struggles. In his senior season at UNLV, he had 10 touchdowns in 12 games. Summers can not only run through walls of defenders, but also has the ability to leap over them as demonstrated by the 34.5-inch vertical he posted at his pro day. Inside the 5-yard line last season, the Steelers scored 14 touchdowns (9 rushing, 5 passing) and settled for 6 field goals. In 2009, the bulk of that action might go to Summers and if it does, don't be surprised if he finishes the year with close to double-digit touchdowns.
Rashad Jennings, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
To many the Jaguars' release of Fred Taylor this offseason signaled an end to the team's running back by committee approach, and while that may be true I still think the primary reserve to Maurice Jones-Drew will be plenty relevant in 2009. A handful of reports indicate that Rashad Jennings, Jacksonville's seventh-round pick, is the most likely candidate to win the job of No. 1 backup. The Liberty University standout is a power runner that was projected by most draft pundits to be a day one pick, but slipped as concerns grew about the level of competition he faced at the Division 1-AA school. If Jennings secures the second running back position, the Jaguars will probably utilize him in a complementary role similar to what the Giants did with Brandon Jacobs in his second year alongside Tiki Barber. Jennings has added value in keeper leagues and as a handcuff for Jones-Drew.
Joey Galloway, WR, New England Patriots
Fantasy owners don't tend to get excited about 37-year-old reserve wide receivers, but I must admit I am slightly giddy about the potential for Joey Galloway this season. Despite his age, word is that Galloway can still run a 4.4 forty. Brady likes to spread the ball around as evident in Donte' Stallworth and Jabar Gaffney's combined stats for 2007 (82 receptions, 1,146 and 8 TDs), so Galloway should be a significant part of New England's passing game. As long as he can stay healthy, I am penciling him in for a minimum of 45 catches, 550 yards, 5 touchdowns and two or three solid starts when your top receivers are out with an injury or bye.
