So you had him all along?

After your starting line up is set you have some room to make some riskier picks, players we’ll call sleepers. Most people define a fantasy football sleeper is a player who out performs his draft position but I look at it a little differently. A sleeper to me is a player everyone else has disregarded and then explodes putting up a huge numbers. The kind of player that makes everyone say who the %$&( is that guy and why don’t I have him on my team. These players are the difference that makes a difference.

Last year as you know, I picked up DeAngelo Williams late in the draft; Williams only had 717 rushing yards and 4 TDs in 2007. He more than doubled his rushing yards and added 18 TDs, that my friends is a true sleeper pick.

Let’s explore a few players who could explode in 2009. My Criteria are players who will be available later than the sixth or seventh round.

Michael Bush – Bush is a player I LOVED in college, in 2006 I put a few bucks down on him to win the Heisman Trophy. I remember watching him score three TDs against Kentucky before breaking his leg, I felt sick at losing the bet but not as sick as I felt when the Raiders drafted him.  Al Davis and crew know how to destroy a good player.  This season Bush will split carries with teammate Darren McFadden; Raider Nation has dubbed the Oakland duo Run DMC.  Bush may be another year away from dominance but it will come and those of you who got on the train early will be thankful.

Knowshon Moreno – Moreno has huge potential, he’ll be starting behind former Brian Westbrook backup Correll Buckhalter but I don’t see Buckhalter being the next Michael Tuner. Moreno will benefit from new coach Josh McDaniels love of young guys with potential. McDaniels will take a chance on Moreno as soon as the opportunity arises; fantasy football owners should consider doing the same. Please note at the time of writing Knowshon Moreno is still negotiating his contract with the Broncos.

Ray Rice– People are quickly waking up to the fact Rice will be a top performer in 2009. McGahee is already battling injuries this season and if he wins the starters job coming out of camp, I see him losing it to Rice by week 4. The only concern I have with Rice is he will lose some TDs because Le’Ron McClain will get the majority of the goal line touches.

These 3 could explode this season or they may be another year away but if you have a keeper league consider picking up one of these guys and keep him hidden because they will be studs in this league, it’s just a matter of when.