IDP: Fantasy Football Sleepers of Week 1

September 4, 2008 @ 13:16:51

By Bryce McRae
Edited by Herija C. Green

In this article KFFL breaks down fantasy football sleepers of the week. We will avoid marquee names, because players of that caliber are rarely benched, regardless of their matchup. Instead, we will focus on the players that make your fantasy lineup decisions stressful each week. Read on to learn which midrange to low-end players that you wouldn't necessarily consider that you need to get into your lineup.

Fantasy football sleepers: Defensive linemen

Mike Patterson, Philadelphia Eagles vs. St. Louis Rams

Fantasy value: Borderline No. 2 or strong No. 3

• Patterson finished second on the Eagles' defensive line with 4.2 tackles (3.1 solo) per game last year; he also averaged 0.2 sacks per contest.
• St. Louis gave up an average of 18.6 tackles (15.3 solo) and 1.9 sacks per game to the position last season.

Tamba Hali, Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots

Fantasy value: Borderline No. 2 or strong No. 3

• With defensive end Jared Allen now with the Minnesota Vikings, Hali averaged the most tackles (3.6) and sacks (0.5) per game last season of the team's returning defensive linemen.
• The Patriots allowed 23.6 total tackles (18.1 solo) and 0.5 sacks per game to the position in 2007.

Elvis Dumervil, Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders

Fantasy value: Solid No. 3

• Dumervil averaged 2.4 tackles (2.1 solo) and 0.8 sacks per game in 2007.
• Opposing defensive linemen averaged 20.5 tackles (16.2 solo) and 1.6 sacks per game against the Raiders last year.

Fantasy football sleepers: Linebackers

Mike Peterson, Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans

Fantasy value: Borderline No. 1 or strong No. 2

• Peterson led the Jags with seven tackles (six solo) per game last year - he also added 0.2 sacks per contest.
• The Titans lead the league with 29.5 total tackles (22.8 solo) allowed per game to the position last year; they also yielded 0.5 sacks per outing.

Derrick Brooks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints

Fantasy value: Quality No. 3

• Brooks was second on the Bucs with 6.8 tackles (5.2 solo) per game last year, though he failed to record a sack for the second year in a row.
• The Saints allowed 26.1 total tackles (21.5 solo) and 0.2 sacks per game to enemy linebackers last season.

Landon Johnson, Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens

Fantasy value: Borderline No. 3 or bench play

• Johnson led Bengals linebackers with 6.5 tackles (4.1 solo) per game last year, but he managed only 0.1 sacks per contest.
• The Ravens tied for fifth in the league with 28.1 total tackles (21.8 solo) allowed per game to the position - they also gave up 0.9 sacks per game.

Fantasy football sleepers: Defensive backs

Bernard Pollard, Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots

Fantasy value: Borderline No. 1 or strong No. 2

• Pollard managed 5.6 total tackles (4.6 solo), 0.1 sacks and 0.1 interceptions per game last year.
• The Patriots' high-octane passing attack resulted in 30.4 total tackles (24.8 solo), 0.1 sacks and 0.4 interceptions per game for opposing defensive backs last season.

Yeremiah Bell, Miami Dolphins vs. New York Jets

Fantasy value: Borderline No. 2 or strong No. 3

• Bell averaged five tackles (four solo) per game in 2007, but he did not record an interception or a sack.
• The Jets gave up 28.1 total tackles (23.2 solo), 0.5 sacks and 0.9 interceptions per game to the position last year.
• The sacks and interceptions might decrease as the Jets have a stronger offensive line and better quarterback in Brett Favre.

Brian Williams, Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans

Fantasy value: Borderline No. 2 or strong No. 3

• Williams finished with an average of 4.9 tackles (3.9 solo) and 0.2 interceptions per game last year.
• Opposing defensive backs averaged 30.7 total tackles (25 solo), 0.3 sacks and 0.7 interceptions per game against the Titans last season.

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Bryce McRae
Bryce McRae is a Managing Editor with KFFL and has been involved in fantasy sports since 1999. He joined KFFL as a volunteer writer in March 2005 before becoming a Hot off the Wire Analyst in March 2006. He began working in his current capacity in September 2008. His work has appeared on fantasy sports sites such as Yahoo! and CBS Sportsline as well as in print. He graduated from the University of British Columbia in 2008 with a B.A. in History and U.S. Studies.

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