Fantasy football sleepers: TE - Week 1

September 9, 2009 @ 23:49:20

By Bryce McRae
Edited by Tim Heaney

In this article KFFL breaks down the 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.

QB | RB | WR | TE | PK | DT

Zach Miller, Oakland Raiders vs. San Diego Chargers

Fantasy value: Strong No. 1

• San Diego won the Triple Crown for opposing tight ends last year, allowing the most receptions (6.2), receiving yards (69.7) and touchdowns (0.69) per game to this position.
• Who exactly do the Raiders have to throw the ball to? Their top two receivers until Chaz Schilens (foot) returns are expected to be rookies Louis Murphy and Darrius Heyward-Bey. Quarterback JaMarcus Russell should lean heavily on the third-year tight end.
• The Raiders defense won't remind anyone of The Steel Curtain. They could give up a ton of points to the Chargers' explosive O. This, in turn, could force Oakland to start chucking the ball to keep pace.

NEW - Jeremy Shockey, New Orleans Saints vs. Detroit Lions

Get Shockey into your lineup

Fantasy value: Midrange No. 1

• After having a full offseason to learn the Saints' system, Shockey has looked more comfortable in their frequently passing offense. He caught eight passes for 116 yards and one touchdown in three preseason games.
• He has always had the talent - he just needs to stay healthy. Well, his health shouldn't be a problem for this delicious Week 1 matchup.
• Delicious, you say? Detroit gave up an average of 12.4 yards per reception to this position last year, which was the second highest average in the league.
• They also finished with the third most receiving yards (58.7), sixth most receptions (4.75) and tied for the second most receiving touchdowns (0.50) per game to this position last year.

NEW - Anthony Fasano, Miami Dolphins at Atlanta Falcons

Fantasy value: Weak No. 1 or bench

• He didn't boast a prominent role during the preseason (one catch, two yards, one touchdown), but with the placement of David Martin (knee) on Injured Reserve, Fasano should have a larger role in the passing game.
• The former Dallas Cowboys tight end will be facing a defense that allowed the fifth most receiving yards (54.3) and was tied for the 11th most receptions (4.44) and sixth most touchdowns (0.38) per game to this position.
• Fasano is still a risky pick, but this position is right in quarterback Chad Pennington's wheelhouse, and the matchup would dictate a better-than-expected week for the 2006 second-round draft pick.

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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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