Top Five Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Sleepers

Welcome back to our look at fantasy football sleepers by position. Today, we are going to take a look at five of the top fantasy football sleepers around. A few are deeper thoughts on the subject, while two are about right and the last is gaining a lot of attention; by the time you draft, Hilton might not be around!

So what makes a wide receiver sleeper different from the rest? First, his potential could land him a Flex1 position from the very first game. Most running back sleepers and fantasy quarterback just don't have enough umph to do this at times. Next, fantasy wide receivers usually don't spike out their play when solid from the beginning of the NFL season...they either stay strong, progressively get better, or just fade away until the free agency wire is their team. The last item, years played. Everyone you see here is less than two years in the league, with one exception; so for any keeper league drafters, this list is for you!

Fantasy Football Power Rankings Changes

Not too much to report concerning player moves so lets take a look at some power rankings. Whenever I cover power rankings, and fantasy football player movement, keep in mind, I use standard scoring, and that is...1 point for every 25 yards thrown, 1 point for each 10 yards rushing or receiving, along with 6 points per touchdown, whether thrown or otherwise.

Robert Griffin III (QB - Washington Redskins) is finally starting to come up on draft boards from his previous number 15 position into the tier 4, some even placing him into the tier 2. This, about the only good news for a fairly banged up passing corp for the Washington Redskins.

Matt Ryan (QB - Atlanta Falcons) is finally getting some more respect. Previous to this week, the average draft position for the Atlanta Falcon starting quarterback was somewhere in the tier 5 region. Currently he is ranked on average as the number 6 to number 9 fantasy football quarterback.

Eli Manning (QB - New York Giants) is still falling in value. The injury to Victor Cruz and problems with the backfield in New York might have helped this Giant fall. Right now, his projection is nearly a round 9 selection...that is completely undervalued.

Andrew Luck (QB - Indianapolis Colts) seems to finally be breaking the top ten for fantasy football quarterbacks, sleepers or not. The averaged draft position for Luck is now leaning towards QB9 through QB12, with him now considered a solid tier 3 quarterback.

Arian Foster (RB - Houston Texans) is on a free-fall in his fantasy football value. A sore back was the initial reasoning for him missing games and practices, but now it's public knowledge he is receiving injections for pain, soreness and stiffness into his legs too. WOW!

Jamaal Charles (RB - Kansas City Chiefs) hasn't seen a lot of movement in his fantasy football value after his injury last week...not much to cover.

Trent Richardson (RB - Cleveland Browns) is surging his placement this week. After missing some practices before last week's game against the Detroit Lions with a shin injury, he still rushed 6 times for 33 yards. Norv Turner has also stated that he is targeting more carries and more catches for the running back...all good music to my fantasy football ears!

CJ Spiller (RB - Buffalo Bills) is starting to fall, as the mist known as pre-season hope starts to fade away from the Buffalo Bills once again. A question at quarterback, along with lackluster depth at receiver, have turned the backfield into a Thunderdome of potential problems.

Brandon Marshall (WR - Chicago Bears) has found a groove with Jay Cutler (QB - Chicago Bears), and fantasy football owners are taking notice, as Brandon Marshall moves into a virtual tie with Demaryius Thomas (WR - Denver Broncos) for the number 2/3 position for wide receivers.

Larry Fitzgerald (WR - Arizona Cardinals) has fell hard in fantasy rankings. After starting the pre-season in the top ten, has is barely squeaking into the top 15 with an average draft position at round 7 through 10.

Dez Bryant (WR - Dallas Cowboys) and AJ Green (WR - Cincinnati Bengals) both continue to slide, each moving further and further until now, they are both tier two receivers.

That's it for me, as we look briefly at some rankings' changes in fantasy football. Check out Dotson and Dellav, live at the Crane Room Bar and Grille in New Castle PA tonight, starting at 6 o'clock...all of it live, on 360 Sports Network. Take it easy everybody...

Doug Martin - Fantasy Sleeper to Fantasy Stud

My how times have changed for Doug Martin since I wrote about him last year. At that time in the fantasy football world, people scoffed at the notion of a 1st round running back in Tampa Bay having success with the likes of LeGarrette Blount roaming in the backfield. Today, Doug Martin has gone from a nearly unwanted, barely draftable in fantasy leagues or a doubtful start, to a top 5 fantasy football pick. In fact, he is leading most Tier2 groups for running back; with some even placing him into the top tier, now with Jamaal Charles's injury.

Doug Martin showed last year how to get things done in the NFL as a rookie running back. Nearly reaching 2000 all-purpose yards, he amassed 1454 on the ground, with an average of 4.6 yards a carry, along with 11 touchdowns, thank you very much!

And for all you points per reception aficionados, let's not overlook his 49 receptions for 470+ yards and a touchdown.

I made the mistake of calling him a good third down back last season, yet his stats show otherwise...he's a GREAT first down back! 189 times last season, he rushed for over 6 yards on first down, with 3 touchdowns. And in the second half, he was real money, hammering out 820 yards on the ground, with 8 touchdowns, to go with his fantasy football niceness of 27 catches for 290 yards and a touchdown.

So, where are his faults? First, he is coming into his sophomore year...which means we have no NFL stats to check out trends. The only trend I can see, is, apart from the week 15 loss to the Saints last year, he dominates his NFC South opponents. Next, the AFC South and the NFC South fixate on rushers who have had one good season...which is especially a problem with Tampa Bay, who can't seem to keep the backfield at 100% for any year that I can remember.

Is he a top 5 running back in fantasy football?

The simple answer is yes. I know I'm a stickler for previous experience to formulate and view trends, but this guy, this 'Muscle Hamster' as he is better known, just flat out runs. He's strong on the left side, and just as potent in the middle. He can also break out a catch in the backfield for positive yardage on a constant basis. These two facts, alone, make him valuable in normal redrafts and PPR leagues.

That's my look back at 'sleeper' pick from last season Doug Martin...who now is no where close to that, and if you are lucky to get him, then congrats to you, my friend!

Do you have a sleeper pick this season that you want us to review? Or, would you like to write your own thoughts about him? Comment or send me a message at thefantasyfootballtoolkit@gmail.com and I'll get you hooked up on your fantasy football needs!

Fantasy Football Pro-Bowl Selections!

Today is the NFL's Pro-Bowl, and I thought we could look back and have our own little fantasy football edition during the week of lawl that is Pro-Bowl and Senior Bowl week. The selections are based on a number of factors, including standard point scoring, performance leading into the playoff weeks and championship week of fantasy football as well as season averages.

Week 16 Every NFL Pro Football Team Power Rankings

Twas the week of Christmas and all through the land, everyone was watching as to where they would land... That is the NFL Pro Football Power Rankings! Let's see who are the hot teams going into Christmas.

1. The Green Bay Packers (13-1)- With the loss to Kansas City behind them, The Packers can focus on the spiraling Bears. However, with the injuries to key linemen Bryan Bulaga and Derek Sherrod along with Greg Jennings out for the next three weeks, The Packers will have their work cut out for them... but still retain the number one ranking.

2. The New Orleans Saints (11-3)- The NFL's most explosive offense puts the Saints in the number 2 position on the poll. What separates the Saints from the other top teams is that their running game with Darren Sproles and Pierre Thomas and Chris Ivory is highly effective and can be relied upon each week to put up points.

NFL Week 14 Pro Football Power Rankings

As we enter into the last four weeks of the NFL pro football season, here are the power rankings of the 32 NFL pro football teams along with some candid remarks about each team.

1. The Green Bay Packers- Green Bay is starting to show potential cracks in their structure. Eli Manning nearly bested this team last week except for the last minute heroics of Aaron Rodgers guiding the Packers to a game winning field goal drive. Green Bay stays undefeated and on top of our rankings.

2. The San Francisco 49ers- Jim Harbaugh has this team believing in itself again as the 49ers claimed their 18th division title in the Super Bowl Era and its first title since 2002. Although the win was against the hapless Rams, the 49ers are a very strong team worthy of #2 status on our rankings.

NFL Power Rankings Week 13:Every Pro Football Team

Ok folks...here is The Week 13 NFL Pro Football Power Rankings by 360 Sports Network. We are going to be blunt and honest about every NFL team, and a little bit more so about the personnel of these pro football teams.

NFL Power Rankings Week 12 : Every Pro Football Team

Ok folks...get prepared for our look at pro football, as we rank the pro football squads by their wins and losses, how the football team has played other similar NFL teams and how they have adjusted to injury and poor play. This is the Week 12 Power Rankings by 360 Sports Network. We are going to be blunt and honest about every NFL team, and a little bit more so about the personnel of these pro football teams.