2011 Fantasy football sleepers and busts

by Steve

Last year's fantasy busts and sleepers wasn't exactly genius but it wasn't the absolute worst either. Still, you can't argue with my overall genius so without further ado my 2011 fantasy sleepers and busts in no particular order:

Sleepers

Mark Ingram RB New Orleans Saints
He will be splitting time with Pierre Thomas and Sproles but the 'aints will feed their first round kid the rock. He is going in the 4th and 5th rounds.

Beanie Wells RB Arizona Cardinals
Might be my best sleeper of 2011 because of a confluence of factors. Ryan Williams the Cards 2nd round pick is out for the year, everyone has forgotten about the Ohio St product because of an injury plagued 2010 campaign and I don't love Kevin Kolb. He is going in the 7th to 9th round, grab him.

Tony Romo no homo QB Dallas Cowboys
There is always the obvious over hype of any Cowboys player and Romo is no exception. He has only won once in the post season and isn't as big a talent as ESPN would have you believe. However, he is coming off an injured season and may hold value in the 3rd or 4th round. Their o-line and WR depth are a concern but they're going to score through the air, believe it.

Brandon Lloyd WR Denver Broncos
Lloyd was one of the shock sleepers of 2010 and may some how be a sleeper again in 2011. Same QB, same weak WR corps on the horses and same bad team that will need to put up a lot of points. 5th or 6th round currently

Mario Manningham WR NY Giants
MM had a very productive 2010 and is coming into his own. He has established himself as the #1 WR for the G-men despite where some have Hakeem Nicks ranked. Eli can sling it and in the 4th or 5th round he'll be a bargain.

Houston Oilers err Texans defense
The cheater Brian Cushing isn't suspended (yet) this year and the secondary was improved via free agency. I don't love JJ Watt but that may be reverse racism talking. They will be improved especially with a projected down year in the AFC South.

Busts

CJ Spiller RB Buffalo Bills
This is basically because the Bills in general will be bad. He is a bust in real football as well as fantasy. Fred Jackson is bitching about playing time but he'll continue to get more than 50% of the touches in the regular season.

Michael Vick QB Philadelphia Eagles
I'd draft Vince Young before I draft Vick. Dude won't play 16 games and that o-line is more suspect than a bloody glove in Brentwood.

Chris Johnson RB Tennesse Titans
This could be a prolonged hold out. This kid wants money he doesn't deserve at a position with too much turnover from year to year. Is he transcendent? He'll miss games and even if he doesn't the Titans aren't good. (I'm lookin at you for the same reasons too Frank Gore)

Reggie Wayne WR Indianapolis Colts
Let's see, Wayne is turning 33 this season, Manning hasn't taken a snap yet and the Colts draft wide receivers like they're something that gets drafted a lot ( I was gonna go with farm kids in the 60's but Vietnam references may have peaked 30 years ago [or with the conclusion of M.A.S.H.])

Sidney Rice WR Seattle Seahawks
Charlie Whitehurst slinging the rock? Even if it is Tarvaris Jackson that isn't much of an upgrade. He is coming off an injury and will be looking to prove himself but I just don't see it in the Pacific Northwest this year.

Josh Freeman QB Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Hate to say it but Freeman won't be sneaking up on anyone in 2011 like he did in 2010. This may just be more of a gut feeling than anything quantifiable, perhaps an injury is showing in my crystal ball too.