2012 Wide Receiver Sleepers
Steve Smith – Steve Smith of the Giants is now a member of the St. Louis Rams. With Sam Bradford’s top slot target being the reliable but unimpressive Danny Amendola and Smith looking like he has come close to pre-injury form it is only a matter of time before Smith takes over slot duties full time and becomes a solid flex2 option with flex upside. He is currently going undrafted but should be added immediately in all PPR leagues.
Brian Quick – Quick has been quiet in the preseason but is the only receiver on the roster with the skill set to be a true number one receiver in the NFL. Quick is a big bodied receiver who can track the deep ball and is also tough enough to pick up the tough grabs over the middle. Quick has WR2 potential this season with a flex floor and is currently the 67th receiver selected in Yahoo! drafts making him a solid sleeper and ADP value.
Torrey Smith – With two 150 yard receiving games and a three touchdown game under his belt in his rookie season, Smith appears locked in to become the Ravens new number one receiver across from Anquan Boldin. However opposing defensive coordinators will likely still treat Boldin as the top threat leaving Smith to destroy single coverage. Smith was admittedly a one-trick pony last year as he most commonly ran the go-route but with a year of experience and a offseason Smith has added to his route tree and is ready to become a WR2 mainstay for years to come. The Ravens are opening up the offense allowing Flacco to throw more and it is Smith who will be the greatest beneficiary.
Denarius Moore – Providing Moore can stay healthy this season he has a good chance to put up solid WR2 numbers as Carson Palmer’s number one receiver for the Oakland Raiders. Moore averaged 69 yards per game in the six games he played with Palmer last year which would have placed him in 21st in the league right behind Vincent Jackson and ahead of Jeremy Maclin. He had 94+ yards in three of his six games played with Carson Palmer last season and has WR2 written all over him. Moore is currently the 35th receiver off the board. Don’t sleep.
Zach
Torrey Smith – I really like Torrey Smith this season. In fact I may like him too much. It’s hard not be attracted to a deep threat like Smith. He had a terrific rookie season culminating in a heartbreaking drop in the endzone in the playoffs. I think that will only help Smith. Plays like that help players grow and mature. I think Smith is ready to prove that his rookie season wasn’t a fluke and that’ he’s capable of 1,000 yards and at least seven more TDs this season. Reportedly the Ravens are letting Flacco take the reigns of the offense in 2012, which should give Smith more opportunities. I see Smith as an under-the-radar kind of player, which is good news for us.
Pierre Garcon – It’s become evident that Garcon will likely be rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III’s go-to-guy this season. Santana Moss may be listed as Washington’s No. 1 receiver but he is getting old and Garcon is getting into the prime of his career. Garcon is the best deep threat the Redskins have and it was obvious that Griffin and Garcon had already developed a rapport with each other during the preseason. This season could be Garcon’s breakout season.
Lance Moore – Moore is the unsung hero of the Saints’ prolific offense. He does not get the credit he deserves from the NFL or from fantasy owners. At just 5’9”, 190 lbs., Moore is an excellent slot receiver for Drew Brees and is one of the quarterback’s favorite targets near the end-zone. In the four seasons in which Moore has played at least 14 games in his career, Moore has scored at least eight touchdowns three of those seasons. He has even more value in PPR leagues, especially with Robert Meachem now in San Diego.
Brian Quick – I don’t really trust anyone on the Rams as far as fantasy football is concerned, no not even Steven Jackson. However, it’s hard not to see the upside Quick has and the potential he brings to the NFL. He has great receiver size at 6’3” 220 lbs. and a good, young quarterback in Sam Bradford throwing to him. Out of guys like Danny Amendola (it’s hard to trust him again with the injury background), Brandon Gibson, (former Eagles’ receiver) Steve Smith, and Quick, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Quick become the most attractive fantasy option at receiver from St. Louis.
