I kicked off my Sleepers Series for 2012 a couple days ago with The Flashers. And as I did last year I'm following up that group with a category of guys that saw little to no action last season, but whom possess significant upside based on their ability and situation should they return to full health.
The 2011 edition of The Once Walking Wounded ended up having the two best producers from my Sleepers Series, including one superstar. And with that said, here is a quick rundown of the best and worst sleeper performers from last year's OWW group:
Best - Victor Cruz, he of the ridiculous 1,536-yard, 9-score breakout over basically 14 games, Cruz is a
top-5 receiver entering 2012 in my book. Honorable mention to Ben Tate for rushing for nearly 1,000 yards despite the presence of fantasy's No. 1 back.
Worst - Marcus Easley, the only one to not play a game or gain a yard, he's hopefully past the heart condition that cost him Year 2.
The Once Walking Wounded – these guys either went on IR early in their first year or have struggled to stay on the field for multiple seasons. If healthy in the preseason, they warrant either mid to late-round upside picks or become priority free agents to monitor closely.
- Mikel Leshoure, RB, Detroit Lions (6-0, 233 ; age 22)
Leshoure will be, and rightfully so, the most highly drafted of this group. Coming off a torn Achilles that kept him from playing a single down as a rookie, if he proves healthy in the preseason he should immediately overtake the lead role in the Lions backfield. If he ends up receiving a suspension from the league for his two arrests for marijuana possession that will just serve to make him more of a steal by dropping him down draft boards. A bruising back with nimble feet and good acceleration, Leshoure is very reminiscent of former Chiefs star Larry Johnson. That's not to say he'll come anywhere near the touches or production that Johnson did in his heyday, but in a potent Detroit offense, as the feature back he was drafted to be, Leshoure has an upside bigger than his 230-pound backside. But of course if he looks like a stud-in-the-making during the preseason and/or doesn't get suspended his stock could skyrocket and he would suddenly look very out of place in this series.
- Alex Green, RB, Green Bay Packers (6-0, 225 ; age 23)
It's a promising endorsement for Green that the Packers did not go out and draft another running back, sign a free agent or even re-sign veteran Ryan Grant. It's possible that they could bring someone in, including Grant, but if they don't that seems a clear indication that they like what they have in Green and believe the big, athletic back will return strong from the torn ACL that wiped out virtually all of his rookie year. With just the injury prone James Starks and former practice squader Brandon Saine around for competition, Green could snag at least a split in a backfield committee with the potential to become the featured rusher in one of the league's most elite offenses. As an ideal fit in a zone-blocking scheme who also possesses reliable hands, the chance is there for Green to burst onto the scene in Year 2, making him a very savvy flier pick.
- Ryan Williams, RB, Arizona Cardinals (5-9, 207 ; age 22)
Beanie Wells got off to a very strong start in 2011, running with good burst and power, but as soon as he began dealing with injury issues—which seems to be an annual occurrence for him—he was not the same back. It's too early to tell when Williams will return from the ruptured patella tendon that cost him his entire rookie season, but when he does it would be a surprise if he didn't challenge Wells for the lead role in the Cardinals' backfield. Bottom line, Williams brings more quickness, elusiveness and explosiveness to the position than does Wells, and while the latter may still dominate the goal line attempts, a near 50-50 split could be the case as early as Week 4, with Williams just one serious injury away from a complete feature role. At the same time, both could turn out to be oft-injured backs that never live up to their physical abilities (Williams missed time his final year at Virginia Tech before his more recent knee trouble).
- Leonard Hankerson, WR, Washington Redskins (6-2, 209 ; age 23)
Pierre Garcon, Josh Morgan and an aging Santana Moss. Those are the names standing between Hankerson and the No. 1 receiver role in Washington. Garcon and Morgan have proven at times to be fairly gifted playmakers, but neither is a complete receiver, while Moss is past his prime and really more of a slot option than anything else at this stage of his career. So although Hankerson is coming off of hip surgery that ended his rookie season after just a handful of games, and he remains far from a finished product, he may still be the best blend of athletic talents and receiving skill the team has to offer outside of tight end Fred Davis. Hankerson struggled to learn the playbook and polish his route running early last season and it kept him off the field until late October, but when given the chance he immediately flashed his natural abilities, going for 106 yards on eight grabs versus the Dolphins before injuring his hip in that game. With a full offseason to recover, improve his route-running technique and grasp of the plays, and build chemistry with Robert Griffin III, Hankerson could take the next step forward in his development and shine as a second-year receiver.
- Mario Fannin, RB, Denver Broncos (5-10, 231 ; age 24)
Here is a name most know little to nothing about, but Fannin was quietly standing out in Broncos training camp last summer before a right ankle injury ended his year before it ever began. Built like a tank and with explosive sub-4.4 speed, Fannin went undrafted out of Auburn following the team's 2010 national championship run because of questionable running instincts and issues with fumbling—two things that are correctable. What he does possess in the physical department however is extremely rare. Add in his soft, natural hands and you have the recipe for a potential every-down back. With Willis McGahee aging, Knowshon Moreno temporarily shelved (ACL) and little else of note in the cupboard, look for Fannin's name to become louder this summer.
- Marcus Easley, WR, Buffalo Bills (6-2, 221 ; age 24)
In two seasons as a Bill, Easley, the 107th overall pick of the 2010 draft, has played just four preseason games, all in 2011. In those outings he caught a combined seven passes for 96 yards and a score. A knee injury wiped out his entire rookie year before it began and then after his promising preseason last year, a heart ailment was discovered and landed him on IR before he could play his first regular season game. Nevertheless, the Bills are claiming that he's healthy and able to participate in this offseason. A tremendous blend of size and 4.4-speed, the potential is there for him to emerge as the No. 2 wideout opposite Steve Johnson if he is in fact healthy. With strong hands, a big body and an explosive burst, the Bills simply don't have anyone else like him on the roster and that makes Easley worth watching closely in August. He could be a midseason pick-up off the waiver wire if his health is finally right.