There has been a flurry of movement among several NFL players since the Free Agency Market opened last week. Some under-the-radar players may benefit from a fantasy football standpoint from changing teams. Additionally, some team members who were not exactly fantasy-standouts last season may see a boost in value due to some new team members, or some who are now departed.
Here are some players to monitor as the preseason unfolds to see if they might prove worthy of a late-round grab and stash sleeper pick for 2015.
Geno Smith, Quarterback New York Jets
Providing Smith remains the starter in 2015, he has an incredible new toy in wide receiver Brandon Marshall, whom the Jets acquired in a trade last week. When quarterbacks have two high-caliber wide receivers at their disposal, their fantasy value tends to rise. The addition of Marshall to tandem with Eric Decker who combined put up a total of 2,583 yards and 23 total touchdowns in 2013 while with their former teams, gives Smith plenty of ammunition to take advantage of moving in 2015.
Smith is not going to be the next Aaron Rodgers, by any means in 2015, however, he should be worth considering as a backup who might just surprise his fantasy owners this season.
Teddy Bridgewater, Quarterback, Minnesota Vikings
Bridgewater, who managed to rank 22nd among his fellow quarterbacks in fantasy points in 2014 was pretty much a non-factor unless we were in dire need for a backup quarterback. However, he is developing and the addition of wide receiver Mike Wallace may just be the boost Bridgewater needs to climb up the fantasy ranks a bit in 2015.
While Wallace struggled to sync in Miami, he enters Minnesota as the best receiving option the team has outside of Cordarrelle Patterson, who turned out to be an incredible disappointment last year. Wallace, during his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Miami Dolphins has posted no less than 836 receiving yards since he has been a starting receiver. Bridgewater should benefit from Wallace’s presence making him a sleeper option at quarterback this year.
Kenny Stills, Wide Receiver, Miami Dolphins
Stills was not really a fantasy option other than a reach at a backup in 2014, due to quarterback Drew Brees targeting his former beast of a tight end, Jimmy Graham the majority of the time. However, Stills now finds himself a member of the Dolphins and should be the lead guy inline to catch the deep passes down the field. While playing with the Saints in 2014, Stills caught 63 of his 83 targets, tallying up 931 yards along the way. In his first two seasons with New Orleans, Stills averaged a sweet 16.5 yards per catch. This is going to be where he excels in the Dolphins’ offense. Look for Stills, who comes drama-free and with an open mind to work with his new team and quarterback to rise up the fantasy ranks in 2015.
Brian Hartline, Wide Receiver, Cleveland Browns
The Browns are not very deep in reliable receiving options heading into 2015. And while quarterback Josh McCown is a dicey fantasy option himself, he still paints a better quarterback picture than both Brian Hoyer and Johnny Manziel did for the Browns last year.
Hartline, who was phased out of Miami’s offense last year due to the emergence of rookie wide receiver, Jarvis Landry, may find himself taking on the bulk of the work in Cleveland. Prior to last year, Hartline posted two 1,000-plus yard seasons as one of Miami’s lead receivers. The potential is there and Hartline is pumped to be playing back in his home town once again. Take a deep flyer on him with the hopes he will reward in 2015.
Trent Richardson, Running Back, Oakland Raiders
There are so many people who will not touch Richardson with a 10-foot pole entering the 2015 fantasy season. However, this could be Richardson’s season to go back to his rookie roots and former fantasy status while playing with a run-heavy Raiders’ offense in 2015.
Starting with a new team who is under much less pressure to win, versus just doing their best could relieve the pressure on Richardson who still has plenty of potential at just 24 years-of-age.
Richardson is definitely not RB1 material at this point, however, if drafted as an RB4 in late rounds, he could reward with some payback this season.
Carlos Hyde, Running Back, San Francisco 49ers
This may be the season that second-year running back Hyde breaks out into fantasy relevance. With the 49ers’ former workhorse Frank Gore strutting his stuff in Indianapolis, Hyde should be presented with the opportunity to compete for the lead back duties for San Francisco.
Even with the addition of embattled running back Reggie Bush to the team, Hyde, younger and with a much fresher set of legs should be the back to own, especially if he can be drafted later and stashed until given his chance to shine.
Owen Daniels, Tight End, Denver Broncos
A definite sleeper for the 2015 fantasy season is Daniels now playing under quarterback, Peyton Manning. Manning had the knack for finding former tight end Julius Thomas near the end zone where Thomas produced 24 touchdowns over his past two seasons. Should Daniels evolve into even a portion of what Thomas left behind, his fantasy numbers could be on the rise in 2015.
Daniels is not going to be slam-dunk TE1 moving forward, however, he should see more red-zone action than he did with his former Baltimore Ravens making him a sleeper stash who could surprise this year.