Returner Sleepers
Projecting any stats in the NFL is a tricky business, but projecting kick and punt return stats and predicting which players will succeed in those efforts can be especially difficult for fantasy owners. Often, unproven rookies are used at these positions; once they prove themselves at another skill position, they are sometimes taken off return duties as a new rookie or backup player on the depth chart takes over. With all of that in mind, an attempt has been made to identify a few key sleepers who could really excel in a returner role this season, beyond the household names of Sproles, Cribbs, and Hester. Extra emphasis has also been given to those players who have a good shot at amassing other offensive stats, as those players taken late in a draft can be key to a championship season.
RB LaMichael James, SF (RB - #90)
RB Chris Rainey, --- (RB - #79)
Drafted in the 5th round of the 2012 draft by the Steelers, Rainey is looking like a solid bet for heavy work as a returner this season. The team probably cannot afford to risk injury to Antonio Brown in the return game anymore, which opens the door for both Rainey and rookie WR Marquis Maze. A bit undersized for an NFL back, Rainey should nonetheless get some touches at RB this season as a change-of-pace guy, since he is by far the most explosive RB on the Steelers roster. Often split out wide as a reciever at the University of Florida, Rainey has already logged several catches in the preseason. The Steelers would be foolish not to find creative ways to use this playmaker in 2012, and if the injury big continues to take its toll on the Steelers' murky backfield situation, Rainey could be primed for a huge rookie year in terms of all-purpose yards.
RB David Wilson, NYG (RB - #56)
WR Joe Adams, CAR
WR Trindon Holliday, DEN
Holliday has really been making his presence felt in the return game on both kicks and punts in the 2012 preseason so far, amassing over 300 combined yards and scoring both a punt return TD and a kick return TD in just two games. The third year player out of LSU (where he was also an NCAA champion sprinter) has also been seeing work as a receiver, which only adds to his value. The Texans are looking for another WR to step up, and the explosive Holliday might just be that guy (although his small frame will most likely keep him from seeing regular duty at that position). However, once this guy gets in space, lookout. He's primed for a huge year, with league-leading potential as both a kick and a punt returner.
