Fantasy leagues should already be drafted, so chances are, you haven't drafted any of the guys below. I say this because these are all gentlemen who are owned in less than 10% of Yahoo fantasy leagues.
In the main Yahoo league I am in, we have a bidding system for free agents (you get $100 for the year), so if you happen to be in a similar league, you might want to try getting some of these guys on the cheap end before they have a chance to shine some of their talents.
In no particular order, here are 10 guys owned in less than 10 percent of leagues who you should keep your eye on and be quick to snatch up when the time is right.
Note that I'd only advocate ownership of these guys in 12+ team leagues in any situation, unless one of these guys is just too good to ignore.
1. Quinton Patton (WR - San Francisco) - Kaepernick is already speaking highly of the rookie, who shined as the preseason went on. And with the receiver position thinned out with the loss of Crabtree and Manningham, Patton has a chance to shine in this versatile offense.
2. Marcel Reese (RB - Oakland) - This is a good guy to own if you have Darren McFadden, who has had his share of injury problems in the NFL so far. Reese is not so much known for his rushing abilities (he's caught as many balls in his career as he has career carries - 106), but in a running back pinch one week (provided McFadden misses a game or two), Reese (9% owned) might prove to be a very valuable secret. He caught 52 passes last year out of the backfield, so I expect he will still see the field in 3rd down passing situations.
3. Robert Woods (WR - Buffalo) - I expect Buffalo to be playing from behind quite a bit this year, so there should be a few beneficiaries to the fantasy world with this situation - Woods being the ultimate sleeper (owned in 9% of leagues). Woods' production will likely be tied into the effectiveness of his fellow rookie E. J. Manuel, the top QB selected in the 2013 NFL Draft. I could see Woods having a few big games (100+ yards), settling around 850-900 yards for the year and about 5 touchdowns.
4. Terrelle Pryor (QB - Oakland) - Much like the Raiders last year, I expect a lot of opportunities for garbage-time fantasy points (remember: fantasy points are all created equal - points accumulated in a close game count all the same as ones in a blowout). Pryor (8 percent owned) took the reigns (or Matt Flynn handed them to him), and if he is able to start a good chunk of this season, he may be able to be a lower-end fantasy back-up who you can count on for a spot-start. In his only start last year (Week 17 against SD), he threw for 2 touchdowns (150 yards) and rushed for another (49 yards on 5 carries) - so he has the capability for a shocking game given the right match-up.
5. Scott Chandler (TE - Buffalo) - Already seeing a lot of repeat teams here, and there's a reason. There's a certain uneasiness with owning a lot of these guys from bad teams, especially when the stats aren't always as consistent as fantasy owners would like. Chandler is owned in about 5 percent of Yahoo leagues, in part due to the offense he is in and also due to the ACL injury that he suffered towards the end of 2012. He appears to be ready to start 2013, and I consider him a sleeper given the fact that a rookie's best friend for check-downs is often a good tight end. Chandler grabbed 43 catches (6 touchdowns) for 571 yards last year.
6. Stepfan Taylor (RB - Arizona) - While I wouldn't recommend an endorsement on any running back on Arizona, it's possible that Taylor (3 percent owned) could eventually get plenty of carries and take the starting job. I don't trust Mendenhall to stay healthy, and based on everything I've read, his current back-up (Ryan Williams) is still failing to make an impression. Taylor may not make a huge splash, but as fantasy owners this year know, the running back position is one that relies mostly on opportunities. If Taylor can get the opportunity, I expect him to be owned in way more than 3% of leagues.
7.
Joseph Randle (RB - Dallas) - Like Taylor above, I don't expect Randle (owned in 4 percent of leagues) to stay this little owned for the most desperate of fantasy football owners. Unlike Taylor, Randle has a much better offensive system around him should he ever get the chance to shed his back-up status (by way of Demarco Murray injury most likely). Murray has had his share of injuries in his college/pro lifespan, so don't be surprised if Randle gets a start or two this season.
8. Denard Robinson (WR/RB - Jacksonville) - Robinson (owned in 4 percent of leagues) is listed on the Jaguars' roster as "Offensive Weapon", but it looks as those the former Michigan QB-turned-Whatever-Offense-Weapon-Means will likely be used more out of the backfield and in Wildcat formations. Another appeal to Robinson is that he has multiple position possibilities, which could be an asset that fantasy owners could use to their advantage if Robinson eventually makes contributions that warrant a look in fantasy football.
9. Kirk Cousins (QB - Washington) - Cousins is likely the only back-up quarterback who I'd highly consider picking up if he is forced into action due to injury. While he is owned in only 1 percent of leagues, Cousins would be a valuable asset if he is able to do what he did in limited playing time, including a 26-for-37, 329 yard, 2 TD performance in his only start last year. And call me pessimistic, but I find it hard to believe that RG3 will limit his rushes if the opportunities present themselves, in turn making him more likely to get hurt.
10. NYJ Defense - While this is somewhat cheating, it seems weird to me that their defense is owned in less than 10 percent of leagues. Rex Ryan's squad allowed the 6th-least yards per play last year (5.1). And before you say Revis is gone, remember that he was missing due to injury for the majority of the year. You can pick your spots with their defense and find fantasy success. When December comes around, you may consider them for fantasy playoff time (Week 13 vs. Miami, 14 vs. Oakland, 16 vs. Cleveland).
