2013 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Draft Day Targets

September 1, 2013

RotoBaller takes a look around the NFL at 2013 fantasy football sleepers and undervalued players to target in your fantasy football drafts.

This article is a continuation of RotoBaller’s 2013 fantasy football sleepers series.  Today we’ll be taking a look around the NFL at sleepers for different positions, and give you our fantasy analysis.  

2013 Fantasy Football Sleepers - Undervalued Players

Based on current fantasy draft ADPs, the following players are still being undervalued and should be targeted as fantasy football sleepers. Your draft day investment for an undervalued player can bring back big time returns, if that player outperforms their draft day price.

T.Y. Hilton (IND): Hilton’s average draft position so far is around 101.1, which is a little low for the fantasy upside that he brings to the table this year. The Colts’ third-round pick out of Florida Atlantic had 50 receptions, 861 yards and seven TDs over 15 games in 2012. Hilton showed flashes during his 2012 rookie season of why he could be Andrew Luck’s future No. 1 wide receiver, as he had five games of 100+ yards.  Hilton is also slated to be the Colts' punt returner again this year, after taking one punt to the house in 2012.  If your league counts return yards, that’s just another reason why you should bump Hilton up on your draft board.  The Colts looked to be trying out new formations during training camp and preseason, which includes having T.Y. Hilton lined up in different areas of the line of scrimmage. He could be their slot wide receiver for a quick third-down catch across the middle, or their deep threat downfield. Bottom line, target Hilton in your fantasy football drafts, and expect him to have an outstanding year for fantasy owners in 2013 playing with one of the best QB talents in the NFL.

Martellus Bennett (CHI): I think you can really get your money's worth out of Bennett this season. The Cowboys had high hopes when they drafted Bennett in the 2nd round of 2008's draft, but discipline issues and inconsistent play helped write his ticket to New York where he played for the Giants in 2012. Bennett proceeded to have a career year with Eli and Big Blue, putting up 55 receptions, 626 yards and 5 touchdowns. It's clear that fantasy owners are not buying into Martellus' chances of repeating that kind of season in 2013, considering his average draft position is 117.6 - which translates into the 14th highest tight end drafted in fantasy this season. Bennett finds himself on another new team this season, the Chicago Bears, and Jay Cutler has shown in the past he can be successful throwing to his tight ends. Also the Bears are a pass first offense, which is another good reason to invest in Bennett this season. The TE position in the NFL just seems to be getting thinner and thinner every year, and whether you play in a deep league or need a backup tight end, Bennett can be a mid-round steal for you this fantasy season.

Lance Moore (NO): It always helps to be one of the most productive wide receivers on a Drew Brees team. And now that Devery Henderson is gone from New Orleans, the Saints expect Moore to see even more passing targets this season from their prolific QB. Lance Moore has an average draft position around 106.1, but the second best wide receiver on the Saints deserves to be drafted higher than that. Fantasy football owners are taking wide receivers like Kenny Britt and Tavon Austin above him, but I would draft Lance Moore over those two easily. Even though Moore missed a game last season due to injury, he was still able to put up 1,041 yards and 6 TDs. He's shown in the past that he is one of Brees' favorite redzone targets, and he's accumulated an impressive 34 touchdowns since 2008.  As long as everyone stays healthy, Drew Brees and the Saints should be an offensive powerhouse again in 2013, and you want to try and get a piece of that for your fantasy team.  Draft Lance Moore with confidence this year, and let Drew Brees take care of the rest.

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If you like this article, check out the rest of our fantasy football analysis: rankings, sleepers, running backs, wide receivers,  quarterbacks and of course our live fantasy football chat, the best football chatroom on the interwebs.  RotoBaller will be releasing more fantasy football content daily to help you prepare for the 2013 NFL Fantasy Football season so stay tuned!