The fantasy football season is basically here and some 2015 sleepers and surprise players include Doug Martin, Todd Gurley, Tevin Coleman, CJ Spiller, TJ Yeldon, Joseph Randle, Terrance West, Rueben Randle, Jordan Cameron, Kenny Stills, Jarvis Landry, Alfred Blue, Ryan Mathews, Nelson Agholor and Jameis Winston for owners looking for late round draft options.
Fantasy seasons can often live and die by the players owners take late and while names like Jamaal Charles, Demaryius Thomas, Andrew Luck and Dez Bryant will go high, late round players can still make major impacts. Doug Martin has been very good in the preseason so far for the Buccaneers and after two down seasons, he looks ready to bounce back. Jameis Winston is worth a flier for anyone needing a late QB and Martin factors into that as well.
With Winston being a rookie QB, expect the Buccaneers to run the ball quite a bit and if Martin keeps performing well, he could get starter-type carries this season. Todd Gurley is coming into the NFL after dealing with an injury to his knee last year and while Tre Mason is with the Rams already, if Gurley is healthy he could end up being a starter or at least contribute quite a bit. Many scouts had Gurley as the top RB in the draft and he may have gone higher had he not had the knee issue.
Tevin Coleman is another rookie running back to watch out for and it comes as the Falcons do not have their running back situation fully settled. Even if Coleman is not a starter, expect him to put up some solid numbers for the Falcons, as they need a more consistent rushing attack. The team has Matt Ryan, Julio Jones and Roddy White in the passing game and now they need someone to step up with Devonta Freeman at RB.
CJ Spiller joins Mark Ingram and Khiry Robinson in New Orleans and he is expected to be the second running back on the depth chart. Spiller is a great option across all leagues, but he could be very valuable in PPR leagues, as he could take over the role that Darren Sproles had before he was traded. Spiller is coming in after dealing with injuries with the Bills last season and he is looking to have a bounce back year with the Saints.
TJ Yeldon has the chance to be the starter in Jacksonville and he could put up some solid numbers, while Terrance West could be a fit for teams in need of a third or fourth back. West is going to have to fight for time with Duke Johnson and Isaiah Crowell, but he could put up some good numbers if he continues to look good in the preseason. Last year West had 673 yards and he could get more work out of the backfield as a receiver.
Joseph Randle, Jarvis Landry, Alfred Blue, Ryan Mathews and Rueben Randle are other names to watch. Randle is likely starting in Dallas, while Blue could be in for Arian Foster. The Eagles will try to not overwork DeMarco Murray and that could make Mathews valuable, while Randle could get a ton of work as long as he is healthy and may step up if Victor Cruz is not.
Check here for more on fantasy football for this season and draft sleepers for 2015.
