SLEEPERS Who Are They and Where do you Find them? Every season players emerge from seemingly out of nowhere to become NFL stars and fantasy studs. Kurt Warner, Tom Brady, Stephen Davis, and Clinton Portis are just a few examples of unknown or unheralded players who carried their teams to success and greatness. Players like this can make or break a fantasy season. They usually don't show up on the radar until after the season starts, and quite often go undrafted. What if you could detect these players before they become public knowledge. What if you could claim these potential superstars for your team and ride their success to your league's championship. They are out there right now, in training camps across the country waiting for their big chance. In order to find these sleepers you need to know where to look for them. Below is a short guide that will help you locate players who are sleeping stars. ROOKIES: NFL rookies are always loaded with upside, especially those selected with high draft picks, and every year a few rookies become NFL stars. Clinton Portis of the Denver Broncos and LaDanian Tomlinson of the San Diego Chargers are examples from the past two years. The key to picking rookies is patience. Watch their progress during the preseason. Don't get caught up in the hype surrounding the top prospects. Terrell Davis carried the Broncos to two Super Bowls and he was a sixth round pick. Do your homework on the later rounds. Be patient with a rookie player's development, because it sometimes takes them a while to get used to the speed and power of the NFL game. Last year's rookie sensation, Clinton Portis, didn't really start scoring until the second half of the season. Accordingly, don't rely on a rookie sleeper to carry your team. Draft them in the middle rounds after you've already secured a couple of solid starters for your lineup. SOPHOMORES AND JUNIORS Rookies are a double edged sword. Their huge upside is not always realized. For every sensation like Randy Moss, LaDanian Tomlinson, or Clinton Portis there are many others who struggle their first year in the league. The key reason being experience. The pro game is much faster than the college game, and rookies often must make adjustments when moves and techniques that made them superstars in college don't work in the pros. That's why Terrell Owens, and David Boston are just now after several years, becoming top fantasy prospects. So, a good idea would be to research players who have been in the league a year or two. Perhaps they been serving as an understudy to an established star. Perhaps they failed with the team that orginally drafted them, and are getting a fresh start with a new team, or perhaps they've simply been struggling while they've been paying their dues and are now ready to make their mark on the NFL. FREE AGENTS Free Agents come in a wide assortment. Some are tired of playing second string to an established star, like when Trent Green left St. Louis for Kansas City. Some are tired of playing for a losing team that hurts their performance and are looking for a chance to reach their potential and win some games. That's why David Boston left Phoenix for San Diego. Some are just unwanted and desperate to catch on with a team. Jim Miller was just such a player when he caught on with the Bears and led them to a division title. Stacy Mack of the Jaguars scored 9 touchdowns last year subbing for Fred Taylor. When Fred Taylor was healthy Mack rode the bench. Now, Stacey Mack has signed to play first string for Houston. Some, went unappreciated by their team and sought respect and fame elsewhere. It's why Priest Holmes left Baltimore for Kansas City. Free Agency is a target rich environment when it comes to hunting for sleepers. Every free agent is looking to be appreciated for what he thinks he's capable of. Every free agent dreams of becoming a star, and some of them do. It's when the right player finds the right system that utilizes his talents. That's when you've got yourself a bonafide sleeper turned star. BENCH WARMERS They are not hot rookie prospects. They are not free agents seeking fame and fortune. What they are is stuck on the bench playing second fiddle to an established star. Bench warmers get their chance to shine when the first stringer goes down due to injury or plays poorly. Backup players who get their chance due to injury can come out of nowhere and pile up the fantasy points. For example, Stacey Mack was a highly prized free agent because of the numbers he put up when Jaguars starter Fred Taylor was injured. Keep an eye on injury reports and aging players not performing. EXILES Some players go undrafted, unsigned, unwanted. Many who are rejected by NFL teams end up playing in lesser leagues trying to prove they can play the game. Kurt Warner, formerly of the Arena Football League, and Tommy Maddox, from the now defunct XFL are two such cases. Playing in minor leagues allows players to gain valuable experience and hone their skills. When they return to the NFL they are able to excel and become valuable fantasy football properties. The unknown quality of sleepers is what makes them so intriquing. For the fantasy owner who wasn't lucky enough to grab the top quarterback, or the ultimate runningback, finding a sleeper who can help you win is a sweet treat. There are many places to find sleepers, and it should be noted they come with no guarantees. When you pick a sleeper you're rolling the dice and sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.