Simpson & Slaton - Potential Fantasy Gems?

By: Mo Noorali
Football Review Daily

It’s never too early to start thinking about fantasy football. This year’s NFL was loaded with players who will make an impact this year and in the future. Anyone can draft the likes of LT, Brady, and Adrian Peterson, but in recent years, the key to fantasy championships is finding late round gems during the draft and/or picking up waiver wire gold throughout the season. Here is two rookies that could possibly make a significant impact this year in fantasy football:

Steve Slaton, RB, Houston Texans

Houston Head Coach Gary Kubiak is a disciple of Mike Shanahan and runs the same zone blocking scheme in Houston. Neither Ahman Green nor Chris Brown is going to be the answer at running back for the Texans this year. Green is always injured and Brown is not suited for the one-cut system. If Slaton is given the opportunity to come in and compete for the starting running back job, given his speed and prowess catching the ball out the backfield, he could surprise a lot of people. There is a durability concern with Slaton, but if he can avoid injury, the revamped Texans offensive line could help him make a run at a very solid rookie campaign. Take a flyer on late him in your draft. Projection: 1000 total yards, 4 TDs

Jerome Simpson, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

He was everyone’s favorite sleeper heading into the draft, and he landed in the perfect situation in Cincinnati. The Bengals are stuck in a division where they will get into shootouts with the Browns, and will be unable to run on the Steelers or Ravens. That, along with Carson Palmer at quarterback will lead to numerous looks for the Chris Henry replacement out of Coastal Carolina. If Ocho Cinco follows through with his threatened holdout (which he won’t, but anything is possible with Rosenhaus), Simpson could find himself on the short list of rookie wide receivers who have gone over 1,000 yards. Monitor his battle for the #3 receiver with fellow draftee Andre Caldwell and of course Chad Johnson’s situation going forward in Cincinnati. He is also worth a late round flyer as a high upside pick, and a must-draft in 16 team or deeper leagues. Projection: 750 yards, 4 TDs