College Fantasy Preview - Sleepers

Mark Dell, WR, Michigan State
Bye bye Devin Thomas and Kellen Davis. Hello Mark Dell. With a new offensive mindset, a senior quarterback and great ground attack, Sparty should not struggle to score points this fall. Look for the young playmaker to be a major beneficiary of the high-octane Michigan State offense. Much like Javon Ringer will produce more due to the graduation of touchdown vulture Jehuu Caulcrick, so too will Dell with Davis and Thomas out of the picture.

Greg Little, RB, North Carolina
Little came to North Carolina as one of the most regarded receivers in the 2007 recruiting class, but the 6’3 player out of Durham moved to running back later in the year. In the final two games of the season, the young running back powered his way for 89 yards against Georgia Tech, while rushing for 154 yards and two touchdowns against Duke. Although Little is largely unproven, there is a lot of upside and he should see well over 200 carries in 2008.

Derrick Locke, RB, Kentucky
Locke showed up in Lexington on a track scholarship in the fall of 2007. He entered the season as a fourth stringer. He played very well against the likes of LSU, Tennessee and Florida. After 20 carries in a win over National Champion LSU, Locke looks to breakout in 2008. Rafael Little has since graduated and left a void at tailback. Locke, along with Tony Dixon, should fill the void nicely.

Trent Guy, WR, Louisville
Chalk up the 2007 season as a major disappointment for Louisville. The Cardinals entered the season with high expectations, but finished the year at 6-6 and did not play in a bowl game. Despite the graduation of quarterback Brian Brohm, the Cardinals feel confident about their offense in 2008. Senior quarterback Hunter Cantwell is a capable player and a top 50 fantasy performer at his position. Look for Cantwell to have a solid season throwing the ball, but Guy should be the team’s go-to guy in deep ball situations. The junior hasn’t been a huge contributor in his first two years, but the graduation of Harry Douglas will open up opportunities.

Chris Rainey, RB, Florida
Rainey may enter the fall as the third string running back for the Gators. However, he can score from anywhere on the field, something Kestahn Moore and Emmanuel Moody cannot do. Expect Rainey to lead the Gators in scoring as far as runners are concerned. He will also play a huge role in the passing game and return game. Will he get 1,000 yards rushing? No. Will he score 10+ times in ’08? Yes.

Gary Rogers, QB, Washington State
New head coach Paul Wulff is installing a no-huddle, spread attack and Rogers is a sleeper at the quarterback position. Although his experience is limited, Rogers stands an impressive 6’6” and is noted for his strong arm. With receiver Brandon Gibson returning for his senior year, the Cougars should post 35-40 passing attempts per game – while running up the tally on the scoreboard. Consider Rogers a late round sleeper for your roster.

Michael Smith, RB, Arkansas
Exit Darren McFadden. Exit Felix Jones. Enter Michael Smith. Bobby Petrino has made his money off running the football. At Louisville, his high-powered rushing attack was in the top-10 nationally almost every season. Hogs fans can expect the same in Fayettville. Expect Smith to be the veteran of the running back corps and is the leading returning rusher with 303 yards in ’07. His diminutive frame (5’7” 170) has led to injuries in the past, so owners may want to pick-up De’Anthony Curtis in later rounds just to be sure.

Deonte Thompson, WR, Florida
This burner of a wide receiver will be the guy to step in and pick-up where Andre Caldwell left off. Since there are so many options on the Gator offense, this speedster might be a long shot but his talent is obvious. He will be a superior deep threat for the Florida offense once Percy Harvin moves on. Should Percy miss some time in ’08, though, Thompson will be the main benefactor.

Marcus Thigpen, RB, Indiana
James Hardy took his 36 touchdowns to the NFL after only three seasons in Bloomington, leaving Thigpen to pick up the slack. Thigpen’s impact in the passing game and return game should be solid but Thigpen’s rushing potential keeps him from being a top-flight fantasy back. At least, for now. Look for star quarterback Kellen Lewis to turn to Thigpen for help this season, much like he leaned on Hardy in the past.

Brian Johnson, QB, Utah
Injuries have limited Johnson’s playing time over the last two years, but there’s no doubt he’s a top 30 fantasy quarterback if he’s healthy in 2008. In 2005, Johnson posted 25 total touchdowns and threw for 2,892 yards. The Utes have plenty of weapons at receiver and as long as Johnson stays healthy, he’ll be a nice late-round pickup for your lineup.

Gerald Jones, WR, Tennessee
The Volunteer passing game was pretty solid last year, but the receiving corps lacked playmakers. New offensive coordinator Dave Clawson would like to get more speed and game-breaking ability on the field. Look for Jones to see snaps at quarterback and should become the team’s top deep threat in 2008. The Volunteers will have fantasy options at receiver, and Jones is worth a late-round gamble.

Thaddeus Lewis, QB, Duke
New head coach David Cutcliffe is expected to improve the Blue Devil offense, and his previous stops have produced solid quarterbacks. Lewis has been one of the few bright spots for this team over the last two years and should pickup his production even more in 2008.

Ryan McCants, RB, Oregon State
Yvenson Bernard, Steven Jackson and Ken Simonton. All three backs have rushed for more than 1,000 yards in a season and the Oregon State coaching staff believes McCants is next. McCants redshirted last season, but appears to have all of the tools needed to come in and start right away. The Beavers have a solid offensive line, and this redshirt freshman could be one of the top surprises in the Pac-10.

Tony Moeaki, TE Iowa
The Iowa faithful is putting a little pressure on head coach Kirk Ferentz to get things turned around in 2008. The offense hasn’t met expectations the last two years, but with young quarterback Jake Christensen improving, Moeaki could be a nice sleeper pick at tight end. This senior was off to a solid start last year, but an arm injury ended it after the third game. If Moeaki is able to pickup where he left off, 50 receptions and seven touchdowns isn’t out of the question.

Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State
It’s no secret the Boise State offense has been a fantasy-friendly unit over the last ten years, but a new quarterback will be taking over the controls in 2008. Moore is a redshirt freshman with a lot of upside, but he doesn’t have the job sewed up just yet. Senior Bush Hamdan is in the mix, and this battle for the starting job will likely last well into fall camp.

Tennessee, DEF
2007 was not exactly a banner year for defense on Rocky Top. The Volunteers finished 70th in total defense and 73rd against the pass, and gave up 41 points to Alabama and 59 to Florida. Things are expected to be better in 2008, led by a solid secondary and linebacking corps. The defensive line is a concern, but talented options are on the depth chart. Don’t expect a repeat of 2007 for the Volunteer defense.

Texas, DEF
The Longhorns have struggled on defense since Gene Chizik left for Iowa State. New defensive coordinator Will Muschamp has been successful at every stop and he should make significant improvements with this unit in 2008. Look for the Longhorns to get more pressure on opposing quarterbacks, which should increase their sacks and turnover totals this season. Additionally, the pass defense shouldn’t finish below 90 in the national rankings once again.

Giovanni Vizza, QB, North Texas
It’s a gamble to take Vizza, but this could be one that pays big dividends at the end of the year. Vizza threw 17 touchdowns and 2,388 yards last season, and this sophomore quarterback could significantly increase his totals in 2008. The Mean Green will have a pass-first offense and if Vizza is able to hold off Riley Dodge (son of head coach Todd Dodge), he’s worth a top 50 fantasy quarterback selection.