It happens every year.
A handful of late-round picks in your fantasy football draft — or guys who weren't drafted at all — break out and become statistical stars, leading some other manager to a title in your league.
It's tough to know from year to year who the next Miles Austin is going to be, but if you keep your eyes peeled early in the season, you can snag a potential star or two either late in the draft or off the free-agent wire once the season is under way.
Here are a few running backs who are mostly flying under the radar in fantasy football draft mockups and could have a chance to be solid statistical contributors in 2010.
Arian Foster, RB, Houston Texans
Foster is making his way into fantasy watercooler conversations after the season-ending injury to rookie Ben Tate. Sure, the Texans have Steve Slaton (who is, himself, a potential 2010 sleeper after enduring a rough 2009 season and a bad case of fumble-itis), but Foster appears to be the front-runner to take over the starting RB gig with Tate out. Foster finished up 2009 with a couple of big-time performances, rushing for 97 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries in a win over Miami in Week 16 and for 119 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries in a Week 17 win over New England. Keep an eye on the 6-foot-1, 229-pound second-year pro out of Tennessee throughout the preseason; he might just be worth a top-50 to 75 pick come draft day.
C.J. Spiller, Buffalo Bills
Spiller is another player whose name is making the rounds in fantasy circle. The late-signing rookie out of Clemson is shifty and speedy, and he's in prime position to make some noise this season. The Bills have two quality running backs in Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch, both of whom were ahead of Spiller on the depth chart before both getting injured in the team's preseason opener. That moved Spiller into the spotlight for the remainder of the preseason, and he took advantage during a 34-21 exhibition victory over Indianapolis on August 19, showing flashes of his abilities during a 10-carry, 54-yard performance that included a 31-yard touchdown early in the first quarter. Lynch wants out of Buffalo, so between that and the injuries to he and Jackson, Spiller could be in for some touches this season.
Donald Brown, Indianapolis Colts
Joseph Addai is the No. 1 back in Indy, but the Colts intend to use Brown more in 2010. The 5-foot-10, 210-pound back only carried the ball 78 times for 281 yards during his rookie season of 2009 as Addai did just enough to keep the starting job. But if Addai slips in 2010, or gets hurt, Brown will step up to the plate. Even if Addai keeps the job, Brown should get plenty of chances in a split backfield and as a change-of-pace back. The former UConn back showed flashes of his potential in ’09, breaking off a couple of long runs and catching a 72-yard pass during a Week 3 win over Arizona.
Adam Sparks - Adam Sparks has been a reporter, copy editor and designer during a 14-year newspaper career that has taken him from Oregon to Hawaii and ...
