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Deep Sleepers That Can Win You Your League

Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports

I've won my fantasy football league four times. I've never had the number one pick. I've never had the top player at his position. Last year I drafted CJ Spiller, David Wilson and Daryl Richardson as running backs, yet somehow I still pulled it out. How? You nail your late round picks. Fantasy football drafts aren't won in the first round, they're won in the late rounds. Savvy owners who do their research and find the names that aren't on everyone else's radar have a huge leg up because they get early round quality at late round prices. The key is finding players who haven't had the success their capable of yet. While others are drafting on past success and name recognition, you draft on potential. It's risky, but the rewards can be great if you can nail your picks. Here's a sleeper at each skill position worth taking a flyer on:

QB: E.J. Manuel, Buffalo Bills

Manuel has name recognition, but he'll scare many owners away based on the results of his poor rookie season. Don't be one of them. Manuel has all the physical tools and should have a much better grasp of the playbook in his second year. He also has a vastly improved receiving corps with rookie Sammy Watkins and Mike Williams, plus a healthy CJ Spiller. His rushing numbers should also improve with his knee in much better shape. Add it all up and Manuel has top-15 potential. Draft him as a backup but hope for starter level production

RB: Ka'Deem Carey, Chicago Bears

Matt Forte is a stud and a first-round pick, but he's also 28 and has endured a ton of usage in his career. Even is he avoids injury, Carey could still be in line for some work as a change-of-pace type back. Carey doesn't have blazing speed but he's a tough, physical runner who can catch the ball out of the backfield. The Bears should have a high-powered offense again in 2014, and Carey will be a part of it. If Forte gets injured or starts to wear down, he'll be a huge part of it.

WR: Martavis Bryant, Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers' WR situation behind Antonio Brown is unclear after losing Emmanuel Sanders, and Bryant could be the answer. His combo of size (6'4") and speed make him a more dynamic threat than Lance Moore and Markus Wheaton and will give Ben Roethlisberger the big WR target he's been missing since Plaxico Burress. Bryant was a great complement to Sammy Watkins at Clemson and he can be a great complement to Antonio Bryant in the pros.

TE: Colt Lyerla, Green Bay Packers

Sure, Lyerla has his issues. He's also the most gifted tight end on the Packers roster. If he can get his head on straight, Lyerla has the size and skill to become a valuable weapon for Aaron Rodgers alongside Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and Jarrett Boykin. Lyerla is definitely a boom-or-bust type player, but he's a low-risk, high-reward pick and worth a flyer in the last rounds.

These guys could break out and become key contributors, or they could be benchwarmers. But by the time you'll actually be drafting them, you'll have your starting lineup pretty much set, so do you really have that much to lose? The potential rewards outweigh the minimal risk. So when you reach the 11th round of your draft and everyone else has phoned it in, keep at it and find your diamond in the rough. Ignore the eye-rolling, strange looks and muffled laughter. If your pick hits, you'll have the last laugh.

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