PostHeaderIcon Late Round Sleepers

Jahvid Best, Detroit Lions, Reasonably picked as early as Round 4:Look for the Lions to surprise a few people in 2010, with Jahvid Best serving as possibly the biggest impact newcomer in the NFL. Last year’s incumbent starter Kevin Smith will most likely start the season injured, coming off a season ending ACL tear, meaning Best could easily win the starting job outright in his absence. Even when he returns, there is no guarantee Smith will be at 100 effectiveness. Best is likely the far more talented back, even with both players at full strength, and head coach Jim Schwarz can already be heard gushing over Best’s college highlight reel. Best will likely be inconsistent as a rookie, both new to the league and behind an inconsistent Lions’ O-line, but he is sure to reel off big plays and will likely see far more touches than his current Average Draft Position would indicate. A conservative comparison out of this admittedly optimistic camp would be a DeSean Jackson type rookie season.Dexter McCluster, Kansas City Chiefs, Reasonably picked as early as round 8:It remains to be seen whether McCluster will be available as a running back or wide receiver in most fantasy formats, as the rookie out of Ole Miss is more likely to contribute out of the slot for the Chiefs. With limited offensive talent available split wide in Kansas City, McCluster could play a Welker-esque role as Scott Pioli tries to rebuild the Patriots offense with Matt Cassel at the helm. Likely to contribute in the return game as well, McCluster could provide at least a Reggie Bush level of production in his first year, though widely available several rounds later than Bush in most drafts.The Oakland Raiders offense Jason Campbell, Reasonably picked as early as Round 10; Louis Murphy/Chaz Schilens, reasonably picked as early as Round 13; Michael Bush/Darren McFadden,reasonably picked as early as Round 6; Zach Miller, reasonably picked as early as Round 8: The Raiders have slowly accrued a surprisingly large talent pool on offense, masked behind the ineptitude of quarterback Jamarcus Russell. With a competent QB under center, the Raiders passing attack suddenly appears potentially dangerous. Murphy, Miller and Campbell are the favorites here, though any of the players listed are prime candidates to outperform their draft status. Murphy was a steal out of Florida, a phrase rarely attributed to Raiders draft picks, and showed flashes of brilliance even on the receiving end of Russell passes, while Campbell has always had a strong arm, willingness to take smart chances downfield and tendency to turn to his tight end in the red zone.Rounds are representative of a 12-team draft

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