The Second-Half Sleeper Team

It's that time in the Fantasy Football season. The contenders in most leagues have been established, the pretenders have a few more weeks to shake themselves out, and the bottom-dwellers have probably stopped bothering to even set a weekly roster. Or said bottom-dwellers are conspiring with another owner to pull off a lopsided trade to stack one team and split the winnings. Oops - I might have just referenced some of the shenanigans that I encounter in one of my leagues year in and year out.

Anyhow, it's mid-season and so what if your call on Ricky Williams being a sleeper didn't quite pan out. Fret not my good friends, there is a wealth of untapped potential sitting on your waiver wire as we speak. Well, maybe some of these guys have been snatched off the wire by now. However, there are still a handful of players to be had that could make a slight difference. Don't get too excited since these guys probably aren't going to decide a championship. But if you're in the hunt, it doesn't hurt to take a look.

You never know, they could very well have an impact in a game or two, which could put you over the top in a critical week. The advice with all these guys is to simply monitor and play the matchups. And so, it's time to take a look at some "potential" second-half sleepers. Let's get down to business shall we?

Quarterbacks: Drew Stanton and Shaun Hill

Yes, forgive me -- Stanton is a complete homer call on my part. And I'm well aware that Daunte Culpepper was recently seen in Detroit negotiating his own contract. Also, we've heard Rod "The Bod" Marinelli claim that he has no intention of handing the reigns over to Stanton. To be fair, Dan Orlovsky hasn't played all that bad. In fact, he's actually been a serviceable fantasy QB thus far.

However, at some point (most likely when the Lions are 0-12), Stanton will simply have to get a look. The Lions have to take a gander at what they actually have in the former second-round pick. Consider me convinced that Drew Stanton could have an impact. He's got the ability to scramble and make plays, simply put. I wouldn't be tempted to put the fate of my team in his hands right off the bat. Yet, if Stanton gets his opportunity, he will eventually make an impact. Besides, anybody who has Calvin Johnson as his main target has the chance to produce viable Fantasy stats.

As for Shaun Hill, he came on at the end of the season a year ago and wasn't all that bad. Sure, he wasn't outstanding, but now that he's bumped J.T O'Sullivan out of the picture, he's worth the look. He's leading a Mike Martz offense that loves the slant pass. He's got serviceable options and a somewhat favorable schedule. No, you're not going to luck out as many did with Kyle Orton, but you do never know.

Running Backs: Brandon Jackson, Kevin Jones and Ryan Torain

Really, you haven't heard of Ryan Torain? You're kidding... right? Ok, bad joke - of course you know who he is. The hype has been building for the past three weeks. Mike Shanahan is the Satan of coaches when it comes to fantasy running backs, but still this guy is all the buzz right now. FanHouse's Matt Snyder gave a last vote of confidence and encouragement to pick this guy up ASAP. He could be a complete dud or a complete stud -- we don't really know. However, if the results equal half the hype, he'll be worth your while.

Are you surprised to see Kevin Jones on this list? Well, the logic here is that eventually all rookie rushers hit a wall. I'm by no mean encouraging you to rush out and grab Jones, but if you've got the space - stash this man. Matt Forte has been an uber-stud in fantasy terms thus far, but if he does hit that wall or (gulp) gets injured - Kevin Jones is a solid fill-in. He's free from the hell that is the Detroit Lions and he could very well chip in some solid numbers if opportunity arises.

And yes, Brandon Jackson is simply based on the fact that Ryan Grant stinks. Sorry, I'm not buying any Grant revival this season. I'm of firm belief that Grant was simply a one-hit wonder and I'm NOT falling trap to believing he's back after one decent game. Yes, B-Jax's carries have gone from minimal to none. However, as the tundra freezes and the Packers look more to the ground game, Jackson could very well be a beneficiary. Yup, it's a deep reach, but it's also playing a hunch. Sit tight with Grant and be miserable later.

Wide Receivers: Josh Morgan, Steve Smith (NYG) and Ted Ginn Jr.

First, Ted Ginn states the obvious.

Josh Morgan is an interesting play who had a lot of preseason buzz. He looked good last week with um, Shaun Hill under center and this change could pay dividends. It usually takes time for rookie wideouts to develop. Look, they all can't be Donnie Avery, DeSean Jackson or Eddie Royal. However, Morgan should play a greater role in this offense and that means more chances for breakout games. It's up to you if you buy the hype, but I likes what I see.

With Plaxico going completely laxico and just not wanting to be a team player, that means more chances for Steve Smith. He came on strong in the playoffs last season and I had planned to keep an eye on him as this fantasy season approached. Well, I forgot, but not anymore. He really has the chance to be a key target for Eli Manning down the stretch. What's not to like about a guy who plays on the best team in football?

Tight End: Vernon Davis... I kid, I kid. I just love doing that.

Others to watch: Greg Camarillo, Chaz Schilens, Mike Walker, Leon Washington, Maurice Morris, etc.