At the mid-season point in many fantasy football leagues - coaches are now looking to see what players are just under the radar (or considered 'sleepers') who may give them that extra edge in the run-in towards those all-important playoffs.
The NFL season has started to take shape and teams are beginning to show just who they'll be leaning on to win games and hopefully a championship come February. Here are just a few names that could make all the difference to any fantasy team.
Shonn Greene - RB - New York Jets.
With the untimely injury to RB Leon Washington in Week seven, Green looks to inherit a decent number of carries in a run-heavy Jets' offensive scheme. Taken in the 3rd-round of the '09 draft, Greene posted his most significant output when Washington went down - 19 carries for 144 yards and 2 Tds.
Look to see Greene involved far more as the season progresses as the backup to starter Thomas Jones.
Miles Austin - WR - Dallas Cowboys.
Given the in-flux state of the Cowboys' receiver corps. - Austin has become the most viable target in Dallas' passing-game (surpassing even TE Jason Witten) with QB Tony Romo looking his way often. With 16 receptions for 421 yards and 4 Tds in the last two games - Austin has to be perceived as the new No.1 receiver at the Cowboys (overshadowing a lacklustre Roy Williams at the position).
Mike Wallace - WR - Pittsburgh Steelers.
Another 3rd-round pick this is proving invaluable to his team - Wallace has firmly slotted himself in as the No.3 receiver in the Steelers offense. Given his big-play potential (21 catches for 368 yards, 2 Tds) with a very respectable 17.5 yards average per catch - it's difficult to ignore his fantasy league productivity for much longer.
Chris 'Beanie' Wells - RB - Arizona Cardinals.
A strange pick (even a gamble) with a running back from a pass-heavy team like Arizona. Averaging 3.9-yards a carry from just 49 carries - there are signs of his 1st-round ability starting to surface as the Cardinals look to run more when leading. With 26 carries in the last two weeks - more than the rest of the season combined - Wells looks to possibly take over the RB position permanently once the team begin to feel fumbling won't be a problem.
Andre Curry - OLB - Seattle Seahawks.
With injuries ravaging the Seahawks' Defense - and the team struggling overall - Curry's defensive stats (taken 4th overall in '09 draft) aren't quite generating the coverage they would otherwise do. Quietly amassing 37 tackles, 2 forced fumbles and 2 sacks (from just six games) he is set for an outstanding rookie season.
On pace to easily surpass a 100+ tackle year (and maybe a Pro Bowl) any league that plays individual defensive players could do worse than pick him up.
Jimmy Wilkerson - DE - Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Playing in virtual obscurity at the winless Buccaneers - Wilkerson is playing through his best statistical year (7th season) as a pro. 31 total-tackles with 5.5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles is a phenomenal output for a DE with just seven games played. Many will overlook him as the team is in a transitional stage but his numbers are too good to miss.
Like many things - nothing is guaranteed and nobody can account for the injury-bug or drop-off in player productivity. There is still a very long way to go and who knows who else will take the fantasy football world by storm in the coming weeks.