With the 2010 fantasy football off-season officially underway here at Fantasy Football Xtreme, it’s time to dive right into the topic of 2010 Fantasy Football Sleeper Running backs. Ok, let me first start off by defining the term sleeper. Everyone defines the term “sleeper” differently, and some suggest that a first-round talent like Michael Turner cannot be a sleeper. Well, we beg to differ and we define the term like this. A fantasy football sleeper is a player that others are sleeping on – plain and simple. It can be a first-round pick, or a eighth-round pick. It doesn’t matter. Below you will find our early 2010 Fantasy Football Sleeper candidates at the running back position and I have organized the below sleepers into different tiers: Elite Sleepers, Middle-Round Sleepers and Deep Sleepers. As you will see, fantasy football sleepers can be found inside any round or ranking tier. Enjoy.

2010 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Running Backs

Elite Sleepers

Michael Turner | Falcons

Again, as said above, even fantasy football studs can play the role of a sleeper candidate from time to time. I’ll admit, when someone mentions the phrase fantasy football sleeper, I tend to think of players like Justin Forestt before I think of first-round talents, but it’s extremely important to acknowledge that even first-round studs can be undervalued on occasion.

So what makes Michael Turner a 2010 fantasy football sleeper? Well, for starters, Turner has top 1-3 overall fantasy upside in non-PPR formats, yet in early 2010 fantasy football mock drafts, he is being valued in the middle-to-late first-round. And in PPR-formats, Turner is actually falling into the second-round in early 2010 fantasy mock drafts. Turner is a beast capable of 15+ rushing touchdowns during any given season, and he still has relatively fresh legs even though he is entering the 2010 NFL season at the age of 28. Turner has started just two seasons in the pros, and despite having a 377-carry season back in 2008, he has just 783 NFL carries to his name. To put that small figure into perspective, Thomas Jones has 2,253 NFL carries on his resume and didn’t drop off in talent until the tail end of this most recent 2009 NFL campaign. That’s 10 NFL seasons of strong play, five of which were 1,000-yard rushing seasons. With just two starting seasons under Turner’s belt, dynasty owners should be exploiting the stud’s undervalued fantasy stock all off-season long — If it even continues.

As for redraft leaguers, sure, in some leagues Turner will get drafted where he deserves to be drafted (inside the top 5 overall), but I have a feeling that undervaluing Turner in 2010 will be a reoccurring theme, in all leagues and formats. Take advantage of this, as I have Turner projected to rush for over 1,300 yards and 14-16 rushing scores in 2010.

Matt Forte | Bears

Straight from Smitty via our Fantasy Football Player Spotlights feature:

The Chicago Bears have just hired Mike Martz as the team’s new offensive coordinator. This move is HUGE for Matt Forte owners, as an inconsistent passing attack was a big reason why Forte failed ….. [ ]

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footballjunkie81 said:

Lynch is my #1 sleeper in 2010 redraft simply because he could be had in the 5th or 6th round!

Solid choice. There are a grip of 'em this year.

Let's hear some analysis on the analysis! Agree? Disagree? Keep tossing in other names as well, but let's tackle this DeAngelo/Stewart dilemma! Battle it out! Are you avoiding both Carolina rushers this year? Drafting both? Just one? Which one?

LocalKinePanther said:

Both Williams and Stewart will pass 1,000 rushing yards and score 7-11 TDs each. Both will be solid options next season. I prefer Stewart in Dynasty leagues, and Williams in redraft. But that all could change next season. Maybe Williams rebounds, or maybe the Cats organization wants 2010 to be the year in which Stewart moves into the #1 role, right before Williams contract runs out and likely leaves.

Great take.

Bashman said:

What about a guy like James Davis?  He looked great in the preseason and appeared to be the heir apparent to Jamaal Lewis in Cleveland.  I know that Jerome Harrison produced great numbers at the end of the season, but that was against the Chiefs, Raiders, and Jaguars.  Jerome's 26 years old, 5' 9″ tall and only weighs 205 lbs…And, the Brown's general manager is questioning Jerome's ability to carry the load for the entire season.  I think this makes James Davis a deep sleeper in 2010…worth a late round flyer in redraft leagues and a mid-rounder in dynasty formats.

I like him too… a lot, but it's Harrison's job to lose initially. Harrison was a back up most of last year, so sure, Davis could rise to the top. I just wonder if CLE will spend a late round grab on another runner as well, one they can use between the tackles more frequently. I still own James Davis in two expert dynasty leagues, so clearly I still have faith in him enough to own him, like you. Good call.

username said:

Smitty said:

Bashman said:

What about a guy like James Davis?  He looked great in the preseason and appeared to be the heir apparent to Jamaal Lewis in Cleveland.  I know that Jerome Harrison produced great numbers at the end of the season, but that was against the Chiefs, Raiders, and Jaguars.  Jerome's 26 years old, 5' 9″ tall and only weighs 205 lbs…And, the Brown's general manager is questioning Jerome's ability to carry the load for the entire season.  I think this makes James Davis a deep sleeper in 2010…worth a late round flyer in redraft leagues and a mid-rounder in dynasty formats.

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I like him too… a lot, but it's Harrison's job to lose initially. Harrison was a back up most of last year, so sure, Davis could rise to the top. I just wonder if CLE will spend a late round grab on another runner as well, one they can use between the tackles more frequently. I still own James Davis in two expert dynasty leagues, so clearly I still have faith in him enough to own him, like you. Good call.

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Wasn't Davis the kid who limited CJ Spiller's touches last year?

Yes, James Davis ran ahead of Spiller, but both shared carries. Davis had the talent, he just got hurt. He was a big sleeper of ours heading into the year, but injury took him down. It happens. He is worth owning in deep dynasty leagues but tough to count on. Sleeper he is because he is extremely low-risk.

JRMRRT said:

Remember Kenny Irons…James Davis might be hanging with him soon I think.

Irons was sick in college. Amazing how that happens. Mike Hart too. Don't count out Hart, though, with that guy's drive, we might laugh at this topic by this time next year. I can see it now, Hart a super star fantasy stud by season's end :)