Wide Receiver Sleepers


Armand Robinson, SR (Miami, OH) – CFG Rank #35
Robinson established a nice rapport with up-and-coming quarterback Zac Dysert last fall.  With a full off-season to work together on their timing, we think Robinson has a chance for a 900-1,000 yard season.

Phillip Livas, SR or Ahmad Paige, SO (Louisiana Tech) – CFG Rank #44
All eyes are on the Bulldogs and their new offensive attack.  Livas is a jitterbug in the Dexter McCluster mold who had a explosive 2008 season (944 yards from scrimmage).  Paige is a 6’1 180-pound transfer from Tennessee who is expected to contribute from the get-go.

Tracy Moore, SO (Oklahoma State) – CFG Rank #48
There’s excitement in the air with the arrival of new offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen. Fantasy owners are very aware of the Playstation-like stats that his offense produced at Houston. But the big question at WR is where will the production fall?  The two starting slot WRs on the initial spring depth chart are Tracy Moore and Josh Cooper. Cooper is only 5-11, 185. The main targets at Houston have been larger, TE-body types. Enter Tracy Moore: 6-3, 225.

Maurice Shaw, SR (Idaho) – CFG Rank #56
If Armauni Johnson (below) doesn’t pan out, Shaw could be the main receiving cog for the Vandals.  He caught 32 balls for 666 yards and 6 scores last fall.  With leading WR Max Komar (62-1,052-11) moving on, someone will need to step it up.  Shaw is the safest bet to pick up the slack.

Casey Robottom, SR (Tulane) – CFG Rank #67
Tulane is moving towards a more pass-heavy attack, which is good news for the wideouts.  With leading receiver Jeremy Williams graduating, Robottom steps into the No. 1 role and has a chance to far exceed his ’09 stats (50-584-2).

Russell Shepard, SO (LSU) – CFG Rank #71
Russell Shepard entered LSU as the next “Slash.” A little QB, a little RB, a little WR. He is an immense talent who has settled down at the wide receiver position.  If Les Miles is smart, he will look to get the ball in Shepard’s hands in a variety of ways in 2010.

Tai-ler Jones, FR (Notre Dame) – CFG Rank #79
Jones is a freshman phenom who had a monster spring.  Word is that he was pushing for the No. 2 wideout spot opposite of Michael Floyd.  Stay tuned for reports out of Irish camp in August to see if he can secure the job.

Antavious Wilson, SO (Marshall) – CFG Rank #85
Wilson enjoyed a productive freshman campaign, catching 60 balls for 724 yards and 3 TDs.  He seemed to get better and more involved with the offense as the season progresses.  With a year under his belt, and the offense moving to the spread formation, the potential is there for Wilson to have a breakout season.

Vidal Hazelton, SR (Cincinnati) – CFG Rank #87
Hazelton began his career as a USC Trojan. In 2007, he played in thirteen games and compiled a 50-540-4 statline.  Now Hazelton will be in the pass-happy Butch Jones offense. Jones utilized two go-to WRs during his time at Central Michigan, and Vidal looks to be ready to step into that role opposite Armon Binns.

Luther Ambrose, JR (UL-Monroe) – CFG Rank #88
Ambrose quietly produced  311 rushing yards , 455 receiving yards and 5 scores in 2009 as a sophomore.  New head coach Todd Berry would be wise to continue to get the ball in this playmaker’s hands this fall.  Ambrose is not worth a draft pick, but he could become a nice waiver wire addition when Sun Belt play begins.

Kito Poblah, SR (Central Michigan) – CFG Rank #92
Leading receivers Bryan Anderson and Antonio Brown have graduated, and Poblah is poised to be the new main man in the Chips’ passing game.  However, he’ll be catching balls from a new quarterback this fall and the transition could take some time.

Tyler Stradford, JR (North Texas) – CFG Rank #105
Stradford is an Oklahoma-transfer who is finally eligible to play for the Mean Green.  He should be one of the more gifted skill position players in the Sun Belt conference, but can he put up big stats with a new quarterback at the helm?

James Green, FR (Toledo) – CFG Rank #106
Green is a former 4-star Tennessee commit who is a former high school teammate of Toledo starting quarterback Austin Dantin. If he can keep his grades in order, look for the 6’3 200-pounder to make a splash for the Rockets in the coming years.

Armauni Johnson, JR (Idaho) – CFG Rank #114
Johnson is the deepest of sleepers.  The JUCO transfer makes our list thanks to a lights out spring where he seemed to catch everything in sight.  He’s not worth the risk as a draft pick, but he is worth keeping an eye on early in the season to see if he can pick up where he left off in the spring.

Darius Johnson, SO (SMU) – CFG Rank #128
Aldrick Robinson is the clear-cut No. 1 receiver for the pass-happy Mustangs.  Someone will need to step up and become the No. 2 man.  Darius Johnson has caught the eye of the coaching staff.  Can he catch a boatload of balls in 2010?

Dejuan Miller, JR or Kenny Stills, FR (Oklahoma) – CFG Rank #137 & UNR
Ryan Broyles can’t catch all of Landry Jones’ passes!  Miller and Stills are going to battle it out for the No. 2 wide receiver job.  Stills is a freshman who turned heads in spring ball.  Miller is a junior who posted a respectable 36-434-1 statline in 2009.

Chris Harper, SO (Kansas State) – CFG Rank #159
Harper transferred over from Oregon and appeared to be a nice fit as an option quarterback for the Wildcats.  However, in a somewhat surprising turn of events, he was moved out to the wide receiver position this spring.  The guy has the ability to play any skill position and it will be interesting to see how KSU utilizes him this fall.  Put him on your watch list.

Jameel Owens, SO (Tulsa) – CFG Rank #162
Owens is an Oklahoma transfer who was cleared by the NCAA to play in 2010.  He steps into a pass-happy offensive system that has treated fantasy wide receivers well in past years.  With WR A.J. Whitmore’s dismissal from the team, Owens will have a chance to become the team’s No. 2 receiver right away, and shoot up our draft board.