I'm so sleepy...

OK, here they come, y'all. Your sleepers for this year. As we all know, you can't win your competitive fantasy league without a few good sleepers coming in the mid-to-late rounds. I'm here to help point these sleepers out and help you win it all. Of course, the thing with sleepers is that they could just as easily flame out. But the good thing is that you didn't waste a high pick on them! So it's a low risk, high reward scenario, and if you do it right you're almost a shoe in for fantasy gold. SO, instead of my usual 1 per Offense and Pitcher, I'm actually going to give you 1 sleeper per position. Let's get right to it:

So sleepy...

C: Kelly Shoppach, Rays. Catcher is actually one of the positions with the most sleeper ability. Why is this? Because most of them suck. I mean, really who can you count on besides Mauer? An argument can be made for McCann I suppose. However, chances are if they (anyone besides Mauer) put up decent numbers last year they're probably going to be crap this year. That's just how it happens, I don't know why. This is why I live by the golden rule of taking a catcher with my very last selection, and so should you. I won't see Mauer, McCann, Victor Martinez, or even Geovanny Soto or Russell Martin. (Both taken way too early last year, and both put a nice dent in the fantasy domination aspirations their owners had without some real quick thinking. Of course, the owners deserved it all.) But you know who I will see? Kelly Schoppach. He's got a new team, a new ballpark, a new staff to guide, and I just have a good feeling about this year. But y'know what? It doesn't really matter - it's easy to drop the player you took with your last pick! So if he doesn't pan out there will be some other catcher riding a hot streak (John Buck perhaps? I mean...Canada! Eh?) that I'll pick up for a couple weeks before HE cools off too. Then I get to pick up someone else! See how this works? Kind of fun.

1B: Nick Johnson, Yankees. Hell yeah! I love the thought of putting Nick "the stick" Johnson in Yankees Stadium! Actually, this guy has been a pretty big bummer for a while, but I like the thought of just about ANYBODY going to play in that lineup in that stadium. But this guy actually does have some talent, and an excellent eye for the ball. Think about this for a second - Johnson hit 23 HRs, drove in 70+ RBI's, batted over .290, and walked 100+ times in 2006. With the NATIONALS. What do you think that equals with the Yankees of 2010? If he gets the ABs I wouldn't be shocked to see him at 30/120/.300. Seriously! Maybe the best sleeper available.

2B: Casey McGehee, Brewers. Wow the Cubs are stupid. Seriously? Just let this dude walk away, huh? Yeah, I guess Soriano is making up for all that offense lost. And that 2B platoon you got is way better than just one good player. Wait, what? No that's not the case? Gee whiz, sorry about that!
There is a lot to like about this guy, and a bit to shy away from. But let me point out a couple things to you. 1) He's eligible as a 2B and 3B in most formats. (Flexibility, check!) 2) He hit over .300, hit 16 homers, and drove in 66 runs last year. (Can get this production on your second to last pick? Value, check!) 3) That Brewers lineup is no joke, and with a year of big league service under his belt he should have plenty of opportunities to cross the plate in 2010. (Lineup support, check!)
So there could be a sophomore slump or that wonky knee that he had surgery on in the offseason could flare up, but I say it's worth the risk!

3B: Chase Headley, Padres. I am definitely a fan of this kid, and now he has the 3B role all to himself. He's absolutely a late round steal, when that loser in front of you is taking Corey Hart. (Corey, you bastard. You hurt my heart!) I think we could see 20 HR, 75 RBI, 12 SB and a .270 AVG out of him this year. I have absolutely no problem picking him up as a late fill in for my 3B slot, or a backup/utility player to play the match-ups with.

SS: Alexei Ramierez, White Sox. He's not really that much of a sleeper, is he? Well, I'm sticking with it, because I still think he'll get taken later than he should. You know why that is? Because people are falling asleep at the wheel. Wake the fuck up and take this kid! He's a bit more mature, has great vision at the plate, and I wouldn't be shocked to see his steals jump by 8-10 if he stays healthy and his HRs jump by 5-8 as well. I don't have a ton to say, other than he was overvalued, now undervalued, and here's to not falling asleep.

OF: Chris Young, Diamondbacks. Remember how great this guy was for that magical season of 2007? I mean, holy crap - he was the Justin Upton of 2007! And then he came back to earth. It only took two season for him to be completely forgotten about. But that's not really our fault, it's his. It seems HE forgot a lot of important things. Like where the home plate was, what he was supposed to do with the bat in his hands, how to steal a base...but I'm not worried. You know why? Because now he's a sleeper! And that means you get to take a flier on him in the late rounds and cross your fingers that he parties like it's 2007! Why not? If he comes close to 30 HR / 30 SB you are set. You could hold onto him all year and gloat, or you could trade him mid-season for someone a bit more stable if you don't trust it'll last. That may be the smart route to take, but either way you'll be happy you took this kid!

SP: Francisco Liriano, Twins. Holy crap, can you imagine if Liriano really does have that slider back? Do you remember that thing? Every time he would throw it I would hear a Berman noise. "Woop!" I hate hearing Chris Berman in my head. Let's move on.
If Liriano can stay healthy, and actually has his stuff together this could be your money pick. We all know what he did in 2006. Give us 2006 and give us glory!

RP: Matt Capps, Nationals. You know what's funny about this position? EVERY year people bitch in the draft when a closer is taken "too early", and then it's followed by the inevitable run on closers. People get pissed that they now have to waste their next pick on a closer because the asshole in front of them decided they couldn't stand the possibility of an entire fantasy season watching Mariano rake in the saves for someone else's team. You know what else is funny? I hate those people that bitch. And I do not agree with the logic that a RP only gives you ONE stat. People that say that are idiots. Yes, you get saves. But if you get a certified stud (or two!) you also get a couple wins, a ERA boost, and 65-100 strikeouts. Those aren't garbage stat categories - they all count. Now, I'm not necessarily one to jump early for the top closer, but I'm not going to be a taint about those that do.
OK, I'm done with the rant. Let's talk some Matt Capps! He's not one of those studs I mentioned, and he had a pretty crappy year last year when all was said and done, which has probably caused him to fall off your competitor's radar. However, he had some injury issues, and pitched for the Pirates. The Pirates! Sure, he's not really improving on his team all that much - but the Nationals actually are looking a lot better this year all around, and I'm betting on seeing a 28 save, 50K, 3.5 ERA this year from him. Also, did you know his middle name is Dicus? And he was born on my birthday, September 3rd? I see greatness in 2010...

So that's it for sleepers, y'all. I've got nothing great to close with, so I'm going to toss it to the all time single season saves leader with # 58 :