The NFL season and the fantasy football year will officially begin on Thursday with the Denver Broncos and the Baltimore Ravens playing at Mile High and with drafts going on around the country for owners, leagues will be won and lost with sleepers and bench players taken in later rounds and some solid options include Jordan Cameron, Bilal Powell, Daniel Thomas, Roy Helu and Joique Bell as well as Shane Vereen.
Owners finding productive players later in the draft is essential to winning any fantasy football league and handcuffing running backs and finding solid backups for starting players is always a good strategy to have. Some breakout players this season could be players like Thomas and Cameron, as well as Vereen, who could get very involved in the passing game for Bill Belichick. Jordan Cameron is a popular tight end sleeper option for the Browns and with Norv Turner coming in as offensive coordinator, he could put up some big numbers.
Brandon Weeden will be developing after his rookie season and after the way Turner used Antonio Gates during his time in San Diego and head coach Rob Chudzinski likes getting the tight end involved in things. The 25-year-old has all the physical tools and he could put up big numbers as the starting tight end after previously playing at USC. Having Trent Richardson in the running game could help open things up and the Browns are expecting him to be a major contributor.
Shane Vereen could be the biggest sleeper in all of fantasy football after having a solid year in 2012, as he could take over where Aaron Hernandez left off as a versatile player in various spots. Head coach Bill Belichick is planning on using Vereen in the backfield and split out wide and he could put up starter numbers in PPR leagues behind Stevan Ridley and now that Danny Woodhead is gone he could catch way more balls out of the backfield.
The Lions love to pass out of the backfield and after adding Reggie Bush in free agency the team will be doing that again and backup Joique Bell could be a solid option as a handcuff for Bush and as a backup in deeper leagues. Bell was solid when he was on the field, rushing for over 400 yards and catching 52 balls for 485 yards and with Bush in the offense he could stay healthy all season and spell him when he needs a break. Alshon Jeffery could be an interesting option in the passing game alongside Brandon Marshall and he could put up solid numbers with Marc Trestman at the helm.
The Dolphins are an interesting team to look at and with running back Lamar Miller starting, Daniel Thomas could get some solid carries as a backup since Miller is inexperienced. The team is expecting a breakout season from Miller, but with just 51 carries in his career, Thomas could help him get started and if someone gets hurt he will be the one to benefit. Roy Helu is solid behind Alfred Morris and Bilal Powell is another option behind starter Chris Ivory for the Jets.