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It’s time to revive the fantasy football column for the year and instead of belting out my sleepers like every other article, I’m going to post people that I don’t want to hear associated with the word “Sleeper” anymore because those days are over.

You know you’ve got the type in your league, the guy that’s going to say; “Oh yeah, Kevin Kolb is one of my sleepers”. Wow dude, I need some personal time after that because my mind is blown. That’s not a sleeper when most people have him ranked close to their top-10 and others, like me, have him ranked top-5.

Point being, I wanted to cover 6 players that are no longer value plays and that doesn’t mean I’m avoiding them on draft day, it’s just going to cost you a high draft pick to get them on your roster now. The ADP I’m referencing will be from FantasyFootballCalculator.com.

So, if you hear somebody use any of these players in a sleeper conversation, stop them right then and there before they go any further because they have no clue what a Sleeper is. Tell them there are no sleepers, there’s also no Santa Claus, and the Easter bunny is a fraud as well while you’re at it.

Kevin Kolb – QB – Philadelphia Eagles

You all know how high I am on Kevin Kolb coming into 2010 but I’m not the only one, there’s a ton of fantasy managers expecting a top 10 season out of the wild boar hunting, bowie knife wielding gunslinger. Not only is Kolb a man’s man, he’s very accurate with the football and he has a quick release that will serve him well in an offense that loves to throw the football. His receivers are dynamic playmakers and the rest of the fantasy nation has caught on. He’s a QB that you might have been able to snag in the 8th of 9th round right around draft time but now, he’s being drafted well within the top-10 QBs.
Current ADP: 6.05 | 8th QB selected

Ryan Mathews – RB – San Diego Chargers

I wasn’t really a huge fan but after the draft I was convinced about his redraft value. At one point he was being drafted as a mid-3rd round pick but now that people have had their sneak peek at him in the pre-season, they’re all coming the the inevitable conclusion that Mathews is going to be a big part of the Chargers offense this year. San Diego didn’t trade up to the 12th pick just to groom this guy, they’re going to ride him right out of the gates until the wheels fall off much like they did to Tomlinson. Interesting stat on Mathews: He tied the WAC record for 100-yard games in a season at 11. The other RB to post eleven 100-yard games: LaDainian Tomlinson The future is now for Mathews but it’s going to cost you a late 1st/high 2nd.
Current ADP: 2.03 | 8th RB selected

Arian Foster – RB – Houston Texans

I have been tipped off by a good friend of mine on Foster since the early off-season and I’ve had many early drafts, as well as auctions that I nabbed Foster in the late rounds. The factor that really helped for me is my dislike for Ben Tate. It’s not that he can’t be a good back, I just don’t see it right now and I like what Foster showed last season with his footwork, running instincts, lateral quickness. I think he’s the more ideal fit in Kubiak’s zone rushing scheme because of his excellent vision and patience with the football. Thanks to rookie Ben Tate breaking his ankle and Steve Slaton still being plagued by fumbles, Foster’s value has seen a dramatic spike.
Current ADP: 5.10 | 24th RB selected

Hakeem Nicks – WR – New York Giants

I have been quite taken with Nicks’ 2009 performance when you consider he did all that on a broken toe. He will prove to be the deep ball threat that the Giants offense has lacked since the Plaxico Burress debacle. Nicks will produce big-time for his owners but it’s not going to be at the convenient price of a 4th or 5th rounder anymore. Nicks is being taken as a WR2 and WR1 in some deeper leagues and while the FFCalculator data doesn’t support it, I’ve been in expert leagues where Nicks is being selected in the 4th round on a regular basis and even as high as the 3rd in some cases. He’s still in store for a great season, but you’re going to have to decide how great before your draft.
Current ADP: 5.05 | 20th WR selected

Johnny Knox – WR – Chicago Bears

This one is really getting to me because of the efforts I’ve been putting into acquiring him in every single one of my fantasy leagues this year. His camp reports have been nothing but praise and adoration from his QB & offensive coordinator. He simply fits the mold of a Mike Martz WR and showed explosive potential last season. The downside is that while I was able to get this guy as late as the 9th round in some expert leagues, his stock has inflated to mass potential at this point and I’ve seen him go as high as the early 6th round in a recent 12 team draft last week. I hope you’ve already drafted because the jig is up on old Abilene Christian.
Current ADP: 7.04 | 31st WR selected

Jermichael Finley – TE – Green Bay

I love the athletic upside just as much as anybody that’s seen Finley play but his stock has risen to the highest of high in some cases, as he’s the 3rd TE off the board in most cases. While the proof is in his late season heroics and his playoff game against the Cardinals, that’s an awfully high pick to invest on a TE with attitude question marks and durability concerns. While I wouldn’t mind having him on my fantasy team, regardless of scoring system, I know it’s not going to fit in with my draft plan because of how high he’s being selected.
Current ADP: 5.02 | 3rd TE selected

Thanks for reading folks and if you’ve got any comments, questions, or complaints please bang them out below and you can also send ‘em my way to joe@thefantasyexchange.com