When discussing 2010 sleeper candidates, you won’t get far into any conversation before having Devin Aromashodu’s (D.A.) name pop up as a favorite sleeper.
While not having the same finish as Jerome Harrison (CLE RB), Aromashodu did himself no harm by amassing 22 catches, 282 yards and 4 TDs in his last 4 games of the 2009 season. This is a notable performance for a previously unknown WR that spent 2008 on a practice squad prior to catching only a handful of passes from Peyton Manning in 2007.
Looking forward to 2010, just how much of a sleeper is Devin Aromashodu?
Coming out of Auburn, Aromashodu was productive if not unspectacular, amassing 50+ catches, just over 1,000 yards and 8 TDs in his last two years. Tall, rangy and with better playing speed than given credit for, Aromashodu was drafted originally by the Miami Dolphins in the 7th round of the 2006 NFL draft. Prior to the final four games of the 2009 season with the Bears, Aromashodu’s most notable time came during the final games of the 2007 season in Indianapolis, when he first caught my attention. From this period of time, I have had him on my sleeper list and had high hopes for him as he battled Roy Hall for the WR4 position in Indi, eventually losing the battle and being cut.
When we last saw D.A., he was lighting up the MIN and DET defenses in weeks 16 and 17 as well as “most added” reports of most dynasty leagues.
At 6’2″ and more than 200 lbs., Aromashodu has the size that projects very well in the NFL. Better yet, and unknown by most, he also ran a 4.35 40 in 2006, speed that was on display during that final four game stint late last year. Also consider that after CHI’s less-than-ideal year, Cutler went to D.A. early and often once confidence was established. In an offense somewhat starved for offensive performers in 2009, Aromashodu rose to the challenge and assured himself of being a starter heading into training camp, and most likely, the 2010 season. Whether he holds onto this status will be determined by his work ethic, progress and continued production.
Notable, too, is the fact that Chicago has now added the evil offensive genius, Mike Martz, as offensive coordinator. Most won’t mistake the Chicago offense for the Greatest Show on Turf (St. Louis Rams) of old, but there does exist at least the nucleus of what could be a productive offense. If the Chicago run game can be restored to that of 2008, opportunities for Jay Cutler and his receiver unit will exist. Standing to benefit from this is Devin Aromashodu.
In the NFL, WRs can explode onto the scene and fade away just as quickly (TB WR Michael Clayton) or arrive on the scene and become a household name (NO WR Marques Colston). In most cases, however, few really rise to any level of fantasy prominence. When looking for WR sleepers, you must be quick on the trigger but then have a modicum of patience while the player’s future takes shape for better or for worse. As mentioned in an earlier article, your roster spots are like gold and you cannot afford to hold a player for years while you hope for greater production (ATL WR Michael Jenkins) unless you have factored that into your strategy.
In most cases, you want to take a “catch and release” approach to your WR sleepers. Your release point determined by your level of depth, competitiveness and your needs in other areas. WRs, in general, are far too numerous and streaky to jump on every Johnny-come-lately who has a stand out performance during a given week.
Aromashodu has everything you could want to be the next previously unknown fantasy WR stud. Good hands, very good speed, coming off a confidence boosting 2009 finish and playing in an offense looking for play-makers behind a strong armed QB in Jay Cutler. Toss in Mike Martz and D.A. should have every opportunity to become the most productive WR in that offense. With Devin Hester moving to the outside or playing from the slot, Aromashodu should be nearly guaranteed a starting position. At 26 years of age, a full year of stats could find him in the top 30 in dynasty WR rankings … perhaps higher depending on final numbers.
Largely depending on your team’s current situation, Aromashodu will be either a prized sleeper candidate that could become an every-week starter or as a sell high candidate for ultra-competitive teams that have the depth to make it difficult to get him into the starting lineup. For the latter, do not be shy about dangling D.A. in trade as his sleeper status is not in question. For the former, I would still suggest dangling D.A. in hopes of finding a Bears fan or fellow coach that is more of a gambler and has D.A. on his radar, depending on his return value.
The odds for NFL WRs rising from obscurity to fantasy stardom suggest trading D.A. if you can get known value in return, letting another coach take that risk. If you have the luxury to wait out another year, there is the possibility that you have the next Marques Colston, but if you take that gamble, give yourself a timetable in which the experiment must come to an end when/if production isn’t realized.
I would be remiss if I didn’t give you at least my expectations for Aromashodu after making you read this far. I will admit that I am high on D.A., at least as far as my sleeper candidates go, but with a healthy level of skepticism giving his position and the reality of the situation. I believe the combination of his intangibles, along with his situation in Chicago, sets the table nicely for him to to emerge as a WR3 … and perhaps a bit higher with just the right amount of fairy dust. But note that this is all said fully understanding that his best value may be as a “trade high” prospect. You can never become “blind” to all possibilities.
Projection: 78 Receptions, 978 Yards, 7 TDs
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