Summer Sleeper: Baltimore Ravens
With fantasy season right around the corner, we’re continuing our annual series focusing on a few sleepers from all 32 teams in the NFL. You can find all of the Summer Sleeper articles here.
These sleepers all have varying levels of “sleeperness,” but all merit a little more talking about here in the Premium Content section. Some of these players are deep dynasty sleepers who could merit a spot on your bench in a deep league, while others are players who may contribute a little faster than the deep prospects, but deserve more attention than they may be getting. By definition, a sleeper could mean something a little different to everyone, but we’re simply doing the best job we can to unearth one player from each team who fits the category in some way, shape or form.
We’ll never insult you with a comprehensive list of “sleepers” which include such such dynasty mainstay names as Toby Gerhart, Christine Michael or Cordarrelle Patterson. You’re all too good for that.
While many of these players will undoubtedly fizzle, there’s more value in looking more closely at these deeper prospects and players. We invite you to keep an open mind and either or re-assess your value on those who may be rostered in your league or consider adding a few of these deeper prospects we focus on this Summer who are free agents in your league – after all, some are destined to pan out, too.
Feel free to add your own comments about our choice for the designated sleeper, or nominate one of your own!
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This is it, last sleeper of the 2014 season!
Owen Daniels, TE BAL
The Baltimore Ravens saw a collapse on offense in 2013 with little going right. Torrey Smith did manage his first 1,000 yard season, but even that was disappointing when taking into account his 47% catch rate and only four touchdowns. Joe Flacco had more interceptions (22) than touchdowns (19) and finished 27th in quarterback per game fantasy performance, the worst of his career. I would get into the running game, but why bother? Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce had miserable seasons and Rice found a way to make his off-season even worse. Dennis Pitta did offer some hope in his return from injury late in the year, so that’s something.
Baltimore’s biggest acquisition this off-season may have been the addition of new offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak. This is the same guy who coaxed over 4,000 yards passing out of a Houston Texans offense last year that suffered through quarterback injuries and a declining Matt Schaub. With him, Kubiak brings an offensive playbook that focuses on large personnel sets with multiple tight ends. That brings us to our Baltimore sleeper, a familiar face to Kubiak who should occupy a key role in those large offensive schemes.
Owen Daniels, up until now, has made a name for himself as a member of the Houston Texans. Since joining the team in 2006 (the same year Kubiak took over as Head Coach), Daniels has since compiled nearly 400 receptions for 4,600 yards and 29 touchdowns including three 60-catch seasons. This, of course, was in the lead role at tight end but it also only accounts for about 50% of the annual tight end statistics during Kubiak’s time in Houston. Looking below, you can see the total numbers accumulated by the tight end position in Houston from 2006 to 2013, the years Kubiak ran the Texans.
Breaking down these numbers further, you can see the difference in the first and second half of Kubiak’s tenure on tight end production.
What this shows us is that even if you are projecting a 60 catch, 750 yard, six touchdown season for Dennis Pitta this year (which seems reasonable), there are still 40 more catches for 400 yards and three touchdowns out there for Daniels at a minimum. That will play in deeper leagues and given the 2012 and 2011 seasons where he wasn’t hurt, there is upside for more. Also, given Pitta’s brief injury history, Daniels is only one play away from another strong season (last year, Daniels was on pace for 75 catches and 800 yards before injury struck).
Now, I am not going to tell you Daniels is a high upside play or even can avoid the injury bug (something he has struggled with throughout his career). What is being said here is that when you need to play deep and you are getting to the backend of the starting tight end crop; this is a high end backup who could produce TE2 stats at the end of the year.
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