NFL 2009 Sleeper Picks

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Average Joe is back after a hectic summer of uncertainty and what not. I am back working for the Z bank, and I have had the time to really think about some sleepers for the upcoming NFL season.

Once again, all the “experts” picked the same division winners as last year in all their season predictions. It drives me crazy that nobody has the guts to take a chance on their picks. In the NFL, there are 32 teams and only 12 make the playoffs. Of those 12 playoff teams, every season an average of 6 new teams make the playoffs while 6 drop out, only about 6 return to the playoffs from the following season.

I like to think of the sleeper teams that will shock people that will make the playoffs or win the division.

Last season, my team, the Baltimore Ravens plus the Atlanta Falcons were the two sleepers from the previous year. In 2008, both teams were picked to finish last in their divisions because they had finished last in 2007. Both teams made the playoffs. It has been a pretty wild offseason, and I think I am ready to make the picks of the surprise teams for this year. Last year I picked the Lions. They became the only defeated team in NFL history at 0-16. But you know what, I took a risk, and my other sleeper prediction “the Baltimore Ravens” were one quarter away from making the Super Bowl.

Here is my sleeper picks for this season:

AFC: Kansas City Chiefs: They could easily win the West now that Herm Edwards is gone. Plus they have a real QB now, and a quality RB.

NFC: St. Louis Rams: They have a quality QB, a quality RB, and a new coach which could translate into a lot of wins in their weak division.

My fantasy football team is going to rock as well. I had the second pick in the draft and here is my lineup.

QB Carson Palmer

QB Matt Schaub

WR Randy Moss

WR Greg Jennings

WR Torry Holt

WR Bernard Berrian

RB Adrian Peterson

RB Reggie Bush

RB Ray Rice

RB Jonathan Stewart

TE Jason Whitten

TE Todd Heap

K Steve Haushka (Baltimore)

Def Baltimore

I could be celebrating come January!