The Disappearing Acts – these guys have shown their stuff. They've either put up big-time numbers or offered an extended glimpse of their playmaking skills, but they've vanished over the last year or two for whatever reason (often injury). Don't forget them though. You never know when a skilled player will return to prominence, a la Antonio Bryant's out-of-nowhere 2008.
- Donnie Avery, WR, St. Louis Rams (5-11, 192 ; age 26)
As a rookie Avery looked like he could be a big-play receiver for years to come. But the speedy deep threat made no strides in year two as he battled a slew of different injuries and missed all of last year's campaign after tearing his ACL in the preseason. Though he comes back to a very crowded receiving corps, it is a group that hasn't established a true number one WR. If he can recover his speed he could become a major weapon in Josh McDaniels' pass-heavy attack. Since he's a forgotten man, his price tag is very cheap. Watch this depth chart and his health close to draft time.
- Devin Aromashodu, WR, Chicago Bears (6-2, 201 ; age 27)
Aromashodu was the trendy sleeper pick entering last year after closing the '09 season with a flurry of out-of-nowhere big games. His upside seemed tremendous—the only receiver with any size in a Mike Martz spread-it-out attack led by a pure gunslinger. What's not to like about that mix? But after posting five catches in week 1 he somehow put himself in Martz's doghouse and had a whopping five receptions the rest of the season. It looks like he may be out of Chicago this year and, if that's the case, don't be surprised to see him put up numbers elsewhere. If no one spends a late rounder on him be prepared to lose him quickly on the wire.
- Steve Slaton, RB, Houston Texans (5-9, 201 ; age 25)
Talk about a fall from fantasy grace. After running wild in his rookie season (1,659 total yards, 10 scores) I was anointing Slaton the next big thing, even ranking him fourth overall on my top-200 prior to his sophomore campaign. But bunches of fumbles, a nerve injury and an undrafted-nobody-stealing-his-job-and-dominating-the-fantasy-world later Mr. Slaton is irrelevant. If he's stuck in Houston he's not even top-200 material. Forget fourth overall. He could be the fourth string on his own team this season! Yet he showed that he's got, or at least had, something special. If injuries mount in Houston or he finds another home, I'd roll the dice on him. After all, he's still only 25.
- Anthony Gonzalez, WR, Indianapolis Colts (6-0, 195 ; age 26)
Gonzalez was primed to break out in his third year and become the next in a great line of Peyton Manning's perennial 1,000-yard receivers. Then he caught an invisible bullet in his knee before he could take a step off the line of scrimmage in the 2009 season's first series. Since then he's been invisible. He's fought knee issues for two years and is an all but forgotten man in Indy. But if he can get healthy, perhaps it's not too late. Fact is, any Colts WR is worth watching on the waiver wire. Need I remind anyone of the Blair White project?
- Tyler Thigpen, QB, Miami Dolphins (6-1, 215 ; age 27)
Forced into the starting gig in Kansas City due to injuries, Thigpen came from absolutely no where in 2008 and became one of the top fantasy QB's over the final 10 games of the season. After finishing as a top-15 fantasy quarterback in '08 he was cast back into the shadows when KC traded for Matt Cassel. He was then shipped to Miami and sat behind the Chads (Pennington & Henne) for all of '09 and only saw one start last year. But Thigpen still has the potential to be effective with a strong arm and good running skills. As a potential free agent, he could rise again if he signs with a team like Minnesota or Tennessee who could use a veteran presence.
- Jerious Norwood, RB, Atlanta Falcons (5-11, 209 ; age 27)
After posting over 800 total yards and six scores in 2008 while playing alongside Michael Turner, Norwood has basically vanished the past two seasons. He was banged-up and unproductive in '09 and missed virtually all of last season with a torn ACL. A burner with 4.3 speed, Norwood was a terrific third down back his first three years, putting up at least 700 total yards in each while averaging nearly six yards a carry. A gifted receiver and good slashing runner with decent size, if he has not lost his speed to injury he could produce in a new backfield. Atlanta is not going to resign him, so he's worth watching if he goes somewhere lacking RB depth, like Miami.
- Antonio Bryant, WR, Free Agent (6-1, 192 ; age 30)
The prime example for this category has disappeared yet again, having missed all of the 2010 season with cartilage issues in his knee. Cincinnati was so concerned over Bryant's knee prior to last year that they didn't even bother placing him on IR, opting to release him instead. But Bryant has already proven he can come back from adversity. He missed all of 2007 after a failed drug test, yet returned in '08 to unexpectedly post top-10 receiver numbers, three years after his only other 1,000-yard season. Who's to say that he can't regain his health and reemerge for a few years to put up respectable numbers? Though he's 30 now, his history demands keeping an eye on him for one more year.