2012 Fantasy Football Sleepers: San Diego Chargers Wide Receiver Vincent Brown

The San Diego Chargers look to return to the playoffs for the first time since the 2009 season after falling just short of the AFC West title in 2009 following an 8-8 finish during the regular season. One way the Chargers can get back to the playoffs is a big season from second-year wide receiver Vincent Brown–which is why he’s on the lit of 2012 fantasy football sleepers for the upcoming season.

Despite only catching 19 passes for 329 yards and two touchdowns in 2011, Brown showed plenty of potential at times as a rookie and has an opportunity to make a bigger impact in San Diego’s passing game heading into the upcoming season now that Vincent Jackson is no longer around. Jackson has been considered the team’s top wide receiver over the last couple of seasons, but he signed a hefty five-year deal for $55.55 million with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the offseason–which many believe had to do with the fact that the Chargers were never willing to give him the long-term deal he spent years fighting for.

With Eddie Royal, Robert Meachem, and Malcolm Floyd on the roster, it’s highly unlikely Brown becomes the team’s No. 1 or No. 2 wide receiver for the team–but that doesn’t mean he won’t receive plenty of passes thrown his way. If anything, Brown has the opportunity to at least compete with these other receivers to be the team’s No. 3 wide receiver–which makes him a solid sleeper pick to consider for the upcoming season.

If he’s available in the later rounds, fantasy owners would be wise to strongly consider Brown as one of their backup wide receivers in case he does end up having a breakout year.