The Kansan’s Fantasy Football writer Kelly Breckunitch will profile his top sleepers in a three-part series. Check the Kansan on Monday and Tuesday for more.

Just as sure as there will be players who will disappoint fantasy-football owners every year, there are also those players whose production on the field will surprise. Most owners refer to these players as “sleeper” picks. It is a guessing game trying to figure out which players will post unexpected numbers through the season, but here are some players to look for in your fantasy draft.

Some players come out of nowhere to score loads of fantasy points for their owners. Had anybody heard of Mike Furrey before last year? He had 98 catches, 1,086 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Also, according to Espn.com, Frank Gore was taken at an average pick of 65.8 and ended up being the fourth highest scoring running back.

This may be the year Ronald Curry is referred to as a full-fledged wide receiver. The departure of Randy Moss from Oakland makes room for Curry, the frontrunner for the No. 2 receiver slot in the Oakland system who’s battling with the struggling Mike Williams and a number of unknowns. The Raiders will be losing for almost the entire season, so the offense will be throwing plenty, and Curry’s athleticism as a converted quarterback should allow for some big plays in the passing game.

Last year Tatum Bell rushed for 1,025 yards in Mike Shanahan’s extremely productive running scheme in Denver. This post-season he was traded to Detroit and seemed to be designated as the backup to Kevin Jones. However, injury problems and poor performances in training camp from Jones may have opened the door for Bell. Right now, Espn.com has Bell listed as the No. 1 running back in Detroit. With Mike Martz as his offensive coordinator, Bell should be worked into a balanced and potent passing offense and benefit from the reliance on the passing game. His speed and elusiveness make him a player to watch in this offense.

There may be a silver lining hidden in the fiasco the Falcons have faced this off-season. The probable suspension of Michael Vick and the aging of Warrick Dunn may make for the emergence of Jerious Norwood. Atlanta has always split their running game multiple ways, and without a mobile quarterback like Vick, those extra carries could be passed on to the speedy Norwood. Rookie coach Bobby Petrino would be unwise to put too many eggs into the Joey Harrington basket, so it is likely we will see the same heavy rushing offense from Atlanta this season with a larger dose of Norwood.

San Francisco gave up 344.2 yards per game last year. They also had 34 sacks and 14 interceptions. The addition of Nate Clements and Patrick Willis, combined with the experience of Manny Lawson at linebacker last year should help improve the San Francisco defense. Clements will immediately boost the secondary, and the rush defense should come along through the season.

Expect to see Mike Nugent making a lot of field goals for the New York Jets this season. According to Yahoo.com, Nugent is the 18th ranked kicker in fantasy football. Now, kicker is not a position held in high regards in fantasy matters. Therefore, you could wait a while to get some good receivers and running backs and spend a late round pick on Mike Nugent, who has the potential to be a top ten kicker. He has a strong leg, which was proven in college, and he plays for a team with a solid offense that will get him a decent amount of both field goal and extra point attempts.

The Chiefs are excited about Brodie Croyle. Excited enough that they traded Trent Green to make way for Croyle. Damon Huard had a terrific season last year when he played while Green was injured and will have the number one spot coming into the regular season, according to Espn.com, but Croyle may get his opportunity sooner than you think. The Chiefs have a good rushing offense that would help Croyle ease into the starting role. Croyle has a strong arm and the leadership intangibles the Chiefs are looking for in their quarterback, so don’t be surprised if you see Croyle make an impact this year.

— Edited by Ashlee Kieler