With the opening of training camps for all 30 NFL teams in full throttle and the opening of the preseason schedule imminent it’s time to project some potential sleepers for the upcoming season. Every year a couple of teams emerge from the pack to exceed the projections of the so called experts. Last season the prime examples were the Arizona Cardinals and the Atlanta Falcons. Who is going to cast themselves as the sleeper teams of 2009? The opinions will vary as usual but the one that matters in this article is the author’s so here we go.

1.     Buffalo Bills: The Bills have all the makings of a dynamic offense. Not only because of the highly publicized addition of Terrell Owens but the sum of all the parts at the skilled positions have the capability of putting up prolific numbers. Lee Evans has been one of the most underrated wide receivers in the NFL over the last few seasons. His numbers haven’t been amongst the elite in the league only because the Bills have lacked another complimentary wide receiver than can stretch the field. With the addition of Owens he will not command as many double teams and look for him to emerge with a Pro Bowl type season. The Bills other receiver Josh Reed can now move back to his comfort zone of being the slot receiver. In addition Roscoe Parrish and Steve Johnson will make this unit one of the deepest in the AFC. The Bills are three deep at the running back position with Marshawn Lynch, Fred Jackson, and Dominic Rhodes. Trent Edwards enters his second full year as a starting quarterback and is primed for a big season. The big question mark will be the revamped offensive line which has 2 rookies projected to be starters. The defense will not be spectacular but has all the makings of a solid unit. The Bills special teams may be the best in the NFL.

2.     San Francisco 49’ers: Mike Singletary enters his first full season as head coach and will look to build upon the momentum that his club finished the 2008 season with. They say that good teams take on the personality of their head coach and this young club showed all the signs of doing so once Singletary too over. The strength of the team will be their defense and the running game. When healthy Frank Gore has proven to be one of the elite running backs in the NFL. Singletary likes to play smash mouth type football on offense and they will rely heavily on Gore who figures to get 20 to 25 carries per game. The defense has the capability of being one of the better stop units in the NFL this season. The huge question mark will be at quarterback where the incumbent Shaun Smith will attempt to hold off former number one overall pick Alex Smith. First round draft choice Michael Crabtree is threatening to holdout for the season which will do neither party any benefit. His signing will be the key to the offensive unit showing a marked improvement over their 2008 production.