Sweet Spots: Average players in great position to exceed expectations

To be a useful fantasy option, not every player needs to possess first-round pedigree or have previously enjoyed sustained success. They just need to be in the right place at the right time. The following players are worth watching throughout the preseason.

TE Zach Miller, Bears

Miller made a return to the NFL in 2015 after having not played since 2011. While he suited up for 15 games, it wasn't until the second half of the season that he made an impact as a pass catcher, with the opportunity emerging due to a myriad of injuries in the Bears' receiving corps.

Over his last seven games, Miller recorded a 29-381-4 receiving line, good for an average of 54 yards per contest. With Martellus Bennett being traded to the Patriots in the offseason, Miller was given a new two-year contract, and should enter 2016 as the unquestioned starter at tight end.

Miller and Bennett each finished with 439 yards receiving in 2015. Though Bennett played in four fewer games, it took him 53 receptions to hit the same yardage mark; Miller needed just 34.

It's possible Miller won't be drafted in most 10-team leagues, but he's a name to keep an eye on in deeper formats in case he builds on his strong finish to 2015. If nothing else, he should be a viable bye-week or injury replacement.

WR Chris Hogan, Patriots

Signed as a restricted free agent from the Bills, the 27-year-old Hogan's numbers were modest during his three years in Buffalo. Last season, he caught 36 passes for 450 yards and two TDs while playing in all 16 games, and posted similar statistics in 2014.

Over the years, the New England offense has made stars out of undervalued assets like Wes Welker and Julian Edelman, so the fact that the Patriots targeted Hogan with an offer sheet shows they clearly hold him in high regard.

Hogan has never missed a game in his three seasons, and that good health may be his path to fantasy relevance, as current starting receivers Edelman and Danny Amendola aren't exactly ironmen. Edelman missed seven games in 2015 and two in 2014, while Amendola has only played all 16 games twice in seven career seasons.

Last season's fourth-leading pass catcher, Brandon LaFell, wasn't retained after a disappointing year that saw him haul in only 37 of his 74 targets for 515 yards and zero TDs. A more reliable version of LaFell is likely Hogan's destiny when the entire receiving corps is healthy, but there's the potential for more in the event of injuries.

It may take a few weeks, but once QB Tom Brady returns from his four-game suspension and one of the players ahead of him goes down injured, Hogan should emerge as a key contributor in New England's pass-heavy offense.

RB Alfred Morris, Cowboys

While Morris fell in and out of favor in Washington last season and recorded career-lows in carries (202), yards (751) and touchdowns (1), there's lot to like about his move to the arch-rival Cowboys. While the 27-year-old projects to be a backup to rookie Ezekiel Elliott, he should thrive if he assumes the starting role for whatever reason.

Dallas' ballyhooed offensive line has allowed various running backs to be successful over the last few seasons. In 2014, when the Cowboys finished 12-4, the team ranked second overall in both total rushing yards and yards-per-carry. DeMarco Murray was the breakout star, recording a career-best 1,845 yards on the ground.

The team slipped to ninth in total rushing yards and fifth in YPC last season, but the loss of QB Tony Romo for all but four games destroyed the balance of the offense. Darren McFadden totaled more than 1,000 yards rushing for just the second time in his career.

McFadden is reportedly a candidate to be traded, so Morris' path to regular touches has cleared slightly, though Elliott will likely handle a heavy workload. Once backup running backs start being drafted purely on speculative bases, there's no reason Morris shouldn't be among them, as he's an injury away from featuring for a team that excels on the ground.

QB Chase Daniel, Eagles

While Daniel spent six years as a backup in New Orleans and Kansas City, starting just two games, he received a surprisingly lucrative contract to join new coach Doug Pederson in Philadelphia. Pederson served as the Chiefs' offensive coordinator during Daniel's time there, so he's clearly confident in the Missouri product's abilities.

Sam Bradford will begin as the starter, but he's far from an ironman, having played just 21 of 48 games over the last three seasons and missing all of 2014. With Carson Wentz, the second overall pick in the 2016 draft, possibly serving a red-shirt season of sorts, the door is open for Daniel to see playing time if Bradford struggles or gets injured.

He's not worth drafting in standard leagues, but is worth keeping an eye on in two-QB formats once the season begins. The Eagles don't lack for receiving weapons, with Jordan Matthews, Zach Ertz, Rueben Randle and newly-acquired Dorial Green-Beckham at the disposal of whomever is under center.

TE Vance McDonald, 49ers

McDonald recorded career-bests in receptions (30), targets (46), yards (326) and TDs (3) in 2015, his third NFL season. Those modest numbers wouldn't normally place him on anyone's fantasy radar heading into 2016, but the arrival of new coach Chip Kelly heightens the appeal of a relatively anonymous player like McDonald.

Kelly favors a fast-paced offense, and his Eagles ranked fifth and sixth, respectively, in pass attempts in 2014 and 2015. By contrast, the 2014 49ers threw the 29th-most passes, and last year's team threw the 24th-most.

Last season's leading receiver, WR Anquan Boldin (69-789-4), is now a Lion, and little in the way of replacements were brought in. With longtime TE Vernon Davis traded midway through 2015, McDonald should continue to be the top dog at his position, and there's plenty of targets to go around among the receiving corps.

The tight end position was heavily featured in the Eagles' passing game, with Ertz and Brent Celek combining for 102 catches and 1,251 yards in 2015. That was up slightly from a 2014 that saw the duo jointly record 90 catches and 1,042 yards.

McDonald isn't worth drafting in all but the deepest of leagues, but is certainly a name to monitor as Kelly puts his stamp on the offense.