Most fantasy players will have their drafts within the next week to 10 days. Here are some fantasy football sleepers and busts to keep in mind when making your picks. We’ll look back at mid-season and see how I did with my predictions.

The Sleepers
Jake Delhomme (Quarterback, Carolina): This guy is hanging around until the last few rounds of almost every draft, and he’s a steal at that point. Delhomme is coming off Tommy John surgery and may start the season a little slowly, especially with Steve Smith sitting out the first two games, but he’s always been an accurate passer. Yes, the Panthers are going to run the ball more in 2008 so Delhomme won’t have the value of an elite QB, but if you can snag him as you’re back-up/bye-week starter, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Ricky Williams (Running back, Miami): You mean washed-up, oft-suspended, maybe-I’ll-retire-again Ricky Williams? Yes, that Ricky Williams. He’s been proclaimed the starter for the Dolphins yet he’s still getting picked behind Ronnie Brown in most drafts (usually around Round 5 or 6). If you can snag him in Round 5, that’s great value.

Willie Parker (Running back, Pittsburgh): This guy has fallen out of the top 20 running backs on most cheat sheets and that’s way too low. People are afraid of him because he wasn’t scoring touchdowns last year before he got hurt and because of the arrival of rookie Reshard Mendenhall. That’s a mistake. If Parker is still there in the middle of the second round, gobble him up.

Kevin Walter (Wide receiver, Houston): This guy probably falls under the category of deep sleeper because he will still be available in the final two rounds of your draft. He starts opposite Andre Johnson and has an improving quarterback in Matt Schaub. He has all the tools to be a solid No. 3 receiver for most fantasy teams.

Zach Miller (Tight end, Oakland): Another deep sleeper, Miller can be picked up late as a high-risk starter or quality back-up. There aren’t a lot of receiving options in Oakland and JaMarcus Russell is going to have to dump the ball off to somebody when his offensive line collapses. Miller should be that guy.

The busts
Julius Jones (Running back, Seattle): Jones won’t even start for the Seahawks and he certainly won’t be their goal-line back. Teammate Maurice Morris has better value at this point. Let somebody else waste a too-high pick on Sir Julius.

Bernard Berrian (Wide receiver, Minnesota): This will upset a lot of Vikings’ fans, but Berrian is nursing a sore toe that also forced him to miss games a year ago. Plus, quarterback Tarvaris Jackson still has to prove himself a viable starter before Berrian has much value. Berrian is being rated as a No. 2 receiver on many cheat sheets but he should be a No. 3 or 4 at best.

Ronnie Brown (Running back, Miami): It’s simple —,you just don’t come back from ACL surgery that quickly — especially if you’re a running back. He may be productive by the end of the year, but if you’re relying on him as a starter from Week 1, you will regret it.

Joey Galloway (Wide receiver, Tampa Bay): He’s older than dirt, he has a conservative quarterback in Jeff Garcia and the Buccaneers’ overall offense just isn’t that good. He’s being drafted as a No. 2 or 3 receiver by many fantasy owners, but he’s a No. 4 at best.

Plaxico Burress (Wide receiver, N.Y. Giants): When he’s good, he’s very good but when he’s bad, he’s invisible. His production was non-existent last year from Weeks 7-16. You certainly don’t want that in your No. 1 or 2 receiver. Plus, he always has nagging injuries. Let somebody else have the headache.

Jim Rueda is the Free Press sports editor. To contact him, call 344-6381 or e-mail him at jrueda@mankatofreepress.com