As a rookie last season, Oakland Raiders wide receiver Jacoby Ford wasn't involved in the offense until week seven, and he touched the ball on offense just 35 times -- 25 receptions, 10 rushes. But he made the most of those chances. Ford averaged 17.8 yards per touch and scored seven total touchdowns, three of which came on kick returns. Ford tends to make things happen with the ball in his hands, and Raiders head coach Hue Jackson wants to make that a more frequent occurrence this season. "Obviously, Jacoby is going to become a household name, because he has some very special ability," Jackson told the San Francisco Chronicle on Wednesday. "He's very good with the ball in his hands -- he's very good without the ball in his hands -- because he draws a lot of attention. "He's just scratching the surface of what he truly can be."

Fantasy Analysis:

Even before Jackson said this, Ford was one of my favorite sleepers for 2011. Last year, he basically forced the Raiders to use him more on offense, and he often came up big when called upon. Standing out among those were big games against Kansas City and Miami, which showcased his ability to not only catch the deep ball but catch passes of a high degree of difficulty. Plus, while most leagues don't count return yardage, those special-teams touchdowns are a neat, little bonus. Ford's stat totals are destined to be streaky because of Oakland's inconsistent QBs and Ford's all-or-nothing style of play. But he has tremendous upside and will provide another string of explosive, exciting moments this season. He's a fine mid-round pick.