Just as it did last year, The Disappearing Acts falls in line as the fourth category of my Sleepers Series. It is one of my favorites because I have a soft spot for the guys that can overcome repeated adversity to once again find success.

Unless it's a lazy bum finally deciding not to be a lazy bum (I'm looking at you, Mike Williams), The Disappearing Acts that do stage a comeback are natural feel good stories. And who doesn't like a feel good story?

So before getting to this year's group, here's a quick rundown of the best and worst stories from last season:

Best – Sadly it's Devin Aromashodu, whose 468 receiving yards were second on the Vikes even though he tallied just one score.

Worst – Well pretty much everyone else, although the nod goes to Antonio Bryant, who could not land on a roster for a second comeback attempt.

- Steven Smith, WR, St. Louis Rams (5-11, 195 ; age 27)
It would actually be hard for someone who is just two full seasons removed from a 107-catch, 1,220-yard Pro Bowl year to fly further under the radar than Smith. After a remarkable breakout in 2009, he was quickly forgotten when Hakeem Nicks upstaged him early in 2010 and a midseason knee injury cost him seven games, led to microfracture surgery and ultimately his departure from the Giants and anything resembling fantasy relevance. But after a failed stint last year as an Eagle, one during which he was never quite right health-wise, Smith has resurfaced in St. Louis, where a complete and utter lack of an established wide receiver leaves the door wide open for a comeback. Being nearly two years removed from the surgery that sapped his ability as one of the league's best route-runners, Smith should be able to re-establish himself as a Ram and one of Sam Bradford's favorite targets. If he flashes those Pro Bowl moves come August, don't forget about him at the end of your draft(s).

- Jacob Tamme, TE, Denver Broncos (6-3, 236 ; age 27)

When Dallas Clark was knocked out of the line-up in 2010 and Tamme took over as Peyton Manning's top tight end it was no shocker that his production sky-rocketed. Coincidentally, with Manning out last season and Clark healthy once again, Tamme went back to the scrap heap of worthless players. Now that he is re-united with Manning in Denver as the team's likely top tight end and No. 3 overall target, it shouldn't take too many brain cells to pull Tamme pack off the heap and place him squarely in the top-12 tight ends, right where any Manning favorite belongs.

- Mike Goodson, RB, Oakland Raiders
 (6-0, 212 ; age 25)
Goodson piled up 495 total yards and three scores in a five-game stretch for Carolina in 2010 when DeAngelo Williams was out hurt and Jonathan Stewart was banged up, and he was rewarded with the top spot in The Flashers category last spring. Unfortunately, a variety of injuries prevented him from carrying that momentum into 2011 and ultimately kept him off the field for virtually the entire season. At 100|PERCENT| now, Goodson finds himself in an even better situation than the crowded backfield of Carolina. Being behind Darren McFadden—one of the league's most injury-prone rushers—has allowed many opportunities for the Raiders' top backup the past four seasons. And with Goodson's vision to find cutback lanes and ability to accelerate quickly, he could produce big numbers when he gets his shot to start. Consider him a priority handcuff on draft day.

- Rashad Jennings, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars (6-1, 228 ; age 27)

Last year I talked up Jennings in The Flashers after an impressive close to the 2010 season that included four scores in the final six games. Part of my reasoning was that the Jaguars might want to limit Maurice Jones-Drew's touches to preserve his bruising body for more seasons. Since Jennings went on IR in the 2011 preseason with an unclear knee injury, all MJD did was pack on another 386 touches to his Mighty Mouse frame. With Jones-Drew holding out for a contract extension and Jennings already returned to full health and impressing a new coaching staff in OTA's, a time-share could finally come into effect this season. Translation: Jennings should once again be at worst a high-end handcuff come August.

- Jacoby Ford, WR, Oakland Raiders (5-9, 185 ; age 24)

After posting seven total touchdowns and 625 yards from scrimmage as a rookie, Ford fell off significantly last season as he battled a myriad of injuries. Entering last season I ranked him among my favorite sleepers because of his incredible explosiveness. His speed can only be matched by a handful of players in the league and when he gets his hands on the ball, whether it's as a receiver, a runner or a returner Ford is one of the league's most dynamic playmakers. He'll come into year three behind Darrius Heyward-Bey and Denarius Moore on the receiver depth chart, but expect the Raiders to get creative with getting him the ball and utilizing his sub-4.3 homerun speed to generate yards in big chunks.

- Jordan Shipley, WR, Cincinnati Bengals (6-0, 188 ; age 26)
A prototypical slot receiver, Shipley immediately flashed his tremendous PPR upside as a rookie in 2010, snagging 52 balls despite the presence of future Hall-of-Famer Terrell Owens and perennial diva Chad OchoCinco. With both of them out of town last year, Shipley projected as a great security blanket for rookie quarterback Andy Dalton until a torn ACL in Week 2 ended Shipley's season. If fully recovered this summer, Shipley should slide right back into the slot and have solid production as a sure-handed, savvy route-running option for Dalton. It's not likely he'll produce like he could have last year with A.J. Green and Jermaine Gresham firmly established with Dalton, but the upside is there in PPR leagues if he can beat out rookies Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones for targets.

- David Gettis, WR, Carolina Panthers (6-3, 216 ; age 24)

Cam Newton is a pure talent and with his tremendous work ethic and devotion to excellence, it can be presumed that he will improve his game as he matures and gains greater experience. And that should seriously benefit the weapons that surround him. After tearing the ACL in his left knee last August, Gettis should be in line to return as one of those weapons come training camp. A highly gifted athlete with big play ability and uncoachable size, Gettis might emerge as one of Newton's favorite toys in the passing game, particularly if fellow third-year receiver Brandon LaFell struggles to take the next step forward in his development. After the aging Steve Smith and tight end Greg Olsen, the pass catchers in Carolina are a complete mixed bag, and Gettis, who outperformed LaFell during their rookie season in 2010 could rise out of the pack, particularly if he can remain a major downfield threat following his knee injury.

- Sam Bradford, QB, St. Louis Rams (6-4, 224 ; age 24)

A high ankle sprain cost Bradford six games, a new offensive system and a shortened offseason slowed down his development and a complete lack of receiver talent for most of the year put a major cramp in his production. Bradford displayed the talent of a No. 1 overall draft pick as a rookie, posting over 3,500 yards and tossing 18 scores, but struggled mightily through year two. In 2011 he only topped 200 yards passing four times and threw just six measly touchdowns. With some upgrades at receiver in Smith, Brian Quick and Chris Givens, and with Danny Amendola returning, he should have enough weapons to get back to at least where he was as a rookie. And with a new coaching staff, a less complicated offensive system and a full offseason, Bradford could even take a step forward and become the high-end backup or matchup starter most expected him to be last year.

- John Carlson, TE, Minnesota Vikings (6-5, 251 ; age 28)

Having spent all of 2011 on IR with a torn labrum in his shoulder that required surgery, Carlson seems like he might belong in the Once Walking Wounded category. But the fact of the matter is that he disappeared in 2010 long before missing last year to injury. The arrival of Pete Carroll in Seattle spelled doom for the tight end play, as he really hasn't utilized the position for much more than an extra blocker in his two seasons as head coach. Having now moved on to a Vikings team that could be severely hurting for receiver depth after Percy Harvin and intends to run a lot of two tight end sets for their young quarterback, Christian Ponder, Carlson's name suddenly has some intrigue to it again. After all, he did top 100 receptions and post 12 scores his first two seasons in the league. Year 5 could be a big bounce-back for him.

- Eddie Royal, WR, San Diego Chargers (5-10, 185 ; age 26)

In a highly impressive and unexpected rookie season, his only with Jay Cutler, Royal posted 91 catches for 980 yards and five scores. In the three years since—all relatively healthy seasons—he has compiled just a total of 115 catches, 1,127 yards and four scores with more than half those totals coming during Josh McDaniels' pass-happy 2010 season. So while the diminutive dynamo that once appeared to have the future of a slot receiver extraordinaire has completely vanished from fantasy consciousness the past three years, a rebirth in San Diego is possible given the live arm of Philip Rivers and the lack of an established No. 1 wideout. If he can step forward in the preseason as the capable and consistent threat Rivers has never had out of the slot, earmark Royal for high priority on the waiver wire.

- Shaun Hill, QB, Detroit Lions (6-3, 220 ; age 32)

Having missed 19 of 32 possible games over his first two years in the league it seemed like a strong cough could injure Matthew Stafford. And one brilliant season later that fact seems all but lost on the fantasy landscape. When he missed 13 games in 2010 Hill, a wily, gunslinger of a quarterback stepped in to fill the void as best he could. In nine games that he started and finished Hill averaged just shy of 280 passing yards per contest and 15 touchdowns, numbers that if averaged over 16 games would look like 4,400 yards and 27 scores. And Hill did that without the benefit of Titus Young or anything other than a very green Jahvid Best out of the backfield. So suffice it to say if the former Mr. Glass of QB's became broke again, Hill would be an instant waiver wire pick-up.

- Donnie Avery, WR, Indianapolis Colts (5-11, 183 ; age 28)
The first wide receiver selected in the 2008 NFL draft (33rd overall), Avery showed flashes of major playmaking skills during his first two seasons despite nagging injuries. In that span he totaled 100 grabs, 1,362 scrimmage yards and nine scores while displaying exceptional quickness and burst. When a torn ACL during the 2010 preseason cost him that entire year and basically wiped out last season as well, Avery likely came off every fantasy radar. But now that he is healthy and competing in a thin Indy receiving corps, he should be placed firmly back on your radar until at least the conclusion of the preseason. With Austin Collie's past concussion issues, it's possible that Avery could climb as high as Andrew Luck's No. 2 wide receiver this year. For a team that will likely have to pass often, that could pay some nice dividends.

- Le'Ron McClain, RB, San Diego Chargers (6-0, 260 ; age 27)

During Ray Rice's rookie season in 2008, McClain took advantage of the young back's struggles and the poor health of then-starter Willis McGahee. He revved up his tank and took advantage to the tune of just over 1,000 total yards and 11 scores. Entering his first season in San Diego, he could have to call upon his bruising moves in the red zone to replace the mini-tank that was Mike Tolbert. The past two seasons Tolbert took tremendous advantage of Ryan Mathews' inability to stay healthy, turning a tiny window of opportunity into 19 vultured rushing touchdowns. If Norv Turner looks to keep limiting Mathews' touches, he could make good on the claim he made when the team signed McClain that the powerful fullback will be used for more than just clearing running lanes. If that's true or if Mathews fails to stay upright, don't forget about this one-time touchdown thief.

- Steve Slaton, RB, Miami Dolphins (5-9, 209 ; age 26)
A lot of guys have vanished off the fantasy radar for a year or two only to re-emerge with a big season, and that wasn't lost on me when creating this category last year. Antonio Bryant is referenced in the description for a reason. But the real reason I created the category was because I needed somewhere to put Slaton. And just like last spring, I still firmly believe that this former fantasy darling could mount a comeback if he found the right situation. With a new coaching staff, that could be in Miami, but more than likely he will need to land elsewhere to make an impact. The Dolphins are deep enough with the presence of Reggie Bush, Daniel Thomas and Lamar Miller that Slaton may find himself let go in late August. If say, the Packers, who have an injury-prone starter in James Starks and Alex Green coming off an ACL tear, decide to find depth, I think Slaton would be a great fit and a suddenly interesting fantasy investment. It's a long ways off now, but the man did rack up 1,659 total yards and 10 scores as a rookie in 2008. If Slaton's scenery changes, so too should your opinion of him.

- Mike Sims-Walker, WR, Free Agent (6-2, 211 ; age 27)
MSW began what appeared to be a breakout in 2009 when he fell a bit shy of 900 receiving yards in 14 games. And though he regressed in 2010, he still posted seven scores for a consecutive season. Then last year, with a chance to fill the No. 1 receiving role in a Josh McDaniels offense, he just vanished. Sims-Walker was awful in his brief tenure as a Ram and lasted four games in St. Louis before returning to a Jacksonville team that desperately needed him, but ultimately didn't want him. Now he is dangling on that dangerous free agency precipice that could see him fall off into football oblivion just as easily as return to a once-promising career. A tryout with the Texans was his most recent stop, but if that slips through his fingers, he may spend another year languishing. If Sims-Walker does make a squad in need of help though, put the lanky, athletic wideout with competitive ball skills on your waiver-wire radar.