The 2013-14 NBA season is approaching with many fantasy leagues starting to take shape. The NBA is pretty consistent on what to expect from the top players around the league from year to year. The hard part is finding the breakout star that will put your fantasy team over the top.

Here are the top fantasy NBA players for 2013-14:

LeBron James leads the list of must pick players each season as he continues to dominate each season. James is coming off another MVP season in which he averaged 26.8 points per game, 7.3 assist per game and 8 rebounds per game.

Dwight Howard should see his numbers increase this season with the Houston Rockets. Last season Howard was recovering from an injury and played in a system in which he was a third option. Howard still averaged 17.1 points per game and 12.4 rebounds per game.

Rajon Rondo will be the man in Boston for the Celtics this season. Rondo is the only veteran left after the team traded Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce this off-season. Rondo has the physical tools to score and set players up. Last season he finished as the only player to average double digits in assist with 11 per game. He also averaged 13.7 points per game and 5.6 rebounds per game.

Kevin Durant will be asked to do a lot early on for the Oklahoma City Thunder as they will be without Russell Westbrook. This should give him an opportunity to score the only downside is if teams double and triple team him someone will need to make plays to force teams to play him one on one.

Sleeper pick to turn the corner in 2013-14:

John Wall of the Washington Wizards. Wall was hurt last season for the start of the season but came on strong towards the end. If Wall is healthy he could average 22 points per game and 8 plus assist per game.

The Minnesota Vikings will travel to New York to take on the winless Giants. Peterson will get a crack at a Giants defense that has allowed the sixth most rushing yards this season.

The second game to watch from a fantasy standpoint is the Dallas Cowboys against the Philadelphia Eagles. These two teams like to throw the ball and have racked up over 2,000 yards of offense in six games. The Eagles rank second in the NFL averaging 449.8 yards a game. The Cowboys rank eleventh in yards and average 398.8 yards per game. The other positive note for fantasy owners is that these teams rank thirty-first and thirty-second in total offensive yards allowed.

Top Fantasy Quarterbacks For Week 7:

Tony Romo played against an Eagles team that is allowing over 20 points a game to opposing quarterbacks. In six games this season Romo has thrown for 1,693 yards, 14 touchdowns and three interceptions. In four of the six games Romo has thrown for at least two touchdowns.

Andrew Luck will take on the Denver Broncos on Sunday Night Football. The Broncos are allowing almost 19 points a game to opposing quarterbacks and if the Colts defense doesn’t slow down Peyton Manning and their offense it could become a shootout. Last week the Broncos defense allowed over 300 yards passing to Chad Henne.

Top Fantasy Wide Receivers For Week 7:

Mike Wallace and the Miami Dolphins take on AFC East rivals the Buffalo Bills. Wallace faces off against a Bills defense that has allowed the second most points to opposing wide receivers. In each of the last three games against the Bills the number one wide receiver for the opposing team had at least one touchdown and 85 yards receiving.

Dez Bryant was slowed down last week against the Washington Redskins but look for a big game this week. Bryant is tied for third in the NFL with six touchdown catches and will be going up against an Eagles defense that has allowed 1,887 yards passing in six games.

Top Running Backs For Week 7:

Adrian Peterson gets a chance for a big game on Monday Night Football. Peterson and the Vikings will be going up against a Giants defense that has allowed the sixth most rushing yards in the NFL.

DeAngelo Williams and the Carolina Panthers take on the St. Louis Rams in week 7. The Rams defense has allowed the opposing team number one running back to go over 140 yards in three of their last four games.

The anchor behind every good fantasy football team is the quarterback. In the end it comes down to how good your quarterback plays and it doesn’t matter if your in a yearly fantasy league or a daily fantasy league. This season we have seen a solid lineup of quarterbacks who are must start quarterbacks each week.

Peyton Manning headlines the list of the top fantasy quarterbacks in the league. Manning has the Denver Broncos sitting at 6-0 and tied for first place in the AFC West. In six games this season Manning has thrown for over 2,179 yards, 22 touchdowns and two interceptions.

Here are the other top fantasy quarterbacks in 2013:

Drew Brees continues to put up big numbers this season. In six games this season Brees has completed 157 passes for 1,958 yards. He has completed 66 percent of his passes and has 14 touchdowns.

Philip Rivers is doing everything he can out in San Diego for the Chargers. This is after losing both Malcolm Floyd and Danario Alexander for the season. Rivers has connected 72 percent of his passes for 1,847 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Matthew Stafford has put up 1,772 yards and this has been with an injured Calvin Johnson for most of the season. Stafford has 12 touchdowns and just 4 interceptions through the teams first six games this season.

Sam Bradford gets lost in the shuffle as he only has 1,432 yards passing but has thrown 13 touchdowns. If the St. Louis Rams can get a running game going look for his stats to grow in the second half of the season.

Jay Cutler has been excellent for the Chicago Bears this season. Cutler has 1,630 yards and 12 touchdowns. In the past two weeks he has started to build rhythm with Alshon Jeffery which has created more openings for Brandon Marshall.

Semyon Varlamov leads all goalies early in the 2013-14 NHL season. Varlamov has started the season with four wins and has a .970 save percentage for the Colorado Avalanche. He has also allowed only four goals in the four games he has played.

Selecting a goalie is key for most fantasy teams as goalies can account for up to fifty percent of all the fantasy categories. The key to a good fantasy hockey team is getting a top ranked goaltender and avoiding a below average one to man your net during the 2013-14 NHL season. When you look at goaltenders you want someone who will get your team 35 plus wins and put up some good stats as far goals allowed and save percentage.

Here are the top goaltenders to start the 2013-14 NHL season:

Semyon Verlamov leads the NHL in GAA and save percentage with at least four or more games.

Antti Niemi has given up seven goals early for the San Jose Sharks but is still one of the top goaltenders in the NHL. The key to Niemi is the team is winning big and he has five wins to start the season.

Tuukka Rask was phenomenal down the stretch of the Boston Bruins last season and ranks fourth in goals allowed with 1.41 in five games this season.

Josh Harding has helped Minnesota Wild to three wins in four games he has played at goalie. In those four games he has allowed one goal in each of the games he has played in saving .948 percent of shots.

One goalie not to sleep on in 2013-14 NHL Season:

Henrik Lundqvist started off slow last season and is off to another slow start this season. Down the stretch he helped the New York Rangers to ten wins, one tie and only three losses. In those games he allowed only 1.76 GAA and saved .934 of all shots. He replaced Martin Biron in the teams last game late and saved 16 of 17 shots that he faced.

We are almost a month before the start of the 2013-2014 season and it’s right about time we examined some of the top fantasy sleepers for the next season. Certainly, we already know who the most dominant players will be in the fantasy leagues. Although many teams made drastic changes during the offseason, the superstars who fill the stats sheets will again be reliable choices. For instance, players like Dwight Howard and Kevin Durant will still be top picks, despite the changes in their surroundings. However, there are some players under the scope that could make the difference next season and they should be considered as top fantasy picks.

Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans

Anthony Davis is not the best example of a fantasy sleeper. Many fantasy owners might already have spotted him. Although his selection hides a small dose of risk, the former first pick in the 2012 NBA Draft recorded a very solid rookie season. He is expected to be even better in 2013-2014, now that he has a bunch of reliable teammates on his side. In 2012-2013 Anthony averaged 13.5 PPG and also 8.2 rebounds and 1.8 blocks. He shot 51.6 percent from the floor while playing just 28.8 minutes per contest. If he manages to sustain his health throughout the season he will definitely be better. The additions of Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans are projected to allow him to find better shots on offense. As the opposing defenses will have more threats to pay attention to, Anthony will have a great chance to rise his shooting percentage, his scoring and also his assists. Anthony will have three capable scorers on his side, Eric Gordon, Evans and Holiday. Certainly, he has much more work to do, but he can be considered as a top fantasy sleeper for the next season.

Tristan Thompson, Cleveland Cavaliers

Tristan Thompson can be considered almost a certainty for a solid performance in 2013-2014. The No.4 pick of the 2011 NBA Draft recorded a productive season in 2012-2013. He averaged 11.7 points, 9.4 rebounds and also 1.3 assists per contest. He was the Cleveland Cavaliers’ starter and he is expected to be starting again. In addition, the main big men of the Cavs are battling to return to action healthy. That’s why Tristan Thompson will be the top choice for the team’s frontcourt. He can easily go on a 12-point 10-rebound season, maybe even higher.

Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls

Jimmy Butler is risky as a pick for the fantasy leagues. However, he might be a great reward for fantasy owners, too. The 24-year old guard recorded a terrific season in 2012-2013. He showcased his abilities and he set the tone for even better performances to come. His 8.6 PPG, 4.0 RPG and 1.4 assists may not surprise anyone. Nonetheless, if Chicago decides to part ways with Luol Deng, a move which is probable, then Jimmy Butler will have the chance to show his true value. His numbers are projected to go up next season, especially if Deng sees the exit door. Jimmy Butler showed that he has all the potential to emerge as one of the team’s best players.

The upcoming season is definitely going to be a drastically different one, in comparison to the 2012-2013 one. Thanks to all the changes that occurred around the league, the anticipation of the fans about the performance of their favorite teams is in high levels. Apart from the major star movement and the numerous trades, there are some players under the radar, who would be ideal choices for the fantasy leagues. Let’s take a look on some of the top fantasy sleepers for the 2013-2014 season.

Eric Bledsoe

Eric Bledsoe is considered to be an All-Star caliber player. Playing behind Chris Paul in LA didn’t allow him to truly show his potential and see much playing time. However, now, he will have a unique opportunity to showcase his true talent. The 23-year old guard will most probably be a starter, alongside Goran Dragic and he is expected to emerge as one of the team’s leaders. Bledsoe will definitely be one of the major offensive weapons for the Phoenix Suns. He is expected to be the leader of the team in many stat categories, like points, steals and possibly assists. No matter if he ends up playing at an All-Star weapon or not, the certain thing is that he will be more productive than the previous seasons.

Patrick Beverly

Patrick Beverly is an underrated guard, who could easily be a starter for the Houston Rockets. Despite his lack of NBA experience, during the 2013-2014 season, he did a decent job backing up Jeremy Lin. His numbers, 5.6 PPG, 2.7 RPG and 2.9 ASP certainly don’t impress anyone. Nevertheless, Patrick Beverly left promises for much better performances this season. He will still start off the bench unless Lin gets injured, but he could see more minutes. That’s what he tries to earn every time he steps his foot on the court. He has a three-pointer that goes down and this season things could get even easier for him, thanks to the dominant presence of Dwight Howard.

Wilson Chandler

Chandler might be the definition of a fantasy sleeper for the upcoming season. With Danilo Gallinari sidelined and his comeback not expected to happen any time soon, Chandler will be a full time starter for Denver Nuggets. An increase in his minutes translates in an increase in all of his stats.  He does have the talent and the quality as a player to defend the starting small forwad position perfectly and diminish the impact Gallinari’s injury has to the team. The 26-year old forward averaged 13.0 PPG, 5.1 RPG and also 1.3 APG last season. All that in just 25.1 MPG. Now, as he will have a much bigger role in the Nuggets’ rotation, his numbers will definitely raise. Fantasy owners should just have a look at his stats during the eight times he started last season. His numbers boomed to 19.0 PPG to go along with 6.0 RPG and 1.4 SPG. If he retains his health, then there is no reason he won’t be able to perform as well, maybe even better.

You may already have your favorites picked out for the 2013-2014 NHL fantasy hockey season, but what if you can’t get all the players that you want? Here are a few sleepers that may go unnoticed by your competitors.

Let’s start with the center from the Philadelphia Flyers. Vincent Lecavalier is a strong player coming off a tough year. He is sure to put up great stats, but may not get as much notice as he has in the past. Another player to look at in the center position is the Rangers’ Derek Stepan. After the show he put on in the Big Apple last season, you may be surprised to find him on this list. The fact is that many fantasy league coaches will write him off due to the shortened season. You can capitalize on that error in judgment.

If you can handle having a 40-something on your team, the Dallas Stars Ray Whitney can get you some points. He averaged nearly a point per game during the shortened season with more than one third of his points being scored on the power play. Ageism is the only reason he’ll be overlooked, but that’s good news for you.

Also, check out Loui Erikkson. Who? That’s right, the Boston Bruins right winger. He’s playing alongside Patrice Bergeron this year. That should mean more goals and a high +/- ratio. He should go late in your pool and provide a lot of points.

What about defensive players? A lot of fantasy coaches are afraid to select rookies, but defense is a great place to take a chance. Seth Jones, one of the Nashville Predators, should be high on your list and low on everyone elses. He was picked 4^th overall, but rookie concerns will have him go late in the pool. He’ll be teamed up with veteran Shea Weber this year which will help him to make quick progress. He’ll be an offensive threat as well when the opponents are short handed.

What about your goal keeper? The Vancouver Canucks have a new head coach and he’s big on defensive play (maybe you remember him from New York). That should cause Roberto Luongo to recover from his sub par season last year. He’s been a popular pick in the past, but his slump will make fantasy coaches gun-shy. That can result in a steal for you at the goalie position. 

Drew Brees and the undefeated New Orleans Saints travel to take on Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. This game has the making to be a shoot-out if Bill Belichick can get the Patriots offense going. The one positive note for the team is tight end Rob Gronkowski is expected to play for the first time this season.

In other great fantasy matchups the Green Bay Packers take on the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore. The Ravens secondary allowed over three hundred yards to Ryan Tannehill in week 5. Then on Sunday Night Football the Washington Redskins travel to take on the Dallas Cowboys. This game might end up being like the Cowboys verse Broncos game last week.

Top Fantasy Quarterbacks for Week 6:

Peyton Manning – The Broncos are coming off a 51-48 win in Dallas and host the 0-5 Jacksonville Jaguars at home. Manning has found ways to score against every team they have played this year and have the potential to throw five plus touchdowns for the second time this season. The Jaguars defense allowed three touchdown passes to Sam Bradford in week 5.

Andrew Luck – Coming off an impressive comeback victory against the Seattle Seahawks last week, Luck gets a shot at the 27^th ranked passing defense of the San Diego Chargers. The Chargers are also allowing the second most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.

Top Fantasy Running Backs for Week 6:

DeMarco Murray –  The Cowboys take on their NFC East rivals, the Redskins on a Sunday Night Football. Murray gets his shot at a Redskins defense that is allowing over 21 points to opposing running backs. In five games this season Murray has found the end zone just twice but is averaging nearly 80 yards a game.

Arian Foster – Last week against the San Francisco 49ers, Foster rushed for 98 yards on 21 carries and caught four passes for 20 yards. This week he gets a St. Louis Rams defense that is allowing over 122 yards to opposing running backs.

Top Fantasy Wide Receivers for Week 6:

A.J. Green – Andy Dalton and Green get to go up against a Buffalo Bills defense that is allowing over 33 fantasy points per game. Last week the Bills allowed 86 yards and a touchdown to Josh Gordon.

Demaryius Thomas – This pick could also be used for Wes Welker and Eric Decker. The reason behind the choice is Manning likes to spread the ball around and he didn’t get a touchdown grab in week 5. Thomas is also a deep threat who is capable of a big play on any pass.

Top Fantasy Tight Ends for Week 6:

Jimmy Graham – The sixth best fantasy player in the league based on points per game and number one overall if you remove the quarterbacks ahead of him. Last week Graham pulled in 10 catches for 135 yards against the Chicago Bears.

Julius Thomas – Like Jimmy Graham, Thomas is emerging as one of the best tight ends in the NFL. In week 6 he should have a good matchup against a Jaguars team allowing over 11 points per game to opposing tight ends.

Breakout Fantasy Player for Week 6:

Justin Blackmon – Last week Blackmon returned after his four-game suspension to catch five passes for 136 yards and a touchdown. This week he is going up against a Broncos team that allows over 31 points per game to opposing wide receivers.