It's Only Preseason, but ... James Davis Is Already Bringing the 'Thunder'

Preseason performance can often be misleading or misconstrued. We can, however, learn things from certain important players by simply paying attention. "It's only preseason, but ... " spins what we're seeing from an individual and how it impacts his fantasy value.

When a team's quarterback battle is at the forefront, it's very easy for other storylines to get lost. Enter running back James Davis, the Cleveland Browns' sixth-round pick, who's quietly having a noteworthy preseason and raising his fantasy football hype with each showing.

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Davis, who was known as "Thunder" during his time at Clemson, rushed for over 3,000 yards and 36 touchdowns over his first three seasons. His yards per carry was 5.0 or above in each of his first three seasons. But after a "down" senior year of only 751 yards, Davis slipped down NFL draft boards. While Davis' performance was inconsistent, Clemson's offensive line was also to blame.

Humbled and anxious to prove his worth, Davis has impressed over Cleveland's last two preseason games with his burst and sharp cutbacks (sound familiar? He reminds some of a young Jamal Lewis). Against Tennessee on Saturday night, Davis rushed five times for 28 yards and caught four passes for 27 yards. Lewis sputtered for 23 yards on 10 carries.

But it was this 81-yard touchdown run versus Detroit that really seemed to catapult Davis from last-round flier to legitimate fantasy sleeper:

Reports started to crop up recently that Lewis looked "decidedly unquick" and "slow and tentative". While it's important not to overreact to training camp talk, there is no arguing that Davis' Average Draft Position of No. 172 is far too low.

Lewis is 30 years old and coming off a clean-up surgery on his ankle. Davis is seven years younger and a hungry rookie. So far this preseason, Davis' yards per carry stands at 7.8. Lewis? He's averaging 2.6 yards. Early on, we talked about how versatile back Jerome Harrison could be one to watch, but now that Harrison has been sidelined the last three weeks with an ankle injury, our attention shifts firmly over to Davis.

Also consider Lewis is only signed through 2010. He's still going to be the starter this year and a willing mentor for the rookie, but it's not a stretch to think Davis could be starting, or at least in a timeshare, by season's end.

At the very least, Davis looks like an underrated keeper and it's time to get him stashed in standard leagues as well.