It always is more dramatic, more emotionally satisfying when the hero saves the day at the last minute. There’s a feeling of euphoria when he swoops in to save the damsel just before certain doom. They never resolve the crisis halfway through the movie.

In the same manner, it is more gratifying as a fantasy owner to lean on a player taken late in the draft. Any bozo can select Aaron Rodgers with a top and ride his arm to greatness, but it took special insight last season to roll the dice on Cam Newton, then bask in his surprising glory.

Finding a sleeper in the late rounds who becomes a consistent contributor is the ultimate draft victory. But there’s a reason it doesn’t happen more often — it’s tough to do. Those players taken late are taken late because not much is expected of them by most owners.

When sifting through the late-round muck, you want high upside. Sometimes that upside is raw talent. Other times it’s opportunity. Whatever you do, don’t start taking sleepers in the middle rounds. Get guys there who are more stable earlier and save the gambles for later, when that genius sleeper pick can swoop in and save your draft.

QUARTERBACKS

Do not rely on sleepers as your starters. Instead, you’re looking for high-ceiling backups. Because of the high value placed on QBs, start targeting your backup in the middle rounds, rather than waiting until late. Matt Schaub and Jay Cutler are undervalued in Rounds 9-11. We think either can post numbers similar to Matt Ryan, who is drafted 2-3 rounds earlier.

If you still are looking late in the draft, check out Carson Palmer. Last season he was thrown into the mix with no time to adapt. Now, with a chance to learn the Raiders’ offense, he should improve. The vertical passing game and multiple deep threat makes him more valuable in yardage bonus leagues.

RUNNING BACKS

This is the hardest position to find hidden talent. The good ones go early, the average ones go not much later, and even the bad ones don’t make it to the final rounds. Your search criteria should include backups who play behind brittle backs and young runners who potentially could supplant the starter.

Ryan Williams falls into the later group. Beanie Wells never has been a fantasy mainstay, and though he was productive when healthy last season, we don’t consider him enormously reliable.

Many owners are overvaluing Adrian Peterson, who is going in Rounds 2-3 despite coming off an ACL/MCL tear. Yet Rashard Mendenhall had a similar injury and isn’t picked until the tail end of most drafts. Mendy is no AP, but there should not be a 10-round difference in where they are picked. Peterson is going way too high. Mendenhall is a much better value as a fourth or fifth RB.

WIDE RECEIVERS

This is the best position to gamble with late. We like the new San Francisco set of Randy Moss and Mario Manningham (just don’t end up with both). Alshon Jeffrey has some big upside in Chicago.

Our favorite is Danny Amendola. Think of him as Wes Welker Lite, Robin to your starters’ Batmen. He was one of Sam Bradford’s favorite target two seasons ago. Last year, he and Bradford were hurt. That shouldn’t happen again. We are confident he will be solid bye-week sub, and reasonably hopeful he could turn into something more.

Other WR names to monitor late: Jon Baldwin, Brandon LaFell, Doug Baldwin and Randall Cobb.

TIGHT ENDS

Many teams are scrambling to get a top tight end this season. Nevertheless, if you don’t nab Jimmy Graham or Rob Gronkowski in the first couple rounds, you might as well wait a while. There is a laundry list of TEs to follow whose production should be similar — from Aaron Hernandez and Antonio Gates in Rounds 4-5 all the way down to Fred Davis and Brandon Pettigrew in Rounds 10-11.

If you wait even longer, there are some riskier options who still could contribute. Our favorite is Martellus Bennett. If Eli Manning can make Kevin Boss and Jake Ballard into legitimate threats, he should be able to help the athletically gifted Bennett reach his full potential. Coby Fleener and Joel Dreessen are interesting late as well.

DEFENSES

Hard to consider any defense/special teams pick a sleeper, because most come late in the draft anyway. But if all the top units are gobbled up, the Giants, Cowboys, Cardinals and Bills are decent options. And don’t be afraid to play musical defenses week-to-week — just pick best available defense that is facing the worst offense.

KICKERS

A sleeper category for kickers does not exist. The equivalent would be a Best Extra category at the Oscars. Just make sure whatever kicker you pick is on an NFL roster.

dloftis@nypost.com