Using matchup data, I’ve got 13 sleepers that could help you bring home that fantasy football championship or if you’re like me and bounced, these folks present good value in DFS environments. Good luck and let’s go….
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Quarterbacks
DEEP SLEEPER: Shedeur Sanders vs. PIT
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The Steelers have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to the position and are tied for the third-most touchdowns allowed to opposing signal callers.
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Five straight quarterbacks have scored two or more touchdowns against this defense.
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I’m also intrigued by the fact that the Steelers have forced the ninth-lowest QB pressure rate this year. Clean pockets are very important for Shedeur at this point in his development.
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Jacoby Brissett vs. CIN
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The Bengals are bottom-five in quarterback pressure rate, passing yards and fantasy points allowed to the position.
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Last week, Brissett let you down but the Cardinals QB has been dang-near automatic this year, scoring two or more touchdowns in eight of his last 10 games.
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The point total is set at 52.5, not just the highest of the week, one of the highest of the year. The boys in the desert are anticipating a ping-pong match, meaning increased touchdown exposure for everyone involved.
Tyler Shough vs. TEN
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Barring last week’s game against an injury-ravaged Chiefs team, the Titans have been getting shredded by opposing quarterbacks. Prior to the KC game, Brock Purdy, the aforementioned Sanders and Trevor Lawrence scored 20+ fantasy points against in consecutive weeks.
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Even including the Chiefs, the Titans have given up 2+ touchdowns to opposing quarterbacks in seven of their last nine matchups.
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And Shough has been low-key solid; he’s racked up 300+ yards or 2+ touchdowns and scoring at least 17 fantasy points in four of his last five games.
Running Backs
Michael Carter vs. CIN
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The Bengals allow 5.99 YPC to running backs on outside runs, second worst in the NFL. Meanwhile, Arizona running backs rely heavily on outside runs with the seventh-highest outside run rate, per Next Gen Stats.
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See above regarding the point total.
DEEP SLEEPER: Zach Charbonnet vs. CAR
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The Panthers give up the eighth-most fantasy points and ninth-most rushing yards to running backs but it’s how they go about doing so that has me intrigued. The 5.14 YPC allowed to running backs on inside carries is the third-worst mark in the NFL.
Rhamondre Stevenson vs. NYJ
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Dre Day is practically a must-start with TreVeyon Henderson working through a concussion. The Jets have given up the most touchdowns to the position and seven different running backs have scored a touchdown over their past six matchups.
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Overall, the Jets have given up the fifth-most fantasy points to the position and this doesn’t even include all the production they gave up last week to Taysom Hill, who made a bunch of plays as a de facto running back.
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Rhamondre is playing well; he’s averaging 5.4 YPC over his last three games. Let’s just pray he doesn’t fumble and/or get vultured at the goal line.
Wide Receivers
Parker Washington vs. IND
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Following his monster day versus Denver (a career-high 145 yards), Washington has a favorable matchup against an Indy defense that absolutely cannot stop the pass right now.
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The Colts have allowed the third-most fantasy points to receivers and have specifically been getting sliced up on the inside. They’ve allowed the most receptions and the second-most yards to inside receivers.
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Remember, Washington missed this game a few weeks back and in his stead, the lightly used Tim Patrick filled that void. Patrick promptly had his best game of the season posting a 6/5/78/TD slash line scoring 18.8 fantasy points in PPR formats.
Luther Burden III vs. SF
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Rome Odunze has no timetable on his return and Olamide Zaccheaus has been painfully inconsistent. While I like DJ Moore in this spot as well, Burden has the opportunity to go out there and put up big numbers, too. The Niners have, at times, been gashed by outside receivers. Alec Pierce with a dead-arm Philip Rivers scored two touchdowns just last week and over their last eight games, six different outside receivers have either scored a touchdown or collected 100+ yards or both.
Michael Pittman Jr. vs. JAX
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The Jags have really struggled to contain outside receivers having allowed the third-most fantasy points when isolating for alignment.
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I get that Pierce has been the much splashier player this year but I still think that Pittman’s skill set in the intermediate area of the field fits best with what remains of Rivers’ arm.
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Pittman had one of his better games against the Jags in their Week 14 matchup: 12 targets good for nine receptions and 79 yards.
DEEP SLEEPER: Jack Bech vs. NYG
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The box score has not reflected it but Bech is playing good football. He’s seen his snap share skyrocket over his last three games averaging 78% snap share in that span.
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Plus, the matchup is good as the Giants have allowed the 10th-most fantasy points to outside receivers this year.
Tight Ends
Darren Waller vs. TB
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Keep an eye on the injury report as Waller is nursing a groin injury but if he’s good to go, he’s in a good spot this week. The Bucs are tied for the second-most touchdowns allowed to the position and overall they’ve allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to the group.
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If Waller is out, Greg Dulcich isn’t a bad option either.
DEEP SLEEPER: Cade Otton vs. MIA
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It’s obviously a crowded pass-catching group now that all the receivers are back but the matchup is ideal. The Dolphins have allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing TEs.
Michael Mayer vs. NYG
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With Brock Bowers out for the season, Mayer could be in line to benefit. While the floor for all the Raiders is horrifyingly low, there is ceiling here, too. Against the Titans, when Bowers was out, Mayer saw seven targets, good for five receptions, 50 yards and a touchdown, totaling 16 PPR points.