Week 14 was a mediocre week for your faithful sleeper page. The Tennessee passing game did little and the tight ends fizzled out — Will Dissly’s injury didn’t help. On the plus side, Adam Thielen wasn’t a tough pick, but he pulled through and Sincere McCormick was solid. Let’s see if we can build on this in week 15.
With the fantasy playoffs here and all 32 NFL teams in play, I’ll make a standard caveat: I hope your team is loaded with heavily selected players who are essentially starting themselves. I hope you play lots of hits this week and don’t look too hard for overlooked options. That said, leagues vary in size and depth, and I know that in some of those larger pools the choices are more challenging. Here are some options for week 15 sleepers to consider, just in case.
RB Sincere McCormick vs. Falcons (35%)
The more I see of McCormick, the more I like it. He hits the hole quickly and usually gets what is blocked, plus some extra distance. His run success rate is an excellent 62.5%, which is why Head Coach Antonio Pierce went out of his way to praise McCormick this week. And since the Raiders are a slight underdog against Atlanta, I’m not worried about the game script pushing McCormick out of the game plan. This could be the week he challenges for the 100m.
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RB Isaiah Davis at Jaguars (17%)
For this pick to be eligible, Breece Hall must be out for another week. Keep a close eye on news about this. Without Hall last Sunday, the Jets split the backfield work evenly between Braelon Allen and Davis — and Davis showed more burst. Credit the Jets for finding two valuable backs in the 2024 draft. Now the assignment is smooth, a date with a Jacksonville defense that allows the second-most points to opposing running backs. Davis has a fair shot at reaching double figures again, and it wouldn’t be shocking if he beat Allen.
QB Jameis Winston vs. Chiefs (34%)
I know the Chiefs are happily cruising along at 12-1, but don’t fear this game or this defense. Kansas City has allowed the 11th most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. And Winston has a way of exceeding expectations: He’s scored more points than his fantasy projection in 5-of-6 starts. Of course there will be some mistakes, at least one pick, a few loose throws. But the Browns will likely throw the ball away 40 times or more — often having to throw away their slow running game — and Winston has talented receivers to work with even if David Njoku is unavailable.
TE Zach Ertz at Saints (49%)
A few weeks ago I wondered if the 34-year-old Ertz could sustain his fantasy life for a full season, a reverie that seems silly now. After all, he’s on a three-game touchdown streak, establishing himself as the second-most important target in Washington’s passing game. And with Noah Brown out of the picture, Ertz could see a bigger target share. Considering Ertz is the TE10 this season, I’m baffled that his roster is in such a reasonable spot. But some of you can swoop in and take advantage of his availability.
TE Hunter Henry at Cardinals (44%)
Let’s start with some cold water: the Cardinals have defended the tight ends well this year, and Henry doesn’t provide much goal-line equality; he’s stuck with one touchdown for the season. But he’s often the first read for impressive rookie QB Drake Maye, absorbing 26 targets over the past three games and parlaying that into a credible 18-170-0 line. I will consider Henry as a deeper league flex option for some of my leagues with fourteen managers and more.
WR Elijah Moore vs. Chiefs (21%)
Moore’s play was inconsistent: he scored in Denver and New Orleans, but failed to reach quota twice against Pittsburgh. But Moore will likely be needed here, with Njoku banged up and Cedric Tillman a question mark. It also helps Kansas City’s defense on the roll — the Chiefs often struggle with seam coverage, which encourages opponents to focus on tight ends and slot receivers. I envision eight or more targets for Moore on game day, and a very playable WR3 or flex return for those deeper pools.
TE Stone Smartt vs. Buccaneers (1%)
As we mentioned in the opener, Dissly injured his shoulder in the loss to Kansas City. It opened the door for Smartt, and he produced immediately: three catches, 54 yards. It’s a fun story, considering Smartt was a quarterback for most of his itinerant college career and opened the season as the No. 4 tight end on the team’s depth chart. This pick will get a little extra juice if star rookie WR Ladd McConkey is scratched or limited on game day. Tampa Bay has also struggled with seam coverage all year.
