Week 4 was a good run for the fantasy football sleeper page. Geno Smith and Andy Dalton each finished inside the QB1 starting line, and Xavier Legette and Roschon Johnson both had touchdowns, even if Johnson didn’t get past D’Andre Swift as we had hoped. Anyway, there were hits. Let’s try to keep the momentum going.
TE Tucker Kraft at Rams (46% selected)
I suspect this could be the last week Kraft qualifies for this column, which focuses on players listed in less than half of Yahoo’s leagues. He was a hit in Week 4 against Minnesota (6-53-1, nine goals) and doesn’t forget the 2-point conversion. That game not only ranks across all fantasy leagues, but also reflects potential goal-line parity in the future.
Green Bay’s passing tree is a bit tidier these days with Christian Watson injured. The Rams struggled with their seam coverage, allowing the sixth-most points to go to the tight end position. Kraft’s matchups will get tougher in the coming weeks, but that’s a problem for another day. Last week’s Kraft use can easily be carried over to week 5.
RB Trey sermon at Jaguars (31%)
We’re still trying to figure out what exactly Sermon is as a pro; he has seen just 87 games through four professional seasons. But he’s stepped away enough from those opportunities, and the Colts may need him to start in Week 5 while Jonathan Taylor rehabs an ankle injury. Fantasy managers probably can’t confidently call on Sermon if Taylor suits up on Sunday, but if Taylor is scratched, the plug-and-play will be approved. Jacksonville is the seventh-best draw for opposing running backs.
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RB Alexander Mattison at Broncos (37%)
The sledding could be tough against a Broncos defense that has caused upsets for the Buccaneers and Jets over the past two weeks. But Mattison has beaten Zamir White all year, and White lost a fumble last week; even head coach Antonio Pierce has suggested it’s time to consider some changes to the field. Reversing fantasy decisions so often comes down to solving opportunities, and I think Mattison will be the busiest Las Vegas RB this week. That offers some use.
WRs Tutu Atwell (13%), Jordan Whittington (7%) vs. Packers
Obviously, the Rams don’t have their primary wideouts at this point, and the offensive line has been riddled with injuries all year. But give Sean McVay time, and he will find answers. Atwell has hit deep in two consecutive weeks (93 yards, 82 yards), and Whittington captured healthy market share last week (6-62-0 on eight targets).
The Packers were riddled by Sam Darnold last week and are the seventh-best matchup for opponents. This game also looks like a possible track match, with a total of 48.5 points.
QB Andy Dalton at Bears (15%)
Quarterback streaming has become more difficult as we enter October, as many of the previous answers have been removed from this column. Justin Fields is now listed in 52% of Yahoo leagues, while Geno Smith trades at 59%. They are approved for use in all competitions and are good for you if you are proactive.
The hope is that Dalton can hold his ground against the Bears and Falcons over the next two weeks, as the Week 7 tie against Washington is worth its weight in gold. Chicago has allowed the second-lowest QB rating through four weeks, allowing just two touchdown passes. If you call Dalton, I’m guessing you’re one of the Jalen Hurts or Jared Goff executives probably looking for a one-week lease. At least Dalton is surrounded by decent help, with Diontae Johnson playing well, Xavier Legette on the rise and Chuba Hubbard in good form over his past three games.
WR Tre Tucker at Broncos (14%)
Denver’s pass defense has been excellent all year, and Pittsburgh is no picnic in Week 6 either. But we have to recognize that Tucker has become a regular for the Raiders, and that role isn’t going away with Davante Adams in limbo ( not expected to play week 5, likely traded later this month).
Tucker has touchdowns in back-to-back games and he ran a route with 25 of 26 dropbacks last week. Watching preseason football can often lead you to empty doorways, but Tucker’s splashy August was apparently more signal than noise.
TE Cade Oton vs. Falcons (29%)
Otton’s selection tag remains in a reasonable spot because he doesn’t have a touchdown yet, but the usage will come. He scored 17 goals over the last two weeks, caught 13 passes in that span and finished as the TE14 and TE11 in half-point PPR formats. Heck, those stats look divine for Mark Andrews’ manager right now.
Tampa Bay’s passing tree is about average wide, and the Falcons were the ninth-easiest matchup for tight ends. With four NFL teams in attendance in Week 5, Oton makes sense as a streamer in smaller leagues and as an add-and-keep for deeper formats.
RB Antonio Gibson vs. Dolphins (26%)
I understand if you don’t want to go near the Patriots offense right now. They finished last when I revisited the Fantasy Team Power Rankings this week, and for good reason. They are 31st in points and 32nd in yards. The offensive line hasn’t played well. The use of the passing game is also quite fragmented. Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Corey Dillon, they’re not walking through that door.
So you have to squint to see a window for Gibson, but it’s here. First, he’s getting more work than you might think: 29 touches in three weeks and six catches in the last two games. And I wonder if that role could expand if Rhamondre Stevenson continues to mess around; The New England back has put the ball on the floor in four straight games, losing two of them. Miami’s front seven was vulnerable, giving up the fourth-most points to fantasy running backs. How desperate are things in your backfield? Maybe Gibson can help.
