There were hits and misses on the week 12 sleeper page, just like any other week. Luke Schoonmaker, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Roschon Johnson had touchdowns and Will Dissly was solid as usual. We like that. But Quentin Johnston toasted a bagel on Monday (so many crushing drops) and there were some other rocks.
I hope you don’t need a lot of sleepers in your Week 13 lineups. All 32 NFL clubs are in action this week and you’ll likely be battling for playoff position. The stakes rise. But if injuries or underperformance have bitten you, some of these names might help.
RB Gus Edwards vs. Falcons (44%)
At this stage of the game, we know what Edwards is: a two-down pounder who offers next to nothing in the passing game. However, he will be the first look at the goal line, while JK Dobbins (knee) will miss time, and the Falcons present a rushing defense that is slightly below average in most metrics. Edwards probably needs a touchdown to make his projection happen, but I’d give him a better than 50% chance of getting that score here.
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RB Jeremy McNichols vs. Titans (12%)
Here’s another defenseman who has shown nothing in the passing game (just two receptions), but McNichols has been efficient when asked to carry the ball (in a mild surprise, his success rate is actually slightly higher than Brian Robinson Jr.’s). and Austin Ekeler). You’ll have to do your injury diligence this week at Washington, with Robinson dealing with an ankle injury and Ekeler in the concussion protocol. If neither can go, McNichols will play against an average Tennessee rushing defense.
RB Ameer Abdullah at Chiefs (22%)
Here’s your Black Friday special, a specialist that might see a favorable game script against the heavily favored Chiefs (assuming Alexander Mattison and Zamir White are unavailable again). Abdullah’s rushing skills are modest, but he has played a useful 8-53-2 role in the passing game over the past two weeks. Let Kansas City build a lead and watch Abdullah chip away at those receptions, especially fun if your league has a PPR component to the scoring.
WR Devaughn Vele vs. Browns (17%)
Bo Nix isn’t Denver’s only rookie winner; Vele’s role continues to expand and he is impressive. Vele is coming off his busiest and most productive game of the year (6-80-0, nine goals) and Monday’s draw is a favorable one against a Cleveland secondary that has allowed the fifth-most points to opposing wide receivers. Border specialist Courtland Sutton is the undeniable alpha in Denver’s passing game, but Vele will likely see a target share of 20% or higher at this spot.
WRs Adam Thielen (27%), David Moore (1%) versus buccaneers
One of the biggest fantasy stories from Week 12 was the emergence of Bryce Young, who looked poised and in control against Kansas City’s intimidating defense. Young was unimpressed by the blitz packages and made several throws on target despite challenging pressure. It appears the Panthers knew what they were doing when they temporarily benched Young; he has looked like a different player since returning.
This means we can attack Carolina’s receiver room with some confidence. Thielen’s resume probably makes him the more comfortable sleeper, following a solid 3-57-0 line in his return from injury, but we should also note that Moore was used heavily in the game against Kansas City (6-81-1 ) and played a draw. a team-best 10 goals. The Buccaneers play a lot of shootouts, with a capable offense and a leaky secondary. Maybe the Panthers can keep their end of the bargain.
WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling vs. Rams (28%)
Some fantasy managers didn’t want to keep MVS through the bye week and I understand, given his history of inconsistent performance. And even in two great games, they’ve had limited volume, with just seven goals leading to his 5-196-3 line in the past two games. The hope is that Valdez-Scantling will make one big move to vindicate your belief, and there is certainly little competition in the field in this offense. The Rams secondary was an asset for most of 2024.
WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine vs. Commanders (15%)
It will be a case of cut and paste with NWI, a low target player who has somehow scored in six of seven games. NWI is seeing rapid stock gains of over 90% each week in the wake of the DeAndre Hopkins trade, making him the second-highest target in his offense. I’m not afraid to call him up against an average Washington defense; the Commanders are heavy favorites, which could force Tennessee into a more proactive passing game.
TE Luke Schoonmaker vs. Giants (10%)
I’m surprised his roster tag has remained this low after Schoonmaker gave us 6-56-0 and 3-55-1 in consecutive weeks. Cooper Rush has been a competent quarterback in both games, and it’s not likely the Cowboys will have Jake Ferguson on Thanksgiving. There’s a good chance Schoonmaker will be the second read in the Dallas offense, the guy to look for when CeeDee Lamb isn’t open. The tight coverage in New York was strong this year, although it did not have a difficult schedule. Ferguson got them for seven catches in Week 4.
