Fantasy Football Sleepers: Week 14
Trevor Lawrence (QB) Jacksonville Jaguars
This year’s first-overall pick has not lived up to the billing thus far in his rookie season. Poor decision-making, a terrible supporting cast, and questionable coaching have led to a disappointing rookie season. However, we have seen some flashes he should continue to improve as he gains more experience as an NFL quarterback. This week he has a tremendous matchup against the Tennessee Titans who are allowing the third-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season and are tough against the run. So Lawrence should get a shot to air it out and have success.
If you are looking to stream a quarterback this week, Lawrence is most likely one of your best options. As a bonus, if you do scoop him off waivers and he plays well. The next two weeks in your fantasy playoffs he takes on the Texans and the Jets so you could also get some extended value out of him.
Tony Jones (RB) New Orleans Saints
If you read my article yesterday you may have seen that I listed Mark Ingram as a start this week. Unfortunately, since that article was released Ingram was added to the reserve/Covid list. This opens the door for Jones to potentially take over his role. A role that was earned by Jones this preseason before he suffered a high-ankle sprain early in the season. With Kamara back and Ingram out Ty Montgomery should be relegated to irrelevance and Jones the true RB2. He does come with the risk of low volume if they just feed Kamara. Nonetheless, he could also see an uptick in volume if the team wants to ease Kamara into the lineup coming off his extended absence.
Jeremy McNichols (RB) Tennessee Titans
With a fantasy-friendly matchup against the Jags this week, the popular pick for top Titans’ rusher seems to be Dontrelle Hilliard. However, many people are overlooking the potential looming return of McNichols who seems to be on track to return from a concussion this week. I believe D’Onta Foreman’s role is secure, but McNichols could slide right into the Hilliard role leaving him on the sidelines for the majority of the game. If this does happen McNichols becomes a sleeper option for all the reasons people like Hilliard so much. I still like Foreman as the top option in Tennessee, but McNichols may surprise people if he immediately takes over Hilliard’s role in the offense.
JaMycal Hasty (RB) San Francisco 49ers
Hasty is looking like the last man standing in the Niners’ backfield. Elijah Mitchell is in the concussion protocol and underwent an MRI on his knee this week so he’s looking to be on the wrong side of questionable. Trey Sermon has already landed on IR and Jeff Wilson is having knee issues of his own after re-aggravating an injury he had surgery on that already cost him the majority of the season. As always, a clear-cut top back in this offense has a ton of relevancy. If Mitchell is out Hasty is very startable. If Mitchell and Wilson are out he’s a must-start RB2 with high-end RB1 upside this week. He shouldn’t be on waivers in any leagues and odds are he shouldn’t be on your bench either.
Laquan Treadwell (WR) Jacksonville Jaguars
In an unexpected turn of events in Jacksonville, when Jamal Agnew went down with an injury the passing attack now seems to be running through Treadwell. Over the past two weeks, he has led the team in targets, receptions, and yards, catching eight of his 13 targets for 115 yards and being the team’s leading receiver in both outings. With a matchup this week against Tennessee, Treadwell can be a sneaky good play if you’re desperate for a flex option. As horrifying as it is to start Treadwell playing for the Jags while the playoffs are on the line, he may actually be the right play for your team. It’s been a weird season.
Lil’Jordan Humphrey (WR) New Orleans Saints
Deonte Harris has been the top fantasy option in the New Orleans WRs corps this year. He has been suspended three games for DUI and leaves an opening for Humphrey to step into that role. Last week he was second in receiving on the team to Harris and snagged a touchdown and the previous week he led the team in receiving and was in a tie leading all receivers in targets. He is in no way a safe option, no one in the Saints passing attack is, but the upside and opportunity should be there. A matchup against the Jets never hurts either.
Jalen Guyton (WR) Los Angeles Chargers
Guyton is coming off a strong game where he caught four passes for 90 yards and a TD and now has all the opportunity in the world against a mediocre Giants’ defense Week 13. Both Keenan Allen and Mike Williams have found themselves on the reserve/Covid list this week leaving the door wide open for Guyton. Even without his top two wideouts, I expect Justin Herbert to torch the Giants and Guyton should be a big part of that. As a defacto WR1 for Herbert, you have to give Guyton flex consideration this week.
Ricky Seals-Jones (TE) Washington Football Team
The Football Team loves to target their top tight end whoever that may be and with Logan Thomas sent to season-ending IR it looks like RSJ will slide back into that role we saw him have so much success with earlier in the season. The opportunity and talent are there and I expect him to be a TE1 for the remainder of the season. If he is on waivers add him, start him, and don’t look back.
Austin Hooper (TE) Cleveland Browns
Tight ends have been lighting up the Baltimore Ravens as of late leaving them as the third-worst at slowing down fantasy tight ends. With David Njoku landing on the reserve/Covid list this week it opens up a lot of opportunities for Hooper to have a nice day. The last time these teams played just a few weeks back Njoku finished the week as a TE1 with Hooper giving you nothing. He should now soak up those Njoku targets and emerge as a potential sleeper streaming option this week. There is still plenty of risk, but if you’re looking to on the waiver wire he may be the best option available to you at this point.
