Hello! This is my final regular season fantasy football sleepers post. I go over the four key positions and identify who may be somebody you overlooked going into the final week of the season. Each player performed exceptionally well last week and are owned in <50% of leagues (ESPN).
Quarterbacks
Mac Jones/Patriots - I am not surprised at all by Jones great performance against the Jaguars this past week. It was a prime moment for him to rebound from the Bills game that left fans questioning his ability. Jones had put up three touchdowns and completed 73% of his passes. As the team prepares for a big game against Miami, I do not expect another high output game. Miami is a top 10 pass defense against opposing QBs.
Trey Lance/49ers - The rookie signal caller put out a great performance in his second career start on Sunday against the Texans. Houston doesn’t have that bad of a pass defense, so this is a solid sign. Trey put out 280 total yards and scored two touchdowns, completing 70% of his passes. It's unclear if Trey will play against the Rams to end the season, but I wouldn’t play him in this matchup.
Taysom Hill/Saints - In his return to the starting spot for the Saints, Hill was able to push the ball down the field with both his arm and his legs against Carolina. He totaled 267 yards and scored a touchdown, completing 61% of his passes. Out of the three QBs listed, he is the best of them if you are doing daily fantasy this weekend. The Falcons are the opponent and they have one of the worst defenses in the league against QBs.
Running Backs
Rhamondre Stevenson/Patriots - There are so many rookies listed on today’s sleeper's post! Stevenson has turned it up coming down the stretch as the coaching staff begins to give him the ball. The injury to Damien Harris certainly helps Rhamondre’s cause. Stevenson put up a season high 107 yards on the ground with two touchdowns. Miami’s rush defense is no slouch, but I do think that Stevenson is proving to be a valid option if Harris still banged up in Week 18.
Jaret Patterson/Washington - The rookies continue to stream on in as Patterson received his first career start in the place of Antonio Gibson in Week 17. The undrafted put his name out there by putting up 98 total yards on 17 touches, including a touchdown. The Week 18 opponent has struggled at times to stop the run and I expect if Patterson gets another start that he will produce.
Ty Johnson/Jets - After the injury to Michael Carter during the game against Tampa, Johnson was given an increased number of touches. He was very efficient with his opportunities, totaling 82 yards and a touchdown with the ball in his hands. There is potential for the Jets to run the ball on the Bills this week, but I believe Buffalo may have figured things out.
Dontrell Hilliard/Titans - Imagine if the Titans bring Henry back from IR and they decide to not give him 30 carries a game because Hilliard is solid. Dontrell put up some fantasy points against Miami on Sunday, totaling 78 yards on 11 touches. He would score on one of them as he’s averaged 6.2 ypc this season. The Texans are very bad at stopping the run and that should bode well for Hilliard to succeed this week.
Dare Ogunbowale/Jaguars - For the second consecutive week, Dare put up more than 14.8 fantasy points. He is the clear RB1 at the moment with Robinson out for the year. Ogunbowale totaled 68 yards on 11 touches against the Pats, including a touchdown. The Colts will not allow Jacksonville to run the ball this week in a must win game.
Wide Receivers (PPR)
Braxton Berrios/Jets - I am of the belief that Berrios should be atop the free agency list at the WR position this off season. He is a small slot that gets open and produces, simple as that. Berrios was solid once more this past week, totaling 77 yards on ten touches and 12 opportunities. Braxton scored twice, once via a pass and once on the ground. He has the speed to give teams a threat as a gadget player, special teams ability and can play slot. I do not expect him to do overly great against the Bills on Sunday but I wouldn’t be shocked if he had double digit point production in fantasy.
Kristian Wilkerson/Patriots - With everybody around him banged up/in protocol, Wilkerson was relied upon by the Pats against the Jaguars on Sunday. He wasn’t all that efficient, but scored on half of his receptions. Mac threw the ball in his direction eight times and Wilkerson came away with four of them. Wilkerson had put up thirteen receptions for 147 yards on 17 targets through three preseason games earlier in the year.
Cyril Grayson/Buccaneers - Similar to the Wilkerson situation, Grayson was relied upon this week as multiple players around him fell like flies. Cyril scored the game winning touchdown on the final drive, capping off a six-reception day on eight targets. Prior to Week 17, Grayson was utilized as a deep threat with four receptions for 131 yards.
Zay Jones/Raiders - Coming down the stretch, Zay has been relied upon heavily by the Raiders as WR2 behind Hunter Renfrow. He has put up three consecutive double digit point performances in fantasy, this past week being a season high with 120 receiving yards on eight receptions. His ten targets were the most he’s seen and ends a stretch with 27 balls in his direction for twenty receptions and 237 yards.
Allen Lazard/Packers - Green Bay and Aaron Rodgers are heating up as the season comes to a close and Lazard is benefiting tremendously. This was his third game with a touchdown in the last four weeks, catching all six targets and tying a season high in receptions. As the team prepares to play Detroit, I expect another solid performance out of the veteran wideout.
Wide Receivers (STD)
Braxton Berrios/Jets
Kristian Wilkerson/Patriots
Antoine Wesley/Cardinals - This was another week where Wesley was utilized well by Murray and the Cards offense. He been a great fill in for DeAndre Hopkins and scored two touchdowns against the Cowboys on four receptions. Over the last three weeks, Wesley has caught nine of 17 targets for 78 yards and three touchdowns.
Cyril Grayson/Buccaneers
Allen Lazard/Packers
Tight Ends
David Njoku/Browns - Despite the struggles for Cleveland last night, the athletic tight end was able to find a way to score. Njoku caught all four of his targets for 28 yards. This was only his fourth double digit point performance of the season. I am skeptical on how to view the possible output for the final week of the season. The Bengals have struggled in limiting the oppositions tight ends, but Cleveland has nothing to play for.
Anthony Firkser/Titans - A sleeper heading into the year, the Titans have had troubles determining who to give the ball to at the tight end position. They utilize a committee approach that has resulted in three different players appearing on this list. Firkser last week scored a touchdown as he caught all three of his targets for 24 yards. Earlier in the season, Anthony had a season high five receptions against Houston.
Geoff Swaim/Titans - This is my point exactly. Who the hell do you pick out of these two in a daily fantasy league next week? I couldn’t really tell you. Flip a coin. Swaim scored a touchdown as he caught his three targets for 9 total yards. He did not play against Houston earlier in the season so that may rule them both out from putting up significant points.