Fantasy Football Sleepers: Sneaky Week 12 Pickups To Stay Ahead of the Curve

Ryan LesterNov 21, 2010

If your roster is pretty much set this week, you may want to take a peak ahead to next week. I know you hear the phrase "one opponent at a time", but that’s not the case in fantasyland.

While people are struggling to fill out this week’s roster, be proactive and get a step ahead of them. Here are some targets with favorable Week 12 matchups.

Shaun Hill, Detroit Lions

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Hill has four games with either 300-plus yards or multiple touchdown passes in the five games he started and finished this year. He has a decent matchup against Dallas this week, so he’ll likely be on the fantasy radar, but I’m more interested in his Thanksgiving Day matchup with New England’s 29th-ranked pass defense that’s allowed 289.9 passing yards per game and 16 passing touchdowns.

Vince Young, Tennessee Titans

VY has been dealing with an ankle injury, so don’t expect many to roll with him this week against the Redskins. However, he faces Houston’s league-worst pass defense next week. He’s averaged 167.3 passing yards, 61.8 rushing yards, a passing TD and 0.5 rushing TDs against his hometown team in four career games.
***UPDATE*** Do not add Vince Young.

Justin Forsett, Seattle Seahawks

We’re at the point in the season where sleeper running backs are hard to come by, but if Forsett outperforms Marshawn Lynch again, he could earn himself a bigger role down the stretch. He could be especially valuable in PPR leagues.

James Jones, Green Bay Packers

Jones has been a bit inconsistent, but he has two 100-plus yard games in the past three games. If he was forgotten in your league since he was on bye last week, perhaps you should grab him before he faces the struggling Vikings. You don’t necessarily have to use him this week, but if he has another good game, he’ll be a popular addition before he faces Atlanta.

Josh Morgan, San Francisco 49ers

With a date against Tampa Bay, who ranks sixth with 215.0 passing yards allowed per game, Morgan probably isn’t on the radar. However, next week he takes on Arizona, which ranks 28th with 284.8 passing yards allowed per game.

Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots

I know he scored three touchdowns last week, but fantasy owners may be hesitant because he faces the Colts this week. Indianapolis will be without Gary Brackett, so another solid game isn’t out of the question. If that happens, Gronkowski will be a hot commodity. Why not grab him now in case you want to start him against Detroit?

Cleveland Browns Defense

The Browns still have a stigma, but they beat the Saints and Patriots and took the Jets to overtime in their past three games. They are improved. Carolina, on the other hand, is not. The Panthers are dreadful, and the Browns get to face them next week. This would definitely be an under-the-radar move that could work in your favor next week.

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