Fantasy Football Week 12: Biggest Sleepers at Every Position
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, a few rookies may be ready to feast on defenses in Week 12. Fantasy football managers should pick them up now because they may generate a ton of buzz after Sunday’s games.
Because of recent roster moves, key injuries and the natural progression of young playmakers, you’ll see new faces on our sleepers list this week.
Without a doubt, you should add a running back who could handle a bigger role after a team releases or trades a player from its backfield rotation. Anyone who picked up Carolina Panthers tailback D’Onta Foreman following the departure of Christian McCaffrey (via trade) certainly benefitted from his three 118-plus yard rushing games, which included four touchdowns.
Even though Chuba Hubbard had a shot to split carries with Foreman, managers took a chance with the latter and reaped the rewards. Now, you should apply the same approach with the Los Angeles Rams backfield after they released Darrell Henderson. We’ll break down a couple of Rams running backs and who’s better suited for point-per-reception leagues.
In addition to an in-depth look at the Rams’ backfield, we have a sleeper stack that features a quarterback-wide receiver tandem in a bottom-third scoring offense. While that may not sound appealing, you should pay close attention to the veteran passer's recent fantasy numbers and the sudden emergence of his rookie wideout.
With a look ahead to the remaining Week 12 games, we have eight sleeper options for PPR leagues—all of whom are available in more than 50 percent of Yahoo leagues.
QB Taylor Heinicke vs. Atlanta Falcons (15 Percent Rostered)
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Managers will squint their eyes with this suggestion because Taylor Heinicke hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass since Week 9 against the Minnesota Vikings, accumulating just 14.2 fantasy points over the last two weeks.
This week, Heinicke will have an opportunity to break out of his fantasy funk against the Atlanta Falcons’ generous pass defense, which has allowed the fourth-most yards per game going into Week 12. The NFC South club has also surrendered the eighth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season.
With the re-emergence of wideout Terry McLaurin, who’s hauled in 28 passes for 425 yards and a touchdown since Heinicke replaced an injured Carson Wentz in Week 7, the Commanders' new starting quarterback has a chance to post a decent fantasy stat line.
Heinicke can also target wideout Curtis Samuel, tight end Logan Thomas—who led Washington in catches (five) and receiving yards (65) last week—rookie first-round wide receiver Jahan Dotson and running back Antonio Gibson in the passing game. He has more than enough playmakers to carve up one of the league’s weakest pass defenses.
QB Ryan Tannehill vs. Cincinnati Bengals (18 Percent Rostered)
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DraftKings DFS Price: $5,400
When you think about the Tennessee Titans offense, Derrick Henry immediately comes to mind, but Ryan Tannehill has racked up 19.4-plus fantasy points in back-to-back weeks against the Denver Broncos and Green Bay Packers, two teams that rank 26th or lower in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks this season.
Though you may want to avoid Tannehill’s matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, who allow the fifth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks, keep in mind that the AFC North club has lost starting cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (torn ACL) for the season. Also, the Bengals have allowed 249-plus passing yards in two of their last three games (one of those without Awuzie).
In Week 11, Tannehill threw for a season-high 333 yards, two touchdowns and an interception against the Packers’ fifth-ranked pass defense, so he’s certainly capable of posting a decent stat line against the Bengals’ 13th-ranked unit.
While managers often overlook Tannehill as a fantasy option, he has a hot hand right now with four touchdowns and just one interception over the past two weeks against top-five pass defenses.
RB Jerick McKinnon vs. Los Angeles Rams (26 Percent Rostered)
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DraftKings DFS Price: $4,700
Last week, in the first quarter of a matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers, running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire suffered a high ankle sprain. In his absence, Jerick McKinnon took on an expanded role as a ball-carrier, logging six carries for 24 yards, through he did lose a fumble.
Nonetheless, McKinnon will likely have plenty of opportunities to redeem himself as the No. 2 ball-carrier behind rookie running back Isiah Pacheco, who finished with 15 carries for 107 yards against the Chargers.
Because of McKinnon’s pass-catching ability, he’s more valuable than Pacheco in PPR leagues. This season, the former has hauled in 26 passes for 212 yards and a touchdown, while the latter has just three catches for 13 yards.
Going into Week 12, the Kansas City Chiefs rank fourth in pass attempts, so McKinnon should see a decent number of targets in a matchup against the Los Angeles Rams’ 17th-ranked pass defense, especially with Mecole Hardman (abdomen) on injured reserve, JuJu Smith-Schuster still in concussion protocol and Kadarius Toney battling a hamstring injury.
RB Kyren Williams at Kansas City Chiefs (30 Percent Rostered)
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DraftKings DFS Price: $4,900
On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Rams released running back Darrell Henderson, which means Cam Akers and Kyren Williams will have bigger pieces of the backfield pie as they split the rushing workload.
Last week, Akers logged more carries (14) than Williams (seven), but the latter has seen five targets over the past couple of games, while the former had one target.
With the Rams set to play against the Kansas City Chiefs’ No. 1-ranked scoring offense, they may have to push the ball downfield at certain points in the game, which favors the more active pass-catching running back rather than the lead ball-carrier.
In Week 10, Williams’ first game back from injured reserve, he caught all three of his targets for 30 yards. If the Rams fall behind early on Sunday, Bryce Perkins, who's likely to start in place of Matthew Stafford (neck/concussion), may have to dink and dunk to move the ball down the field at a quicker pace.
Also, remember, the Rams placed All-Pro wideout Cooper Kupp on injured reserve. Whoever starts under center should have more targets to go around as the club tries to keep pace with the Chiefs. Kansas City allows the 11th-most fantasy points to running backs.
WR Treylon Burks vs. Cincinnati Bengals (44 Percent Rostered)
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DraftKings DFS Price: $4,200
In Week 11, rookie first-round wideout Treylon Burks had a breakout game against the Green Bay Packers, hauling in seven passes for 111 yards. If he builds some momentum from his previous outing, the Tennessee Titans wide receiver is in line for a strong finish to the 2022 campaign.
Robert Woods has racked up more than 39 receiving yards twice in 10 games this season. Meanwhile, fellow Titans wideout Nick Westbrook-Ikhine had one notable performance against the Denver Broncos in Week 10, catching five passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns.
Because of Ryan Tannehill’s hot hand (see above), Burks could benefit in a matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals’ middling pass defense, which ranks 13th in yards allowed across the league.
Perhaps the Titans tap into Burks’ ball-carrying ability as well. He only has two carries for 12 yards this season, though the versatile wideout registered 38 rush attempts for 222 yards and a touchdown in three years at Arkansas.
WR Demarcus Robinson at Jacksonville Jaguars (16 Percent Rostered)
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DraftKings DFS Price: $4,300
The Baltimore Ravens don’t have a consistent pass-catcher other than tight end Mark Andrews. Because of Devin Duverney’s inconsistencies, DeSean Jackson battling a hamstring injury and Rashod Bateman’s absence (injured reserve), Demarcus Robinson can fill a void at the wide receiver position.
Going into Week 12, Duvernay has the second-most receiving yards (321) and touchdown receptions (three) on Baltimore’s roster, but he’s caught just two passes for eight yards over the last two games. Last week, in his second start for the Ravens, Robinson hauled in all nine of his targets for 128 yards. He’s second on the team in targets (38) and third in receptions (25).
Robinson can post another strong fantasy stat line in a matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars, who field the 24th-ranked pass defense and allow the eighth-most fantasy points to wide receivers.
The Ravens may find it difficult to bust through the Jaguars’ 10th-ranked run defense, so look for quarterback Lamar Jackson to connect with Robinson for big numbers in consecutive weeks.
TE Foster Moreau at Seattle Seahawks (36 Percent Rostered)
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DraftKings DFS Price: $3,400
OK, Foster Moreau didn’t light up the points column after we recommended him last week, hauling in just one pass for 33 yards against the Denver Broncos, but he’ll get a much better matchup in Week 12.
Moreau will face the Seattle Seahawks, who have allowed the second-most fantasy points to tight ends thus far this season.
With tight end Darren Waller on injured reserve for at least two more games, Moreau will continue to take on most of the offensive snaps in a starting role. He’s taken the field for at least 96 percent of the plays in each of the team’s last five games (all without Waller in uniform).
Remember, wideout Hunter Renfrow is also out for at least another two contests, leaving that No. 2 pass-catching spot behind wideout Davante Adams wide open for an under-the-radar playmaker.
With that much time on the field and opportunity against a pass defense that’s vulnerable in the seams and across the middle of the field, Moreau belongs right back on your sleeper radar with one of the best possible matchups for a starting tight end.
TE Trey McBride vs. Los Angeles Chargers (13 Percent Rostered)
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DraftKings DFS Price: $3,100
The Arizona Cardinals have lost tight end Zach Ertz (knee) for the season, so, as a starter, Trey McBride will see a boost in snap count for the remainder of the campaign. The rookie second-rounder has at least three receptions in two games.
In a 38-10 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday, McBride hauled in all four of his targets for 14 yards while on the field for 76 percent of the offensive snaps. While managers would want to see a much higher receiving yards total, the first-year tight end clearly has a role in the Cardinals’ aerial attack.
Furthermore, Rondale Moore suffered a groin injury early in the team’s previous outing with the 49ers and didn’t return to the contest. Greg Dortch has a thumb injury. If one or both wideouts miss or play limited snaps in the upcoming game, McBride could become a prominent pass-catching option in the Cardinals' aerial attack behind wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
Quarterback Kyle Murray expects to return from a hamstring injury, which means McBride gets a high-upside matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers, who allow the fifth-most fantasy points to tight ends.
Fantasy scoring and points allowed provided by FantasyPros.
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Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.
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