Fantasy Football Week 12: Biggest Sleepers at Every Position
After three Thanksgiving Day matchups and a Black Friday game, it almost feels like fantasy football managers have to settle for weekend leftovers, but that's not true. We have plenty of sleeper options to choose from in the remaining Week 12 contests.
This week, we have a dynamic rookie quarterback who can become a popular late-season pickup if he shows off his rushing ability and two first-year running backs in appealing matchups that can elevate their fantasy profiles in the short term.
Our Week 12 list of pickups also includes an intriguing sleeper stack that features a quarterback-tight end combo coming off a bye week.
Lastly, the Baltimore Ravens have a couple of key injuries that could allow a couple of rotational pass-catchers to emerge in their revamped aerial attack.
As always, all eight of our sleeper options are available in at least 50 percent of point-per-reception leagues based on FantasyPros' consensus roster percentages.
QB Gardner Minshew vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10 Percent Rostered)
1 of 8
Fantasy managers should focus on the Indianapolis Colts' contest with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Garnder Minshew has a highly favorable matchup with the Buccaneers' 31st-ranked pass defense.
Tampa Bay has allowed at least 305 yards through the air in three of its last four games. Colts head coach Shane Steichen will likely make a concerted effort to attack one of the league's worst pass defenses rather than the sixth-ranked run defense.
Though running backs Jonathan Taylor and Zack Moss will probably get their fair share of touches in an offense that ranks 11th in rush attempts, expect Minshew to take big shots downfield against a vulnerable secondary.
In 10 games, which includes six starts, Minshew has thrown for at least 305 yards twice. Moreover, he's logged 41-plus pass attempts in three of his starts this season. Minshew could have a big day against the Buccaneers, who allow the fourth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks.
QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson at Denver Broncos (4 Percent Rostered)
2 of 8
We're going to jump on the Dorian Thompson-Robinson train before it leaves the station.
Compared to his first career start (121 passing yards and three interceptions), Thompson-Robinson made progress in his second start (165 passing yards and an interception) in place of Deshaun Watson, though he didn't rise to the top of fantasy football scoreboards.
However, Thompson-Robinson could have a strong outing against the Denver Broncos because of his ability to pick up yards on the ground.
The Broncos have improved over the course of 11 weeks, but they're still susceptible to the run, especially quarterbacks who can and will use their legs.
For the season, Denver gives up the most rushing yards per game. Over the last two weeks, the Broncos have allowed 367 rushing yards, and they've allowed two rushing touchdowns to quarterbacks (Josh Allen and Joshua Dobbs).
In two starts, Thompson-Robinson has recorded seven carries for 44 yards, and head coach Kevin Stefanski has mixed in designed runs for the rookie quarterback. The Browns may feature Thompson-Robinson as a ball-carrier a lot more against a defense that allows 5.5 yards per carry, which is the most leaguewide.
Thompson-Robinson has boom potential as a quarterback who can rack up 50-plus yards and a touchdown on the ground to add on to his passing production.
RB Tyjae Spears vs. Carolina Panthers (37 Percent Rostered)
3 of 8
Clearly, rookie second-rounder Will Levis isn't ready to carry the Tennessee Titans offense with his arm. Since his Week 8 pro debut, he's thrown for two garbage-time touchdowns against the Jacksonville Jaguars and two interceptions. Levis will likely struggle against the Carolina Panthers' sixth-ranked pass defense. He's also on the Titans' injury report with a foot/ankle issue.
Tennessee could lean on its ground game to exploit the Panthers' 24th-ranked run defense. Derrick Henry and rookie third-rounder Tyjae Spears may have their best outing as a running back tandem against Carolina's vulnerable interior defense.
Though Henry handles the lion's share of the Titans' backfield touches, Spears averages 5.2 yards per carry compared to the two-time rushing champion's 4.2 yards per carry for the season.
Moreover, Spears has seen 37 targets in 10 games while Henry has been targeted 24 times in the same number of contests.
The Panthers allow the second-most fantasy points to running backs. If you're looking for a sleeper option with high-end boom potential in a favorable matchup, Spears fits the bill.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
RB Jaleel McLaughlin vs. Cleveland Browns (18 Percent Rostered)
4 of 8
In Week 11 against the Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson threw 14 passes to his running backs, seven to Samaje Perine, five to Jaleel McLaughlin and two to Javonte Williams.
We'll likely see this trend continue with more emphasis on the ground attack against the Cleveland Browns' stout defense.
The Browns give up the fewest passing yards per game, and they're tied with the Baltimore Ravens for the fewest total touchdowns allowed through the air. On the flip side, Cleveland has allowed an average of 120 rushing yards over its last seven outings.
In addition to an emphasis on the short passing game, the Broncos may double their rush attempt total from last week (15) to attack cracks in the Browns' interior front, which likely means more touches for McLaughlin, who's second on the team in carries (45) and rushing yards (277).
In Weeks 4 and 5, while Williams nursed a quad injury, McLaughlin racked up 68 and 72 rushing yards with a single-digit number of carries in those contests. The latter has big-play potential that could become a huge asset in a matchup with the Browns.
McLaughlin averages 6.2 yards per carry. Assuming he continues to catch passes out of the backfield, he doesn't need a big rushing workload to score double-digit fantasy points.
WR Rashid Shaheed at Atlanta Falcons (34 Percent Rostered)
5 of 8
On Tuesday, the New Orleans Saints placed Michael Thomas (knee) on injured reserve, which will sideline him for at least four weeks. In the meantime, speedy wide receiver Rashid Shaheed could command a fair number of targets as a complement to Chris Olave in the passing game.
Through 11 weeks, Shaheed lists fourth on the team in targets (50), but he's second in receiving yards because of his big-play ability, averaging 16.9 yards per catch. Shaheed is also tied with Olave for a team-leading three touchdown receptions.
Shaheed has caught passes for 41, 45, 51, and 58 yards for his longest receptions in a game this season. He can easily rack up 100-plus yards with just a few catches.
As of Thursday, Saints quarterback Derek Carr is in concussion protocol, but he's a full participant at practice. If Carr sits out, Shaheed may become a bigger threat downfield with big-armed Jameis Winston under center.
Regardless of who starts at quarterback, expect Shaheed to have a solid role in the Saints' aerial attack. Because the wideout can produce chunk plays, he's a viable sleeper option against the Atlanta Falcons, who are tied for fifth in passing touchdowns allowed.
WR Rashod Bateman at Los Angeles Chargers (10 Percent Rostered)
6 of 8
The Baltimore Ravens have key injuries within their pass-catching group, but they have the depth to take advantage of the Los Angeles Chargers' 32nd-ranked pass defense.
All-Pro tight end Mark Andrews will undergo surgery on his ankle, and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is nursing a shoulder injury. While the former will be out of action indefinitely, the latter's status remains unknown as of Thursday.
If Beckham has to miss time, the Ravens will probably lean heavily on a three-WR set that features rookie first-rounder Zay Flowers, Nelson Agholor and Rashod Bateman.
In three seasons, Bateman has dealt with injuries, but last week, he caught his first touchdown pass since Week 2 of the 2022 campaign.
Though Bateman has taken a backseat to Andrews, Flowers, Beckham, and, at times, Agholor, he could shine as quarterback Lamar Jackson looks for other pass-catchers to emerge against the Chargers.
Bateman left practice early on Wednesday because of a foot injury, but head coach John Harbaugh told reporters that he "should be fine." The wide receiver said, "all is well," and he seemed sure about his ability to play on Sunday.
Los Angeles allows the second-most fantasy points to wide receivers. Bateman has a good shot to post a solid fantasy stat line and reach paydirt in consecutive weeks.
TE Isaiah Likely at Los Angeles Chargers (5 Percent Rostered)
7 of 8
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh told reporters that Mark Andrews has an "outside chance" to play again this season. With that said, managers shouldn't expect the All-Pro tight end back on the field Sunday, which means Isaiah Likely will have an opportunity to see more targets in the passing game.
Last Thursday, Andrews left the game early in the first quarter, and Likely took on an expanded role. The latter logged a season-high 76 percent of the offensive snaps.
Though Harbaugh said that Odell Beckham Jr.'s shoulder injury "doesn't look too bad," the 31-year-old wide receiver may be on a limited snap count if he suits up Sunday night.
Likely should see the field for more than half of Baltimore's offensive snaps against a defense that's tied for fifth in fantasy points allowed to tight ends. He's a dart throw with only nine catches for 89 yards this season, but quarterback Lamar Jackson may look toward the big-bodied tight end when he doesn't target wideouts Zay Flowers, Nelson Agholor and Rashod Bateman in the passing game.
TE Kylen Granson vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1 Percent Rostered)
8 of 8
Kylen Granson is another long-shot target at tight end, but he has an appealing matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to complete our Thanksgiving QB-TE sleeper stack.
As mentioned above in our suggestion to start Gardner Minshew, managers should find ways to rack up fantasy points against the Buccaneers' 31st-ranked pass defense.
If you don't have Michael Pittman Jr. or Josh Downs on your roster, take a look at Granson, who leads the team's tight ends in targets (30), receptions (17) and receiving yards (175).
Granson could have a busy day against the Buccaneers, who give up the ninth-most fantasy points to tight ends and have allowed a tight end to score a touchdown in three of the previous four weeks (Dalton Kincaid, Dalton Schultz and George Kittle). Kincaid, Schultz and Kittle all racked up at least 65 receiving yards to go with their trip to paydirt.
Based on the recent trend in high-end production for tight ends against the Buccaneers defense, Granson should be on your radar as a deep free-agent pool option.
Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com for details.
Fantasy points scored against statistics are provided by FantasyPros.
Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
