Fantasy Football Week 16: Biggest Sleepers at Every Position
At this point, you're competing for a fantasy football league title or making a prideful effort to win in the consolation bracket. Either way, you're going to need matchup-winning sleepers, and this is a good week for them.
It's a week of unsettled nerves for managers with Patrick Mahomes on their rosters, too. You may have already tried to pivot from him in his statistically mediocre season, but his ankle injury may have you leaning toward a streamer option for Week 16.
So, we have a super sleeper at quarterback, a rookie who will make his first start this weekend.
Perhaps you lost David Montgomery for the playoffs. Who can you add to replace him? There's a decent option for managers looking for a pure ball-carrier.
Lastly, this week's selections will feature arguably our strongest options at wide receiver. Three widely available wideouts could come close to 100 receiving yards on Sunday.
Our eight sleeper picks could help you get to the next round of the playoffs, and they're all available in more than 50 percent of leagues based on FantasyPros' consensus roster percentages.
QB Cooper Rush vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7 Percent Rostered)
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Last week against the Carolina Panthers, Cooper Rush threw for 214 yards and a career-high three touchdowns. He finished ninth among quarterbacks in fantasy scoring for Week 15.
This week, Rush will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who allow the second-most fantasy points to quarterbacks and the third-most passing yards. In consecutive weeks, he can be more than a game-managing signal-caller.
Over the last four weeks, Rush has thrown for eight touchdowns and an interception. On the one hand, he's averaging just 206.3 passing yards in six starts, but fantasy managers won't have to worry about him turning the ball over for negative points, especially against a bottom-tier pass defense.
That said, the Dallas Cowboys may have to push the ball downfield through the air to keep pace with Tampa Bay's fourth-ranked scoring offense.
Rush has a high floor in a matchup that may require him to throw more than in previous games, which gives him some upside this week.
QB Michael Penix Jr. vs. New York Giants (3 Percent Rostered)
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Let's go bold with a rookie in his debut start. On Tuesday, the Atlanta Falcons announced they will be "moving forward" with Michael Penix Jr. as their lead quarterback.
From a fantasy perspective, this is a risky pick, but the Falcons made their quarterback switch in an ideal situation for a rookie signal-caller in his first start.
Penix will be at home, facing a New York Giants squad that's lost nine consecutive games and is tied for 24th in net yards allowed per pass attempt. The Giants could play without multiple starting cornerbacks like they did last week.
Penix has a solid pass-catching group with wide receivers Drake London and Darnell Mooney and pass-catching tight end Kyle Pitts on the perimeter. He can also dump off short passes to versatile running back Bijan Robinson, who's tied for third on the team in catches (54).
Lastly, the Giants give up the 10th-most fantasy points to quarterbacks.
Atlanta isn't likely to rely on Penix to put the offense on his shoulders, but with six years of playing experience on the collegiate level and his supporting cast, he's capable of exceeding expectations in his first start.
RB Tyler Allgeier vs. New York Giants (35 Percent Rostered)
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In a playoff situation, managers can turn to one of the league's best handcuff running backs. As the backup for Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier has 551 rushing yards and three touchdowns, averaging 4.8 per carry.
Robinson and Allgeier could have a big day against the New York Giants' 31st-ranked run defense. Big Blue is tied for fourth in fantasy points allowed to running backs.
On a short week, the Falcons may be more willing to split the rushing workload between their top two ball-carriers against a basement-dwelling opponent.
Keep in mind that Robinson has handled a massive workload, averaging 26.3 touches over the last three weeks. The Falcons may spell him more in the upcoming game.
Also, with rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. set to make his first start, Atlanta can relieve pressure on him by committing to the ground game.
The Giants allow 4.9 yards per carry. Penix could have a solid outing, but he won't have to if the Falcons can gain chunk yardage on the ground. Robinson and Allgeier may have 12-plus carries apiece.
WR Jalen McMillan at Dallas Cowboys (12 Percent Rostered)
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Last week, Mike Evans reminded everyone that he's still one of the league's best wide receivers, hauling in nine receptions for 159 yards and two touchdowns against the Los Angeles Chargers, though Jalen McMillan continued to come along as the No. 2 wideout in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense.
Over the past two weeks, McMillan has caught nine out of his 13 targets for 134 yards and three touchdowns.
McMillan, a rookie third-rounder, has taken on a bigger role while Chris Godwin is on injured reserve recovering from ankle surgery.
McMillan can keep his scoring streak going against the Dallas Cowboys, who allow the 10th-most fantasy points to wide receivers and field a pass defense that's tied for second in net passing yards allowed per attempt.
The Buccaneers attack opponents with a balanced offense, though they're fourth in passing yards and have racked up 268-plus yards through the air in three of their past four outings. McMillan is one of the best sleeper options this week.
WR Calvin Austin III at Baltimore Ravens (5 Percent Rostered)
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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens suffered a hamstring injury before the team's Week 14 matchup with the Cleveland Browns, and he's missed practices over the last week.
"At the very least, his status is in question," ESPN's Adam Schefter said about Pickens' availability on The Pat McAfee Show.
Schefter speculated that Pickens could be out for a month from his initial absence in Week 14.
Without Pickens, Calvin Austin III may see more targets in consecutive weeks. In Week 15, he led the Steelers in catches (five) and receiving yards (65).
Averaging 16.1 yards per catch, Austin is the most explosive playmaker in the Steelers' passing attack. Mike Willaims averages 16.6 yards per reception, but he's still finding his way in the offense after Pittsburgh acquired him from the New York Jets before the November 5 trade deadline.
Austin's budding rapport with Russell Wilson and big-play ability could allow him to post gaudy receiving numbers. The Baltimore Ravens allow the second-most fantasy points to wide receivers and give up the second-most passing yards per game.
With Pickens' uncertain status, Austin is the Steelers receiver to target in the free-agent pool.
WR Jalen Coker vs. Arizona Cardinals (2 Percent Rostered)
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On Monday, Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales told reporters that rookie first-round wide receiver Xavier Legette will "likely to be out this week."
Panthers wide receivers don't have a slam-dunk matchup with the Arizona Cardinals, who are tied for 22nd in fantasy points allowed to players at the position, but undrafted rookie wideout Jalen Coker should see an increased target share while Legette recovers from a groin injury.
Last week, Coker caught four passes for a career-high 110 yards and a touchdown, which included an 83-yard catch-and-run play for a score.
Coker averages 17.8 yards per catch. As Carolina's big-play receiver and No. 2 wideout behind Adam Thielen, he could come close to the century mark in receiving yards against the Cardinals' 18th-ranked pass defense.
TE Brenton Strange at Las Vegas Raiders (11 Percent Rostered)
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The Jacksonville Jaguars have lost multiple pass-catchers to injuries. Christian Kirk (broken collarbone), Gabe Davis (meniscus) and Evan Engram (torn labrum) are all on injured reserve.
Last week, Jaguars backup quarterback Mac Jones locked on to Brian Thomas Jr. (14 targets) and Brenton Strange (12) on nearly half of his 46 pass attempts. Strange recorded career highs in receptions (11) and receiving yards (73) against the New York Jets, who are tied for 22nd in fantasy points allowed to tight ends and give up the fifth-fewest passing yards.
In Week 16, Strange draws a more favorable matchup. The Las Vegas Raiders struggle mightily to cover tight ends, surrendering the fourth-most fantasy points to players at the position.
As a full-time starter in place of Engram and one of Jones' favorite targets, Strange can build on last week's career performance and tack on a touchdown. Remember, he's not a fringe roster backup. The Jaguars selected him in the second round of the 2023 draft.
TE Chigoziem Okonkwo at Indianapolis Colts (7 Percent Rostered)
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The Tennessee Titans benched Will Levis, and they announced that Mason Rudolph will start in the upcoming contest with the Indianapolis Colts, which is an upgrade for their pass-catchers.
Because of the quarterback switch, Chigoziem Okonkwo has strong sleeper appeal. Last week, he hauled in eight of his 10 targets for 59 yards. Though Levis targeted him five times before going to the bench, Rudolph also targeted him several times with better accuracy.
As was the case last week against the Cincinnati Bengals, who allow the most fantasy points to tight ends, Okonkwo has a favorable matchup. Indianapolis gives up the third-most fantasy points to tight ends.
The Colts have surrendered a touchdown to tight ends in three of their last four games. Okonkwo has a good chance to rack up 60-plus yards and reach paydirt in this contest.
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Fantasy points scored against statistics are 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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