Fantasy Football 2014: 5 Week 15 Sleepers to Start in a Pinch

David GuideraDec 10, 2014

For anyone who clicks on this article, congratulations on surviving another nerve-racking round as the 2014 fantasy football playoffs heat to a boil. Most owners’ lineups are firm at this point, but perhaps there are lingering doubts given the nagging injuries to Julius Thomas, Reggie Wayne and Jamaal Charles. Read on to see if Jordan Cameron, Donte Moncrief or Jonathan Stewart will ease those fears.

Sleepers are admittedly decreasingly useful as most leagues power into the semifinals of its respective playoff brackets. But owners with teams in consolation brackets or one-week leagues could certainly profit from the information ahead.

A sleeper in this context is any player available in approximately 50 percent or more of ESPN Fantasy leagues with a favorable matchup per ESPN’s fantasy points against statistic. Rankings and point totals are based on scoring leaders in ESPN standard leagues.

Defense/Special Teams: Baltimore Ravens vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

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Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

Baltimore’s front seven ranks among the fiercest in the game today.

Elvis Dumervil headlines the NFL’s No. 1 pass rush, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Rookie C.J. Mosley plays cleanup for the sixth-rated run defense.

Meanwhile, Jacksonville continues to run the most generous offense in defensive/special teams points allowed (13.4 points per game). Opposing D/STs scored at least seven points against the lackluster Jaguars each week, with only three finishing outside double digits.

All but two D/STs finished in the top 10 in scoring the week it played Jacksonville.

Baltimore—available in 57.7 percent of ESPN leagues—makes an excellent sub for Buffalo, Houston and Miami owners facing dangerous matchups.

Haloti Ngata’s absence due to a four-game suspension for a performance-enhancing drug violation is significant but not this week.

By the way, the All-Pro said he took Adderall to get through Thanksgiving with the family?! It’s called caffeine, and it’s not on the banned-substance list, bubba.

Honorable mention

New York Giants vs. Washington Redskins
Carolina Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week 14 results

St. Louis Rams (featured), finished second with 24 points
Minnesota Vikings, tied for 10th with 10
New Orleans Saints, 31st with minus-eight (!)

I sincerely hope those struggling with “should I start the Rams or…” questions chose St. Louis. It could have meant the difference between moving on and going home.

Tight end: Jordan Cameron, Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals

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USA TODAY Sports

Cleveland is buzzing after the Browns announced Johnny Manziel will start against Cincinnati, as Fox Sports' Jay Glazer pointed out.

"
Breaking: Johnny Manziel and Brian Hoyer have been informed that Manziel will in fact be the starter this week. #Scoopage
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) December 9, 2014
"

No surprise here since Hoyer regressed—218 yards per game, zero touchdowns and seven interceptions—after Josh Gordon returned from suspension.

Cameron played admirably—four catches for 41 yards—in his return from a five-game absence due to a concussion.

Manziel’s first NFL start creates more questions than it answers, but Cleveland boasts ample weapons in Gordon and Andrew Hawkins outside, as well as Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West in the backfield.

Cameron—available in 63.8 percent of ESPN leagues—should see plenty of action with so many unknowns occupying the Bengals defense.

Honorable mention

Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys
Jared Cook, St. Louis Rams vs. Arizona Cardinals

Week 14 results

Jordan Reed (featured), tied for 20th with two
Kyle Rudolph, tied for 41st with zero
Jordan Cameron, tied for 17th with four

Reed is a superbly gifted pass-catcher playing in a shamefully dysfunctional offense.

Wide receiver: Donte Moncrief, Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans

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Don Wright/Associated Press

Donte Moncrief already surpassed Hakeem Nicks in the Colts' wide receiver pecking order, dominating the snap count 108 to 63 since Wee 12, according to PFF (subscription required).

The third-rounder out of Mississippi is blossoming into yet another successful member of the spectacular wide receiver class of 2014.

His potential for the remainder of the 2014 season is tantalizing given Reggie Wayne’s injury struggles. Wayne isn’t sidelined yet, but head coach Chuck Pagano left the possibility open, as Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star noted:

"
As far as potentially shutting him down for the season, Chuck isn't saying yes or no.
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) December 8, 2014
"

J.J. Watt and the Houston Texans head to Indianapolis with the 31st-ranked defense in wide receiver points against. That rank isn’t likely to improve this week even if Romeo Crennel figures out a way to line Watt up outside in bump-and-run coverage.

Moncrief—available in 86 percent of ESPN leagues—is the obvious replacement for Wayne owners concerned with his injury troubles.

Honorable mention

Chris Hogan, Buffalo Bills vs. Green Bay Packers
Marquess Wilson, Chicago Bears vs. New Orleans Saints
Derek Hagan, Tennessee Titans vs. New York Jets
Marqise Lee, Jacksonville Jaguars at Baltimore Ravens

Week 14 results

Kenny Stills (featured), tied for 69th with two
Stedman Bailey, tied for 53rd with four
Jarvis Landry, tied for 44th with five

TOP NEWS

Bleacher Report1w

Bleacher Report1w

Bleacher Report1w

Running back: Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Jonathan Stewart erupted for a season-high 20 carries, 155 yards and a touchdown while DeAngelo Williams stood sidelined on Sunday with a hand injury.

Williams is the key to Stewart’s potential as an RB2/flex this week against Tampa Bay, because if he returns, then Stewart is relegated to a timeshare. According to Steve Reed of The Associated Press, no starter at RB has been named, despite Williams being called "day by day":

"
Rivera calls DeAngelo Williams "day by day," wouldn't declare a starter moving forward at RB even after Stewart runs for 155.
— Steve Reed (@SteveReedAP) December 8, 2014
"

The Buccaneers rank 25th in running back points allowed, surrendering 18.8 points per game. The opportunity for another big game is there if Williams doesn’t interfere.

Stewart—available in 52.6 percent of ESPN leagues—could be a worthy game-time replacement if Jamaal Charles and/or Eddie Lacy can’t go and you weren’t wise enough to handcuff Knile Davis and/or James Starks.

Honorable mention

Latavius Murray, Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs
Kerwynn Williams, Arizona Cardinals at St. Louis Rams

Week 14 results

Daniel Herron (featured), tied for 25th with six
Jonathan Stewart, seventh with 21
Reggie Bush, tied for 52nd with two

Herron dropped a possible touchdown right before Andrew Luck handled his own business.

Quarterback: Mark Sanchez, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys

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Al Bello/Getty Images

The quarterback sleeper is more of a formality going forward because let’s face it: If you didn’t roster a top-10 QB, the odds are your fantasy season is over.

That said, it’s surprising to see Mark Sanchez’s ownership rate dip below 50 percent (40.7) at this point in the season. Anyone quarterbacking Chip Kelly’s offense deserves high-end QB2 treatment and should be owned in every league.

Philadelphia’s Week 15 matchup with Dallas should be a bounceback for Sanchez (nine) after spinning his wheels in Seattle. He scored 20 points against the Cowboys—ranked 22nd in quarterback points allowed—two weeks ago on Thanksgiving Day.

However, the only owners considering Sanchez this week are probably either in the consolation bracket or filling out a one-week lineup.

Looking for Johnny Football? He’s down below in the honorable mention section with the other boom-or-bust candidates.

Honorable mention