Fantasy Football Week 12: Deep Sleepers Who Can Help Win Your Matchup

A good matchup can go a long way in making a lineup decision, and the boost it brings to certain players provides enough evidence for their promotion to the starting lineup. That's the basis for this week's look at the deepest sleepers heading into Week 12.

When it comes to streaming quarterbacks, a quick look at the weekly finishes in recent weeks shows top-12 performances for the Denver Broncos' Brock Osweiler, the Minnesota Vikings' Teddy Bridgewater, the Washington Redskins' Kirk Cousins and the Chicago Bears' Jay Cutler, which means you can almost always hit the waiver wire for a QB who can be a legit starter.

Younger quarterbacks such as the Tennessee Titans' Marcus Mariota and Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Jameis Winston are playing better and with more confidence. Because they've come through when the matchup has been favorable, there's faith in their ability to do it again, like this week.

Recognizing a player with an expanding role before it happens is a smart way to get ahead, and that's why I had Baltimore Ravens tight end Crockett Gillmore in last week's edition of this article. He's back again for Week 12 as arguably one of the only Ravens you can play with some confidence.

As always, these are deeper options who have a chance to perform well if you're stuck trying to fill out your startling lineup. The key to this week's options is the matchup for each player.

Marcus Mariota

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Will the Titans let Marcus Mariota run more against the Raiders?

When searching for possible sleepers this late in the season, you'd like to minimize risk as much as possible. That's why I tend to lean toward players who've taken advantage of beatable matchups in the past and/or have had relevant fantasy numbers in at least a few other weeks.

Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota fits that description. He started the season off hot with eight touchdowns in his first three games but ended up cooling down. However, he came through in a big way with 371 yards and four touchdowns in Week 9 against the Saints in New Orleans. Last week, he threw for 231 yards and added 29 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in Jacksonville.

The threat of the run hasn't been a big part of Mariota's game as a rookie, but that appears to be changing for the better in recent weeks. In the last two games, he has 53 rushing yards and a touchdown on 10 attempts. Interim head coach Mike Mularkey said Mariota's improving health has allowed the team to add more running opportunities, per John Glennon of the Tennessean.

Mariota and the Titans host the Oakland Raiders this week, which is a juicy matchup for any quarterback. Over the last four weeks, Oakland has given up 1,146 passing yards and five touchdowns in addition to 100 rushing yards and a touchdown to opposing quarterbacks. The Raiders are eighth in fantasy points allowed during that span, per NFL.com.

With wide receiver Kendall Wright (knee) back to full practice this week, Mariota has a much-needed weapon in a fairly thin receiving corps. Wright's return, the beatable matchup and a possible uptick in rushing attempts make Mariota an excellent streaming option this week.

Brian Hoyer

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Expectations can be much higher than normal for Brian Hoyer.

This season, the rule is if you start the quarterback playing the New Orleans Saints, more often than not you'll be rewarded with great fantasy production. A few weeks ago, I made a mental note to remember Houston Texans quarterback Brian Hoyer for this game since he'd more than likely be available on the waiver wire.

It was almost not to be thanks to a concussion he suffered in Week 10, but earlier this week head coach Bill O'Brien announced Hoyer was cleared from his concussion and in line to start against the Saints. That meant Hoyer had the green light to be added and ranked in the top 10 of fantasy quarterbacks for Week 12.

That may seem a bit strong, especially for someone of Hoyer's caliber. He's an average starting quarterback who is keeping the ship afloat for a team without a franchise player at the position. The same can be said for Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins, who got the Saints for 324 yards and four touchdowns back in Week 10.

Beating up the Saints has become the norm for any quarterback who faces them. They've allowed at least 320 yards and three touchdowns to quarterbacks in the last four weeks, including Cousins and Mariota. They've given up at least 300 yards in seven games, and just two times they've held the opposition under 275 yards. No team has given up more fantasy points to QBs in the last four weeks, per NFL.com.

The firing of defensive coordinator Rob Ryan doesn't mean much for the Saints since the personnel remain the same. Using Hoyer is all about the best possible matchup for any quarterback to have, so enjoy the production this weekend.

Crockett Gillmore

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Injuries have decimated the Ravens, which is why players like Crockett Gillmore need to step up.

Last week, I included Baltimore Ravens tight end Crockett Gillmore in this article because he was an ascending player in a solid matchup against the St. Louis Rams. He ended up paying off by posting a career-high 101 yards on five receptions, but the season-ending injuries suffered by Joe Flacco (torn ACL, MCL) and Justin Forsett (broken arm) overshadowed his production.

Adding Flacco and Forsett to a list that already includes wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. leaves the Ravens thin on offense, so you have to turn to the next best options, and one of those happens to be Gillmore. And you'll be doing so in a beatable Monday night matchup against the Cleveland Browns.

Using Gillmore with confidence is easier because he's had good fantasy performances this season. Before Week 11, he had scored in his last two games and has posted double-digit fantasy points in points-per-reception formats four times, including three of his last four games. Other than wide receiver Kamar Aiken, no other healthy Raven has had any kind of fantasy relevance this season.

Gillmore faces the Browns in Cleveland on Monday night and should be excited about his chances of producing. In the last four weeks, the Browns have allowed the third-most fantasy points to tight ends, including five touchdowns, per NFL.com.

Using Gillmore isn't as much about the matchup as it is his role in the Ravens offense; however, because the matchup is a good one, it only boosts him that much more. You can expect the Ravens to run the ball with Javorius Allen, especially with quarterback Matt Schaub under center, but Gillmore should be prominently featured with the veteran leaning on him, as Schaub has done with tight ends for most of his career.

Tyler Lockett

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Keeping Tyler Lockett involved should be a priority for the Seahawks.

I'll often focus on the matchup for perspective fantasy options from a defensive perspective, but for Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett, I'm taking into account both the Pittsburgh Steelers offense and defense. Both could play into Lockett's favor.

First, the defense has given up the sixth-most fantasy points to wide receivers in the last four weeks. During that span, the Steelers have allowed 54 receptions for 694 yards and four touchdowns in three games. That's clearly a beatable defense and one I'd like to take advantage of, if possible.

When it comes to the offense, the Steelers are loaded with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, running back DeAngelo Williams and pass-catchers Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant and Heath Miller. The Seahawks have a great defense, but they've been vulnerable when pushed.

In Week 5, they gave up 331 passing yards and two touchdowns to the Cincinnati Bengals. In Week 10, they allowed 363 passing yards and three touchdowns to the Arizona Cardinals. If Pittsburgh can have similar success, the Seahawks will need to throw it more, which is where Lockett comes into play.

Lockett's best fantasy performance of the season came in Week 11 against the San Francisco 49ers. He caught four of his five targets for 48 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He played 69 percent of the snaps after playing 76 percent in Week 10, and those are his two highest snap numbers since 70 percent in Week 1, per Pro Football Focus.

Admittedly, this is the deepest of all the reaches this week because he's the least established as a productive fantasy option compared to the other names in this article. However, the matchup (on both sides) and an uptick in his use are enough to take a shot on Lockett.

Jameis Winston

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The Buccaneers have reason to believe in Jameis Winston.

Proving your worth is such a key to fantasy owners, especially the impatient, fickle ones with short memories. It's part of the reason I feel good about Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston as a sleeper in Week 12 against the Indianapolis Colts. After all, he's been a top-three fantasy quarterback over the last four weeks.

In Week 11, Winston completed 19 of 29 passing attempts for 246 yards and five touchdowns. Over the last month, he's thrown six touchdowns to just two interceptions. Plus, he has 13 carries for 51 rushing yards and three touchdowns in that span. While we wait for Mariota to run more, Winston has been doing it and boosting his value most of the year.

Winston and the Buccaneers head to Indianapolis for a mediocre matchup against the Colts. Over the last four weeks, Indy has given up 809 passing yards and seven touchdowns in three games, per NFL.com. Those aren't massive numbers, but they indicate a beatable defense.

When pressed, Winston has shown he can handle the tight spots, and while that doesn't necessarily translate into fantasy production, it builds confidence for him and in him by the team, which means the Bucs have more trust in letting him do things like throw more than 30 times in a game or calling designed runs. That's how you boost fantasy value.

Wide receiver Mike Evans is playing at a WR1 level once again, and veteran wide receiver Vincent Jackson returned to action with a productive effort in the Week 11 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. The Buccaneers have become a formidable offense with Winston playing a big role in their ascension. Get a piece of that when he faces the Colts.

Nate Washington

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When in doubt, check the matchup. Nate Washington has a great one against the Saints.

We're already getting a piece of the Houston Texans' juicy matchup with the New Orleans Saints with quarterback Brian Hoyer, but with the gaudy numbers he has a chance of posting, he'll need to find another wide receiver to throw to beside DeAndre Hopkins. I'm calling Nate Washington that other wide receiver.

Washington hasn't had any real value over the last two weeks, posting just four receptions for 45 yards on 11 targets. The target number isn't bad, but the drop-off in fantasy production coincides with the return of Cecil Shorts in Week 10. Shorts has been busy as a receiver, runner and quarterback, which has cut into Washington's fantasy numbers.

Before Week 10, Washington had 13 receptions for 201 yards and three touchdowns on 22 targets in his previous two games (without Shorts). On the season, he has a pair of 100-yard efforts and at least six targets in six games. In every game they've both been healthy, Washington has outsnapped Shorts each time, per Pro Football Focus.

The real key to Washington's being a sleeper in Week 12 is the matchup against the Saints. Over the last four weeks (three games), the Saints have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to wide receivers on 38 receptions for 511 yards and seven touchdowns, per NFL.com.

The Saints have had no answers as to how to stop the pass this season, so I'll advocate doing whatever you can to get players in your lineup with the Saints on the schedule. Washington can be one of a few Texans to capitalize this weekend.