NFL Picks Week 13: Fantasy Football Sleeper Picks

I can feel a mini-football hangover setting in. Having solid games fed to your voracious pigskin appetite from Thursday through Sunday might have been too much of a good thing. We’re getting a little fat and lazy, so it’s high time to push aside the leftovers and sift through the action to see who can help your fantasy squad in the weeks ahead.

It is the home stretch, where you make your final push for playoff contention,  so let’s make the most of the opportunity to bury and humiliate your opponents. As always, my criteria for weekly sleeper selections are players owned in less than 50 percent of leagues on Yahoo! who look interesting for the week ahead as well as some long-term plays.

RB Roy Helu (Washington Redskins) 

What is it about Mike Shanahan running backs that entrances me so? That sorry sucker has hijacked my lineup more times than I can count, yet I still come back for more punishment.

After Roy Helu’s breakthrough performance in Week 9, we all thought the music had finally stopped on the Redskins’ musical chairs of running backs. A logical man would plug in his strongest back and ride him to wins. Shanahan is clearly not a logical man as he benched the dynamic Helu in favor of the plodding Ryan Torain for two weeks to muddle the Redskins offense in an attempt to protect the team’s six-game losing streak.

It seems Shanahan has finally started tiring of losing and installed Helu as his featured back in Week 12, getting him 23 carries for 108 yards and a touchdown as well as 54 yards receiving. This was against Seattle’s stiff run defense (seventh-fewest yards allowed). There are precious few rays of hope shining from the Redskins offense these days, and Roy Helu is by far the brightest.

Shanahan seems to have finally figured this out and plans to have Helu control the run game going forward. As long as this is the case, Helu is going to be a solid starter every week who has the ability to put up strong numbers consistently. The moment finicky Shanahan changes his mind, all bets are off. Consider yourself sufficiently warned.

Upcoming schedule: Jets (rank 21st in points allowed to running backs), Patriots (17th) and Giants (11th).
Owned in 47 Percent of Yahoo! Leagues – -2 Percent Change from Last Week

WR Johnny Knox (Chicago Bears) 

Johnny Knox seems to be the big winner in the Jay Cutler injury derby. Since Caleb Hanie has taken over the reins of the Bears passing attack, Knox has had two solid games.

Against the Raiders, he reeled in 145 yards receiving, a touchdown and 133 return yards subbing in relief for Devin Hester. As second teamers, Knox and Hanie have had plenty of time to perfect their chemistry, and I can’t see Martz standing in the way of this production.

The big question in my mind is whether Hanie can keep putting up solid numbers to keep the Bears from being forced to lean harder on Matt Forte and the running game.

Upcoming schedule: Chiefs (rank 21st in points allowed to wide receivers), Broncos (10th) and Seahawks (22nd).
Owned in 31 Percent of Yahoo! Leagues – 3 Percent Change from Last Week

TE Brent Celek (Philadelphia Eagles) 

Brent Celek hasn’t been hogging the highlight reel this season, but he  is logging very consistent numbers week over week. He’s averaging 8.2 points per game since week 6. Can you say the same for your tight end? If you are trying to make do with Scott Chandler or Kevin Boss, Celek may be just the upgrade you need to get a little more pop out of the tight end position.

Upcoming schedule: Seahawks (rank sixth in points allowed to tight ends), Dolphins (11th) and Jets (16th).
Owned in 36 Percent of Yahoo! Leagues – 0 Percent Change from Last Week

QB Rex Grossman (Washington Redskins) 

I don’t think anyone would want to construct their actual team around Rex Grossman if given the choice, but in this fantasy land in which we live, it’s hard to argue with his numbers. Since winning back starting duties from John Beck, Grossman has had two solid outings to pair with his numbers from the season openers.

On Sunday, he passed for 314 yards with two touchdowns and two picks. His Week 11 numbers mirrored these stats pretty closely. With his receiving corp getting healthy and the Redskins finally having a threat in the running game (we assume), Grossman should see more opportunities opening up in the passing game.

If your roster has been one of the numerous casualties of the quarterback injury plague that has ravaged most leagues, Grossman is a viable candidate to carry your team. This coming week may not be the best time to install him though with a visit to Revis Island on tap.

Upcoming schedule: Jets (rank 27th in points allowed to quarterbacks), Patriots (second) and Giants (19th).
Owned in 9 Percent of Yahoo! Leagues – 3 Percent Change from Last Week

DEF Denver Broncos 

Everyone has caught Tebowmania. Since taking over starting duties, the Broncos are 5-1 and vying for a playoff berth at the hands of John Fox’s unorthodox offensive attack.

What seems to get lost in the media’s Tebow lovefest is the role Denver’s stifling defense is playing in those wins. This unit has posted solid fantasy numbers over the past four weeks, averaging 10.5 points per game. With the Cardinals, Rams and Colts being feasted on by the heavyweights of the NFL this week, it’s time to give a look to the Broncos Week 13 opponent—the Vikings. The Norsemen allowed 9.25 points per game to opposing defenses in the past four weeks. Those teams were Oakland, Atlanta, Green Bay and Carolina.

With Adrian Peterson probably on the sideline, Denver can devise a game plan for shutting down Minnesota’s one offensive weapon, Percy Harvin, and continue the fairy tale Tebow run.
Owned in 14 Percent of Yahoo! Leagues – 6 Percent Change from Last Week

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