It’s time for fantasy football sleepers, Week 16 edition. Last week’s unconventional predictions were a mixed bag. For example, DeVante Parker came through, but Ben Roethlisberger was barely streamable in a relatively subdued week for fantasy QBs. Who are my favorite deep fantasy football sleepers in Week 16? Let’s check ’em out.
Fantasy Football Week 16 Sleepers | QB and RB
As always, I’m not talking about players you’re planning to start. There are always bargains to be found on waivers. Here’s my favorite QB sleeper and RB sleeper for Week 16.
Zach Wilson, QB, New York Jets
If you drafted Zach Wilson in Best Ball this summer, you have to be pretty excited about his Week 16 home matchup against the Jaguars. First, some blunt talk: he hasn’t thrown a TD pass in five of his last six games. Top-two receiver Corey Davis is out for the season after undergoing core-muscle surgery. Rapidly ascending talent Elijah Moore is on injured reserve with a quad injury and won’t return until at least Week 17.
But the opposing Jags are yielding a 101.0 QB rating to opposing quarterbacks — fifth-worst in the league. The Jets just got Michael Carter (33 receptions) back after a three-week IR stint. And Wilson is using his legs more recently, culminating in 3 rushing TDs in his last four contests. In fact, he’s racked up 45 rushing yards in his last two games compared to only 25 in his other eight games. With Jacksonville producing the sixth-fewest sacks in the league, Wilson will be in a terrific position to net 16+ fantasy points.
Craig Reynolds, RB, Detroit Lions
He’s not much of a sleeper anymore, but Craig Reynolds still hasn’t garnered the fantasy respect he deserves. Last week, I pushed him as a must-add on waivers despite the fact that he was available in 98% of leagues. As I previously wrote, “There’s no incentive to reactivate D’Andre Swift or Jamaal Williams when they’re healthy. This is a run-out-the-clock situation.” Then, this Tuesday, the Lions officially signed Reynolds to their active roster, suggesting that they’re ready to stick with him for the final three games.
But wait! On the same day, the team activated Williams off the reserve/COVID list. And on Wednesday, he and D’Andre Swift (shoulder) returned to practice. So wouldn’t that suggest this will return to a Swift-Williams backfield? Not so fast.
Swift is Swift. He’s going to get all the touches he can handle. But Reynolds has played phenomenally, and I’m not just talking about his overall stats. He’s averaged 3.8 yards per carry before contact, which is 1.2 more yards than Swift and 1.0 more than Williams. He’s also averaging 1.5 yards per carry after contact, which is slightly better than Swift and Williams. Facing a beatable Falcons defense yielding the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing backfields, I can see a scenario where Reynolds earns 8+ touches as Detroit eases Swift and Williams back in — or even supplanting Williams as the backup as the team gets a closer look at their surprising star.
Fantasy Football Week 16 Sleepers | WR and TE
A free agent WR could net you 12+ points. The same goes for a tight end who finds the end zone. Who’s my favorite WR sleeper and TE sleeper for Week 16?
Josh Reynolds, WR, Detroit Lions
While Amon-Ra St. Brown has asserted himself as the Lions’ No. 1 receiver, Josh Reynolds is making a case for weekly streamability. T.J. Hockenson is out for the rest of the season with a thumb injury. Formerly a Swift-centered offense, Detroit is now playing with nothing to lose. Jared Goff has been turned loose. And with Atlanta on deck, there are many reasons to believe the good times will continue.
Reynolds played with Goff on the Rams, and their reunion in Detroit has been beneficial for both of them. Since his first start in Week 12, Reynolds has collected four straight outputs of 50+ receiving yards, along with a couple of TDs. The Falcons are giving up the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing WRs, including the second-most receiving TDs. Although Goff was added to the reserve/COVID list on Tuesday, he has a decent chance of returning Sunday. If he does, start Reynolds with confidence as a WR3+.
C.J. Uzomah, TE, Cincinnati Bengals
From Weeks 4-7, C.J. Uzomah amassed 217 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns. Rarely has a TE outside the top 20 been so dominant . . . and then so fantasy irrelevant. Uzomah wasn’t an ascending offensive contributor. His outburst was situational. Despite a snap share that usually exceeds 70% or even 80%, he’s the No. 5 or No. 6 option in a Cincinnati offense that hasn’t done much through the air in recent weeks.
Next weekend, the Bengals will face one of the league’s top run defenses and worst pass defenses: the Ravens. Joe Burrow has only 6 passing TDs in his last six games. His pinky finger injury could still be playing a factor. But Ja’Marr Chase’s rapid decline after a blistering start hasn’t helped. Assuming Joe Mixon — or, if he’s required to fill in, Samaje Perine — is bottled up by Baltimore, I’m expecting Burrow to throw more than usual. Uzomah should be a little more involved, which could mean the difference between bench fodder and TE1 numbers.