Although we rely on big-name players to guide our fantasy football teams to victory, knowing how to locate the sleepers in a given week could be what pushes your team over the edge. With Week 12 of the NFL and fantasy football season on the horizon, here are some sleepers to keep in mind when setting your lineups.
Top Fantasy Football Sleepers in Week 12
Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, San Francisco 49ers
You won’t find sleepers at quarterback, but you find guys who are potentially undervalued. One of those is Jimmy Garoppolo, who came into Week 11 sitting as QB11 in points per game since Week 5. Garoppolo has recorded at least 230 yards in six straight games and has thrown for multiple touchdowns in his last five matchups.
He’s also done this against an above-average strength of schedule but faces the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. They sit 21st in points allowed at the position, but it’s worth noting that Garoppolo will also face the Raiders in Week 17, who have allowed the third-most points to QBs. It’s worth keeping matchups in mind as we get closer and closer to the playoffs.
Don’t want to risk your fantasy record? Well, you can always take a shot on Garoppolo in Underdog Fantasy Pick’ems by taking the higher or lower on his passing projections.
Derek Carr, QB, Las Vegas Raiders
After a rather pedestrian start to the season, Derek Carr had a bounce back on Sunday, which is surprising because the Denver Broncos are typically one of the staunchest pass defenses.
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Carr completed 23 of 37 passes for 307 yards and two touchdowns. He now has three straight games of multiple scores. In Week 12, he will also face a Seattle Seahawks’ defense that’s been below average to the position and has allowed three of the last four quarterbacks to score at least two touchdowns.
Once a late-round target in drafts, Carr is a sleeper to keep in mind for Week 12 if you need additional help at QB.
James Cook, RB, Buffalo Bills
I was one of the many who was writing James Cook off after Buffalo acquired Nyheim Hines. But that’s not the case on the field, as Cook is still the RB2 for this offense.
On Sunday, the rookie from Georgia tied a season-high 11 rushing attempts, with a career-high 86 rushing yards. In fact, he and Devin Singletary rushed for the same amount of yards, but Cook did it on seven fewer carries.
It wasn’t necessarily that Buffalo had him on the field more often. In fact, he only played on roughly 25% of the snaps, but what’s different is that Cook had an 81% opportunity rate when on the field.
That’s not going to happen again. Still, an increased workload will make Cook an interesting name off the waiver wire, and he certainly makes the list of Week 12 sleepers with Buffalo set to take on the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving.
Latavius Murray, RB, Denver Broncos
Safe to say this has not been the season many wanted out of the Denver Broncos, especially for the running attack. But after losing Javonte Williams with a torn ACL, the Broncos were forced to figure it out on the fly. Even that, I don’t think anyone saw Latavius Murray being the top back as a high probability coming into the air.
Against the Raiders, Chase Edmonds suffered an ankle injury on the opening drive, which thrust Melvin Gordon III back into a third-down role. In doing so, Murray wound up leading the backfield on early downs with 25 snaps. Although he averaged less than 3.0 yards per carry, Murray rushed 17 times and found the end zone.
On Monday, the Broncos released Gordon with an apparent reference to his fumbling issues, which paves the way for Murray to be the lead back. Murray is a sleeper that is closer to a starting RB in actual value.
Rachaad White, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
We have nothing new to go off of since the Buccaneers had a bye last week. But the last time we saw them on the field, Rachaad White received the start. Leonard Fournette came in on the second drive, and after that, the two backs rotated playing time.
Fournette, however, suffered a hip injury. While all reports suggest he’ll be good to go for Week 12, White wound up rushing for a career-high 105 yards on 22 attempts in his absence.
White played on 80% of the snaps after Fournette’s injury. If Fournette cannot go, White takes on the Cleveland Browns in an intriguing matchup. I could push White from sleeper to starter in Week 12.
Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR, Cleveland Browns
I’m just a guy standing outside with a sign telling you to love Donovan Peoples-Jones. Is that too much to ask for?
Peoples-Jones finished with over 17 PPR points thanks to 61 yards and a touchdown on five receptions against Buffalo. From Weeks 4-11, DPJ was the WR31 in points per game and sat 10th in receiving yards.
He now has double-digit fantasy points and 60 or more yards in six of his last seven games. Not only that, but Deshaun Watson returns in Week 13. Peoples-Jones is way more than a sleeper at this point.
Nico Collins, WR, Houston Texans
While the focus has been on Brandin Cooks and his status with the team following the trade deadline, Nico Collins has absolutely been flourishing for the Texans. Over the last two games, Collins has commanded a 24.2% target share while recording 10 receptions on 17 targets, 497 yards, and a score.
He has back-to-back double-digit games, and he’s about to face the Dolphins and Browns, who have struggled against perimeter receivers. Collins is a sleeper who needs to be rostered for Week 12.
Treylon Burks, WR, Tennessee Titans
Treylon Burks finally had his breakout game, recording a 29.6% target share with seven receptions off of eight targets and 111 yards against the Green Bay Packers.
Burks missed four games this year with a stint on IR, but the WR1 role in Tennessee is wide open for Burks to fill, as was the expectation when they drafted them in the first round. Ryan Tannehill is playing decent football right now, and if that chemistry continues, Burks might end up a starter down this final stretch.
Parris Campbell, WR, Indianapolis Colts
When Jeff Saturday announced going back to Matt Ryan under center, no one was happier than Parris Campbell. Over the last three games with Ryan at QB, Campbell has been the WR9, WR5, and WR11, respectively, for fantasy. In those three games, Campbell averaged 9.6 targets, 8.0 receptions, and 67.6 receiving yards.
He had an 18.7% target share on Sunday and gets the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football in Week 12. With three games of 19+ PPR points in his last six, Campbell is finally playing as the top-tier option we thought he could be coming out of Ohio State.
Darius Slayton, WR, New York Giants
On Sunday, rookie Wan’Dale Robinson suffered a torn ACL, according to Giants head coach Brian Daboll. Robinson had been dealing with a few minor injuries but unfortunately watched his season come to a close after his best game of the year, recording nine receptions for 100 yards on 13 targets.
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Darius Slayton had no problem taking over and continuing his recent form. Slayton caught five of 10 targets for 86 yards on Sunday to finish as a top-20 wide receiver for the second-straight week.
Slayton has 60+ yards in each of his last three games and, entering Week 11, was the WR32 over his previous five games with a 20% target share. The upcoming schedule is average, but Slayton should be the No. 1 option for Daniel Jones moving forward. Therefore, his fantasy value will increase, moving into the sleeper range for Week 12.
Odell Beckham Jr., WR, Free Agent
I will keep putting him down until we have an answer. At some point, Odell Beckham Jr. will sign with a new team. We just don’t know with who.
The Dallas Cowboys are making a very clear and obvious public push. Still, several teams are drawing interest in Beckham. He was a top-36 WR in five of his last seven regular-season games with the Rams, and even if he is brought in mainly for his playoff potential, you’ve got to make this move now.
Although Beckham isn’t exactly a sleeper, he’s worth mentioning regardless of the upside.
Juwan Johnson, TE, New Orleans Saints
Despite not having gained over 50 receiving yards in a game, Juwan Johnson sure knows how to find the end zone. He perfectly demonstrates why the TE position is so frustrating for fantasy managers.
He scored five touchdowns over the last five weeks, which has him tied for second-most amongst tight ends for the entire season. Despite not having any big yardage games, his 222 yards since Week 6 are sixth-best amongst TEs.
What matters are high-leverage targets. It’s also where Johnson capitalizes as nearly 31% of his targets have come inside the 10-yard line, which is also the fourth-highest rating in the NFL.
When it comes to fantasy, all your banking on — unless you draft someone like Travis Kelce or Mark Andrews — is touchdowns. That’s what Johnson is giving you, along with just enough receiving upside to demonstrate why the TE position has such a low ceiling if you don’t draft an elite option.
If you’re one of the many who didn’t, Johnson is a sleeper TE that’s certainly worth rostering so long as he keeps up his scoring streak, which will be difficult against the 49ers next week.
Logan Thomas, TE, Washington Commanders
It’s been a year to forget for Logan Thomas, but the Commanders’ TE actually put together the best game of the season thus far, recording five receptions and 65 yards. While that might not sound like much, both led the team. He was also second amongst Commanders players in targets with six.
Taylor Heinicke has been named the full-time starter, which boosts Thomas’ floor, and outside of one game (Week 8), Thomas has played on 60% or more of the snaps in every game he’s been active. With three upcoming matchups against the Falcons and Giants twice, Thomas is a sleeper to consider if you’ve been streaming the position.