Fantasy football sleepers: RB - Week 17

December 29, 2011 @ 12:45:33

By Cory J. Bonini
Edited by Tim Heaney

Fantasy football sleepers: QB | RB | WR | TE | PK | DT

In this article KFFL breaks down the fantasy football sleepers of the week. We will avoid marquee names because players of that caliber are rarely benched, regardless of their matchup. Instead, we will focus on the players that make your fantasy lineup decisions stressful each week. Read on to learn which midrange to low-end players you wouldn't necessarily consider that you need to get into your lineup.

Note: All statistics are from Week 13 to Week 16, unless otherwise stated.

Fantasy football sleepers: Running backs

Put your Beanie on in Week 17

Beanie Wells, Arizona Cardinals vs. Seattle Seahawks

Fantasy value: Low-end No. 2

• Beanie has been anything but studly in the last month: 16.0 carries, 49.5 yards (3.1 per carry), 0.50 scores per game. As usual, Wells hasn't been a factor in the passing game (1.00 catches for 6.8 yards).
• The Seahawks had a strong run D earlier this season but have struggled down the stretch. They have allowed 116.0 rushing yards, 0.75 ground scores, 3.75 catches, 44.3 yards and 0.50 aerial TDs per outing in the last four weeks.

Stevan Ridley, New England Patriots vs. Buffalo Bills

Fantasy value: Flex or bench

• Ridley has led the way for New England backs in the past two weeks, and he has a quality matchup to exploit in the season finale. The rook has averaged 12.00 carries and 64.5 yards per matchup I this time. He loses looks around the goal line to the Law Firm, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, but Ridley has the wheels to score from moderate distance.
• Buffalo has allowed averages of 168.5 rushing yards, 1.00 touchdowns, 4.25 receptions and 35.8 yards through the air to the running back position.

Armando Allen, Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings

Fantasy value: Flex or bench

• Monitor Marion Barber III's status as he works his way back from a calf injury before considering Allen off the waiver wire. He earned 11 carries last week, and while he only produced 40 yards, Allen still touched the ball enough to be a fantasy factor.
• Minnesota has allowed 121.5 rushing yards, 5.00 receptions, 56.8 aerial yards and 0.75 total scores per contest to the position.

Fantasy football sleepers: QB | RB | WR | TE | PK | DT

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Cory J. Bonini

Cory J. Bonini is a senior editor at KFFL. In late 2002, Bonini joined the KFFL staff as a research analyst. He vaulted himself into one of the industry's leading fantasy analysts.

Bonini has been involved in fantasy sports since 1996. A member of the Fantasy Sports Trade Association as well as Fantasy Sports Writers Association, he has been featured in print, on the radio and is also a published writer on scores of sites. Bonini co-hosted Big Lead Sports on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio from 2011 to 2012.

Bonini was recognized with the 2010 Best Article in Print Award from the FSWA and was a finalist for the same award in 2011. In '11, he finished first overall in the FSWA NFL experts challenge that featured 60 of the industry's best competitors.

Follow him on Twitter @CoryKFFL

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