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 through Week 16 unless otherwise stated.

Fantasy football sleepers: Place kickers

Nate Kaeding, Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots

Will he get enough opps this week?

Fantasy value: Midrange No. 1

• The Dolphins set up Dan Carpenter (groin) for nearly two field goal attempts per game before they had to put him on IR. Last week, Miami's replacement, Kaeding, attempted two field goals, too. Unfortunately, he missed one of them, when the Buffalo Bills blocked the kick. But accuracy is Kaeding's calling card: He's a career 86.6 percent kicker. Cut him some slack, too, since he hadn't played in an NFL contest since Week 3, for the San Diego Chargers.
• The Pats haven't typically allowed many opportunities for kickers to pad their teams' totals, but lately, opposing booters have tried 2.50 field goals and 2.25 extra points against them. The San Francisco 49ers' thoroughly impressive outing in New England offset the Patriots' dominant showing against the Houston Texans, in terms of scoring. But Bill Belichick's teams hasn't been at its sharpest lately, as last week's tilt versus the Jacksonville Jaguars.
• Carpenter kicked three field goals and tacked on a PAT in the first 2012 meeting between these two teams. Kaeding may well have his chances, so long as the weather isn't a factor.

• Dawson has attempted 2.00 field goals and 2.00 extra points per game in the latest period. Those averages are about on par with what Cleveland has provided him with all season. Quarterback Brandon Weeden has been up and down in his first NFL season, so there's some risk that the offense won't put Dawson in position to make kicks - something he does regularly, with his 96.6 field goal percentage.
• This may be a revenge game of sorts for the Steelers, who'd probably like to wrap up their season on a high note with a victory against a team to whom they previously lost, thanks to eight turnovers. It was an embarrassing affair.
• If you're willing to take the gamble, however, Cleveland has moved the ball against their division rivals in many previous meetings. Dawson made two field goals and two extra points the first time these two teams squared off in 2012.