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 8 to Week 11, unless otherwise stated.
Fantasy football sleepers: Wide receivers
Nate Washington, Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans
Fantasy value: Low-end No. 1
- Washington has nine targets in each of his last three games, and the arrival of Randy Moss has helped. Washington scored and caught three passes for 26 yards in Week 10, and last week he caught five passes for 117 yards, including a 52-yard grab.
- Wideouts drool when they see Houston up next on the docket. The Texans have allowed receivers to average 11.75 catches, 200.5 yards and 1.75 touchdown grabs per game. Their 17.1 yards-per-catch average allowed is the highest in the league.
Sidney Rice, Minnesota Vikings at Washington Redskins
Should only improve
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Fantasy value: Midrange No. 2
- Rice caught three passes for 56 yards in his 2010 debut. He played a heavy workload in his return, so there's little indication Minny would hold him back from here on out.
- The 'Skins should help Rice ease into regular duty even more. Per game, Washington has allowed 11.33 catches, 183.3 yards and 2.00 touchdowns (tied for the most scores yielded) to this position. That 16.2 yards-per-catch average is the fourth highest in the league.
- If Washington needed to help any further, playmaking free safety LaRon Landry (Achilles') doesn't look good to play in Week 12. Also, the Vikes said they'll stick with Brett Favre, at least for this week. Favre and Rice had a strong rapport last year; No. 4 targeted Rice 10 times in Week 11.
Anthony Armstrong, Washington Redskins vs. Minnesota Vikings
Fantasy value: High-end No. 3
- The deep threat has hauled in just nine passes in his last three games but averaged 21.4 yards per catch this year. Donovan McNabb has confidence in testing secondaries with "Stretch," who has at least five targets in each of his last three games.
- Minnesota is a secondary that is tested often - and fails. They've allowed 12.75 catches, 184.0 yards and 1.75 scores per game to wideouts, along with a 14.4 receiving average that ranks among the 10 highest in the league. Armstrong warrants a one-week rental off your wire because of this matchup.
Ben Obomanu, Seattle Seahawks vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Fantasy value: Midrange No. 3
- With Mike X. Williams (foot) potentially carrying a significant injury, Obomanu might be in line for even more attention from quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. Obomanu has already taken the starting flanker job away from Deon Butler and has nine catches for 147 yards over the last two weeks; on Sunday, he went 5-87-1 on six looks.
- The Chiefs have allowed 14.50 catches, 194.0 yards and 1.25 touchdowns per game to opposing wideouts. The receptions and yardage are among the five highest figures in the NFL.
- Obomanu deserves waiver wire attention; targets look like they'll keep flowing to him with Williams' injury and the lack of reliability in options below Obomanu on the depth chart.
About Tim Heaney

Tim's work has been featured by USA Today/Sports Weekly, among numerous publications, and recognized as a finalist in FSWA's awards. The Boston University alum competes in Tout Wars and LABR and has won numerous industry leagues in both baseball and football.
During baseball and football season, he's on The Reality Check with Glenn Clark every Wednesday on 1570 AM WNST in Baltimore. He hits the airwaves every Thursday at 9:30 a.m. ET on Sirius XM Fantasy Sports Radio, where he often crashes other shows, as well.
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