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 that you wouldn't necessarily consider that you need to get into your lineup.
Wide receiver Torry Holt might be No. 1 on the depth chart, but Sims-Walker has been quarterback David Garrard's favorite target over the last two weeks with 19 looks. Sims-Walker has 12 receptions for 187 yards and one touchdown in those two games.
No team has allowed more receiving yards to enemy wideouts per game this year than the Titans (210.7). They're also tied for second with 1.67 scores allowed per game to the position.
Tennessee has been stingy to opposing running backs. This could prompt Jacksonville to put the ball in the air more often in Week 4.
If he's available, make it a point to snag Sims-Walker in your league. He's available in 55 percent of leagues polled.
Marshall could be feeling much more comfortable in the offense; he finished with five receptions for 67 yards (both season highs) in Week 3 along with one score.
Don't let the seven points they allowed during their Week 3 game fool you - Dallas' defense against receivers hasn't been great. Over the last three weeks, they're in the top three for receiving yards (201.3) and receptions (15.67) allowed per game to this position.
So far teams have been willing to let Marshall get his while shutting down wideout Eddie Royal. Denver has also been lining up Marshall tight to their formation and sending him over the middle, forcing a linebacker or safety to cover him. It worked last week as Marshall scored his TD with a linebacker covering him.
It has been a quiet two weeks since Gage's 7-78-1 line in Week 1. He has just six catches for 64 yards over the last two games.
Only one team has allowed more receiving yards per game to this position than the Jags (210.0) in the first three weeks. Also, Jacksonville has allowed the most receptions per game (16.33) to this position in that time.
At Jacksonville last year, Gage caught four passes for 147 yards and two scores. In his other three games against them over the last two years, he has combined for 11 receptions, 141 receiving yards and one TD.
Rice's chemistry with quarterback Brett Favre has increased each week. Last week he finished with four receptions for 56 yards (both season highs) and one score.
The Packers have been burned by some big plays this year, and they are allowing an average of 14.47 yards per reception to opposing wideouts, which ranks in the bottom 10. They're also tied for the fourth highest average with 1.33 receiving touchdowns allowed per game to the position.
Green Bay could (and probably should) load up the box this week in order to slow down All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson. This could leave Rice open or in single coverage on a lot of plays.
He hasn't caught a ton of passes (just nine for 109 yards) in his three games against the Packers; however, Rice has scored in each one of those meetings.
If you're looking to replace a disappointing receiver or need someone to fill in for a bye week or injury, consider adding Rice. He should be available in 86 percent of leagues polled.
Avery (ribs) hasn't done much since Week 1 with just four receptions for 16 yards. He might still be getting his legs under him after missing most of the preseason.
The Niners are allowing 11.67 receptions, 160.7 receiving yards, and 1.00 receiving touchdowns per game to this position since the season started. Also, with San Francisco's solid run D, St. Louis could take to the air more in Week 4.
One reason you could temper your expectations slightly: San Fran's cornerback Nate Clements generally shadows the opposition's best wideout. That could be Avery this week.
If Avery is available, though, he's worth adding in all formats, especially with wideout Laurent Robinson (fibula) done for the year. He is on the wire in 52 percent of leagues polled.
The second-year wideout is expected to be available this week after X-rays came back negative on his ribs.
Fantasy football sleepers: QB | RB | WR | TE | PK | DT
I like Sims-Walker a lot this week. If you had the choice, would you go with him vs TEN, Pierre Garcon vs a depleted SEA secondary, or Earl Bennett vs a woeful DET secondary?
Good question! I picked up Sims-Walker and Garcon this week and need to start one this week. My other WR is Andre Johnson, and I have Nate Burleson on the bench. Besides Johnson, who's obviously the best, which two of the rest would you keep for the rest of 2009? Also for this week, would you start Garcon, Sims-Walker, or Burleson?
I like Garcon for one reason Peyton Loves the guy. He has taken over the #2 spot in Indy and will only get better as the season progresses. Burleson has been The clear #1 so far in Seattle, but with Hasslebeck out, there is too much uncertainty for me to start him. Go with Garcon in that pass happy offense. and watch the points pile up.
Johnny Knox is not on your list but having him ranked as the 5th best WR this week in your rankings sure would qualify him wouldn't it? I realize he has a great matchup, but 5th??? If he's going to do that well should I start him over SJax as my flex who has a tough matchup at SF?
Joel - I disagree with Rip, you should go with Burleson. Indy will be using Addai/Brown alot more this week as SEA is bottom 25% vs. the run. But Indy scores so quickly (did you see them vs. Miami) that SEA will inevitably be forced to throw often to keep up. Burleson has been targeted tons by Seneca Wallace the past 2 weeks. With Hasselback out again, it will be another big Nate week. (The experts say it's b/c Nate runs outside routes and Seneca isn't as tall as Hasselbeck, therefore he has a harder time finding slot/TE guys like TJ Housh and Carlson)
I have Garcon and am starting him this week. But, if I had the choice you're faced with, it would be a no-brainer to start Nate.
One consideration: Oakland has a TOP CB named Nnamdi Asomugha. He's top tier and ate Andre Johnson alive last year. Kevin Walter is back and got more looks/catches/yards/score last week than Johnson. Could happen again this week.
If you want to be bold and take a risk that could pay huge dividends... start Burleson, Garcon and Sims-Walker. Leave Johnson on the bench.
Norman, Steven Jackson will have a decent week and is good for PPR league. He's the most dependable receiver they have right now since losing Robinson for the season. SF has a tough defense, so look for lots of screens and outlet check-down passes to SJax. PPR - go SJax. Non-PPR I'd say Knox.
Andre could break out against Nnamdi, some pundits are thinking he could, or it might be the same old - same old.
Which of these WR's should I start in a standard non-ppr league:
Andre Johnson,
Calvin Johnson,
Mike Sims-Walker
Bryce McRae
Bryce McRae is a Managing Editor with KFFL and has been involved in fantasy sports since 1999. He joined KFFL as a volunteer writer in March 2005 before becoming a Hot off the Wire Analyst in March 2006. He began working in his current capacity in September 2008. His work has appeared on fantasy sports sites such as Yahoo! and CBS Sportsline as well as in print. He graduated from the University of British Columbia in 2008 with a B.A. in History and U.S. Studies.
