Gardner Minshew should enjoy a solid revenge game in Week 6. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) (Justin Casterline via Getty Images)
Sleeper is a nebulous term in fantasy football. There is never one size fits all for every column.
My goal with this article is to help you consider fantasy players who may be overlooked or underrated, whether as temporary backups, potential depth additions, or perhaps the impetus for a prop play or DFS slot. As always, your mileage may vary and you know your league – and your specific needs – better than an outsider ever could.
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Last week it was a usual return for the sleeper side. Curtis Samuel came through (and is worth another shot this week; just 31% on the roster) and Zach Ertz was a half-hit, as someone mentioned in passing. The other pieces were a net loss, but such is life on the sleeper streets. We know what we’re dealing with.
QB Sam Howell (36%, at Atlanta)
Howell has developed into a fantasy quarterback that you can play at times but might not want to watch. He takes way too many sacks, and sometimes he relies too much on his athleticism, which puts him on a bad path (an example of this is the touchdown he gave Arizona in Week 1). But the Falcons have one of the worst pass rushes in the league (just five sacks), so Howell may get more time to operate this week (just be aware that sacks are generally more of a quarterback stat than a blocking statistic). statistics are).
Washington OC Eric Bieniemy isn’t afraid to switch to a pass-heavy script, especially when the Commanders fall behind. I wouldn’t advise you to watch three hours of Washington football (and the Falcons can drive you crazy too), but I would advocate Howell for a deeper league entry or streaming considerations.
QB Gardner Minshew (6%, in Jacksonville)
A Gardner Minshew revenge game? I’m here for it. The Colts’ offense has interesting parts – a legitimate downfield target in Michael Pittman Jr., an emerging (and sleeper-worthy) option in Josh Downs, a backfield that now features Jonathan Taylor and Zack Moss, and the new one’s creative plans Head Coach Shane Steichen. The Jaguars are below average in YPA rating allowed and they are about league average in passer rating allowed.
The timing of the game also favors the Colts – Jacksonville returns to America after a two-game stretch in London and a surprising win over Buffalo. It’s possible the Jaguars will suffer a loss at this point. I expect the Colts offense to remain competitive and at least reach its target point total of 21. Minshew is approved when you need to dig deep.
Derrick Henry’s managers don’t like to think about it, but Spears plays an important role in Tennessee’s offense. Spears has absorbed 37 touchdowns in four weeks, including a 12-touchdown, 69-yard game (with one touchdown) last week. Spears is obviously the preferred receiving option of the two defenders, and it’s possible Tennessee will have to pursue the game against Baltimore a bit. This isn’t just an emergency pick for your backfield; Spears must now be viewed as someone who offers value in his own right. And if Henry ever gets injured, Spears could be a crucial pick, especially considering some of the exciting matchups Tennessee has lined up for the second half of the year.
Even if Spears is in your league, keep him in mind. Tennessee has a bye in Week 7, and if he doesn’t blow up at this point, he could fall back in some groups next week. If so, be ready to strike.
We mentioned Curtis Samuel and Josh Downs in passing above, and both pieces are preferred over Cooks. But maybe you need to drop a level, and that’s where I would consider the Dallas receiver. The Cowboys’ offense seemed lost in the last two losses, but the Chargers’ defense is a good unit – allowing 8.3 YPA and the most fantasy points to wide receivers. And while Cooks didn’t feature in any games, it’s not like he was completely ignored – he scored 15 goals in three weeks. If he increases that usage a bit, he could sneak into WR3 territory at a time when the receiver landscape is particularly sparse.
(If you’re looking for a Minnesota wideout in this range, note that Jordan Addison is already over 90% on the roster at Yahoo and KJ Osborn is at 61%. These are good plays, they just don’t fit the purpose of this column .)
The Saints defense is often a group to avoid, but Schultz is still worth considering. He posted a season-best 7-65-1 (10 goals) and the Texans’ receiver room has struggled with cluster injuries. CJ Stroud obviously trusts Schultz in key spots, especially at the goal line (touchdowns in back-to-back weeks). Schultz is another player I would consider holding out until his bye in Week 7 – Houston’s schedule calls for a lot of green matchups (i.e. plus matchups) in the second half of the year.
Raiders D/ST (36%, vs. New England)
The Falcons defense will get plenty of wiggle room with Sam Howell’s sack issues, but Atlanta’s pass rush may not be able to take full advantage of it. I’m interested in a Raiders defense that was surprisingly active in Monday’s win over Green Bay. And I just don’t trust Mac Jones to make good decisions right now; The Patriots offense appears to be broken. Streaming defense is typically about exploiting weak offenses and going for a home favorite whenever possible. The Raiders check both boxes.