Every week during fantasy football season, we’ll give you a lineup full of sleepers to help you fill the gaps in your own starting crew. A brief caution: These picks are NOT intended to replace the actual starters you drafted. But if you’re weak somewhere, or battling injuries, this is a lineup full of high-upside plays that should be available in plenty of competitive fantasy leagues.
There’s a reason they call them “sleepers”. Sometimes they oversleep and miss the game entirely. If this column had appeared yesterday, there’s a chance that Devin Funchess would be locking down one of the receiver spots–you know, good ol’ Devin, Mr. One-Catch-For-Nine-Yards. So be aware of the downside if you use these guys, and only contact us with praise and thanks for the ones that pay off. You’re welcome.
QUARTERBACK
Joe Flacco, BAL: Flacco likes to throw the deep ball. Mike Wallace likes to catch the deep ball. The Buffalo Bills, whom the Ravens face this week, are missing crucial elements of their pass rush, which should give Baltimore time to throw the deep ball. Flacco is owned in less than one quarter of leagues and has more weapons to look for–Wallace, Kamar Aiken, the returning Steve Smith Sr.–than he did at any point last year. If you’re a Tom Brady owner looking to stream QB for four weeks, or you just don’t feel so great about relying on, say, Carson Palmer against New England, you could do a lot worse.
RUNNING BACK
Christine Michael, SEA: Somehow Michael is still available in about 40 percent of leagues across platforms. That’s…strange to say the least, since he looked fantastic in the preseason, has drawn rave reviews from coaches and teammates and was listed No. 1 on the Seahawks depth chart, ahead of Thomas Rawls, who will be on a snap count as Seattle eases him back in. Combine that with a game script that should see the Seahawks holding the lead for most of the second half and you have a recipe for a big week one line.
James White, NE: This is a PPR-league special. White should take the passing downs for the Pats while LeGarrette Blount handles the between-the-tackles work. With Jimmy Garoppolo under centre and working opposite the Cardinals high-octane offence, it’s easy to picture the receiving specialist in the backfield being swamped with targets and racking up cheap yardage.
RECEIVER
Rishard Matthews, TEN: All the hype has gone to rookie Tajae Sharpe, but Matthews has spent the entire preseason running with the first team and looks set to be a big part of this offence from the get-go. He probably will man the slot with Kendall Wright out, so maybe don’t expect any deep bombs, but he should provide solid value for a guy who can be had for free in more than half of leagues.
Mike Wallace, BAL: See Joe Flacco above. Wallace seems like a perfect fit for Flacco’s vertical affection, and should get at least a few long targets. He might not be as reliable an option as you’d like, but all he needs is one or two bombs and you’ve hit paydirt.
Terrelle Pryor, CLE: With Josh Gordon out and rookie Corey Coleman just getting back into the swing of things after missing most of the preseason, Pryor has a chance to be Robert Griffin III’s favourite target in week one, against an Eagles defence that has an excellent front seven but not the most reliable secondary. RG3 also throws one of the league’s better deep balls and Pryor flashed the talent to go up and get ’em in the preseason. Also, he’s available in all but the deepest of leagues.
TIGHT END
Jesse James, PIT: Sigh. This was supposed to be Ladarius Green’s gig, and let’s have a moment of silence for all of us who waited out Green’s San Diego years and were excited to see him land in Pittsburgh. Green, of course, is battling either ankle or head issues depending on who you believe, so James is now Ben Roethlisberger’s de facto TE. With Green out, as well as Martavis Bryant and Le’Veon Bell suspended, the Steelers could really use another weapon. James just might be the guy.
DEFENCE
Philadelphia: Yeah, RG3 might throw a nice deep ball, but he’s also been a reliable source of points for opposing fantasy defences in every year except his rookie season. We’re not expecting the Browns to get shut out or anything, but the Eagles’ aforementioned front seven should be able to apply pressure and that could result in a few turnovers pretty easily.
KICKERS
Just pick one who plays in a dome already. C’mon.