Does your fantasy team need help? Have you lost a key player to injury? Every Wednesday, I will bring you the top sleeper picks for the upcoming week in fantasy football that could positively influence your matchup, along with some players that could sink your team if you make the mistake of playing them.
So this last week, one of my tight end picks was bad, Hunter Henry, and the other was also bad, C.J. Fiedorowicz. So we can call that even given the state of the tight end position this year. Kenny Britt’s performance was lackluster, but so were many wide receivers this week. The Titans let Mariota sling it; he had 37 attempts and an overall solid performance. I told you not to play Lamar Miller and he went for just 61 yards and no touchdowns. Also, I warned against Brandin Cooks; you probably shouldn’t have listened.
Sleepers
Jacquizz Rodgers (Running Back – Tampa Bay Buccaneers): Rodgers has set a personal best in each of his last two games, with 101 yards in Week 5 and 156 yards this week after his bye. He has the starting role locked down right now with Doug Martin injured. If he remains available in your league, he could be an invaluable pickup, especially in the middle of the season with many players reaching their bye week.
Devontae Booker (Running Back – Denver Broncos): So far this season, Booker has been sitting behind C.J. Anderson and has failed to get more than six points in any one week. However, Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak has noted his displeasure with the state of the running game and will be making some changes. This pickup is more of a gamble, as I am operating under the assumption that Kubiak intends to increase the number of touches for Booker.
Brandon LaFell (Wide Receiver – Cincinnati Bengals): In the last three games, LaFell has 21 targets and four touchdowns. That counts for 21 percent of Andy Dalton’s throws. With a real lack of a number two receiver to A.J. Green coming into the season, Brandon LaFell has stepped up and made his presence known. This is a low ceiling and high floor candidate. Consistency is what you’ll get from LaFell.
Jack Doyle (Tight End – Indianapolis Colts): Oh, tight ends. Such an unpredictable position. And so often a solid performance from a tight end is the difference between a win or a loss in your fantasy matchup. Doyle looks like he’s got the hot hand, so play him. With 131 yards and two touchdowns in his last two games, he looks like he will do as well as you can hope for your tight end to play.
Anquan Boldin (Wide Receiver – Detroit Lions): His statline isn’t overly impressing, but I’m putting Boldin on here anyway. With Eric Ebron out, he provides the next best receiving option in between the hashes, with Marvin Jones Jr. and Golden Tate attracting attention on the outsides. Be aware that his ceiling is about 15 points for a week.
Busts
Jeremy Hill (Running Back – Cincinnati Bengals): Hill exploded for 168 yards and a touchdown on Sunday against the Browns. Now, Hill has a prime matchup against a spotty Washington defense, but teammate Giovani Bernard won the carry battle 17-9. It doesn’t seem like that’s going to change; he will be very hard to start week in and week out.
Davante Adams (Wide Receiver – Green Bay Packers): I very nearly made Adams one of my sleepers, but the more I looked at his performance this year, the more questions arose. For example, how come in his first five games he recorded 15 total receptions, just two more than he had last week? I think Adams’ performance was a flash in the pan.