7 Deep Fantasy Football Sleepers for Week 12, Presented by Casper
Holes in your fantasy football lineup can be tough to deal with. The often leave you restless and fidgety until your lineups lock. But the right sleepers -- even in deep, 14- and 16-team leagues -- can offer respite.
Check out these seven deep sleepers for Week 12.
Quarterback
Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers (Owned in 17.0% of ESPN Leagues)
We relied on Colin Kaepernick last week, and we're going back to him this week, as his ownership rate bumped by not even three percent. Well, he draws the Miami Dolphins in Week 12. They are 12th against quarterbacks, per our DFS tools, but Kaepernick's rushing ability boosts his floor each and every week.
The San Francisco 49ers have an implied team total of just 19 points, but Kaepernick is projected for more than 17 by our algorithm. At this level of ownership? That's an easy decision for teams in need of a quarterback in Week 12.
Running Back
Wendell Smallwood, Philadelphia Eagles (2.4%)
Wendell Smallwood is a prime pickup this week, as Darren Sproles and Ryan Mathews left the Philadelphia Eagles' Week 11 game with injuries. Smallwood played 48% of the team's snaps, and the Eagles host the Green Bay Packers in Week 12 on Monday Night Football.
The Packers have given up seven touchdowns in their past four games to running backs. If either Sproles or Mathews misses the game, Smallwood is a no-brainer option against a team that's given up 150.5 yards per game on the ground to backs in the past two weeks.
Kenneth Dixon, Baltimore Ravens (23.3%)
Last week, Kenneth Dixon was outsnapped by Terrance West 42% to 38%, per FantasyData, but that is a high-water mark for Dixon this year. He did get only 6 carries but turned them into 40 yards. We can expect West to be quite involved for sure against the Cincinnati Bengals, but there is still deep-league appeal for Dixon.
Baltimore is favored by 4.5 points and has a 59.8% win probability, per our algorithm, and the game is shaping up for 16 mile-per-hour winds. That's a recipe for the run game, which -- of course -- points to West. But you can still snag Dixon, ride him in Week 12 and hope his usage continues to climb for the rest of the season.
Wide Receiver
Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati Bengals (5.3%)
Both Tyler Boyd and Brandon LaFell (11.0%) are in the conversation this week after A.J. Green tore his hamstring on the first series in Week 11.
In Green's virtual absence from the entire game, Boyd played 74% of the snaps, and LaFell played 95% because LaFell always plays almost every snap. But against the Ravens, you can fire up either guy, as Green leaves behind a target market share of nearly 30%. Couple that with Giovani Bernard's torn ACL, and you have plenty of chances for each guy in Week 12 and beyond.
Marqise Lee, Jacksonville Jaguars (4.4%)
Well, Marqise Lee is still the third receiving option for the Jacksonville Jaguars, based on snap rate, but he's worth a look as a deep sleeper in Week 12. He played 67% of the snaps last week, while Allen Hurns played 89% and Allen Robinson played 94%, but Lee did lead the team with 8 targets. Lee has had 4 catches and at least 50 yards in three straight games, a usable line in deep PPR formats.
The Jags play the Buffalo Bills this week with just a 19.25-point implied team total, but Hurns is tough to ignore if you're hurting at receiver.
Tight End
Will Tye, New York Giants (1.8%)
Last week, Will Tye found the end zone despite just 2 catches and 12 yards, but he did get 5 targets and played 78% of the snaps. We aren't touchdown chasing here -- the matchup is right. Tye's New York Giants travel to face the Cleveland Browns as 7-point favorites. The over/under is just 44, but that gives the Giants an implied team total of of 25.5 points.
The Browns are 31st against tight ends, per our DFS tools, and with Tye playing more than 72% of snaps in his past three, he should be able to take advantage of his limited chances.
Flex
Charles Clay, Buffalo Bills (13.9%)
You can't get too confident with Charles Clay this week, but with Robert Woods looking doubtful and Sammy Watkins looking like he could play "some" if he's ready, Clay should see volume by default.
He's played at least 92% of snaps in three of his past four games, and his Bills have a 26.25-point implied team total. High over/unders and implied team totals are good for tight ends, historically, and Clay, who has averaged 5.9 targets per game in his last six outings, is pretty much the last playmaker standing for Tyrod Taylor in Week 12.
