7 Deep Fantasy Football Sleepers for Week 13, 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 13.
Quarterback
Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers (Owned in 22.8% of ESPN Leagues)
Eventually, Colin Kaepernick will climb out of the deep sleeper territory, but he's not quite there yet. He's available in nearly 80% of leagues before waivers clear this week. In Week 13, he faces the Chicago Bears in Chicago. The San Francisco 49ers' implied team total is just 20.5 points, but he has managed at least 15 FanDuel points in all six games he has started.
That includes at least 23 rushing yards in each game and more than 55 in four of the six.
Chicago is 21st in Adjusted Defensive Passing Net Expected Points (NEP) per play this year. If you can't snag Kaepernick, don't overlook Alex Smith against the Atlanta Falcons.
Running Back
Kenneth Dixon, Baltimore Ravens (25.1%)
It's likely that Kenneth Dixon is a hot waiver commodity, but don't rule out the possibility of playing him right away against the Miami Dolphins. He saw 46% of the Baltimore Ravens' snaps last week, according to FantasyData, more than Terrance West's 34%.
Both got 13 carries and 4 targets, but Dixon has actually been better as a rusher than West. West has secured -0.05 Rushing NEP per carry on a 37.91% Success Rate on 153 carries, and Dixon has netted a -0.01 and 42.50% on his 40 carries.
Chris Thompson, Washington (24.6%)
Every season, there are players we can justify in the right game script. Playing Chris Thompson as an underdog is one of those situations for those of us in deep leagues. Last week, Thompson played 57% of Washington's snaps while the game snowballed in Dallas' favor. Washington is a 2.5-point road underdog against the Arizona Cardinals, so that's not really implying that they'll be in check-down mode.
But in PPR leagues -- and even in standard leagues, really, as receiving yards can pile up quickly -- Thompson as an underdog can save your lineup if you're looking for a deep RB2 option.
Wide Receiver
Anquan Boldin, Detroit Lions (23.3%)
The Detroit Lions are 5-point underdogs against the New Orleans Saints in a game with an over/under of 53.5. That gives them an implied team total of 24.25. The Saints rank 28th against the pass, per our metrics, and 16th against the run. They've been one of the toughest run defenses in recent weeks, so Detroit, a team that ranks 19th in rushing efficiency, is better off throwing in this one. Plus, they might have to if they fall behind.
Anquan Boldin has played at least 67% of Detroit's snaps in every game and has seen 9 targets in consecutive games. He'd be a solid flier regardless of matchup, but in this one, he's extra enticing.
Dontrelle Inman, San Diego Chargers (6.5%)
This is a bit contingent on the health of Tyrell Williams, who is dealing with a shoulder injury. Williams drew 14 targets last week, and Dontrelle Inman got 6, which he turned into 119 yards and a score. The San Diego Chargers host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as 3.5-point favorites this week, with an implied team total of 25.5. Tampa Bay ranks 7th against the pass, per our metrics, but are 19th in FanDuel points allowed to receivers.
Travis Benjamin did return last week but saw 2 targets and played just 64% of the team's snaps. If he's still being eased in and Williams misses, Inman is a big-time sleeper candidate for Week 13.
Tight End
Josh Hill, New Orleans Saints (0.1%)
It's tough to be confident about this one, but Josh Hill has been dominating tight end snaps for the Saints. He caught all 6 targets for 74 yards last week, but Coby Fleener managed to reel in all 4 of his for 59. Hill, though, played 78% of snaps, and Fleener was on the field for just 24%. Hill has played at least 50% of snaps since Week 6. Fleener has done so in just four of those seven.
The reason that matters? They're playing the Lions, who are the worst tight end defense in the league, per our DFS tools. With an implied team total of 29.25 points, the Saints should be near the end zone, and that's promising for Hill.
If you can't trust him, give Will Tye a look. Despite just 2 targets last week, he played 88% of the New York Giants' snaps, and the Steelers are 21st against tight ends.
Flex
Philip Dorsett, Indianapolis Colts (12.1%)
Phillip Dorsett is a bit more injury-dependent than a guy like Inman, but if T.Y. Hilton were to miss Indianapolis' tilt against the New York Jets, then Dorsett is worth a look. The Colts drew criticism for drafting Dorsett, a Hilton clone, last year, so it makes sense that he could take over the Hilton role if he missed this week's game.
Dorsett was unable to take advantage of Donte Moncrief's absence earlier this year, but he's more apt for the Hilton role: Dorsett's yards at the catch per reception of 11.38 is just shy of Hilton's 11.95. Moncrief's is just 8.33.
If Hilton is fine entering the weekend and you need a flier at flex, consider Malcolm Mitchell while Rob Gronkowski is ailing. Mitchell saw just 47% of snaps but drew 7 targets last week.
