It was a fantastic fantasy football week for any owners of these 10 fantasy football sleepers who came up with big weeks despite low expectations coming into the week.
Oct 16, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Case Keenum (17) celebrates his touchdown during the second quarter with teammates during the second quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Just when you think you have the NFL contenders and pretenders figured out, a week like Week 6 happens with some major upsets. The Dolphins knocked off the Steelers, the Chargers beat the Broncos, and the Jaguars even got a win on the road in Chicago. As you continue to digest all the week 6 numbers and figure out what they mean, check out some of the biggest fantasy football sleepers that emerged from Week 6 on the following slides.
These fantasy football sleepers didn’t come into the week with great expectations, but they stepped up and delivered for their teams and fantasy owners this week. Moving forward, these are the names that need to be on your radar as potential additions from the waiver wire or value DFS plays..
Each week at FanSided, I run down the top fantasy football sleepers who emerged the previous week. They typically are players that were off the radar coming into the week but put up noteworthy performances. Every Monday of the season features our top 15 fantasy scoring leaders, our top 10 fantasy football busts, and these top 10 fantasy football sleepers.
In this post, I do my best to highlight the surprises from fantasy football Week 6. Whether due to bigger opportunities or better matchups, these players came through for their owners who were bold enough to play them. You definitely want to be aware of these players going forward and many will make our Tuesday list of waiver wire pickups to target.
Make sure to check back tomorrow for my top waiver wire pickups so that you can improve your fantasy football team going into Week 6]7. To catch all our fantasy football coverage, make sure to drop a bookmark on our fantasy football hub and follow us on Twitter @FansidedFantasy. You can also check out our new start/sit tool and be sure to let us know how we can help your team be set up for success in the coming weeks.
Let’s get rolling with our Week 6 fantasy football sleepers starting with a defense that stepped up.
Oct 16, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive end Benson Mayowa (93) celebrates after the Cowboys recovered a fumble by Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (not pictured) in the third quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Dallas Cowboys D/ST
While there is a lot of focus on what’s wrong in Green Bay, let’s not overlook what the Cowboys did on defense this week against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. Dallas allowed just 78 rushing yards while piling up 191 of their own.
The Dallas D forced a pair of turnovers by Aaron Rodgers and four overall. They got credit for one sack (by David Irving) and were led in tackles by Sean Lee (12) and rookie Anthony Brown (11). While Dallas wasn’t able to get any defensive touchdowns in this one, the turnovers area a great sign moving forward. Their ability to control the clock with their running game almost takes the pressure off the defense.
While their nine fantasy points (standard scoring) was their best of the season, Dallas’s D has been better than many think. They have held their opponent under 20 points in each of their last four games, and they have some favorable matchups ahead. This week, they have a bye, but then the return with the Eagles, Browns, Steelers, Ravens, and Washington. If you’re looking for an early Week 8 or 9 option from the fantasy football sleepers, the Cowboys could be a stealthy pickup.
Oct 16, 2016; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins tight end Vernon Davis (85) celebrates after catching a touchdown pass against the Philadelphia Eagles in the second quarter at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Vernon Davis-TE-Washington
With Jordan Reed sidelined with his fifth career concussion, Washington and Kirk Cousins turned to backup Vernon Davis who they picked up this offseason after ten years in San Francisco and Denver. The veteran was already playing plenty of snaps in dual-tight end sets and seemed to fit well with Kirk Cousins on Sunday.
Davis was targeted four times and was able to catch two passes for a total of 50 yards. He found the end zone for the first time this season, and he could continue to be involved if Reed’s injury hangs around.
Given the uncertainty of Reed’s status, Davis is definitely a fringe starting option for fantasy football next week. He’s one of the best short-term fantasy football sleepers at tight end even though he doesn’t have the long-term upside of the next tight end since he’ll take a back seat when Reed returns.
Oct 2, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz (87) celebrates with wide receiver Will Fuller (15) after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter against the Tennessee Titans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
C.J. Fiedorowicz-TE-Houston Texans
Another one of the best fantasy football sleepers at tight end is the Texans third-year TE out of Iowa C.J. Fiedorowicz. Fiedorowicz was a big part of Houston’s late comeback last night to force overtime and ultimately beat their division-rival Colts.
The last three weeks, Brock Osweiler has been sending plenty of passes his way, and Fiedorowicz has made the most of his increased changes. In the last three weeks, Fiedorowicz has totaled 14 catches in those for 194 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He finished last night’s win with six catches for 85 yards.
At this point, Fiedorowicz is almost universally available and has a couple of good matchups before his bye coming up in Week 9. In Week 7, he’ll face the Broncos in Denver before coming home to take on a beatable Lions secondary in Week 8. He is getting enough targets and making enough plays to be a borderline starter every week as one of Brock Osweiler’s favorite targets.
Oct 16, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots offensive lineman Shaq Mason (69) blocks for running back James White (28) during the fourth quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports
James White-RB-New England Patriots
It makes sense that Tom Brady’s return has the Patriots passing attack flying high. Brady has thrown six scores and no picks since returning, but only one of those scores has been to one of his main targets from last year–Rob Gronkowski. Last week, it was Martellus Bennett that hauled in three touchdowns, and this week it was James White’s turn to catch a pair of touchdowns from RB12.
White finished with 47 yards on his eight catches while getting those two scores and adding in 19 yards on seven carries as well. He isn’t the goalline brute force that LeGarrette Blount is, but he will continue to get plenty of playing time in passing downs over the next few weeks.
One factor that could limit his long-term upside is whether Dion Lewis returns sooner or later after his stint on the IR. When Lewis returns he’ll take a lot of the playing time that White is enjoying, but until then White is one of the most intriguing fantasy football sleepers at RB on a weekly basis.
Oct 16, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans receiver Kendall Wright (13) stretches for a first down in the first half against the Cleveland Browns at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Kendall Wright-WR-Tennessee Titans
The Titans have been trying to find consistent production from their WR spot, and they got it form Kendall Wright this week in their win over Cleveland. He didn’t play a ton of snaps, but he was effective and led the team in receiving yards and found the end zone. His role going forward is a major question mark, but he flashed the upside that makes him one of the fantasy football sleepers to keep an eye on moving forward.
According to Jim Wyatt:
.@Titans offensive snaps vs @Browns. Of note: @1kendallwright sure made the most of his snaps (8 catches, 133 yards, TD on 22 snaps)… pic.twitter.com/nQppIiqr5a
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) October 17, 2016
Only 35% of snaps isn’t enough to keep him in the fantasy football discussion on a weekly basis, but his 133 yards and a touchdown show he can produce when given the chance. The Titans should move him up their rotation since Andre Johnson and Tajae Sharpe have both struggled at opposite ends of their NFL careers.
I’m not sure I’m all-in on Wright just yet, but his big week 7 puts him on the radar moving forward. The Titans have a couple great matchups the next two weeks against the Colts and Jags, so we should have a good idea of how involved he’ll be going forward after this home games.
Oct 16, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) under center Ben Jones (60) in the first half against the Cleveland Browns at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Marcus Mariota-QB-Tennessee Titans
Last week, Marcus Mariota was the overall leader in fantasy points for the week, and he followed that up with another top-10 week this week. He and Tom Brady were the only two players in the top ten for both weeks.
It’s a huge turnaround for Mariota who looked bad in Weeks 3 and 4 with only 12 total fantasy points (standard scoring). The last two weeks, though, he has been on fire with 30 and 27 fantasy points against the Dolphins and Browns respectively. He threw for three touchdowns this week for the second week in a row and totaled 284 yards passing to go with the 64 rushing yards he added on seven carries.
Mariota has looked the part of the dual-threat QB that he was expected to be coming out of Oregon, and he could be peaking at a great time of the 3-3 Titans. Mariota should be set up for success as he takes on the Colts and Jaguars the next two weeks making him my favorite QB from the fantasy football sleepers discussion.
Oct 16, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Golden Tate (15) runs after a catch for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at Ford Field. Lions won 31-28. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Golden Tate-WR-Detroit Lions
Tate had been a major disappointment so far this season, but he had a monster game against the Rams in Week 6. It was by far his best game of the season, and it helps him re-emerge as a option to consider from the fantasy football sleepers each week.
Tate was targeted a team-high ten times and pulled in eight catches for 165 yards and a touchdown. Coming into the game, he had posted just 17 catches and 134 yards on the season, so his monster game was such a surprise that most owners had him on their bench.
There’s definitely a possibility that Tate turned the corner and will be good the rest of the way, but I’m still cautious headed into next week’s matchup against Washington. At this point, I would hold Tate on my bench if possible to see if his monster production was just an outlier. The Lions throw the ball around a lot, though, so he does have potential if he can produce like he did on Sunday.
Oct 16, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Case Keenum (17) runs for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Case Keenum-QB-Los Angeles Rams
While Marcus Mariota had another good game, the most surprising QB performance from he fantasy football sleepers came from Case Keenum of the Rams who went off against the Lions. Detroit was allowing the most fantasy points in the NFL to opposing QB’s before this game, and they continued to be QB fodder on a weekly basis.
Even before this game, Keenum has been quietly better lately with over 250 yards the last two weeks. However, there weren’t many signs that he would suddenly go off for 321 yards like he did on Sunday. Keenum completed 27 of his 32 passes and threw for three touchdowns. He added a fourth touchdown on the ground in his first rushing score of the season.
Unfortunately for Rams’ fans, Keenum’s breakthrough ended with a thud since he wasn’t able to get the team in position for a winning score and threw a bad interception to finish the contest. I’m not a big fan of him going forward, but it is worth noting how shreddable the Lions secondary is.
Oct 16, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Kenny Britt (18) completes a pass while being pressured Detroit Lions defensive back Johnson Bademosi (29) during the third quarter at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Kenny Britt-WR-Los Angeles Rams
The Rams offense isn’t potent enough to consistently get players into our fantasy football sleepers, but they get back-to-back entries this week since Kenny Britt torched the Lions on the other end of many of Keenum’s passes. The Rams fell just short of a road win losing 31-28, but Britt owners were thrilled with his performance.
Britt was targeted only eight times, but he managed to haul in seven of those passes for 136 yards. Britt booked two trips to the end zone in those seven catches scoring on a nine-yard catch early in the fourth quarter and a 20-yard catch in the first quarter.
So far this season, Britt has emerged the top Rams pass catcher. He has at least 75 yards in four of his last five games, but these were his first two scores of the year. He’ll continue to be a boom-or-bust play as the Rams head to London next week to face the G-men before their bye week.
Oct 16, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi (23) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium. The Miami Dolphins defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-15. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Jay Ajayi-RB-Miami Dolphins
The biggest unexpected result of Week 6 was the Dolphins rout of the Steelers. Pittsburgh had been cruising with big wins over the Steelers and Jets before taking their talents to South Beach and laying an egg against Miami.
Jay Ajayi as a difference-maker for the Dolphins and emerged as one of the best fantasy football sleepers to have stashed on your roster moving forward. The second-year back out of Boise State took his 25 carries for 204 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He was already having a career game before his breakout 62-yard touchdown at the end of the game to put the exclamation point on the end of Miami’s big win.
Ajayi looks like he’ll continue to be the top running back for Miami even with Arian Foster back. Before Sunday he hadn’t shown this kind of upside with just 117 yards on 31 carries. Moving forward not, though, he’s a RB2 next week. He’s one of the fantasy football sleepers who came up huge for his owners in Week 6, and you will want to monitor how much work he gets going forward.
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