Fantasy Football Week 13 Sleepers: Don’t overlook these options if your lineup needs help

On By Littum

There were hits and misses on the week 12 sleep side, like any other week. Luke Schoonmaker, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Roschon Johnson had touchdowns, and Will Dissly was solid, as usual. We like that. But Quentin Johnston toasted a bagel on Monday (so many soul-crushing drops) and there were some other bricks.

Here’s hoping you don’t need many sleepers in your Week 13 lineups. All 32 NFL clubs are in action this week, and you’re probably rooting for the playoffs. The stakes rise. But if injuries or underperformance have bitten you, some of these names might help.

At this stage of the game, we know what Edwards is — a two-down pounder who offers almost nothing in the passing game. However, he will be the first look at the goal line with JK Dobbins (knee) set to miss time and the Falcons feature a rushing defense that is slightly below average in most measurements. Edwards probably needs a touchdown to pay off his projection, but I’d give him a better than 50% chance to get that score here.

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Here’s another back who hasn’t shown anything in the passing game (just two receptions), but McNichols has been effective when asked to carry the ball (in a mild surprise, his success rate is actually slightly higher than Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler). You’ll have to do your injury due diligence with Washington this week, with Robinson dealing with an ankle injury and Ekeler in the concussion protocol. If either of them can’t go, McNichols is in play against an average Tennessee rushing defense.

Here’s your Black Friday special, a pass-catching specialist who might see a favorable game script against the heavily favored Chiefs (assuming Alexander Mattison and Zamir White are unavailable again). Abdullah’s rushing skills are modest, but he has played a useful 8-53-2 role in the passing game the past two weeks. Let Kansas City build a lead and watch Abdullah hack away with those receptions, especially fun if your league has a PPR component to the scoring.

Bo Nix isn’t the only rookie winner in Denver; Vele’s role continues to expand and he has been impressive. Vele is coming off its busiest and most productive game of the year (6-80-0, nine goals), and Monday’s draw is favorable, up against a Cleveland secondary that’s allowed the fifth most points to opposing wide receivers. Boundary specialist Courtland Sutton is the undisputed alpha in the Denver passing game, but Vele will likely see a target share of 20% or higher in this spot.

One of the biggest fantasy stories from Week 12 was the emergence of Bryce Young, who looked poised and in control against the intimidating Kansas City defense. Unfazed by the blitz packages, Young made numerous throws on goal despite challenging pressure. It seems the Panthers knew what they were doing when they temporarily benched Young; he has looked like a different player since his return.

That means we can start attacking the Carolina receiver room with some confidence. Thielen’s resume probably makes him the more comfortable sleeper game based on a solid 3-57-0 line in his return from injury, but we also have to note that Moore saw heavy use in the Kansas City game (6-81 -1) and tied a team-best 10 goals. The Buccaneers play a lot of shootouts with a capable offense and a leaky secondary. Maybe the Panthers can uphold their end of the deal.

Some fantasy managers didn’t want to keep MVS through the bye week, and I understand that, given his history of inconsistent performance. And even in two huge games, they’ve come with limited volume — just seven goals led to his 5-196-3 line the last two games. The hope is that Valdez-Scantling will make a big play to justify your faith, and at least there is some downfield competition in this offense. The Rams’ secondary has been a plus match for most of 2024.

It’s becoming a cut-and-paste affair with NWI, a low-scoring player who has somehow scored in 6-of-7 games. NWI is seeing snap shares over 90% every week in the wake of the DeAndre Hopkins trade, making him the second most important target in his offense. I’m not afraid to call him up against an average Washington defense; The Commanders are heavy favorites, which could push Tennessee into a more proactive passing game.

I’m surprised his roster mark has stayed so low after Schoonmaker gave us 6-56-0 and 3-55-1 in consecutive weeks. Cooper Rush has been a competent quarterback in both games, and the Cowboys won’t have Jake Ferguson (concussion) on Thanksgiving. There’s a good chance Schoonmaker will be the second read in the Dallas offense — the guy to look for when CeeDee Lamb isn’t open. New York’s tight end coverage has been strong this year, though it hasn’t faced a difficult schedule. Ferguson got them for seven catches back in Week 4.