Under the Radar: Kayla's NFL Week Three Sleepers -

So, you’re trying to earn some extra points in your fantasy lineups I see.

I see you being sneaky, coming to a place looking for possible waiver wire adds, a case to play someone you’re unsure about over another, or simply seeing if it’s worth taking a risk on a guy that on first glance makes your opponents go “wtf”, because they don’t have the insight you have.

You know me from my 2019 “Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em’s” on Full Press Coverage, but this season, I’m taking on a new task – rolling with a completely sleeper article.

If you’re new to mine or FPC’s fantasy content, I just celebrated my first full year on the most successful podcast at FPC: The Full Press Fantasy Pod. My 2019 fantasy articles got thousands of views most weeks and I specialize in deep NFL offensive player analysis, both here and on the podcast. This is also my 13th year playing fantasy football.

Before we get to week three, let’s take a look at the stat lines from my under the radar sleepers from week two:

Ryan Tannehill: 18-for-24, 239 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs = 37.1 points (second straight 4 TD game vs Jaguars)

Josh Allen: 24-for-35, 417 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs = 46.6 points (first 400-yard game of career)

Kareem Hunt: 10 carries, 86 yards, 1 TD, 2 catches, 15 yards, 1 TD = 22.1 points

David Montgomery: 16 rushes, 82 yards, 3 catches, 45 yards, 1 TD = 18.7 points (one of his top-career games)

Devin Singletary: 10 rushes, 56 yards, 2 catches, 20 yards = 7.6 points

JK Dobbins: 2 rushes, 48 yards, 1 catch, 13 yards = 6.1 points

Russell Gage: 6 catches (9 targets), 46 yards, 1 TD = 10.6 points

CeeDee Lamb: 6 catches (9 targets), 106 yards = 11.6 points (highest targeted and most catches by a Dallas WR on the day)

Anthony Miller: 0 catches (3 targets) = 0 points

Emmanuel Sanders: 1 catch (3 targets), 18 yards = 1.8 points

Dallas Goedert: 4 catches (8 targets), 30 yards = 3 points

Hayden Hurst: 5 catches (8 targets), 72 yards, 1 TD = 13.2 points

Scores are standard settings, no PPR. Adjust accordingly.

Nailed a bunch and missed on a few, overall, unless you listened to my Anthony Miller call (who I still stand by having a great matchup, he just didn’t perform), you’re probably happy with me and that’s why you’re here. Let’s go to week three!

Editor’s Note: I’m not limiting myself to a certain number of sleepers per position. If a player should be played and fits the sleeper description, he’s here. Will I mention every possible sleeper each week? Absolutely not. But, I’ll make sure you know the ones I personally would start and have confidence putting my team(s) on the line for.

If I’m not comfortable starting them, they’re not in this article.

Quarterback

1) Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee @ Minnesota

How lucky is the Dolphins fan to get to write about Ryan Tannehill two weeks in a row? Help me. BUT, Tannehill again fits the mold in this matchup. I still don’t think people are viewing him as a starting option, so he’s here again. What’s going on with Minnesota? Is Kirk Cousins reverting back to his Washington days? Was trading Stefon Diggs even worse than initially thought? What kind of defense are they running? It’s the latter. Tannehill has 488 passing yards and six passing scores through two weeks, with one of them coming against a presumed tough Denver defense. The Vikings were in that vicinity too coming into the season but that’s on a steep decline. Minnesota’s corners are thrashed, and Tannehill proved he can do his thing without No. 1 WR A.J. Brown. I will not be shocked to see him do it again. I will be starting him for the second week in a row.

2) Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh vs Houston

Averaging 27.5 points per game through two weeks and tossing five scores has me excited about Big Ben against a vulnerable Texans defense. Granted, Houston slowed down Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson more than I was expecting, but was out of that game quickly.

While I do think RB James Conner has just a few too many carries for my liking to 100-percent support Roethlisberger, I’m banking on the Steelers’ ability to extend drives and create more opportunities this way. With wide receiver Diontae Johnson coming alive (23 targets through two weeks) and Chase Claypool having a TD and 88 yards last week, Roethlisberger suddenly has a plethora of weapons. JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee) is expected to play and I think Pittsburgh either gets up early or is in a shootout with Deshaun Watson. Roethlisberger is also not owned in a majority of leagues.

3) Matthew Stafford, Detroit @ Arizona

Matthew Stafford has had the short end of the stick this season, playing Chicago and Green Bay. While the competition of Arizona stays level with his two division opponents I’m excited to see WR Kenny Golladay as probable. I also think this week has an opportunity to see more usage out of WR Marvin Jones and if Danny Amendola and Quintez Cephus can catch just a few more of their targets in this game, suddenly Detroit’s catch up is catching them up. I also like tight end T.J. Hockenson for Stafford. Hockenson had the best game of his career last season in week one against the Cardinals (six catches, 131 yards, one TD) who went on to be the worst team in 2019 when it came to guarding TEs. Stafford casually has 300-yard games in catch up mode and he should be in that situation again on Sunday.

Running back

1) James Robinson, Jacksonville vs Miami

RB Ryquell Armstead being out for the first few weeks may have turned into more of a lucky break for the Jaguars than anything else. James Robinson quietly has 32 rushes for 164 yards and a rushing TD through the first two weeks. Miami’s defense is next to last in the NFL in terms of rush defense and with Jacksonville missing the likes of WR D.J. Chark, I think Jacksonville will be relying on him more than many think in a potential shootout. Could rookie Laviska Shenault have a breakout game? Sure, but he’ll probably see CB Xavien Howard, leaving it up to Keelan Cole and Chris Conley. I’d take Robinson over them right now. I think you’ll see Robinson find the end zone easily again and garner a few more handoffs than originally planned with Chark out. I’m starting him in my $100-buy-in league with ease.

Editor’s Note: While this article was published on Friday, this segment was written on Thursday before the game. I try not to do this, but sickness got in the way of publishing.

Ep 161: Lions Dissapoint; NFL MVP; Week 12 Discussion
by Full Press Coverage on November 27, 2023 at 12:12 am

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2) Nick Chubb & Kareem Hunt, Cleveland vs Washington

You probably drafted Nick Chubb in the first round so obviously you’re going to play him, but I wanted it known that this duo with Kareem Hunt should be and can be played together. I played both last week in 0.5 PPR and walked away with 49.8 points on the way to a victory. Washington is playing its second road game in a row and I can see it struggling against the run. This should be another run-heavy game for the Browns, especially against a team whose run defense is really only good on paper. The Football Team was gifted in week one playing a Philadelphia Eagles team without RB Miles Sanders, two offensive lineman and two other starting offensive players. Of course they busted through that line. This is the second week in a row Cleveland has the chance to dominate its game simply by running. I’m starting both again as I did in week two.

3) David Montgomery, Chicago @ Atlanta

We saw last season that once David Montgomery had a standout week he was quiet the following week. This won’t be the case Sunday. Montgomery is facing a Falcons team who allowed FOUR RUSHING SCORES LAST WEEK TO DALLAS. YES FOUR. Along with three total TDs to RBs week one against Seattle. Where’s the meme of the blue Twitter dude walking into Twitter and then walking out? Yes, that’s me right now. Hopefully we see WR Allen Robinson expose a very rough Atlanta defense, but Montgomery skips his way into this game VERY under the radar.

4) Jerick McKinnon, San Francisco @ New York Giants

This whole traveling the day before a game across the country because of COVID-19 isn’t working for me, but spoiler alert, San Francisco played the Jets in the same stadium last week so they’ve just been east-coasting it for a week now. Jerick McKinnon’s case is super strong this week with RBs Raheem Mostert and Tevin Coleman OUT, along with QB Jimmy Garoppolo and TE George Kittle also on the sidelines. Backup QB Nick Mullens isn’t bad, but McKinnon is the best 49er on the field on Sunday. He has a chance to be a force in the run and pass game and prove that he shouldn’t be the No. 3 back on the team. McKinnon should also get help from RBs Jeff Wilson and promoted-back JaMychal Hasty, but he is no doubt the favorite pass-catching and lead back against a wishy-washy Giants team.

Wide receiver

1) Allen Robinson, Chicago @ Atlanta

Three catches on nine targets for 33 yards isn’t sexy. Neither is less than 11 combined points (non-PPR) through two games to a No. 1 WR. Thankfully it changes this week. I know you want ot sit him, especially if you’re in a league that only requires two WRs to start, but don’t. Robinson is averaging nine targets per game and he should get pay-dirt against a horrendous Atlanta defense. If rookie CeeDee Lamb can have a 100-yard game in his second NFL game, Robinson can be a top WR in the league this week. The Bears may come out of this as the worst 3-0 team in the league, but the good news is, that means they’re outshooting Matt Ryan to do it. I’m starting Robinson in the three out of four leagues I have him in and not losing any sleep.

2) Golden Tate and Darius Slayton, New York Giants vs San Francisco

For a NFL team to have three reliable WRs, the guys in New York aren’t talked about a lot. Are they flashy? Not really. Do they have big-play ability? Yes really. No. 1 WR Sterling Shepard (toe) is out, just like most of the 49ers defensive starters. With RB Saquon Barkley (torn ACL) on injured reserve with Shepard, RBs Dion Lewis and newly-signed Devonta Freeman will likely want a breather as both ease into New York’s schemes. We saw both get upticks in usage during the weeks Shepard missed in 2019 and we might see a Giants upset this week at home because of it. I’m confident in starting both with their high ceiling, but I wouldn’t go out and pick up both to play on the same team.

3) Adam Humphries, Tennessee @ Minnesota

I have anxiety just bolding this subhead. The waiver wire action has relied around Corey Davis this week, but I think your focus should be on Adam Humphries. He’s really under the radar his second year in Tennessee due to his injury-ridden, snap counted 2019. But he isn’t injured anymore and he led the team in targets and catches on Sunday. Him finding the end zone is pivotal, as he’ll enter the game against the Vikings in a prime position to do it again since Minnesota has already allowed five TDs to WRs this season. Humphries has hovered around 50 yards in each game and will need a TD to be a sleeper this week. But, since I have Tannehill on my sleeper list again this week, Humphries’ end zone call should be beckoning again.

Tight end

1) Hayden Hurst, Atlanta vs Chicago

I have to do it again. Hayden Hurst’s eight targets as a No. 4 option last week is super important to note and he has a chance to be a top-TE this week if Julio Jones (hamstring) does indeed miss the game. Hurst caught his first TD as a Falcon last week on a beautiful draw play that found him with no defenders in sight and Atlanta will need him more this week as both a receiver and blocker. Even if his snap count is higher because he’s a blocker, he’ll get on the field more and have more opportunity for targets especially when plays are changed at the line. If the focus does indeed shift to WR Calvin Ridley in a Jones absence, Hurst elevates exponentially.

2) Drew Sample, Cincinnati @ Philadelphia

I almost guarantee he’s available in your league. Rookie QB Joe Burrow has shown he likes to use TEs, and now that C.J. Uzomah (torn Achilles) is done for the year Drew Sample steps into the primary role. Sample saw nine targets (seven catches) in week two and the Philadelphia Eagles just allowed three TDs to Los Angeles Rams TE Tyler Higbee last week on five catches. Burrow, Sample and the Bengals are on upset watch this week for me, potentially pushing the Eagles to 0-3. WRs A.J. Green, Tyler Boyd and even John Ross should see plenty of targets, but I could see Sample getting more targets than Ross and producing more than Boyd with the way Burrow is favoring TEs.

– Kayla Morton is the Managing Editor for Full Press Coverage Miami Dolphins. She is also a co-host on the Full Press Fantasy Pod. Like and follow on Follow @northdakayla74 Follow @FPC_Dolphins and Facebook.