To be completely honest, fantasy managers are not set up to be very happy this week. For starters, six teams are on bye this week, leaving plenty of teams with thin rosters. To make matters even worse, this is likely a must-win week for many managers as this is their last matchup ahead of the fantasy playoffs.
Altogether, the numerous byes and the stakes of Week 14 matchups should have plenty of managers stressed with their lineup decisions this week. Luckily we’ve got you covered with any start-sit decisions you may need to make this week.
Between these sleeper picks and Wolf’s Week 14 Rankings, fantasy managers should be in a perfect position to find a win this week.
Depending on who you ask, the word “sleeper” can take on a variety of definitions. Ultimately, we’ll be looking to find some fringe starters who you should consider adding to your lineup this week. So no, we’re not going to be telling you to start Tony Pollard against the Jaguars. We’ll be looking for some deeper cuts.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at five sleepers who could be difference-makers in lineups this week.
Caleb Williams, QB, Chicago Bears
@ San Francisco 49ers
The new-look Chicago offense under Thomas Moore has Caleb Williams looking like a brand-new quarterback. The Bears may be losing games, but this three-game stretch has been arguably the best offensive football we’ve seen out of Chicago this season.
The revamped offense is centered around getting the ball out quickly and into the hands of the Bears’ playmakers. Williams’ time to throw has come in below 2.5 seconds in two of three games with Moore calling the shots, something that never happened in the nine games prior.
The Bears have been finding offensive success this way; they are averaging 363.3 yards of offense per game since moving on from Shane Waldron.
Unsurprisingly, an uptick in offensive production has led to greater fantasy output from Williams. He’s averaging 23.1 points per game during this stretch and has thrown for multiple touchdowns in two of three contests.
Against a banged-up San Francisco defense that will be without stud pass rusher Nick Bosa, Williams can keep his hot streak going in a game that has shootout potential.
Williams ranks in Tier 3 (QB 17) in The Wolf’s Week 14 Rankings.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR, New Orleans Saints
@ New York Giants
Marquez Valdes-Scantling isn’t exactly the archetype of receiver who you want to lean on in fantasy football. He is a low-volume receiver who exclusively relies on touchdowns to prop up his fantasy production.
So far, things have been working out for MVS in New Orleans. He has a touchdown in three straight games, finishing as a WR2 or better in two of those games thanks to two of those touchdowns being at least 65 yards in length.
Now this isn’t the kind of production you want to rely on, but in Week 14’s barren landscape, an MVS bomb at the Flex can be what you need to win your matchup. Against the Giants, there’s reason to believe that he can deliver one of these deep scores.
Few teams this year have struggled to contain the deep ball quite like the Giants. New York ranks 3rd in receptions and 6th in yards on deep targets (targets 20-plus yards downfield) on the year. Somehow, they have allowed an unprecedented 71-percent completion percentage on deep targets this year.
Valdes-Scantling is averaging 2.0 deep targets per game since joining the Saints. If there’s a matchup where he can convert on one of those looks, it’s this one.
Valdes-Scantling ranks in Tier 5 (WR 41) in The Wolf’s Week 14 Rankings.
Jaylen Warren, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
vs. Cleveland Browns
With six teams on bye this week, the crop of viable running backs is ultra-thin. Jaylen Warren stretches the definition of “viable”, but he can certainly serviceable production to help you get by this week.
Despite the recent success of Najee Harris, Warren has still been able to carve out a role in the Pittsburgh offense, primarily revolving around receiving work. Warren has drawn four-plus targets in three straight games which has allowed him to finish with double-digit PPR points in each contest.
What’s even more encouraging is that Warren is getting opportunities in goal-to-go situations. Warren has seen a carry from inside the ten-yard line in each of the last two weeks. He actually played 100 percent of the goal-to-go snaps in Week 12.
With access to high-value touches (targets and goal line touches), there is legitimate upside with Warren. If he can convert on a goal line carry or target, we could be looking at a day with 15-plus fantasy points and a top-20 finish. But as long as he maintains a steady role in the receiving game, Warren should do enough to keep fantasy managers happy.
Warren ranks in Tier 5 (RB 26) in The Wolf’s Week 14 Rankings.
Brandin Cooks, WR, Dallas Cowboys
vs. Cincinnati Bengals
When someone on your team has the Bengals on their schedule, your eyes should immediately light up. This secondary lacked talent to begin with, but a slew of injuries have left Cincinnati with Cam Taylor-Britt and Josh Newton as their top corners.
Taylor-Britt has allowed the third-most receiving yards of any corner this season, per PFF. Newton, a fifth-round rookie, was credited with allowing 96 receiving yards in his first start last week.
The Bengals have been torched for at least 290 receiving yards in three straight games and offer an incredibly favorable matchup for any quarterback or receiver.
Specifically looking at Brandin Cooks, there were some encouraging signs in his first game back from IR last week. His 3/16/1 stat line was modest, but his 19.4-percent target share was a strong mark.
Cooks will have to compete with Jake Ferguson for targets this week, but something in the range of a 20-percent target share isn’t outside the realm of possibility. Against this Cincinnati defense, even a handful of targets can be enough to deliver Flex-level production.
Cooks ranks in Tier 6 (WR 55) in The Wolf’s Week 14 Rankings.
Cole Kmet, TE, Chicago Bears
@ San Francisco 49ers
When exploring the depths of tight end rankings, sometimes all you can ask for is someone who will be on the field regularly with an opportunity to earn targets. Cole Kmet offers just that.
Since Thomas Moore took over the Chicago offense, Kmet has played nearly every snap. His snap share has crested 97 percent in each of the last three games.
Kmet has also proven that he can earn targets alongside D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen, and Rome Odunze. Just two weeks ago, Kmet earned 10 targets for a 20.8-percent target share against the Vikings. He’s not going to account for 20 percent of the targets every week, but he’s capable of being a legitimate factor in this offense.
There’s offensive firepower on both sides of the ball and this could easily turn into a back-and-forth matchup. If that’s the case, look for Kmet to draw somewhere in the range of a half dozen targets to push for a top-12 finish.
Kmet ranks in Tier 4 (TE 17) on The Wolf’s Week 14 Rankings.
