WR Jordan Matthews, Eagles (19%) – One of my favorite rookie sleepers had a breakout game in week 3 (8-59-2) and should continue to be a significant part of the Eagles offense moving forward. Not every week will be a 37-34 shootout with 9 targets for Matthews, but Riley Cooper seems to be regressing which could mean more snaps for Matthews. Due to the Eagles high-octane offense, Matthews is a good stash. If something were to happen to current starters Maclin (injury) or Coooper (benching) Matthews would be at least a flex quality starter if not a WR2 the rest of the way.
TE Travis Kelce, Chiefs (49%) – He’s been on this list all season and I’m not sure why his ownership number isn’t higher. The Chiefs have very little talent at WR which leaves Kelce as possibly the most dynamic option the Chiefs have outside of Jamaal Charles. Kelce caught his first TD pass this week, but has had double-digit fantasy points the last two weeks. I think he is a borderline top 12 TE right now and he’s only going to get better.
TE Larry Donnell, Giants (41%) – Had a costly fumble, but avoided Tom Coughlin’s dog house because they just don’t have any other decent TDs. Donnell is averaging just under 8 targets per game and that number should be consistent moving forward. If you are a Pitta owner, you could do a lot worse than adding Donnell (or Kelce) as a replacement.
TE Owen Daniels, Ravens (27%) – With Dennis Pitta out for the season, Owen Daniels takes over as the starter in a very TE-friendly offense. Daniels won’t get as many targets as Pitta did, but he’s a solid red zone option and should catch enough passes to be a borderline starter.
RB Jerick McKinnon, Vikings (18%) – Who knows when/if Adrian Peterson is coming back. If he isn’t then it’s just a matter of time until McKinnon supplants Asiata as the #1 RB in Minnesota. Asiata is a better pass blocker but is a plodding runner who is averaging less than 3 yards per carry. McKinnon was the star of this year’s combine and the Vikings need all the help they can get on offense. Stash McKinnon now and thank me a few weeks later when he is the Vikings new starting RB.
RB Alfred Blue, Texans (24%) – My super sleeper last week had a good game (88 total yards) filling in for the injured Arian Foster. It’s not known whether Foster will be back next week, but he gets hurt all the time so I think Blue will get another start or two before the year is over.
Super Sleepers (<5% owned)
Matthew O
WR Allen Robinson, Jaguars (3%) – Another one of my preseason breakout picks, I had Robinson ranked higher than Marqise Lee (and Hurns obviously), but injuries put a damper on my A-Rob enthusiasm. Robinson looks healthy now (7-79, 10 targets in week 3) and he is the best bet to become Blake Bortles go-to possession target. He has the talent to be a YAC (yards after catch) weapon and I think Bortles moving into the starting lineup will give A-Rob’s value a considerable boost. I’m starting him at Flex in my 14-team league this week.
QB Teddy Bridgewater, Vikings (4%) – My favorite QB in the draft is finally getting a chance to play after the injury to Matt Cassell. Bridgewater looked pretty good (link) in his debut and a definite improvement over the boring Cassel. What makes Bridgewater special is his poise under pressure and his ability to throw receivers open and he showed off both in his debut. I don’t know if he will ever be start worthy this season, but he’s worth a stash as your backup due to his considerable upside.
Ogletrees (No Thanks)
WR Hakeem Nicks, Colts (42%) – He has scored TDs in the last two games, but only has 10 catches on the year. I try to avoid TD dependent players and you should to. He’s not going to score every week and I would much rather have a player like Andrew Hawkins who I know is going to get around 10 targets every game. Touchdowns are unpredictable and it wouldn’t surprise me if Nicks doesn’t get another one. He’s the 3rd WR at best in Indy and not worth a spot in your starting lineup. If T. Y. Hilton ends up being out for an extended period of time, then Nicks is rosterable but don’t break the bank on him.
RB Isaiah Crowell, Browns (18%) – Crowell has 3 TDs on the year already which may be tempting you to pick him up, but don’t do it. With the Browns on a bye this week, odds are that injured starter Ben Tate will be back in week 5. That would make Crowell the 3rd string RB and all but worthless for fantasy purposes. Crowell is a talented back that I wish the Bears would have drafted, but you are better off waiting until next year (or another Tate injury) to use a valuable bench spot on him.
QB Blake Bortles, Jaguars (6%) – I think Bortles will eventually become a top 12 fantasy QB, but it’s not going to be this year. The Jags line is awful and Bortles has a better chance of getting injured than he does becoming worthy of a spot in your starting lineup this season.