4 WR Sleepers to Stash for Fantasy Football Playoffs 2024
The 2024 fantasy football playoffs are right around the corner, and it’s time to identify the best WR sleepers to stash for the fantasy football playoffs. With most leagues running playoffs during Weeks 15-17, having a deep bench stocked with potential breakout players could be the key to a championship run.
Putting Ja’Marr Chase or Nico Collins or an Amon-Ra St. Brown in your starting lineup during the fantasy playoffs is a no-brainer and involves zero fantasy analysis. This year, however, the wide receiver position has vastly underperformed compared to running backs. The running back position and its dominance have experienced a resurgence in fantasy football.
Furthermore, the WR12 this year has a total of 142.5 fantasy points compared to 22 running backs who have amassed more than that total. Needless to say, it hasn’t been easy to find useful and productive WR3s on a weekly basis. With that, it may be a crucial time to find some WR sleepers for the playoffs.
For this article, I’ll be looking at 4 wide receivers outside the top 36 who could be potential sleepers during the fantasy playoffs. Who will possibly be this year’s Darius Slayton (14.5 average) or Demarcus Robinson (13.7 average) from the 2023 fantasy playoffs? Let’s take a look at a few WR sleepers to stash for the fantasy football playoffs.
Top WR Sleepers to Stash for the Fantasy Football Playoffs
Who will be this year’s unlikely heroes that may lead you to the finals and ultimately a fantasy football championship? Keep reading to find out which WR sleepers you can ride through the fantasy football playoffs all the way to a title. Let’s get to the picks.
Adam Thielen WR Carolina Panthers
Thielen missed seven games earlier this season due to a hamstring injury he suffered in Week 3. However, returned to the Panthers lineup in Week 12 and has averaged just over 17 fantasy points since then. Additionally, his snap count increased from 63% in Week 12 to 71% in Week 13 while averaging seven targets per game.
Coincidentally, since Thielen’s return in Week 12, Bryce Young has averaged over 20 fantasy points per game and is the QB8 during that time span. Additionally, Young looked great against the Buccaneers and appears to be looking competent.
Last season with Young as his quarterback, Thielen was the WR11 from Weeks 1-11. Thielen did slow down in the second half of the 2023 season, as he finished the year as the WR25. However, it’s clear that Young and Thielen have a good rapport together.
Thielen and the Panthers also have a favorable playoff schedule:
Week 15 – Vs. Dallas Cowboys (13th versus the pass)
Week 16 – Vs. Arizona Cardinals (20th)
Championship Week – @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (29th)
Could the seven-week absence for the 34-year-old veteran be a blessing in disguise? Is Thielen rested and fresh for the fantasy football playoffs? The aging receiver could be a decent flex start and provide your team with some surprising playoff production. The last time he played Tampa Bay he scored once, but nearly had two touchdowns. Overall, this is a solid sleeper WR pick for the playoffs and for this year’s fantasy football championship week.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine WR Tennessee Titans
Ikhine is on an insane (and probably unsustainable) touchdown pace. He has caught eight touchdown passes in his last eight games while only seeing 38 targets. Impressively, that’s a 21% touchdown rate. Every week the fantasy community keeps on saying that Ikene cannot maintain this touchdown rate. Despite the quarterback play from Will Levis. However, every week he proves us wrong and continues to produce.
Since Week 6, Ikhine has averaged over 10 fantasy points per game and is the WR11 during that span. Notably, that is higher than other elite receivers such as Justin Jefferson, Tyreek Hill, and Garrett Wilson. Personally, I am sure we all had this situation with Ikhine on our bingo cards.
Furthermore, Ikhine also happens to have a wonderful playoff schedule:
Week 15 – Vs. Cincinnati Bengals (23rd versus the pass)
Week 16 – @ Indianapolis Colts (27th)
Championship Week – @ Jacksonville Jaguars (32nd)
There is absolutely no team during the fantasy football playoffs that you or Ikhine and the Titans should be afraid of. If He can somehow sustain his incredible touchdown-scoring streak, it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see Ikhine on some championship rosters in Week 17.
Elijah Moore WR Cleveland Browns
With the recent resurgence of Jerry Jeudy and Jameis Winston with the Browns, Moore is a player who is flying a bit below the radar among fantasy football managers.
Since becoming the Browns starting quarterback in Week 8, Winston has been the QB11. During that same time span, Moore has averaged just over 10 fantasy points per game and that is with only scoring one touchdown. During those weeks he averaged more points than D.K. Metcalf, rookie Malik Nabers, and Drake London. If Moore had caught another touchdown or two, it would have vaulted him to a high WR3/low WR2 territory.
During Weeks 11-13, Moore is the WR23 averaging 11.5 fantasy points per game. In his last five games, he has averaged just under 10 targets (same as Jerry Jeudy). Ultimately, Winston’s gunslinger mentality and approach have been fantastic for the Browns’ wide receivers.
Moore’s playoff schedule is one that is fantasy football-friendly:
Week 15 – Vs. Kansas City Chiefs (21st against the pass)
Week 16 – @ Cincinnati Bengals (23rd)
Championship Week – Vs. Miami Dolphins (9th)
The most difficult matchup for Moore seems to be against the Dolphins during Championship Week 17. However, the quarter-finals in Week 15 and the semi-finals in Week 16 are more enticing and projected to be shootouts. In the end, Moore could be an unlikely hero during the fantasy football playoffs this year.
Tre Tucker WR Las Vegas Raiders
Tucker has four games this season with more than 11 fantasy points. Recently, Tucker has been a big play threat for the Raiders. Over his past two games, he has totaled nine touches, 151 all-purpose yards, and one touchdown. That averages out to just over 12.5 fantasy points per game.
Jakobi Meyers and rookie Brock Bowers are clearly ahead of Tucker on the depth chart but the Raiders may want to see more of what they have in their Sophomore 3rd-round pick. In Week 13, Tucker played on 97% of the Raiders snaps which was more than any other receiver on the team.
Additionally, it also helps that the Raiders have a terrific playoff schedule:
Week 15 – Vs. Atlanta Falcons (26th versus the pass)
Week 16 – Vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (32nd)
Championship Week – @ New Orleans Saints (30th)
In leagues with two or three Flex spots, Tucker could be a gamble and a deep sleeper that can pay off for you in the playoffs. Ultimately, Tucker is one of several solid WR sleepers to stash for the 2024 fantasy football playoffs.
Trending Now
Weekly Fantasy Football Rankings
Free NFL Jersey Giveaway…
Winner receives an NFL jersey of their choice ($129 value) from Fanatics.
Just subscribe on YouTube to enter. 🔽https://t.co/CV0lBuwMCk pic.twitter.com/XZ7s9yjwPn
— Aaron Schill (@aaron_schill) December 3, 2024
