5 Fantasy Football Sleepers Week 16 (2024) – Sneaky Starts
Fantasy Football Sleepers Week 16 brings another round of lineup challenges and opportunities to find under-the-radar gems. One of the most frustrating parts of fantasy football is setting the right lineup and watching a player you almost started put up big points on your bench. Especially in the fantasy football playoffs. Today, we’ll take a look at 5 fantasy football sleepers and sneaky starts for Week 16.
Starting your superstar players every week, regardless of the matchup, is an easy call. However, what about the rest of your roster? Let’s get right into the picks.
Fantasy Football Sleepers Week 16
Arguably, the most frustrating part of fantasy football is setting your lineup each week. Everyone hates seeing a player you almost started go off on your bench, leading to your opponent taunting you all weekend.
Starting your superstar players every week, regardless of the matchup, is an easy call. However, what about the rest of your roster?
Let’s look at five undervalued fantasy football start options for Week 16.
Cooper Rush (QB – DAL) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Surprisingly, the Cowboys have gone on a bit of a winning streak lately, winning three of the past four games, including a victory over a likely playoff Washington Commanders team. While losing Dak Prescott for the season is disappointing, Rush has stepped up as the team’s starting quarterback. He has averaged two passing touchdowns and 15.8 fantasy points per game over the past five weeks, totaling 16.4 or more in 60% of the contests.
Last week, Rush had his best fantasy performance this season in the win over the Carolina Panthers. The veteran quarterback had 214 passing yards, three touchdowns, and 19.1 fantasy points. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers have surrendered 20.7 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, the second-most in the NFL. They have given up 23.6 or more fantasy points to quarterbacks in half of their games this year, including five of their past eight outings.
Bucky Irving (RB – TB) vs. Dallas Cowboys
Irving was on fire before suffering a back injury in Week 14, averaging 16.7 rushing attempts for 104.3 yards, a touchdown, four receptions for 37 receiving yards, and 22.1 half-point PPR fantasy points per game over his previous three contests, totaling 16.2 or more in every matchup. Last week, the rookie running back had a bounce-back performance, finishing with 15 rushing attempts for 117 yards and 12.3 fantasy points, averaging 7.8 yards per attempt.
Furthermore, he had two rushing attempts of 15 or more yards in the Week 15 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Meanwhile, Irving has an appealing matchup on Sunday night against the Cowboys. While they have played better lately, Dallas has surrendered 22.1 fantasy points per game to running backs, the sixth-most in the league. They have given up 14 rushing touchdowns to running backs this year, the third-most in the NFL.
Jakobi Meyers (WR – LV) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
The veteran has become a borderline must-start WR2 after the Raiders traded away Davante Adams. Meyers has been the WR22 since Week 8, averaging 9.9 targets and 12 half-point PPR fantasy points per game despite having only one receiving touchdown. He scored double-digit fantasy points in all but two of those contests. Last week, Meyers struggled with Desmond Ridder under center, catching five of his nine targets for 59 receiving yards and 8.4 fantasy points.
Unfortunately, his three-game streak of double-digit targets and fantasy points got snapped last week. Thankfully, Aidan O’Connell will return this week, boosting the veteran’s fantasy outlook. More importantly, he faces a Jaguars defense that has surrendered 32 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, the third-most in the NFL. The Jaguars have given up 50 or more fantasy points to wide receivers in two of their past four matchups, including last week.
Jalen McMillan (WR – TB) vs. Dallas Cowboys
While many had high hopes for McMillan after scoring a touchdown in his NFL debut against the Washington Commanders, the rookie has been a fantasy bust. He is the WR81 for the year, averaging 6.6 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. However, the rookie has been on fire lately. The former Washington star is the WR10 over the past two weeks, averaging 18 fantasy points per game, totaling 16 or more in both contests.
McMillan has had nine receptions on 13 targets for 134 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns over the past two weeks. Thankfully, he should keep his recent hot playing rolling. Dallas has surrendered 28.6 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, the 10th-most in the NFL. Furthermore, they have given up 32.9 fantasy points per game to wide receivers over the past month, allowing 31.4 or more in all but one outing.
Pat Freiermuth (TE – PIT) vs. Baltimore Ravens
Fantasy players used Freiermuth as a streaming option earlier this season. Yet, he scored 7.9 or fewer half-point PPR fantasy points in every game but two over the first 12 weeks. However, the former Penn State star is the TE11 for the year, averaging 7.6 fantasy points per contest. More importantly, Freiermuth has been on fire lately. He is the TE3 over the past three weeks, averaging 12.6 fantasy points per game.
The veteran tight end has had three consecutive top-eight finishes, including a pair of top-five performances. Meanwhile, the Ravens have surrendered 10.2 fantasy points per game to tight ends, the 11th-most in the NFL. They’ve given up double-digit fantasy points to tight ends in half of their games, including four of the past eight contests. Freiermuth should have another solid performance, with George Pickens missing his third consecutive game because of a hamstring injury.
Ultimately, Freiermuth is worth starting this week. Whether you’ve grabbed him off the waiver wire or been starting him when he has good matchups, in Week 16 he is worth a start. Freiermuth wraps up our fantasy football Week 16 sleepers.
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