Fantasy Football Sleepers: Week 15

Fantasy Football Sleepers: Week 15

This is the fantasy football playoffs. The overwhelming consensus will always be to “play your studs” and stick with the players that helped get you here. Of course, that philosophy doesn’t take into consideration the owners out there struggling to recover from injuries, or who are in really deep leagues and are struggling with a decision on that final flex start.

Here’s a list of players who might have the opportunity to help you make that final decision. Perhaps they have an intriguing match-up, will see a larger work-load or have been elevated due to an injury. This could be the final chance for them to make an impact, and help you win your fantasy playoff game.

Andrew Luck (QB)- Playing Andrew Luck in your fantasy lineup this week is the very definition of high risk/high reward. While the Colts are red-hot and still contenders to take the AFC South title away from Houston, they’re offensive line is decimated and they’re traveling to take on a Texans squad that was thoroughly embarrassed on national television and will undoubtedly be looking for redemption. The good news is that over the last three weeks, Houston’s secondary has been awful. The Texans have surrendered an NFL-high 1046 yards in that time, with seven touchdown passes. Even if Houston can patch it’s leaky secondary and get off to a big lead, there’s still potential for Luck to make an impact in “garbage time.”

Shonn Greene (RB)- Greene has continued to plod along as a mediocre fantasy option, but there’s some reasons to like him this week. First, he’s 117 yards away from securing another 1000 yards season, so that’s likely a goal he and the team will want to achieve. Secondly, Greene has separated himself from the committee situation he was in with Bilal Powell by taking more carries than Powell in each of New York’s last five games. Speaking of Powell, he’s ailing with a broken toe, so there’s a good chance he won’t be making too much of an impact with that injury. Finally, it’s an excellent match-up for New York. The Tennessee Titans give up 22.0 fantasy points-per-game to opposing running backs, fourth worst in the NFL. The Jets are still barely alive in the AFC playoff picture and calling a ton of pass plays hasn’t exactly been a successful formula for this offense, so expect plenty of carries for Greene this week.

Ryan Mathews (RB)- Like Shonn Greene, Mathews has become a mediocre fantasy option and has been a huge bust this season after being selected by many in the first or second round. But if you’ve still got Mathews on your roster, this might be the week to slide him into your open flex spot- especially in a PPR. Third-down back Ronnie Brown is looking very doubtful to play this week, so that means that Mathews will essentially be a full-time player. It’s also an intriguing match-up for Mathews against a Carolina Panthers defense that ranks 27th in the league, giving up 21.1 fantasy points-per-contest.

Anquan Boldin (WR)- Anquan Boldin is definitely considered the lesser of the Ravens’ starting wide-outs, but in fantasy football circles, that’s simply not the case. Boldin has garnered more receptions than teammate Torrey Smith in five of Baltimore’s last six games. For the season, Boldin has more catches, yards and targets than Smith, but trails in touchdowns, seven to four. With the firing of offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, it’s expected that the Ravens will be a more high-tempo, pass-heavy offense beginning this week against the Peyton Manning-led Denver Broncos. If that is indeed the case, Boldin has a good chance to make the biggest impact, as Smith will be shadowed by shut-down cornerback Champ Bailey.

Josh Gordon (WR)-  Josh Gordon has been heating up at just the right time. Over the past two games, Gordon has made 14 receptions for 202 yards and a touchdown. Last week he commanded a career-high dozen targets and hasn’t failed to produce 4+ grabs per game since Week 9. He’s clearly established himself as Cleveland’s number one target. Week 15 brings encouraging signs that this hot-steak could continue as Cleveland hosts a Washington Redskins secondary that has allowed the third most points to opposing wide receivers.

Tony Scheffler (TE)- With a receiving corps devastated by injuries and benchings, the Lions have begun to employee some two tight end sets into their offense. Scheffler has played some slot receiver in these plays, and that’s allowed him to make a moderate impact, with two double-digit target weeks in the past month. For Week 15, Brandon Pettigrew is looking very doubtful with a high-ankle sprain, so that means Scheffler should take on a full workload against a hapless Arizona Cardinals club.

Jody Smith continues to lead the pack as the top-rated fantasy football analyst for 2012 at fantasypros.com. Be sure to check our weekly rankings here and bookmark GridIronexperts.com for the best fantasy football and NFL news. 

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