RADIO
As fantasy playoffs approach us, I'll be providing you some players who may be flying under the radar, including some that I'm higher on than others and a few that I just have a solid hunch on. Keep in mind that these are guys who might not be in the fantasy football spotlight at this time, so tread lightly and keep your eyes on the prize (i.e., the championship). If you have a bench spot available or have an injury on your team, consider these players as options to stash off the waiver wire.
Fantasy Football Sleepers for Week 13
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Under-the-Radar Sleepers (in priority order)
It's hard to believe, but the Chicago Bears are an offensive team. Sadly their defense has been marred by injuries which has caused opposing offenses to put up big numbers against them. I expect this to be a very high-scoring game. Why? The Bears rush defense just got torched by the Rams starting and backup RBs. And they are nowhere near who the Bears this face with Adrian Peterson. I expect AP to run wild and force the Bears offense to try to put up points, which means McCown will need to get the ball to his playmakers, most likely by air. If you are looking for a QB option, McCown is a nice sleeper choice.
Chris Ogbonnaya, RB, Cleveland Browns
Last week, I recommended Ogbonnaya not because of the matchup in Week 12 but in the weeks after. This is one of those weeks. Cleveland will be playing a Jaguars defense which is ranked in the bottom half of teams in allowing points to RBs. This game will be quite ugly, but I expect that Ogbonnaya and Gordon will be the top offensive weapons for the Browns this week.
Deep Sleepers (in priority order)
Brandon Bolden, RB, New England Patriots
The Patriots running back situation continues to get murkier. In Week 11, Bolden was a healthy inactive. This past week, he out-touched all RBs except for Vereen. As each week passes, it gets harder to know who is 'the guy' in New England. If you are looking for a RB option in a deeper league, Bolden would be a nice consideration.
Ladarius Green, TE, San Diego Chargers
I'm sure many of you are wondering "who is Ladarius Green?" Well, he's currently the backup TE in San Diego and he had a fantasy week with five catches for 80 yards and a TD. Insiders say that Green will eventually replace, so look for the Chargers to continue to give him reps and opportunities to develop his big-play abilities.
Previously Awesome Players & Injury Considerations (in priority order)
Nate Burleson, WR, Detroit Lions
I'm cheating here since Burleson returned from injury this week. But if you are looking for a WR option who may have been dropped when he was out with a broken arm, Burleson is a great choice. Why? Because he is back and can play right now instead of just being a stash player. The Lions offense has missed him very badly, filling his spot with numerous inconsistent players.
Dennis Pitta, TE, Baltimore Ravens
I've mentioned his name already and I'll mention it again. Pitta's return to the football field is near. He started practicing last week, and rumor has it that he will be back in Week 14... but it could be this week, as well. If you are looking for a TE option in the playoffs or for a solid backup TE for injury protection, Pitta is a dynamic player who will help the Ravens make a playoff push.
