Unexpected Boom Performances: Fantasy Football Risers Include Calvin Austin III, Caleb Williams, Noah Gray, David Moore, Austin Hooper

Hayden's unexpected fantasy football performances, waiver wire sleepers, and trade targets for Week 13 (2024). Can these NFL players sustain Week 12's success?

Week 12 had some absolutely riveting finishes. Chicago scored 11 points in the final 30 seconds of regulation versus Minnesota, only to fall in overtime. Washington hit a miraculous 86-yard touchdown to seemingly draw even with Dallas in the final minute, only to miss the extra point. Kansas City narrowly escaped Carolina's upset bid. The list goes on.

Some stars had fantastic performances as well. No showing was more notable than Eagles running back Saquon Barkley's on Sunday Night Football. Barkley demolished the Rams with 302 total yards; this was the most scrimmage yards posted by a player in a single game since Josh Jacobs had 303 versus Seattle in 2022.

Not every player who showed up had Barkley's reputation, though. Let's take a look at five of this week's more unexpected booms, beginning with a receiver from the Thursday Night matchup.

Calvin Austin III, Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers receiver Calvin Austin III has had his moments this season. In Week 3 he gained 95 yards and scored a touchdown, and five weeks later he posted both a receiving touchdown and a punt return touchdown. For the most part, though, Austin has been quiet. Through Week 11, he had just 17 catches on the season.

Austin had another impactful performance on Thursday, though. He caught all three of his targets for 78 yards, marking his second-highest yardage total of the year. His 23-yard TD reception from Russell Wilson in the fourth quarter gave Pittsburgh a one-point lead, though Cleveland did go on to win the snowy battle.

.@DangeRussWilson ➡️ @CalvinAustinIII for six!!!!

📲 Stream on NFL+: https://t.co/COxKRnr6Mc pic.twitter.com/ucLP4kE2cM

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) November 22, 2024

Through Sunday's games, Austin stands as Week 12's WR14 in half-PPR formats with 15.3 points. He should be expected to have difficulty replicating these numbers with consistency, though. His spikes throughout the season have been isolated, and his low target volume on Thursday provided little indication of a looming change.

Because Austin has already shown his upside on several occasions this year, he is worth a look on waivers in deeper leagues. After George Pickens, Pittsburgh does not have a clear WR2. They traded for Mike Williams earlier this season, but he has now gone two straight weeks without a target. Keep an eye on Austin moving forward.

Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

Chicago rookie quarterback Caleb Williams was the first overall selection in this year's draft, but he has not been a major fantasy asset to begin his NFL career. Entering Week 12, Williams was averaging just 14.22 fantasy points per game, making him the league's QB28 on a per-game basis.

Against Minnesota on Sunday, though, Williams had a very strong performance. He completed 32 of 47 passes for 340 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He also tacked on 33 rushing yards on six attempts. Williams's efforts led the Bears back from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit before the Vikings held on in OT.

Williams and his 26.9 fantasy points rank as Week 12's QB4 ahead of Monday Night Football. In addition to the impressive numbers, he showed off the talent that made him such a highly-touted prospect on a number of impressive throws. One such play came in the first quarter when Williams connected with running back D'Andre Swift.

This throw by Caleb Williams 🔥

📺: #MINvsCHI on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/bdDgz6r0Bx

— NFL (@NFL) November 24, 2024

Williams is among the top quarterback options on waiver wires this week. While he remains inconsistent, he should provide more value than most alternatives. Moreover, Williams has quietly rushed for 30 or more yards in five of his last seven starts, boosting his floor if the passing game falters.

Noah Gray, Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs have a future Hall of Famer at tight end in Travis Kelce, but Kelce was not the TE who led Kansas City in receiving yards this week. Fourth-year tight end Noah Gray grabbed all four of his targets for 66 yards versus Carolina, matching his season high in yardage that he set back in Week 7.

Importantly, Gray also scored two touchdowns. This was the second consecutive week where Gray found the end zone multiple times, so I suppose this could not have been too unexpected of a boom. Still, Gray's 20.6 half-PPR points marked a new career high, and he tentatively ranks as Week 12's TE1.

Mahomes to Gray on the early TD!

📺: #KCvsCAR on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/I9PIUdrctC

— NFL (@NFL) November 24, 2024

Through Week 10, Gray was averaging 2.3 targets per game; he has averaged 4.5 looks over the past two weeks. His volume still is not where it should be for him to be a quality fantasy option, though, and his snap shares have only marginally ticked upward since Kansas City's Week 6 bye.

Still, four touchdowns in two weeks is a hard stat to overlook completely, as is the increase in targets over the past two weeks. For that reason, Gray is an acceptable target on waivers in deeper leagues. Still, the notion that Gray can be reliable for fantasy managers for the rest of the season is likely misguided.

David Moore, Carolina Panthers

Panthers wideout David Moore had a decent three-season stretch for the Seahawks from 2018 through 2020, catching 13 touchdowns during that span. After changing teams multiple times after that, Moore signed with Carolina in March. He started the season slowly, catching just five passes in the first seven weeks.

Moore began to step up his game in Week 8, though, with receiver Diontae Johnson first inactive, then traded to Baltimore. Moore saw 13 targets over three games before the Panthers had their bye in Week 11. He then got 10 looks versus the Chiefs in Week 12, catching six for 81 yards and a touchdown.

.@Panthers pull within 5 against the Chiefs!

📺: #KCvsCAR on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/rsdnnfJNJp

— NFL (@NFL) November 24, 2024

Moore finished the game with 17.1 half-PPR points, making him the week's WR9 entering Monday. He led Carolina in receptions, targets, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. Moore also played 58 snaps on Sunday, tying him with teammate Xavier Legette for the most among Carolina's receivers.

With that said Moore's showing should be met with skepticism. Legette has been more involved all season, and Adam Thielen played for the first time since Week 3. Additionally, rookie Jalen Coker missed the contest with a quad injury. Monitor Moore next week, but there are probably better options on waivers.

Austin Hooper, New England Patriots

Patriots tight end Austin Hooper has served as New England's TE2 this season. Through 11 weeks, Hooper had 34 targets compared to teammate Hunter Henry's team-leading 66. Still, Hooper posted 64 yards on three catches in Week 10, and he caught all four of his targets for 35 yards in Week 11.

Hooper then proceeded to put up his best stat line of the year on Sunday against the Dolphins. He again caught all four of his looks, this time for 59 yards and a touchdown. The score, Hooper's second of the season, was a 38-yarder, and it put an end to Miami's shutout bid in the fourth quarter.

Drake ➡️ Hoop for a 4th quarter score

📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/REHPLyN9wo

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) November 24, 2024

Hooper ended Sunday as the week's TE6 with 13.9 half-PPR points. The effort came despite Henry being productive as well; indeed, Henry led the team with eight targets. Over the past three weeks, Hooper has averaged 9.1 half-PPR points per game, making him the per-game TE12 during that span.

Unfortunately, Hooper's fantasy viability is still very much unclear. He played just 38 percent of snaps this week according to PFF after surpassing 50 percent in each of the previous two weeks. He has a role in New England, but it is not substantial enough to be a trustworthy option for fantasy managers.

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