Sleepers at Quarterback

Bryce Young, Carolina (vs Tampa Bay)

Young appeared to have a major breakthrough after the bye week in the Dave Canales offense. He looked like Alabama Bryce Young - who was worthy of a very a high pick, if not #1 - for the first time in his NFL career. He'll face a very vulnerable Bucs pass defense primed to start to deliver on the big investment the Panthers made in him. He has some QB2/Superflex and streamer value this week.

Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh (at Cincinnati)

Wilson was the best part of the Steelers offense in the snow against the Browns, but Arthur Smith didn't seem to get the memo until the fourth quarter. Facing Joe Burrow this week, the Steelers might not be able to afford to slow play the offense with a lot of early down running. The Bengals defense has been one of the easiest to solve in the NFL, so Wilson has a high ceiling in a potential shootout.

Drake Maye, New England (vs Indianapolis)

Maye didn't come through for us last week despite a play-from-way-behind game script that can often be good for dual-threat quarterbacks who must create much of the offense on their own. This week could be better because the Patriots are facing a Colts defense that was beaten up by the Lions' running game in a lopsided win last week. The Lions hangover effect has been real for everyone but the Texans, who faced a discombobulated Cowboys team with an extra day of rest.

Matthew Stafford, LA Rams (at New Orleans)

Stafford has been up and down since Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp returned, but everything is set up for a big up week in the Superdome. The Saints have been very generous to opposing quarterbacks lately - 395 passing yards and two scores to Jameis Winston, 306 passing yards to Kirk Cousins, 279 passing yards and two scores to Justin Herbert, and 325 passing yards and four scores to Baker Mayfield all happened since Week 6.

Sleepers at Running Back

Rico Dowdle, Dallas (vs NY Giants) **Thanksgiving**

Dowdle regained his spot as the clear lead back after sitting some in the second half of Week 11 following a spate of drops. He actually posted a decent game against Washington and should be even better on Thanksgiving against a Giants defense that was waving the white flag of surrender in Week 12. All three Buccaneers running backs scored in the first half against New York, and they might have done more if the game had actually been competitive.

Braelon Allen, NY Jets (vs Seattle)

Breece Hall showed up on the injury report with a knee issue and missed practice on Wednesday, which is a bad sign coming off of a bye. He apparently tweaked the knee in Week 11, and it hasn't responded well enough over the break to be ready for practice. The Jets are in a lost season, and Hall could still be seen as a long-term piece, so there's no reason to push him when his knee is sore, especially with a catastrophic knee injury already happening once in his pro career. Allen would take over as the lead back and have at least flex value if Hall can't go.

Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh (at Cincinnati)

Warren actually outsnapped and outproduced Najee Harris in Week 12, partly because the Steelers trailed and had to go into pass mode in the fourth quarter. There's an argument that Warren just looks fresher and more dangerous than Harris and is worth more for fantasy even if Harris gets more snaps. But in a game against the Bengals that could force the Steelers to open up the offense against Joe Burrow with a healthy Tee Higgins, it's almost certain that Warren will be the best play in the Pittsburgh backfield.

Gus Edwards, LA Chargers (at Atlanta)

Edwards wasn't inspiring in the second half last week after J.K. Dobbins left the game, but he scored and the Chargers usually commit to the run. As long as they don't fall too far behind the Falcons on Sunday, Edwards should lead the backfield in touches and get any goal-line opportunities. We might be talking about Hassan Haskins or Kimani Vidal as a sleeper in Week 14 if Edwards is a dud and either one pops in limited action, but for now, Edwards is the best play.

Tank Bigsby, Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville (vs Houston)

Bigsby was a full go to begin practice this week, so we're looking at a split backfield with the Jaguars. The reason we might be interested in a Jacksonville back, even though all 32 teams are in action this week, is that the duo combined for 140 rushing yards on only 18 carries in the first matchup with Houston. Add that to the possibility that Trevor Lawrence will be back this week and give this offense respectability. There's some upside here: Bigsby for the big plays and Etienne for the passing game involvement in an offense that is now down two of its top three wide receivers.

Sleepers at Wide Receiver

Alec Pierce, Adonai Mitchell, Indianapolis (at New England) **Monitor Pierce Status**

Pierce and Mitchell both have the ability to make your week as a flex on only one play against the Patriots. The New England allowed the Dolphins pass offense to return to form and exploit big spaces in the middle of the field in Week 12, and Anthony Richardson should be ready to take shots downfield against them this week. Pierce is the designated deep ball retriever, but Mitchell has been explosive at times in limited action and will have a much larger role this week with Josh Downs almost certainly out. Pierce missed practice on Wednesday with an ankle injury, so Mitchell may end up being the clear sleeper play here if that wasn't a precautionary absence early in the week.

Calvin Austin III, Pittsburgh (at Cincinnati)

Austin had the biggest play of the week in the passing game against Cleveland and caught a touchdown in the failed comeback effort. You're probably noticing a theme here, as the somewhat boring Steelers offense could potentially give us multiple hits on borderline plays because of the opponent this week. Austin will likely draw single coverage with George Pickens preoccupying the secondary, and that could equal multiple big plays on the other end of Russell Wilson moonballs.

Elijah Moore, Cleveland (at Denver)

Moore is a sleeper by process of elimination this week. Cedric Tillman was still in concussion protocol to begin the week of practice after playing on Thursday last week, which is a bad sign for his Week 13 availability. Jerry Jeudy has been productive as of late, but he should draw shutdown corner Patrick Surtain II in a revenge game after Jeudy was traded away this offseason. We know that Jameis Winston will throw a lot and Moore might end up being his most frequent target out of necessity.

Devaughn Vele, Denver (vs Cleveland)

Vele has emerged as the clear #2 target for Bo Nix and just in time for Nix to be playing his best football of the season. The Broncos running game has bottomed out, so the offense will run through Nix, which is smart anyway because that the weakness of the Browns defense. Vele could also benefit from Courtland Sutton playing like a true #1 and possibly drawing double coverage.

David Moore, Xavier Legette, Adam Thielen, Carolina (vs Tampa Bay)

It's hard to know which Panthers receiver to pick as your what-the-heck flex in Week 13, but all three have paths to value with Bryce Young finally playing like a #1 overall pick. Moore was the #1 target and most productive last week with Jalen Coker out, and Coker missed the first day of practice this week, so Moore should remain in the lineup. Thielen drew a pass interference penalty in the end zone and also had a big play before that. He's the most experienced of the group. Legette is the most explosive and should get opportunities to make plays after the catch. The Tampa pass defense is one of the most generous in the league, so at least one of this trio should hit unless last week was a mirage for Young.

Tim Patrick, Detroit (vs Chicago) **Thanksgiving**

Patrick should have a larger target share and chance to come through for fantasy teams with Kalif Raymond on injured reserve because of a foot injury. Amon-Ra St. Brown is also dealing with a knee issue, and David Montgomery has a shoulder injury. Both should play on Thanksgiving, but Patrick is at full speed and could punish a Bears defense that will be more focused on stopped the run and covering Jameson Williams on deep routes.

Sleepers at Tight End

Luke Schoonmaker, Dallas (vs NY Giants) **Thanksgiving**

Schoonmaker has put up two good weeks in a row while Jake Ferguson has missed time because of a concussion. With Ferguson out again on Thanksgiving, Schoonmaker could make it three in a row against a Giants defense that didn't stop very much against the Bucs last week. They gave up three catches for 70 yards to Bucs tight ends, and it could have been more if the game hadn't been over at halftime.

Dawson Knox, Buffalo (vs San Francisco) **Monitor Kincaid Status**

Dalton Kincaid missed practice on Wednesday with a knee injury that sidelined him in Week 11, so if he didn't improve enough over the bye to practice in even a limited fashion, he'll probably be out for the matchup with the 49ers. The Bills passing game is crowded, but Knox has more experience with Josh Allen than any of the wide receivers, and he put up a solid 4-40 line when Kincaid was out vs. the Chiefs. 

Noah Gray, Kansas City (vs Las Vegas) **Friday**

Can lightning strike twice, three times a row? Maybe Gray won't catch two touchdowns for the third straight week, maybe he won't even catch a touchdown, but he has done enough to be worth a spot in Week 13 lineups if you don't have a clear TE1. The Raiders have been terrible against tight ends this year, including a 10-90-1 line to Travis Kelce in the first meeting between these two teams. Gray only had 3-23 in that game, but the matchup is promising enough when you consider that Dolphins tight ends posted 9-132-2 and Bengals tight ends posted 13-152-2 against them before the Broncos, who barely throw to the tight end, played them last week.

Cole Kmet, Chicago (at Detroit) **Thanksgiving**

Kmet could be a frequent target for Caleb Williams if the Bears can't slow down the Lions offense on Thanksgiving. He had 10 targets last week (catching seven for 64 yards) and was on the field for 100% of the snaps, which is rare for a tight end. The Bears' play-calling has been a breath of fresh air since Shane Waldron was fired, so the Lions may see some looks that aren't on Chicago offensive tape earlier in the season.