Sleepers at Quarterback

Cooper Rush, Dallas (vs Cincinnati)

Rush could be one of the best quarterback plays of the week if the Bengals defense doesn't improve from their Week 13 performance. Cincinnati has lost defensive leader Logan Wilson for the year, so it's not a given that they will be any better this week. Rush could have to pass more if Joe Burrow is successful against the opportunistic Dallas defense, and with Brandin Cooks back and KaVontae Turpin playing a larger role, the Cowboys have enough reliable and explosive options to keep the Bengals on their heels.

Mac Jones, Jacksonville (at Tennessee)

Jones was terrible in his first stint as the starting quarterback for the Jaguars, but in his second last week, he almost brought them back from 17 points down against the division-leading Texans. Jones had a good connection with Parker Washington and got the deep speed of Brian Thomas Jr. in play more than he did earlier in the season. The Titans defense is riddled with injuries and gave up numerous easy passing touchdowns to the Commanders last week.

Aidan O'Connell, Las Vegas (at Tampa Bay)

O'Connell had one of the best halves of the season last week against the Chiefs and all but brought the Raiders back from down 13 points to a victory on the road against the defending Super Bowl champs. He has a great connection with Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers, and the Tampa offense is good enough to force the Raiders offense out of their shell. O'Connell is a viable choice if you need a bye-coverage starting quarterback from a thin waiver wire.

Sleepers at Running Back

Isaac Guerendo, San Francisco (vs Chicago)

Guerendo will take over as the starter and should be in lineups as a flex play. There's some risk with Patrick Taylor Jr. and Kyle Juszczyk able to handle passing downs and the 49ers offensive line banged up, but Guerendo showed the speed to take any touch to the house if he has a runway earlier this season. He should get at least 12-15 opportunities to do that against the Bears.

Sincere McCormick, Las Vegas (at Tampa Bay)

The Raiders backfield picture is complicated with Alexander Mattison possibly back this week and Ameer Abdullah able to handle passing downs, but McCormick was impressive last week against the Chiefs and deserves a longer look in Week 14. He's the only back to go over 60 rushing yards against Kansas City this year and only needed 10 carries to do it. Antonio Pierce got this head coaching job in part because he trusted a fresh Zamir White in run-heavy game plans down the stretch last year. We'll see if history repeats itself with McCormick.

Ray Davis, Buffalo (at LA Rams)

Davis had a solid performance as change of pace back in the snow last week to the tune of 67 total yards and a score and he should have a chance to make an impact for fantasy again this week if the Bills can control this game on the road. He has scored in three of the last six games. The Rams have allowed rushing scores to two different backs three times this year.

Tank Bigsby, Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville (at Tennessee)

The Jaguars split backfield has a chance to come through against a Titans defense that looked like they were ready for the offseason against the Commanders last week. Brian Robinson Jr and Chris Rodriguez Jr. both went over 90 rushing yards and scored, and that was with Jeremy McNichols also getting six carries and Jayden Daniels getting a rushing touchdown. In Weeks 10 and 11, two backs got double-digit carries against the Titans, so Bigsby is in play as a what-the-heck flex, especially considering his multiple big runs earlier in the season.

Jonathon Brooks, Carolina (at Philadelphia)

Brooks moved up to about 25% of the snaps last week and looked good doing it, including in the passing game. The Panthers may ramp up his usage now that he has knocked off the rust after ACL surgery. Brooks could also play a larger role if the Panthers fall behind the red-hot Eagles. He's got a more well-rounded skillset and a lot fresher legs than Chuba Hubbard.

Chris Brooks, Green Bay (at Detroit)

If you have to dig really deep on the wire for a play this week, consider another Brooks, a UDFA who is impressing the Packers coaching staff. Josh Jacobs has a nagging calf injury, and Brooks has been an excellent passing down back. If the Packers fall behind early or Jacobs aggravates his calf injury, Brooks would be in line to get enough snaps and touches to matter in fantasy leagues this week.

Sleepers at Wide Receiver

Parker Washington, Jacksonville (at Tennessee)

Washington went over 100 yards and scored last week, mostly with Mac Jones at quarterback. He's yet another sleeper we may use this week to take advantage of a Titans matchup that made almost everyone in the Commanders offense a good play last week. Washington is in the Christian Kirk role and should present Jones with high percentage targets in the middle of the field that don't ask too much of his average at best arm strength.

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Tennessee (at Jacksonville)

Is Westbrook-Ikhine still a sleeper after scoring eight touchdowns in the last eight games? He has only caught more than three passes in one of those games, so he could be a lineup liability without the touchdown streak continuing. You should be willing to take that chance if you can plug him into your flex because he has been winning in a lot of different ways, and games between teams heading nowhere like this one (with #1 pick implications on the line - and they play again in Week 17!) can get very loose on the defensive side of the ball.

KaVontae Turpin, Jalen Tolbert, Brandin Cooks, Dallas (vs Cincinnati)

The Bengals defense was letting Steelers receivers get free at every level, so if you need to throw a hail mary at wide receiver, consider any of their supporting cast. CeeDee Lamb is the clear #1, but he is coming in banged up after leaving the Thanksgiving game when he aggravated his shoulder injury. If he leaves early or is used as more of a decoy, big plays could be there for the speedy Turpin, who is the best choice of the three. Tolbert and Cooks have shown the ability to get open in the end zone. One of this trio has scored in each of the last five games except for 34-6 blowout loss to Philadelphia when the team passed for a whopping 66 yards.

Tre Tucker, Las Vegas (at Tampa Bay)

Tucker only caught one ball last week, but it was good for a 58-yard score. He also added 11 yards on a rushing touch and ended up putting up a flexworthy game against the Chiefs. This week brings a better matchup for passing game production in Tampa, and the team also lost DJ Turner to concentrate the target tree further. The Bucs should be trying to take away Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers in the short/intermediate passing game, which could leave Tucker free in single coverage to get open downfield for another long score.

Tim Patrick, Detroit (vs Green Bay)

Patrick is the least of the worries in the Lions offense for the Packers pass defense, which is why he could come through as a what-the-heck flex with benches and the waiver wire thin this deep into the season. Patrick was on the field for 70% of the snaps last week, and he has had at least 48 receiving yards in each of the last two weeks. All he needs is a touchdown to supplement that production, and he'll hit as a desperation play.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling, New Orleans (at NY Giants)

Valdes-Scantling is on a three-game scoring streak. He clearly has the eye of Derek Carr and he still has the speed to get behind defenses. The Saints won't have Chris Olave or Taysom Hill, so there are targets to be had in a game they should be able to control against the reeling Giants. Valdes-Scantling's snap count has been going up every week and should hit a season-high in Week 14.

Sleepers at Tight End

Chig Okonkwo, Tennessee (vs Jacksonville)

One week after taking his only target to the house for a 70-yard score, Okonkwo got a season-high six targets last week. This week, he'll face a Jaguars defense that just allowed Dalton Schultz's best game of the season and gave up 12-124 to Vikings tight ends the week before that. Tucker Kraft had a long score against them, the Patriot's tight ends combined for 12-124 (really!), and Cole Kmet scored twice against the Jaguars. Even Dalton Kincaid scored against them. If you're looking for a waiver wire tight end matchup to exploit, this is it.

Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh (vs Cleveland)

Freiermuth finally put up a good game last week. We need to give an assist to the atrocious Bengals defense, but the Browns just allowed Freiermuth 4-59 two weeks ago in the snow. This game will be played in much better conditions, which could up the scoring with Jameis Winston really letting it all hang out now. The Browns have endured a lot of injuries at linebacker, and the Saints took advantage in Week 11 with tight ends combining for 14-130-1, and we know how much Arthur Smith likes to throw to the tight end.

Juwan Johnson, New Orleans (at NY Giants)

Johnson is a great candidate to lead the Saints in targets this week with Taysom Hill on injured reserve and Chris Olave still at least a week away from returning. Once upon a time, Derek Carr asked him to study Julian Edelman's tape, which shows you the kind of easy short-range targets Carr wants him to create in a conservative approach to the passing game. Johnson had a season-high seven targets last week, which might be his floor this week.

Luke Schoonmaker, Jake Ferguson, Dallas (at Cincinnati)

Watch to see if Ferguson can return this week after missing the last two games with a concussion. He returned for a limited practice and could be ready for Monday night. If not, then this take applies to Schoonmaker, who has been relevant for fantasy since Ferguson got hurt. The Bengals have been a reliable matchup for opposing tight ends, giving up a touchdown to the position in six of the last eight games. Only Grant Calcaterra and Theo Johnson-led tight end groups failed to find paydirt against the Bengals. They have also allowed at least 64 receiving yards to tight ends in each of the last six games.