Just three weeks remain the 2021 NFL regular season. An extra game was added to this year’s schedule for the first time. Congratulations to those players who advanced on to their league’s fantasy semi-finals. Once again offering a unique challenge this week as a result of COVID-19, the NFL rescheduled three games. The Cleveland Browns and Las Vegas Raiders contest was moved to Monday Night. Additionally, the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams, and the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Football Team matchups were switched to Tuesday.
As a result of this, many waiver wire claims were processed Thursday morning instead of their regular time of Wednesday. With players still being placed on the reserve list, forcing their status for this week’s games to be put up in the air, we are back with our fantasy sleepers.
Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
Ryan has been a disappointing player for many fantasy owners this season. He has finished as QB16, QB24 twice, and QB22 over the past month. Quiet during the Falcon’s loss to the 49ers last Sunday, the veteran signal-caller completed just 19 of his 32 passes for 236 yards and a score. However, with a matchup on tap against the Detroit Lions in week 16, play him if you are in need of an option at the position.
Shutting down Kyler Murray a week ago, Dan Campbell‘s group held the perennial MVP candidate to just 260 total yards in a 30-12 victory. However, the group has remained an exploitable matchup for opposing signal callers throughout the season. Detroit currently ranks 25th in the league with 247.5 passing yards surrendered per contest. They have given up 19.8 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks. A safe option for owners, Ryan should offer a high floor. Start him as a comfortable QB2 in your lineups.
Michael Carter, New York Jets
Carter returned from a three-week IR stint a week ago after suffering an ankle injury. Quiet in the Jet’s loss to the Dolphins, the rookie split carries with veteran Tevin Coleman in the backfield. This led him to register just 18 rushing yards on eight attempts. Likely to play a more prominent role in Mike Lafleur’s offense in his second week back with the team, stream carter in a cross-conference game against the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars.
They are headed for a quiet finish after yet another miserable season. Jacksonville has given up over 90 yards per game to opposing running backs on 24 attempts per contest. Furthermore, the group has allowed four receptions on average to the position, leading to just over 30 yards per contest through the air. A boom or bust option for owners, he is a low-end RB3/ FLEX option.
Laquon Treadwell, Jacksonville Jaguars
Over the last month, Treadwell has carved out a more significant role in the depleted Jaguars wide receiver core. The former first-round pick has seen over five targets per game in each of his last four contests. This has led him to average 60 receiving yards in each matchup while averaging over 13 yards per catch. Having another solid day during their week 15 loss to the Houston Texans, the University of Mississippi alumn hauled in six balls for 57 yards to finish as WR23 in full point PPR scoring.
Looking to snap their six-game losing skid in a road contest against the Jets, stream Treadwell. Struggling to slow down opposing passing attacks all year long, New York remains undermanned in the secondary. Currently ranked dead last in weighted DVOA on defense, Robert Saleh’s group also sits 32nd in the league in points allowed per game. They surrender 30.6 on average in each contest. A reliable choice with a high volume in Darrell Bevell’s offense, he is a deeper option worth starting at your FLEX spot.
Evan Engram, New York Giants
Engram has struggled to find any consistency over his 2021 campaign. Fresh off a one reception performance in the Giants week 14 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, the 27-year-old was able to bounce back last week. He hauled in four passes for 33 yards. This led to a finish as TE20 in full-point PPR leagues. Still a mainstay in New York’s passing game, the Ole Miss alumn has played over 70 percent of his team’s snaps in each of the last two weeks.
In a road contest against the Eagles on Sunday, start Engram. Unable to slow down opposing tight ends all season long, the Eagles have allowed 6.6 receptions per game to the position, leading to over 66 receiving yards on average. Furthermore, they have surrendered 11 passing TDs through 15 weeks. Possessing the ability to exploit a shaky Philadelphia secondary, he is a high-end TE2/low-end TE1.
Emmanuel Sanders, Buffalo Bills
Sanders was off to a hot start to begin his 2021 campaign. The veteran wide receiver had finished as WR5, WR16, and WR23 in full-point PPR leagues during the first five weeks of the season. However, the 34-year-old has cooled off mightily as the year has progressed. Held to just one catch his last time out against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the former third-round pick did not play in the Bills victory over the Carolina Panthers a week ago because of a knee injury.
A full participant in practice on Thursday, start him in a matchup against the New England Patriots on Sunday. Stingy against the pass all year long, Bill Belichick’s team has allowed just 124.4 yards per game to wide receivers. Furthermore, they have surrendered just nine receptions in each contest on average. However, the team placed fellow wideouts Cole Beasley and Gabriel Davis in the league’s COVID-19 protocols. Owned in just 45 percent of Yahoo leagues and 49 percent of ESPN leagues, he can be viewed as a touchdown-dependent FLEX option for owners scrambling for lineup help in deeper leagues.
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