When identifying potential sleepers, snap count and target share are the name of the game. The difference between a player being a sleeper or just some bench piece is a very fine line. It is all about how productive a player can be with the limited looks that they receive. It is also important to consider their matchup and their team’s offensive scheme. The conclusion of Week 11 has left us with some more useful data points. Things are getting down to the nitty-gritty. The waiver wire is bone dry. So based on that, I’ve decided that there was a need to give you a couple more names to pick from. Without further adieu, here are six Week 14 sleepers who could provide a spark for your fantasy squad.
Week 14 Sleepers
Tyler Huntley – QB, Baltimore Ravens
I’m sure that this isn’t breaking news to anybody with an internet connection. Lamar Jackson is dealing with a knee injury. The injury was severe enough to force Jackson out of last week’s game. It appears that the injury is also severe enough to sideline the former MVP for this week and possibly more. Head coach John Harbaugh has since downplayed the injury saying that it’s not impossible that Jackson plays this week, however unlikely. In Jackson’s stead last week Huntley attempted 27 passes, throwing for 187 yards and one interception. He also added 41 rushing yards and a score on the ground.
Tyler Huntley is a luxury. As a backup QB, he made WINNING PLAYS in the final minute. Ridiculous pair of plays back-to-back here, executing QB Pwr Read then finding Drake after the pump fake to set up his GW TD run.#RavensFlock #Ravens #BaltimoreRavens #RavensBroncos pic.twitter.com/siKl7Oz8hH
— All 22 Films (@All_22_NFL_Cuts) December 5, 2022
Thanks to another injury to Jackson, Huntley began last season as the Ravens starting quarterback. In Lamar’s absence, Huntley threw at least one touchdown in every game he started and finished. More impressive and more important was his rushing floor. In those 12 games, Huntley ran for at least 50 yards in all but 2 contests. Tyler’s legs are what’s going to make him the highest scorer of my Week 14 sleepers.
Zay Jones – WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars’ offense as a whole flopped last week. Virtually nobody (minus Kirk) was able to get anything going, even in a plus matchup against the Detroit Lions. In the two games prior, Jones had been blistering hot. In that small time span, Jones compiled 19 catches while being smothered with 24 targets. I’m willing to chalk this one up as an off week for the entire offense, who will no doubt be looking to flip the switch against the Titans, a division rival. The Titans represent the 2nd friendliest fantasy matchup for wide receivers. Tennessee isn’t a team that many have had much success rushing against, so it may be in Doug Pederson’s plans to air this one out. I’m confident that Zay Jones can cement himself as one of my Week 14 sleepers and put forth another great outing. The Titans’ secondary is undoubtedly still licking their wounds after giving up 3 TDs and 100+ yards to both AJ Brown and Devonta Smith last week.
Latavius Murray – RB, Denver Broncos
Old man Lat Murray is still chugging along as the uncontested starting running back for the Denver Broncos. Week after week he trots out there and leads the team in rushing. If the Broncos are going to commit to Murray as they have, then we’ve got to do the due diligence of exploring whether or not he’s a good fantasy fit for that week. I haven’t had the guts to suggest playing him yet, but I believe that the time is now right. Playing against the Chiefs has been a running back’s dream. So far this season the Chiefs’ defense has allowed 4.7 yards per carry. A lot of times we see people try to beat the Chiefs by keeping Patrick Mahomes off the field. There is no better way to do this than to have a strong run game.
Latavius Murray has 8 carries in the first 8 minutes, putting him on pace for 60 carries today.
— MadJester (@FFMadJester) December 4, 2022
I would expect Latavius to get as many carries as the Broncos can afford to give him before the score gets out of hand. Over the last three games, Murray has averaged 62 yards on 47 carries. If that keeps pace, Murray could expect to see 15-20 carries putting him on track for around 65 yards if that math holds. A goal-line score could put him over the top. The perfect storm is brewing for Murray to put up a respectable score as first of my three Week 14 sleepers at the running back position.
Ty Johnson – RB, New York Jets
Ty Johnson really hasn’t been on many people’s radars this season. With the drafting of Breece Hall, the trade for James Robinson, and now the emergence of Zonovan Knight, it’s no wonder nobody is talking about the third-year man out of Maryland. Luckily for Ty, I’ve been paying attention and I’m here to give him his roses today. The injury to Breece Hall was only the beginning for Ty, it got him on the field. The benching of Zach Wilson however, has played a much more important role in my decision to name him one of my Week 14 sleepers. For whatever unknown reason, Zach Wilson borderline refused to check the ball down to the running back with any regularity. New starter Mike White does not have that problem, at all. In 2021, Mike White played three full games. In those three game Johnson received 21 targets. Seeing as Johnson had seven targets in his last time out, it appears that he and White are going to pick up right where they left off. I would expect to see a ton of Ty Johnson when the Jets are ultimately playing the Buffalo Bills from behind.
Chuba Hubbard – RB, Carolina Panthers
This is the second of my Week 14 sleepers that features a player who has been off the radar for fantasy purposes. This backfield seemingly belongs to D’Onta Foreman, and rightfully so. Foreman has run for 100+ yards in four of his last six games. Forman has been dealing with a foot and rib issue, however, the bye week has likely given him enough time to recover for this week’s matchup against the Seahawks. The matchup against Seattle looks wonderful for Foreman on paper, but a closer look could reveal Hubbard to also be a solid alternative. Seattle’s rush defense is by far one of the worst in the league, having yielded 165 rushing yards per game to opposing running backs. What the Seahawks lack on defense, they more than make up for on offense. It is possible that Foreman’s usage takes a hit if the Panthers are forced into comeback mode. Even still, Hubbard’s 17 carries last week show that he’s still a part of the team’s plans regardless of the game script.
#Panthers RB snap shares:
D’Onta Foreman 53%
Chuba Hubbard 42%Game script was heavy in Foreman’s favor. Briefly left with an injury so could have been more
Neither RB was targeted (Raheem Blackshear had 2 targets/5% snap share)
— Alex Johnson (@a_johnsonFF) November 29, 2022
Dawson Knox – TE, Buffalo Bills
Dawson Knox has been absolutely atrocious for fantasy purposes in 2022. Nonetheless, he rounds out my Week 14 sleepers list. I’ll admit that I don’t have a ton of data to legit recommend Knox. This pick is more of a gut feeling than anything else. Dawson Knox is too talented to keep putting up the mediocre numbers he’s been posting. Last week marked his worst performance of the year. On the field for 84% of snaps, Knox caught zero passes on just one target. This was the first catch-less outing for Knox this season. With the Bills getting three straight wins under their belt we might see Josh Allen spread the ball around a bit more instead of concentrating his targets on his main two options (Diggs and Davis). His last time out against the Jets Knox posted a 4-25-0 line, he’ll look to improve on that this week.