Into the deep for Week 16
Every week I'll dive into some sleepers beyond what we write in Start 'Em and Sit 'Em to help some of you in deeper leagues. Some weeks will have more guys than others, but this should be helpful for those owners in 14- and 16-team leagues.
Quarterback
Mark Sanchez (vs. NYG): Sanchez has been great at home, and this is his last home game of the season. His worst Fantasy outing at home was Week 2 against Jacksonville with 17 points. Otherwise he has at least 20 points in his other six home games, and in his past two against Buffalo and Kansas City he has 29 Fantasy points in each contest. The Giants have allowed the fifth-most Fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks, mostly on the strength of their recent struggles against Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers and Tony Romo, who each threw four touchdown passes. Sanchez isn't at that level, but he could be a useful starter this week based on his production at home and his opponent. (Started in 27 percent of leagues in Week 15)
Kyle Orton (vs. OAK): Orton did the impossible by leading the Chiefs to a victory over the Packers last week in his first start for Kansas City. He now faces the Raiders in a favorable matchup since Oakland has allowed multiple touchdowns to every opposing starting quarterback this season except two. Ironically, those two were Orton in Week 1 when he was the starter in Denver and Matt Cassel, the former Kansas City starter, in Week 7. Still, we expect Orton to have success this week, and he is worth starting as a No. 2 quarterback in two-quarterback formats. (Started in 2 percent of leagues in Week 15)
John Skelton (at CIN): Skelton isn't guaranteed to start against the Bengals since Kevin Kolb (concussion) could return. But we hope Skelton remains the starter since he has the better chance to succeed. He has three games with at least 17 Fantasy points in a standard league since getting extended playing time in Week 9. And the Bengals have allowed multiple touchdowns to five of the past seven starting quarterbacks they have faced. Like Orton, Skelton would have value as a starting option in two-quarterback leagues. (Started in 2 percent of leagues in Week 15)
Running back
Kahlil Bell (at GB): Bell, not Marion Barber, was the featured rusher against the Seahawks in Week 15, and Bell finished with 15 carries for 65 yards and five catches for 43 yards and a touchdown. Barber had just 11 carries for 33 yards, and you have to assume Bell will again get the majority of touches at Green Bay. The Packers have allowed either a touchdown or 100 total yards to every running back they have faced since Week 3. The last time a team failed to have a running back score or reach 100 total yards was against the Bears, but Matt Forte still managed 82 total yards. (Started in 3 percent of leagues in Week 15)
Kevin Smith (vs. SD): Smith might be fully healthy for the first time since Week 11 with his injured ankle, which is a good thing for Fantasy owners looking for a starter in deeper leagues or a flex option in standard formats. The Chargers have allowed a running back to reach double digits in Fantasy points in six of their past nine games, and San Diego has allowed seven touchdowns to opposing running backs this season. The Lions will likely use Smith in a variety of ways against the Chargers, and he should be able to get close to double digits in Fantasy points in this matchup. (Started in 22 percent of leagues in Week 15)
Chris Ivory (vs. ATL): Mark Ingram continues to miss time with a toe injury, and he will likely be out again in Week 16 against the Falcons. That should allow Ivory to remain in a prominent role for the Saints. He is still just the No. 3 Fantasy option in the backfield for New Orleans behind Darren Sproles and Pierre Thomas, but Ivory does have 31 carries in his past two outings. He is still looking for his first rushing touchdown this year, but the Falcons have allowed three rushing touchdowns and four running backs to reach double digits in Fantasy points in the past four games. Ivory should be considered a starter in deeper leagues if Ingram is out as expected. (Started in 1 percent of leagues in Week 15)
Ricky Williams (vs. CLE): Williams did a great job the last time he faced the Browns in Week 13, and he could have a similar role in Week 16 in the rematch. If you're stuck and looking for a running back in a deep league, start Williams and hope he gets some garbage-time touches against Cleveland again. He had 16 carries for 76 yards and a touchdown against the Browns in the first meeting, and Cleveland has allowed 11 touchdowns to opposing running backs and 13 to reach double digits in Fantasy points on the season. (Started in 4 percent of leagues in Week 15)
Mike Tolbert (at DET): Tolbert would be a better Fantasy option in all leagues if Ryan Mathews wasn't in the picture, but Tolbert is definitely locked into his role as a reserve option. The good thing is he continues to be productive in that role as the goal-line rusher, and he has a touchdown in three games in a row. He has 27 Fantasy points over that span, and he has the chance to score again based on the Lions. Detroit has allowed a running back to reach double digits in Fantasy points in nine of the past 10 games, and the Lions have allowed seven touchdowns to opposing running backs this year. (Started in 29 percent of leagues in Week 15)
Wide receiver
Davone Bess (at NE): Bess doesn't have any games with double digits in Fantasy points this season, and he has just two touchdowns on the year. But he does have a great history against the Patriots. In his past four games against New England, Bess has three touchdowns and at least nine Fantasy points in every contest. He had five catches for 92 yards against the Patriots in Week 1, and he should be considered a potential No. 3 Fantasy receiver in the rematch. (Started in 3 percent of leagues in Week 15)
Titus Young (vs. SD): Young has been the model of consistency for the Lions of late with at least seven Fantasy points in six of his past seven games with three touchdowns over that span. He has supplanted Nate Burleson as the No. 2 Fantasy receiver for the Lions behind Calvin Johnson, although Burleson is also worth using as a sleeper after he had his third game with at least nine Fantasy points in his past five games in Week 15 at Oakland. Young, however, has more upside and should be started in deeper formats for what should be an offensive showdown against San Diego. The Chargers have allowed 15 touchdowns to opposing receivers and 11 to reach double digits in Fantasy points. (Started in 5 percent of leagues in Week 15)
Andre Roberts (at CIN): Roberts has been on fire the past three weeks with 29 Fantasy points, including two touchdowns and one game with 111 receiving yards. He has established himself as the No. 2 Fantasy receiver behind Larry Fitzgerald, and he has developed a solid rapport with Skelton. We hope Skelton can remain the starter in Week 16 at Cincinnati since the Bengals have allowed eight touchdowns to opposing receivers in the past five games. This should be a good week for the Cardinals passing attack, and Roberts will make for a solid No. 3 receiver in the majority of leagues. (Not started in the majority of leagues in Week 15)
Dwayne Bowe (vs. OAK): Bowe, as expected, was a bust this season. He has just four games with double digits in Fantasy points, and he hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 5, a span of nine games. But this should be a week where Bowe can be useful, especially with Orton now as the starter. The Raiders have struggled with opposing receivers all season, allowing 18 touchdowns and 12 to reach double digits in Fantasy points. They allowed three receivers to score in Week 15 with Johnson, Burleson and Young, and Bowe should have one of his better outings of the season in this matchup. He had six catches for 76 yards against Oakland in Week 7, and he might have a similar stat line with a touchdown this week. (Started in 65 percent of leagues in Week 15)
Plaxico Burress (vs. NYG): I have a feeling the Jets will try to use Burress in the red zone against his former team, and he has done well scoring at home. Burress has six touchdowns at home in seven games, and the Giants have allowed 18 touchdowns to opposing receivers, including 11 in the past five games. The Giants have allowed seven touchdowns to opposing receivers in the past three games, and the Jets should be able to attack this secondary with Burress, Santonio Holmes and Dustin Keller. Consider using Burress as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver this week. (Started in 43 percent of leagues in Week 15)
Tight end
Jermaine Gresham (vs. ARI): Gresham has scored in four of six home games this season, and he could see an increase in targets with A.J. Green (shoulder) at less than 100 percent. Arizona has struggled with quality tight ends this season with Olsen, Fred Davis, Jake Ballard, Heath Miller and Vernon Davis all reaching at least seven Fantasy points. Gresham is not a must-start Fantasy option in all leagues, but I would consider starting him this week if needed. (Started in 36 percent of leagues in Week 15)
Jared Cook (vs. JAC): Finally, the Titans decided to involve Cook more in the game plan, and he had 11 targets against the Colts and finished with nine catches for 103 yards and a fumble. We hope this is a sign of things to come. He didn't do much against Jacksonville in Week 1 with just one catch for 7 yards. But we hope he can see double digits in targets again in the rematch. The Jaguars have allowed six touchdowns to opposing tight ends, and Cook should be considered a potential starting option in deeper leagues. (Started in 4 percent of leagues in Week 15)
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