Streaming Sleepers: Week 10

By :: Juan Carlos Blanco (@jcblanco22)

Each week, Streaming Sleepers will highlight at least five non-QB skill-position players and one team defense that currently have start or roster rates of 20% or less in season-long leagues but may be prudent options this week due to matchups and other circumstances, particularly in deeper formats. 

Additionally, the plays suggested here could be viable DFS large-field tournament options for the coming slate and are likely to carry modest ownership rates in that format as well.

Harold Fannin Jr., CLE at NYJ - 10% start rate 

Fannin and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel have had a few extra practices and some valuable rest and recovery during the Week 9 bye, and they return to action against a Jets team that divested itself of two prime defensive pieces in Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams at the trade deadline. 

Meanwhile, Fannin went into the off week clearly trending up, posting a 17-179-1 line on 23 targets in Weeks 6-8. Fannin averaged just under 30 routes per game in that span and was targeted on 25.8% of them, averaging 2.01 yards per route run in the process. 

The Jets have surrendered a 41-341-6 receiving line on 57 targets to tight ends over their first eight games, and Gabriel could have a bit more time to scan the field for the versatile Fannin with Williams now in Dallas and therefore no longer available to help collapse the pocket. 

Dalton Schultz, HOU vs. JAX - 10% start rate

Schultz has stood out in two of the last three games, recording 9-98-0 and 6-77-0 receiving lines on a combined 18 targets over that sample. Schultz also had a 60-yard outing on five catches against the Ravens back in Week 5, so he’s amply proven the ability to offer some solid returns at a notoriously fickle fantasy position. 

The veteran tight end happens to draw a matchup likely conducive to carrying over the momentum he’s been building. The Jaguars have surrendered a 55-600-6 receiving line on 74 targets to tight ends in eight games, while Schultz contributed to those numbers with a five-catch tally on six targets against Jacksonville back in Week 3.

Schultz is averaging a career-high 1.93 yards per route run this season, and even if Davis Mills has to draw a spot start for C.J. Stroud (concussion) in this game, the former and Schultz have plenty of chemistry, as they demonstrated in Week 9 against the Broncos.

Tory Horton, SEA vs. ARI - 2% start rate (*if Cooper Kupp sits out)

Cooper Kupp’s absence due to heel and hip injuries in the Week 9 Sunday night victory over the Commanders opened the door for Horton, who responded with four catches, 48 yards and two touchdowns, all single-game career highs. 

Notably, the Seahawks added Rashid Shaheed from the Saints at Tuesday’s trade deadline, and the speedster will have a full set of practices to get ready to begin contributing in this game. Nevertheless, it wouldn’t be surprising if Shaheed is limited in terms of snaps while still getting up to speed with the playbook, nor would it be out of the realm of possibility for Kupp to take a seat for a second straight game given his injury history and age.

Sam Darnold is playing at an MVP level and Horton clearly offers plenty of big-play potential. While the Cardinals have been good against the pass overall, they’ve allowed a 66.3% completion rate in the last three and are tied for the eighth-most receptions given up to wide receivers (106).

Colston Loveland, CHI vs. NYG - 8% start rate 

Loveland, in conjunction with Caleb Williams, played the hero in Chicago’s wild 47-42 win over the Bengals in Week 10, sealing the victory with a memorable 58-yard catch-and-run score. The play also capped a career-best day for the rookie first-round pick, who finished with six catches, 118 yards and two touchdowns. 

Part of the reason Loveland was in position for such extended opportunity was another injury to Cole Kmet, who was forced out of the game due to a concussion. Even if Kmet is able to clear protocol in time for this game, it seems increasingly clear Loveland has taken hold of the top tight-end role and had also recorded multiple receptions in each of the three prior contests as well.

The Giants have conceded a 49-427-4 receiving line to tight ends, and Loveland’s combination of athleticism, 9.2-yard aDOT and 2.17 yards per route run all make a strong case for his starting candidacy.

Christian Watson, GB vs. PHI - 8% start rate

Watson returns for a second consecutive appearance in this space despite just a serviceable Week 9 performance where he provided a 2-58-0 line on four targets. However, Watson added his first reception of 40+ yards and third of 20+ overall on just six catches this season, and additionally, the Packers suffered a devastating loss when Tucker Kraft suffered a torn ACL in the surprising upset defeat at the hands of the Panthers.

Then, Matthew Golden sustained a shoulder injury during the contest and is considered day-to-day as of Tuesday night. The confluence of events – not to mention the fact Jayden Reed remains on IR with his collarbone and foot injuries – all add up to Watson being teed up for an elevated role in this Monday night showdown. The Eagles have frequently been stingy against the pass, but they’ve also given up the fourth-highest yards per completion on the road (11.6) and 12.8 yards per catch to wide receivers.

Carolina Panthers Defense vs. New Orleans Saints - 4% start rate

The Panthers defense has shown plenty of improvement over the course of the first half of the season, and that unit had a pivotal hand in delivering the aforementioned upset of Green Bay at Lambeau Field in Week 9. 

Carolina still has plenty of work to do in terms of consistently getting home on quarterbacks – the Panthers have managed just 14 sacks – but they’ve also allowed only 11 touchdown passes while recording seven interceptions across nine games. The Panthers also rank in the top half of the league with 316.6 total yards surrendered per game, and they’ve conceded the fourth-fewest first downs per contest (17.0).

As mentioned above in Horton’s entry, the Saints just traded away their fastest receiver in Shaheed, and Tyler Shough will only be making his second start of his young career in this spot. Shough leaned heaviest on Shaheed in his Week 9 debut against the Rams, and with that security blanket now in Seattle, the rookie signal-caller could certainly struggle to gain traction in this divisional matchup if Jaycee Horn is free to focus the majority of his attention on Chris Olave.

ALSO CONSIDER ::

David Njoku, CLE at NYJ - 14% start rate 

Both Fannin and Njoku have had useful fantasy performances in the same game already, and given the short-handed and talent-eroded Jets defense, that scenario could repeat itself in Week 10.

Juwan Johnson, NO at CAR- 18% start rate

Johnson displayed some encouraging chemistry with Shough in Week 9 via a three-catch, 31-yard, one-TD showing, and the Panthers have allowed the fifth-most receiving yards (582) to tight ends.

Parker Washington, JAX at HOU - 10% start rate

The Jags could be down Dyami Brown (concussion) in addition to Travis Hunter (IR, knee) in Week 10 – while Brian Thomas could be limited by his ankle sprain – potentially affording Washington a chance to put together a successful encore to his 8-90-0 line in Week 9.

Mason Taylor, NYJ vs. CLE - 3% start rate

The ferocity of the Browns’ pass rush could leave Justin Fields looking to get the ball out quickly, and Taylor has at least five catches in three of his last five contests.