Streaming Sleepers: Week 12

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.

Darnell Mooney, ATL at NO - 15% start rate

It’s been a topsy-turvy last couple of days for the Falcons, who lost both Michael Penix and Drake London to injury in a crushing overtime loss to the Panthers in Week 11. As is the case in all sports, however, one player’s misfortune becomes another’s opportunity. That’s the case with Mooney this week, who now bumps up to the No. 1 receiver role, albeit while catching passes from Kirk Cousins for the time being.

Mooney and Cousins do have a favorbable history from last season, with Mooney posting a 57-873-5 line on 94 targets during the 13 full games Cousins played in 2024. This season, injuries and occasional lack of chemistry with Michael Penix have led to a very modest 16-224-0 tally for Mooney, but he’s now due for a notable bump in targets in the fast track of a dome environment.

Chig Okonkwo, TEN vs. SEA - 3% start rate

Okonkwo’s DFS reputation is somewhat blemished by virtue of his association with the Titans’ offense, but there’s still a good bit to like about the athletic tight end, particularly this week. That might sound odd at first blush considering the quality of the visiting Seahawks defense, yet Okonkwo has shown some solid chemistry with rookie first overall pick Cam Ward – Okonkwo has 46 or more receiving yards in half his 10 games, and four of those occasions have come in the last six contests. 

Chig also has an excellent 82.6% catch rate in that span while averaging 2.01 yards per route run. Meanwhile, the Seahawks’ defense has generally been outstanding, but they’ve been highly vulnerable to tight ends and have conceded a 67-693-5 to the position over 10 games. Considering the Titans are likely to eventually be passing heavily due to a second-half deficit, Okonkwo merits consideration at a tricky position to roster.

Rashid Shaheed, SEA at TEN - 18% start rate 

We’re taking a bit of a leap of faith here with Shaheed, who will be suiting up for his third game as a Seahawk and who has too much talent and speed to be held down much longer in an offense that’s been intentional about pushing the ball downfield. Sam Darnold’s forgettable Week 11 aside, the 2018 third overall pick is averaging a career-high 9.3 yards per attempt, and Shaheed has the ideal downfield profile for that type of aggression. Meanwhile Shaheed only has three catches for 30 yards alongside a 3-22 rushing line in his first two games in Seattle, but he encouragingly drew five targets from Darnold in Week 11.

The Titans are playing better defense in the second half of the campaign, but Tennessee is still surrendering just over 37 more passing yards per game at home (236.4) than on the road (199.2). The Titans are also yielding 10.9 yards per completion at home, and Shaheed is averaging an impressive 2.3 yards per route run against the zone coverage Tennessee is playing at a robust 68.7% clip thus far this season. 

Juwan Johnson, NO vs. ATL - 16% start rate 

When we last saw the Tyler Shough-Juwan Johnson duo in Week 10, they were busy spearheading a road upset of the Panthers by connecting on four occasions for 92 yards and a touchdown. It was hardly Johnson’s first productive outing of the season, as he’d posted at least five receptions and 49 yards on five other occasions.

The Falcons have been very effective overall against tight ends, but Johnson is simply too significant part of the Saints’ air attack to be ignored – he’s averaging 6.1 targets per contest – and even more so following the trade of Shaheed. Moreover, his quick chemistry with Shough has to be factored in, furthering his case.

Christian Watson, GB vs. MIN - 19% start rate

We might start charging Watson rent in this space, as the guy has become that guest that just won’t go away. The speedy wideout had his most productive fantasy outing yet in Week 11, turning in a two-touchdown day at the expense of the Giants and recording four catches for 46 yards overall. Watson should have an even bigger role to play in this divisional clash at Lambeau Field, and with his start rate still under 20%, he’s right back in play for us this week.

The Vikings can be an up-and-down defense, and they’ve done an excellent job against wide receivers overall while limiting the position to an impressively modest 61.5% catch rate. Yet, wideouts have often made sizable gains when they have recorded receptions against this unit, as they’re averaging 14.5 yards per grab versus Minnesota, which has given up the 11th-highest yards per completion (10.3) overall. 

New Orleans Defense vs. Atlanta Falcons - 1% start rate

The Saints’ defense was highly impressive in the aforementioned Week 10 win over the Panthers, a game where they recorded a pair of sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery. New Orleans has now allowed a respectable 21.3 points per game over the last three contests, a welcome reduction from the 26.6 per contest they’d surrendered up to that point in the season.

New Orleans now comes of its bye with a big rest advantage on a short-handed Falcons team, that, as discussed in Mooney’s entry above, will be without its starting quarterback and No. 1 receiver. Naturally, Bijan Robinson, Mooney, and Kyle Pitts are all explosive weapons the Saints will still have to account for, but New Orleans is allowing the sixth-fewest yards per play at home (4.8), along with one touchdown less per contest in that split (2.4), compared to the road (3.4).

It’s also worth mentioning the Saints are averaging 2.1 sacks per contest, and while that figure isn’t particularly impressive, a quarterback like Cousins, who looks like he’s experienced some significant regression, could help facilitate a bigger day than usual in that department for Brandon Staley’s unit and generate some turnovers in the process.

ALSO CONSIDER ::

Colston Loveland, CHI vs. PIT - 19% start rate

Posted a 40-yard effort in Week 11 and now has at least three receptions in five straight contests while averaging 2.67 yds/route run in that span.

Tyler Allgeier, ATL at NO - 15% start rate

Week-to-week production can be volatile, but he’s averaging 2.3 red-zone touches per game and has three TDs in the last two contests.

Harold Fannin Jr., CLE at LVR- 15% start rate

Got his first chance to work with Shedeur Sanders in Week 11 and was partly victimized by the rookie’s struggles, but Fannin has flashed a 4-to-5-catch floor for a significant portion of the season.

Alec Pierce, IND at KC - 20% start rate

Having career-best season and has at least 67 receiving yards in all but two games, and the Chiefs defense is uncharacteristicaly surrendering 11.0 yards per completion in the last three games. 

Sean Tucker, TB at LAR - 13% start rate *if Bucky Irving remains out

Bucky Irving’s potential return would naturally throw a wrench into Tucker’s overall upside, but if the former remains out, the latter will be primed for a lead role.

Emanuel Wilson, GB vs. MIN - 3% start rate  *if Josh Jacobs is out

Wilson’s candidacy also is contingent on his teammate’s availability, but if Jacobs is sidelined, the former will be primed for a robust role.