Streaming Sleepers: Week 15

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.

Blake Corum, LAR vs. DET - 8% start rate

Corum delivered for us in Week 14 with the best game of his career yet, exploding for 128 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries in what was a highly positive game script against the Cardinals. We naturally don’t expect a 45-17 Rams rout in this spot against the Lions, but Corum has increasingly made a case for additional playing time under any circumstance.

The Lions’ run defense is typically tough to crack, but Detroit has been a bit more generous of late by allowing 112.7 rushing yards per contest in the last three games. Additionally, the Rams’ offensive line is blocking to an outstanding (and NFL-high) 5.6 adjusted line yards per carry and 5.1 RB yards per tote as well. Since Los Angeles’ Week 9 bye, Corum is also averaging 6.0 yards per carry has seen 20% of his 60 rush attempts occur in the red zone, while the Lions are ranked in the bottom 10 with a 65.22% red-zone TD scoring rate given up on the road.

Hunter Henry, NE vs. BUF - 18% start rate

It’s certainly eye-catching to see Henry with a sub-20% start rate, considering the veteran tight end’s chemistry with Drake Maye has been building throughout the season. The Week 14 bye was somewhat ill-timed for Henry, who posted an 11-188-1 line on 16 targets over New England’s final two games before the off week, averaging an outstanding 3.3 yards per route run in the process.

The Bills gave up a 2-46-0 line on four targets to Henry back in the first meeting between the teams in Week 5, and although Buffalo has generally been very effective at limiting tight-end production, the Bengals’ Mike Gesicki just lit them up for a 6-86-1 line in Week 14. Henry is also more consistently involved at this point than he was earlier in the season, and he’s averaging an excellent 13.6 yards per catch while taking nine of his 45 receptions for 20+ yards.

Rhamondre Stevenson, NE vs. BUF - 5% start rate 

Stevenson is another Patriot who’s flying somewhat under the radar early this week, and TreVeyon Henderson’s hold on the No. 1 back role certainly has something to do with that. However, let’s not be so quick to relegate Stevenson to bit-player status in New England’s ground game, especially in a run-friendly environment against a vulnerable rush defense in a key late-season divisional contest.

Stevenson saw 15 touches against the Giants in Week 13, his second game back from a three-game absence due to a toe injury. The veteran back turned that opportunity into 80 total yards, certainly a big boost from the seven total touches (and 10 total yards) he’d logged against the Bengals in his Week 12 return. The Bills did a surprisingly good job against the Bengals’ Chase Brown in Week 14, but Buffalo is still allowing 5.0 RB yards per carry while ranking No. 25 and No. 31 in second-level (1.34) and open-field (1.44) yards per carry, respectively.

Devin Singletary, NYG vs. WAS - 3% start rate 

Singletary is another talented back in a timeshare situation that’s also coming out of a bye week, but interim head coach Mike Kafka certainly seems to like the veteran back and has afforded him an average of 14.0 carries over his first three games at the helm of the Giants. Singletary’s backfield mate Tyrone Tracy is presumably still dealing with the hip contusion he suffered against the Patriots before the Week 14 bye, but even if the latter is active, Singletary’s role seems secure.

The Commanders made for appealing targets for opposing ground attacks as well. Washington is yielding 4.55 RB yards per carry and ranks No. 29 in second-level yards per carry surrendered (1.40). Singletary has lacked in explosive runs this season, but with Kafka and his staff having had a week to take a breath and perhaps implement some tweaks – not to mention the ever-present threat of Jaxson Dart to the opposing defense – Singletary could see enough opportunity to pay dividends.

Mason Taylor, NYJ at JAX - 13% start rate

Taylor continues to see a steady workload irrespective of who’s under center for the Jets, with the latest example being his 5-51-0 line on eight targets over 36 snaps against the Dolphins in Week 14. Those numbers came with undrafted rookie Brady Cook at quarterback for the majority of the game after Tyrod Taylor suffered a groin injury.

It’s certainly possible that either Taylor or Justin Fields (knee) is healthy enough to play in this Week 15 clash against a defense whose only glaring weakness seems to be tight ends. The Jaguars have surrendered the third-most receptions (86) and fifth-most receiving yards (846) to the position, along with a 71% catch rate. Meanwhile, Taylor is averaging 5.6 targets per contest over the last 10 games, affording him a relatively safe floor.

San Francisco 49ers Defense vs. Tennessee Titans - 14% start rate

The 49ers defense certainly hasn’t lived up to its pedigree very often this season, but Week 15 seems to offer the right conditions for that to change. San Francisco is not only coming off a bye week and is at home, but it’s drawing what’s been the matchup to target for team defenses all season in that of the Titans.

Cam Ward has taken a league-high 49 sacks, thrown seven interceptions, and lost six fumbles. The Titans are also averaging just 14.8 points per road game and a league-low 4.2 yards per play in that split as well. While the Niners have just five interceptions and 16 sacks on the season, a matchup against a Tennesee team allowing the fourth-highest adjusted sack rate (10.0%) could certainly lead to one of the unit’s most disruptive games of the season.

ALSO CONSIDER ::

Rachaad White, TB vs. ATL - 11% start rate 

Was more efficient than Bucky Irving in the upset loss to the Saints in Week 14 and could have a solid complementary role again versus a Falcons D surrendering 140.6 rushing yards per road game.

Keenan Allen, LAC at KC - 17% start rate        

Has been relatively quiet in recent games, but he has a steady role and Chargers figure to be aggressive despite the Chiefs’ offensive struggles.

Kimani Vidal, LAC at KC - 19% start rate

Still enjoyed a solid role Monday night against the Eagles and finished with 104 total yards, keeping him under consideration this week despite Hampton’s presence.

Jayden Higgins, HOU vs. ARI - 19% start rate

It was a relatively quiet night in Week 14 for anyone not named Nico Collins in the Texans’ passing attack, but Higgins still saw five targets and is in a better spot this week.

Jayden Reed, GB at DEN - 4% start rate 

Looked good in his Week 14 return with 53 yards on six touches, and he could be due for diverse utilization again with the potential for more snaps as the Packers look to keep the Broncos’ vaunted defense off balance.

Chris Rodriguez, WAS at NYG - 13% start rate  

Game script robbed him of a big afternoon in Week 14, but Rodriguez continues to have a firm grip on the lead-back role and faces a Giants run defense surrendering an NFL-high 6.1 RB yards per carry while ranking No. 32 in second-level (1.59) and open-field yards (1.85) per carry surrendered.