Streaming Sleepers: Week 2

By :: Juan Carlos Blanco (@jcblanco22)

Each week, Streaming Sleepers will highlight at least five non-QB skill-position players that typically have projected start rates under 20% 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 tournament options for the coming slate and are likely to carry modest ownership rates in that format as well.

Joshua Palmer, BUF at NYJ- 2% start rate

Palmer’s presumably still getting acclimated to Josh Allen, but one would be hard-pressed to pick up on such based on how Week 1 unfolded. Palmer tied Khalil Shakir for second on the Bills with nine targets, parlaying them into a 5-61 line. Allen trusted Palmer on a key second-down situation on the game-winning drive as well, and the veteran wideout delivered with a clutch 32-yard grab. With Sauce Gardner almost certain to be preoccupied with either Keon Coleman or Khalil Shakir, Palmer will be in line to benefit from seeing some of Brandon Stephens, who gave up two of Aaron Rodgers’ four touchdown passes in Week 1. 

Harold Fannin Jr., CLE at BAL - 1% start rate

Fannin was a prolific pass catcher at Bowling Green, where he finished his college career with a 117-1,555-10 line in 13 games in 2024. The rookie third-round pick then instantly clicked with Joe Flacco in their first regular-season game together to the tune of a 7-63 line on nine targets, while seeing 26.4% of the Browns’ air yards. David Njoku still sits atop the depth chart, but Fannin is the future (and perhaps the present before this season is over) at the position and could remain busy against a Ravens defense that yielded a 7-97-1 line to the Dalton Kincaid-Dawson Knox-Jackson Hawes TE trio in Week 1.

Trey Benson, ARI vs. CAR - 2% start rate 

Even backfield mate James Conner conceded Benson was expected to see a nice boost in workload in his second NFL season, and that was corroborated in Week 1 against the Saints. A favorable game script helped lead to 20 non-Kyler-Murray rush attempts for Arizona in the opener, with Benson taking eight of those for 69 yards and also recording a six-yard catch. Granted, 52 of the ground yards came on one carry, but there’s no question Benson can motor and now faces a Panthers defense that lost prize offseason addition Tershawn Wharton to a multi-week hamstring injury after just 18 snaps in Week 1 and allowed 143 rushing yards to Travis Etienne. 

Quentin Johnston, LAC vs. LVR- 2% start rate 

Johnston’s start rate implies he still has plenty to fantasy players to convert, even after a 5-79-2 line against the Chiefs in Brazil while averaging an impressive 2.2 yards per route run. The third-year speedster now goes into this divisional Monday night clash with some extra rest, and he’s up against a Raiders defense that surrendered a 100-yard effort to the next entry on our list and No. 2 receiver counterpart Kayshon Boutte, in Week 1.

Kayshon Boutte, NE at MIA - 0% start rate

As just alluded to, Boutte picked up where he left off to close out 2024, when he hung a 7-117-1 line on the Bills in Week 18 to finish the campaign with a 43-589-3 line on 68 targets across 15 games. A more condensed air attack under Josh McDaniels is expected this season in New England, and that seemed to play out in Week 1 when Boutte and Stefon Diggs were far and away the primary focus among the wide receivers. Boutte now gets a crack at a Dolphins secondary that looked mostly lost against Daniel Jones in Week 1 and is expected to be missing starting right CB Storm Duck (ankle) for at least Sunday’s game.

ALSO CONSIDER ::

Hollywood Brown, KC vs. PHI- 7% start rate

Saw a whopping 16 targets and an 82.8% snap share in Week 1 with Xavier Worthy exiting after three plays; could certainly be busy again in this Super Bowl rematch with his teammate likely sidelined.

Keenan Allen, LAC at LVR- 12% start rate

It’s only one week, but Allen turned a solid 38-snap allotment in Week 1 into a 7-68-1 line on 10 targets and faces a Raiders squad that allowed a 16-173-1 line to WRs in Week 1.

Juwan Johnson, NO vs. SF- 1% start rate

Saw 26.8% of the Saints’ targets in Week 1 and turned in an 8-76 line, now faces a 49ers defense whose pass rush could lead to Spencer Rattler frequently looking for Johnson on quick passes.

Ray-Ray McCloud, ATL at MIN (*if at least one of London or Mooney is out) - 1% roster rate

Logged a 68.0% snap share and 10.2 yards per target in Week 1, and he could be operating as the de facto No. 1 receiver in a potential wire-to-wire affair vs. Vikings if both Drake London and Darnell Mooney are sidelined by their shoulder injuries.