Week 18 Offensive Sleepers

Sleepers at Quarterback

Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh (vs Cincinnati)

The Steelers scored 44 points in the first matchup with the Bengals. Wilson had one of the best games of his career with over 400 yards passing and three scores. The Steelers defense hasn't been a shutdown unit lately and should force Wilson into a quarterback duel with Joe Burrow.

Tyler Huntley, NY Jets (vs Miami)

Huntley had a strong dual-threat game against the Browns last week and comes into a matchup with the reeling Jets playing as well as he has in his career. He even got Tyreek Hill going, something Tua Tagovailoa has failed to do. Jaylen Waddle is due back this week, to boot, as the Dolphins are playing for a wild card berth if they can win and Denver loses to the Chiefs.

Mac Jones, Jacksonville (at Indianapolis)

Jones has a safe floor since Brian Thomas Jr. has been playing like an all-pro, and he has a high ceiling facing a Colts defense that waved the white flag last week while allowing an all-time great quarterback performance to Drew Lock, of all people.

Joshua Dobbs, San Francisco (at Arizona)

Dobbs already showed us last year that he has a high ceiling as a backup thrown into the fire with little preparation. He'll add some value as a runner and has a high ceiling in a meaningless game for both teams.

Sleepers at Tight End

Payne Durham, Devin Culp, Tampa Bay (vs New Orleans)

Durham is on the injury report, so monitor this situation before setting your lineup. If Durham plays, he's probably the better Bucs tight end to plug in, but Culp has rare speed for a tight end and made some downfield plays last week. Note: Cade Otton returned to practice in a limited fashion Thursday. If he's active, don't look to Tampa for a sleeper tight end this week.

Foster Moreau, Juwan Johnson, New Orleans (at Tampa Bay)

Moreau and Johnson are the featured players in a passing game that looks like the island of misfit toys on the wide receiver depth chart. Moreau scored last week and makes more downfield plays, while Johnson gets more targets and is the safer play in PPR leagues.

Jordan Akins, Cleveland (at Baltimore)

Akins will replace David Njoku again for Week 18 and is coming off of a six-catch performance that would have been good enough if you were looking for a desperation play off the waiver wire. Bailey Zappe getting snaps over Dorian Thompson-Robinson can only help Akins.

Noah Gray, Kansas City (at Denver)

It's not clear if the Chiefs view Gray as the kind of starter that should be rested for Week 18, so there's risk here, but if they don't, he's likely to be the #1 target for Carson Wentz, who isn't that bad as Week 18 backup quarterbacks in the starting lineup go. Wentz should be loose with the Chiefs in a win-win situation if they end a rival's season with a win or keep Joe Burrow out of the playoffs with a loss.

Sleepers at Running Back

Blake Corum, LA Rams (vs Seattle)

The Rams will rest their starters even though they need to win to secure the #3 seed if the Bucs beat the Saints. Sean McVay has said he's excited to see what Corum can do with a "heavy workload". We could see a preview of what is in Corum's eventual future in Week 18.

Michael Carter, Arizona (vs San Francisco)

James Conner was placed on injured reserve, so it will be Carter leading the backfield in Week 18. He should be good for some cheap PPR points at worst and a touchdown plus 100 or more total yards in a best case scenario.

Emanuel Wilson, Green Bay (vs Chicago)

The Packers could get back to the #6 seed with a win and Washington loss to the Cowboys, but they should be inclined to rest starters in the second half if the Commanders are winning big in the second half. Wilson has scored in each of the last two games, and Josh Jacobs is probably the Packers starter most in need of rest before the wild card game.

Chris Rodriguez Jr., Washington (at Dallas)

Rodriguez scored last week and has a lot more left in the tank right now than Brian Robinson Jr. He could also be the closer if the Commanders build a lead against a Cowboys team that looked feeble without CeeDee Lamb last week.

Alexander Mattison, Las Vegas (vs LA Chargers)

Ameer Abdullah left with a foot injury last week and is trending towards being out in Week 18. Mattison should give you a high PPR floor with the conservative Aidan O'Connell at quarterback.

Khalil Herbert, Cincinnati (at Pittsburgh)

Chase Brown is a game-time decision. Even if Brown plays, Herbert could have a larger role, and Brown will be subject to an in-game aggravation of the injury. If Brown doesn't play, Herbert is capable of putting up one of the best running backs games of Week 18.

Antonio Gibson, New England (vs Buffalo)

Gibson was the lead back last week and has been the most explosive player in Patriots offensive this year (admittedly not a hard title to earn). The Bills should be resting starters, while the Patriots can clinch the #1 pick with a loss. The game script should allow New England to lean on the run.

Sleepers at Wide Receiver

Jordan Whittington, LA Rams (vs Seattle)

The Rams will be resting starters, including Cooper Kupp, who has been in a slump for the last three weeks. We've already seen Whittington is ahead of schedule when he was Kupp's replacement earlier in the season, and Jimmy Garoppolo is a good enough quarterback to get the layup completions in the McVay offense.

Ricky Pearsall, San Francisco (at Arizona)

Pearsall had a breakout game last week and should be a primary target this week with Deebo Samuel Sr. and George Kittle both ailing going into a meaningless game. Joshua Dobbs isn't shy about passing downfield when he gets to play, so the dropoff from Brock Purdy doesn't mean Pearsall isn't a viable play this week.

Jalen Nailor, Minnesota (at Detroit)

The Vikings/Lions game could easily see both teams get into the 30's (the first matchup was 31-29) or even higher with the Lions offense clicking and their defense disintegrating. Nailor is a good deep threat and had a big game in the win over the Packers last week. He has a very high ceiling for a part-time player because of the nature of this matchup.

Quentin Johnston, LA Chargers (at Las Vegas)

Joshua Palmer is banged up and the Chargers need to clinch a matchup with the Texans in the first round, they can probably beat the Raiders without Palmer. While Ladd McConkey is the #1 receiver, he is also not 100%, so there should be more falling on Johnston's shoulders in any event.

Calvin Austin III, Pittsburgh (vs Cincinnati)

Austin has supplanted Van Jefferson as the #2 receiver just in time for a rematch of a game that posted a 44-38 final score in the first matchup. He is a deep threat but has also made some plays in the short and intermediate game with dangerous run-after-catch speed.