Injuries and bye weeks continue to leave holes in our rosters, so Sam Wallace has dropped by with his favorite Week 12 fantasy football sleepers to help you fill those voids:
The "Mother Of All Bye Weeks" is upon us; the MOABW, as the kids say. That means you'll be forced into trotting out some pretty … interesting lineups across your leagues. That's why I've uncovered a range of sleeper options for you.
Whether you're in a shallow league or one that is unnervingly deep, here are some sleepers to consider heading into the weekend.
Top Fantasy Football Sleeper For Week 12
Roschon Johnson, RB
- vs. Minnesota Vikings
- 85% available
The shift in offensive coordinator led to a near-win over the Packers for the Bears in Week 11. It took a blocked FG as time expired to seal the win for the Green and Gold.
Another noteworthy takeaway was the performance of Roschon Johnson. He matched his season-high in rushing attempts (10), set a new season-high mark in rushing yards (33), and scored his fifth rushing TD on the season.
D'Andre Swift remains the backfield starter, but if this one-game sample size is anything to go off of, Johnson could continue to carve out a role for himself. Dwain looked closer at this tandem in his Week 12 Utilization Report.
As Dwain mentions, “Notably, Johnson took over the two-minute offense and bested Swift inside the five-yard line. Those are two of the most prolific roles for RBs on a per-opportunity basis.”
The Bears host the Vikings this weekend, and while it's not a great matchup on paper, Caleb Williams demonstrated an ability to move this offense against a good Green Bay defense. His 231 passing yards were his most since Week 5, and his 70 rushing yards were good for a career-high.
All of this adds up to more scoring opportunities for Chicago, and Johnson has demonstrated a nose for the end zone. His five TDs have come on just 46 rushing attempts.
With six teams on bye this week, Johnson could be the perfect addition to the back end of your lineup.
More Sleepers For Fantasy Football Week 12
Christian Watson, WR
- vs. San Francisco 49ers
- 52% available
The Packers have surrounded Jordan Love with ample weapons, but none of them have risen to claim the mantle of being a true WR1—someone who is a true alpha and commands a high number of targets regardless of the situation or matchup.
That being said, from a pure talent and athletic perspective, Christian Watson offers the most week-winning upside.
The offseason was challenging for Watson as he sought to get healthy, but we're starting to see him turn it around, and at the right time for Green Bay. Week 11 saw him haul in all four of his targets for 150 receiving yards.
Watson had seven targets in his previous game before erupting against the Bears last Sunday. If he can continue his ascent over the second half of this season, Love (and fantasy managers) will greatly benefit. That makes Watson an intriguing option against the 49ers in what should (once again) turn out to be an exciting, pivotal matchup for both franchises.
Rashod Bateman, WR
- @ Los Angeles Chargers
- 77% available
The former first-round pick has had a disappointing career relative to expectations. In his first three seasons, Rashod Bateman never had more than 515 receiving yards or 2 TDs in a single season. Thankfully, he's well on his way to having a career year with the Ravens.
As Lamar Jackson continues to develop as a passer, the Ravens' offense keeps reaching new heights.
Nov 7, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman (7) scores a fourth quarter touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images
This season, Bateman has 4+ targets in 10 of 11 games. It might not sound like much when we're talking about high-end target earners, but it's a great floor that we can expect on a weekly basis.
The athleticism is still there, and being tied to Jackson and this offense is about as good as you could ask for. In a desperate week, you could do worse than a talented player on the Ravens' offense.
DeMario Douglas / Kendrick Bourne, WR
- @ Miami Dolphins
- 74% & 99% available
I know many of us were excited for Drake Maye to finally take over the starting role in New England, but I wonder how many of us predicted that he would have this level of success so soon. It's no secret that the Patriots are devoid of offensive talent, so the fact that Maye's been posting the numbers he has is pretty impressive.
In his five full games, Maye is averaging 23+ points per game. He's also averaging more than 37 rushing yards per game. That's elite fantasy production.
Without a true No. 1 pass-catcher, Maye has gotten it done with the likes of DeMario Douglas and Kendrick Bourne. Both are widely available (Bourne is essentially free), and both could be excellent plug-and-play options during this brutal bye week.
Douglas has topped 50 receiving yards in five of his last nine games, and Bourne has a history of decent veteran production throughout his career. In a week where we can't be too picky as fantasy managers, either/both could be options for you.
Jonnu Smith, TE
- vs. New England Patriots
- 69% available
Very quietly, Jonnu Smith has had a pretty productive month. Since his Week 6 bye, he's handled a 21% target share and a 22% air yards share.
While those metrics won't blow you away, it's his 8.1 Utilization Score that really stands out.
With Tua Tagovailoa back under center, this offense has regained some of its potency and Smith has been an under-the-radar benefactor. With his route participation, target share, and overall involvement on the rise, he could be just the sleeper option you need at TE this weekend to carve out another win before the fantasy playoffs arrive.
