Injuries and bye weeks continue to leave holes in our rosters, so Sam Wallace has dropped by with his favorite Week 16 fantasy football sleepers to help you fill those voids.
If you're reading this, that means you somehow avoided the treacherous waters of Cooper Kupp, Saquon Barkley, and Derrick Henry. You also didn't get Josh Allen-ed or Lamar Jackson-ed (for which you should be eternally grateful).
If nothing else, we're once again reminded that fantasy football is a weekly game and variance can rear its ugly head at any time. Let's dust ourselves off and get you ready for the fantasy football semi-finals.
Here are several sleepers for you to consider ahead of Week 16.
Top Fantasy Football Sleeper For Week 16
Romeo Doubs, WR
- vs. New Orleans Saints
- 60% available
After missing two games with a concussion, Romeo Doubs returned in a big way on Sunday night. His two TDs helped lead the Packers to a win over the Seahawks as the Green & Gold notched their 10th win of the season.
The Packers have (in)famously been the team with no clear-cut WR1, which has been fantastic from a contract perspective but frustrating for fantasy managers. Some weeks it's Christian Watson, others it's Jayden Reed, and still others it's Doubs.
However, looking over the course of the season, Doubs has been a primary target regardless of the offensive gameplan.
In his 11 healthy games, he's posting strong numbers.
He's just shy of 20% marks in both TPRR and target share, and he's earning 27% of the air yards. Also, his 12.8 aDOT on the season shows he's not just a short-yardage, chain-moving option for Jordan Love.
Doubs is available in well over half of leagues, and that just shouldn't be the case at this stage of the season. Even if your team is loaded across the board and Doubs is unlikely to crack your starting lineup, he's certainly worth stashing as an insurance option should injuries strike your roster in the days ahead.
More Sleepers For Fantasy Football Week 16
Justice Hill, RB
- vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
- 78% available
I'm not suggesting you go out and make drastic changes to your RB room heading into the semi-finals, but having a viable option for your flex spot is never a bad idea. As teams begin getting closer to pinning down their playoff spot (or looking to next year), we might see some veterans start to cede work to other players, especially if injuries are piling up.
I'm looking at you, Alvin Kamara.
That being said, Justice Hill remains an intriguing stash/flex option for fantasy managers. Yes, this backfield belongs to the King and no one else, but Hill checks a lot of the boxes we want in a prototypical pass-catching asset.
Through Week 15, Hill is crushing Henry in routes, targets, TPRR, LDD snaps, and 2-minute snaps. We know the Ravens' offense can pile on the points in a hurry and can beat teams in a variety of different ways. Hill has the experience and data to force himself into your lineup if you need a potential splash play this weekend.
Rashod Bateman, WR
- vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
- 81% available
Sticking with the Ravens, Rashod Bateman has been their WR2 this season behind Zay Flowers but has been a bit too boom/bust this season for fantasy managers to consistently trust him.
- 4 games with more than 15 PRR
- 7 games with less than 8 PPR
However, when he hits…he hits. Bateman has a pair of 22+ PPR performances this season and his numbers back that up.
His target share (15%) leaves a lot to be desired, especially on a team that runs the ball so frequently, but his aDOT (16.1) and air yards share (26%) highlight his game-breaking potential. As we mentioned with Hill, the Ravens can beat you in a lot of ways. If it turns into a Bateman game, that could be the difference your team needs to make it to the championship weekend.
Brandin Cooks, WR
- vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- 85% available
At the top, I mentioned how fantasy football is a weekly game. That makes it equal parts exhilarating and frustrating. Weekly variance can sink weeks and months of hopes, dreams, and hard work; it can also vault your team to a title.
Targeting promising matchups is a great place to start when identifying potential sleepers for your lineup, and Brandin Cooks could find himself in a prime environment.
Even without Dak Prescott, the Cowboys have been putting up points over the last month. With Cooper Rush at the helm, this offense has scored 20+ points in four straight games. This weekend, they host a Buccaneers team that's currently 4th in the league in scoring at almost 29 points per game.
The passing attack runs through CeeDee Lamb, but Cooks has been quietly productive since missing seven games in the middle of the season. His route participation has climbed from 54% to 93% since returning from injury in Week 13, and he's found the endzone twice in his last three games.
In what could turn into an exciting, high-scoring affair, Cooks could be slid into a spot at the back end of your roster as the WR2 for the Cowboys.
Jalen McMillan, WR
- @ Dallas Cowboys
- 90% available
Sticking with the same NFC matchup, rookie wideout Jalen McMillan has stepped up in a big way over the last two weeks, tallying nine receptions for 134 yards and three scores. While we don't want to get caught chasing points, it's worth noting that his underlying metrics are backing up his spike in production.
All eyes will be on Mike Evans as he fights to keep his 1,000-yard streak alive, but the talented rookie is making the most of his additional opportunities. If he keeps building chemistry with Baker Mayfield and earning targets at a decent clip, he could find his way into your lineup this weekend or next.
Dive into every player's Week 16 outlook with our full Week 16 fantasy football rankings suite below!
