Fantasy football deep sleepers: Colin Kaepernick could pay off
Deep sleepers are players flying under the radar who could be due for a big fantasy football game in Week 7 because of a matchup or for some other reason. They are risky fantasy plays given the other options likely available. However, you might need to consider one given player injuries or the bye weeks.
Here are deep sleepers Week 7 from The Fantasy Greek.
QB Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers
In his return to game action last week, Colin Kaepernick was solid throwing for 187 yards and one touchdown while adding 66 yards rushing to his totals. This week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, sans Carlos Hyde, Kaepernick should be able to push these totals up to two hundred-plus yards passing and multiple TDs as the 49ers try to keep up by throwing the football. The Buccaneers have struggled to defend the pass, averaging near 250 yards and two pass touchdowns per game, leaving opposing quarterbacks as candidates for a top-10 weekly finish. Kaepernick will add rushing yards to his totals, too.
Fantasy football rankings: Week 7
QB Cody Kessler, Cleveland Browns
In two of his last three starts, Cody Kessler threw the football 40 times. Last week, Kessler successfully passed for 336 yards and two touchdowns on zero interceptions on 26 for 41 passing. The Browns play a Cincinnati Bengals team this week which is certainly going to run up the score. The Bengals pass defense is allowing slightly better than 250 yards passing and two touchdowns per game to opposing quarterbacks. Kessler should be in line for a near repeat of last week’s performance.
RB Chris Ivory, Jacksonville Jaguars
Despite overtures by the Jaguars that TJ Yeldon would be the team’s “feature back,” Chris Ivory out-touched Yeldon and scored a touchdown on top of 32 yards rushing. This week, the Jaguars play a Raiders team allowing over 100 yards rushing and near one touchdown per game to the position. Yeldon will still have a role in the passing game, but the rushing game favors Ivory’s skill set.
RB Zac Zenner, Detroit Lions
Zac Zenner posted modest numbers last week with 77 all-purpose yards on 16 touches (4.4 YPC), but he made the Lions offense look good and in balance. Zenner should start again against the Washington Redskins with Theo Riddick injured and Justin Forsett new to the team. It’s a good match-up for Zenner as the Redskins have allowed over 100 yards rushing per game and a score to the position on average each game. These are the numbers that put a running back into Top 10 territory in standard leagues.
WR Kamar Aiken, Baltimore Ravens
With Steve Smith, Sr. expected to miss this weekend’s tilt against the New York Jets, Kamar Aiken will get the nod as an every down wide receiver. Aiken has been golden in a pinch when called upon by the Ravens to play in a full-time starter’s role. Regardless of who the Ravens quarterback is this weekend, the Jets are giving up the second most yards (and fantasy points) to opposing wide receivers. The opportunity for a 100 yard game and a score is in front of Aiken and he should take advantage.
Week 7 injury report: Fantasy owners seeking fill-in for Carlos Hyde
TE C.J. Fiedorowicz, Houston Texans
The Texans play a Denver Broncos team that has been tough against the pass, No. 4 in fantasy football. However, Texans tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz has come on the last two games and commanded fifteen targets which he has converted into 10 receptions for 146 yards and 1 touchdown. At 6’5” tall, he should be a matchup nightmare for the Broncos smaller defensive backs who will be preoccupied stopping DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller.
Miami Dolphins defense/special teams
The Dolphins defense shut down the high-powered offense of the Pittsburgh Steelers limiting them to 297 yards of total offense and 15 points. This week, the Dolphins play a Bills team whose offense is hobbling into the weekend and will likely miss its best rusher, LeSean McCoy, and its best wide receiver, Robert Woods. Everything about this game smacks of a defensive battle and the Bills could easily be held to under twenty points scoring. Playing at home in 80-degree heat, the Dolphins defense should make another run at a top-10 finish this weekend.
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