Week 18 Offensive Sleepers

Photo: Jim Dedmon, USA Today Sports

Quarterback

Sam Howell, Washington (vs Dallas)

Howell will get a chance to audition for the 2023 season quarterback job in Week 18. He had over 800 yards rushing and 11 rushing scores in his last season at North Carolina. Howell will also benefit from one of the most talented wide receiver trios in the league and playing in a game with nothing to lose and a chance to spoil the Cowboys’ chances to win the division and possibly even the #1 seed.

Tyrod Taylor, NY Giants (at Philadelphia)

Early signs out of Giants practices indicate that the team will forgo the chance to spoil the Eagles' road to the #1 seed and NFC East title in favor of resting key starters, and there is no more key starter to the team’s success than Daniel Jones. That will put Taylor, who has been a low-end fantasy QB1 at his peak, on the field, with the opportunity to remind the NFL what he’s capable of and increase his earning potential for the autumn of his career. Taylor has always been a productive runner and could be forced to carry the offense in a play-from-behind game script.

Joshua Dobbs, Tennessee (at Jacksonville) **Saturday**

Dobbs will get the start, even though he just joined the team last week. He’s a capable runner and will likely have to pass more than the Titans want him to, with the Jaguars offense hot and picking on the Titans' weakness with their prolific short-range passing game. The Titans would love to rely on Derrick Henry, but it’s more likely that Dobbs will be the offensive engine as the game goes on, which could push him to a surprising Week 18 fantasy stat line.