Week 16 Offensive Sleepers

Photo: Scott Galvin, USA Today Sports

Quarterback

Nick Mullens, Minnesota (vs Detroit)

Mullens had a few poor decisions against the Bengals, but he showed he could move the offense and unlock the value of his talented pass-catchers. He could get into a shootout with Jared Goff, and the Lions defense has been giving up big games to opposing quarterbacks lately. Getting Mullens in as your QB2/Superflex gets you a piece of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson.

Taylor Heinicke, Atlanta (vs Indianapolis)

Could the Falcons offense bounce back with a new quarterback and hopefully humbled coach? It could rebound well enough to merit a QB2/Superflex start for Heinicke, who was modestly productive in his one full game earlier this season. The Colts' young cornerbacks can be successfully picked on by a good receiver like Drake London.

Geno Smith, Drew Lock, Seattle (at Tennessee)

If Smith has an uneventful week of practice, he should start, but then again, he was supposed to start last week as long as he avoided a setback. He didn't. Either way, the Seahawks starter will be a good QB2/Superflex option. The Titans corners will be overmatched against the Seahawks wide receivers, and even Lock has shown enough to trust him in this matchup.

C.J. Beathard, Jacksonville (at Tampa Bay)

Knowing Trevor Lawrence, he'll probably play in this one, but if he doesn't, Beathard will have some QB2/Superflex appeal even though Zay Jones, the hidden key to the Jaguars passing game, will likely be out. Only Will Levis and Bryce Young have been fantasy duds against the Bucs, and that group includes Desmond Ridder (twice), Gardner Minshew, and Jordan Love.

Tight End

Tanner Hudson, Cincinnati (at Pittsburgh) **Saturday**

Hudson has emerged as one of the most consistent targets for Jake Browning. Even in the first game vs. the Steelers, when Browning struggled, he completed eight passes and a score to tight ends, including four to Hudson. Hudson has caught at least four balls in six of the last seven games.

Tucker Kraft, Green Bay (at Carolina)

Kraft is a wrecking ball after the catch, and he could be even more featured in the passing game if the Packers are without two of their top three receivers. Desmond Ridder was playing in a downpour and he was bad enough to get benched last week, but he still completed six passes for 107 yards to Falcons tight ends against the Panthers.

Michael Mayer, Las Vegas (at Kansas City)

Mayer scored last week and faces a Chiefs defense that just gave up a 7-66-1 line to Hunter Henry this week. The Chiefs also allowed 8-57 to Bills tight ends in Week 14 and 4-38-1 to the Packers tight ends in Week 13. Last week Mayer got five targets despite playing his lowest snap share since Week 4.

Tyler Higbee, LA Rams (vs New Orleans) **Thursday**

Higbee was healthy enough to play last week and could put up a healthy stat line against the Saints on Thursday. New Orleans gave up 7-62 to Giants tight ends last week, 9-140-1 to Sam LaPorta in Week 13, 11-134-1 to T.J. Hockenson in Week 10, and 6-55-2 to Cole Kmet in Week 9. Drew Ogletree, Cade Otton, and Dalton Schultz have also scored against the Saints this year.