In fantasy football, there are oftentimes players that go overlooked heading into a week of games. Sleepers are left on benches every single week, but sometimes that “big game from out of nowhere” could have been easily predicted and utilized in starting lineups. In this piece, I’ll be tiering and listing some of the sleepers I’ve identified ahead of Week 16 of the 2023 fantasy football season. If they’re on your bench, feel comfortable playing them over a starter with a worse outlook for Week 16. There’s also a chance they could be on the waiver wire, so snatch them up if you’re in need of their services.

I’ll be looking at players rostered in at least 50% of ESPN leagues and tier them in descending order of their percentage started on fantasy teams. In other words: the further down the list, the deeper the sleeper for Week 16’s matchups. If you’re looking for this week’s top waiver wire adds, check out this essential piece from Shane by clicking the link below!

Related Article: Week 16 Waiver Wire Adds

Tier One: Started in 30-50% of fantasy leagues

TE Trey McBride – Arizona Cardinals (81% rostered / 48% started)

McBride has been one of the lone bright spots of the Cardinals’ 2023 season, most recently netting a huge day vs. the 49ers in Week 15, catching 10-of-11 targets for 102 yards on the day. McBride has averaged nearly 16.6 PPR fantasy points per game since breaking out vs. the Ravens in Week 8. Now, the young tight end has another chance to erupt in Week 16 vs. the Chicago Bears, who allow the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends on the season. In a similar offensive role, Browns TE David Njoku went off vs. the Bears last week, catching 10-of-14 targets for 104 yards and a touchdown in Week 15.

RB Chuba Hubbard – Carolina Panthers (73% rostered / 44% started)

Chuba Hubbard has seen some insane volume out of the backfield for the Panthers over the last few weeks of the season, averaging a whopping 25 touches per game over his last three weeks as the workhorse RB for Carolina. He’s averaged nearly 13 fantasy points per game in that span, and should another massive workload and ceiling in Week 16 vs. the Packers. Green Bay has surrendered the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing RBs on the season, and have also allowed three-straight running backs to go over 20 fantasy points, meaning Hubbard’s volume could easily strike pay dirt in Week 16.

TE Isaiah Likely – Baltimore Ravens (55% rostered / 37% started)

Isaiah Likely has emerged as a very trustworthy fantasy tight end in the wake of Mark Andrews’ Week 11 ankle injury that has landed him on IR and ended his regular season. Likely has netted at least five catches, 70 yards and a receiving touchdown in each of the last two games, meaning he’s scored 18 PPR fantasy points in each performance. Now, Likely gets a decent matchup with the 49ers in Week 16, who allow the 12th-most fantasy points to opposing TEs on the season, and also allowed Cardinals TE Trey McBride to catch 10-of-11 targets for 102 yards. The second-year standout has real top-3 TE upside in this matchup.

Tier Two: Started in 20-30% of fantasy leagues

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