IDP Sleepers - Week 13 fantasysharks.com Fri 11/29/13 5:00 AM

For most fantasy leagues, this is the final week before the playoffs begin. Teams are scratching and clawing for every advantage to get to the big dance. With three games taking place on Thanksgiving and this article not being published until the Friday after Thanksgiving, the talent pool was definitely compromised. That's why I love my job so much, as finding these sleeper candidates was by no means easy, but it was a ton of fun! Without further ado ... LINEBACKERS Pat Angerer, ILB, Indianapolis vs. Tennessee: Angerer struggled mightily in coverage last week against Arizona and played the lowest amount of snaps he's registered in the past five games (36). Look for a bounceback week against a Titans team that he racked up nine tackles (eight solo) against two weeks ago. Tennessee will look to establish running back Chris Johnson on the ground, leading to more playing time and production for Angerer. Brandon Spikes, MLB, New England at Houston: Spikes totaled nine tackles last week and also recovered a fumble in the comeback victory over Denver. This week he has a prime matchup to reach double-digit tackles. Jacksonville middle linebacker Paul Posluszny racked up 15 total stops last week against Houston. Where does Spikes line up? In the middle, baby, and he belongs in starting lineups this week. David Hawthorne, ILB, New Orleans at Seattle: The Seahawks have not been an ideal matchup for allowing points to linebackers but have given up the occasional big week. Atlanta's Paul Worrilow went off for 19 tackles against them in Week 10 and Tampa Bay's Lavonte David also reached double-digit stops in Week 9. The weather is shaping up to be nasty on Monday night and that could mean a lot of handing the ball off to Marshawn Lynch. Hawthorne has put up 14 tackles in his last two games and 61 for the season. He also brings big play potential and has three sacks and a forced fumble through 11 games. Darryl Sharpton, ILB, Houston vs. New England: Sharpton has 25 total tackles over the past three weeks, with 17 of those being solos. In each of their past two games the New England Patriots have seen a pair of opposing linebackers reach double-digit stops against them (Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis in Week 11 /Danny Trevathan and Wesley Woodyard in Week 12). Sharpton is an excellent start this week on a defense that will be on the field a lot. Aldon Smith, OLB, San Francisco vs. St. Louis: Smith did not play in the Week 4 matchup between the teams and the 49ers linebackers still put up 3½ sacks. In his four career games against the Rams, Smith has five sacks and 14 total tackles (13 solos). He is coming off of a two-sack game against Washington and will at least match that total in Week 13. DEFENSIVE BACKS Corey White, CB, New Orleans at Seattle: NFL quarterbacks, especially ones as smart as Russell Wilson are, are adept at finding the weak links in opposing defenses. To that end, you can be sure that whichever Seattle wide receiver draws the coverage of White will see plenty of action this week, allowing White to post very productive fantasy numbers. Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan repeatedly threw into White's coverage last week, completing 8-of-10 passes for 96 yards (67 yards went to rookie wide receiver Darius Johnson). Due to repeatedly being tested, White finished the game with double-digit tackles and a fumble recovery. Brandon Meriweather, FS, Washington vs. New York Giants: Free safeties have had success against the Giants and Meriweather is a hard-hitting (while not always the smartest) safety that will step up in run support. He's totaled 23 tackles the past four games with an interception and a fumble recovery. There will be plenty of opportunities for Meriweather to rack up tackles as well as big plays against the shaky Giants offense. Alterraun Verner, CB, Tennessee at Indianapolis: Verner is having a very productive season with 41 total tackles and a career-high five interceptions. Two weeks ago he posted four solo stops against the Colts and was credited with two passes defended. He was thrown at five times in that game and allowed two receptions for 24 yards and no touchdowns. He's a willing run support corner with big play potential against a struggling Colts offense. Desmond Trufant, CB, Atlanta at Buffalo: ‘Rookie corner rule' alert! One of the few bright spots in a dismal 2013 season for Atlanta has been the play from the rookie out of Washington. He's totaled 52 tackles while forcing one fumble, picking off a pass and defending 13 passes. Buffalo may not be a prolific passing team but the Bills are a top-10 matchup in allowing fantasy points to defensive backs. The Bills average 34 pass attempts per game and look for a good number of those to be intended for whoever the rookie cornerback lines up over. David Amerson, CB, Washington vs. New York Giants: Roll with the ‘rookie corner rule' again here as Amerson is tested often lining up opposite DeAngelo Hall. He's been thrown at 56 times this season allowing 58.9 percent of the passes to be completed into his coverage. Amerson has picked off two passes while being credited with seven passes defended. A natural playmaker, he tends to jump routes in hopes of the big play. Also, he has returned one interception for a touchdown this season. Giants quarterback Eli Manning has been turnover prone this season, making this a nice fantasy matchup for the rookie. DEFENSIVE LINEMEN Akiem Hicks, DE, New Orleans at Seattle: Hicks is having a sneaky good sophomore campaign lining up as the bookend defensive end opposite Cameron Jordan. Ride the hot hand here as over his past two games Hicks has put up 15 total tackles (seven solos) and racked up 2½ sacks. The Seahawks are a surprisingly nice matchup for defensive linemen (among the top-7 teams in points allowed) having given up 11 sacks to the position in their last four games as well as four forced fumbles. Jonathan Babineaux, DT, Atlanta at Buffalo: Babineaux is never going to dazzle IDP owners with his sack totals (defensive tackles not named Geno Atkins rarely will) but he has always been a solid tackling defensive lineman that did put up a six sack season back in 2009. This week's matchup falls right into Babineaux's wheelhouse as Buffalo has allowed 221 total tackles to the defensive line position, with 141 of those being of the solo variety. Defensive linemen have forced six fumbles against the Bills this season and have registered 15 sacks, so the possibility of big plays will be there for Babineaux this week. Vinny Curry, DE, Philadelphia vs. Arizona: Curry is a pass rushing specialist for the Eagles and has racked up three sacks in the past five games. While playing a total of 195 snaps, he has been credited with 16 hurries and two quarterback hits according to Pro Football Focus. The Cardinals have allowed 27 sacks to defensive lineman this season and five in the last two games. It's a solid matchup for Curry to add to his sack total this week. Jason Babin, DE, Jacksonville at Cleveland: Babin only has three sacks on the season but has a nice matchup this week against a Browns team that has allowed 22 sacks to defensive linemen, including six in their last two games. Quarterback Brandon Weeden is in line to start this week and has been sacked 24 times. Let's just say he isn't the quickest quarterback in getting rid of the ball. Look for Babin to get back on the sack train this week. Derek Wolfe, DE, Denver at Kansas City: We are looking for lightning to strike twice here as Wolfe had one of his most productive weeks in his first tilt against the Chiefs. He sacked quarterback Alex Smith for a 14-yard loss and racked up two solo tackles. Don't let the goose egg he put up against the New England Patriots scare you off as he had racked up a sack in three consecutive games before last week. Thank you for enjoying this week's edition of the '53 deep' column and here comes the bonus player! Jamarca Sanford, FS, Minnesota vs. Chicago: Back in the Week 2 matchup between these two teams, Sanford racked up eight solo tackles while playing strong safety. His teammate Harrison Smith also posted eight solo tackles and an interception while playing free safety in that game. This is an excellent matchup for Sanford to have an above average fantasy outing. Start him with confidence. Here's hoping everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving, and, as always ... have fun!