Fantasy Football 2018: 10 RB sleepers to target for Week 12

BALTIMORE, MD - NOVEMBER 18: Running Back Gus Edwards #35 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates with a teammate after scoring a touchdown in the third quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium on November 18, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

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CHICAGO, IL – NOVEMBER 18: Chicago Bears inside linebacker Danny Trevathan (59) tackles Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook (33) in action during a NFL game between the Chicago Bears and the Minnesota Vikings on November 18, 2018 at Soldier Field, in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

4. Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers

It feels weird calling Dalvin Cook a “sleeper” because he’s such a touted running back as a 2017 second-round pick out of Florida State. Cook lit up the fantasy football world in his four appearances as a rookie, averaging about 110 yards from scrimmage and showing the type of rushing ability that could make him a huge star in this league.

Sadly, a hamstring injury has prevented Cook from producing an even better sophomore campaign. Cook has appeared in just five games thus far, and he’s honestly been outshined by Latavius Murray statistically this year.

Thus far, the promising 23-year-old is averaging only about 40 rushing yards per game with a paltry 3.6 yards per carry, which is a far cry from his robust 4.8 yards per carry average in the 2017 season.

Some fantasy owners have likely given up on Cook, who was straight-up awful in Week 11 against the Chicago Bears, rushing the ball nine times for 12 yards and catching three passes for negative two yards. So, yes, Cook had more touches than yards.

However, Cook also had a whopping 89 yards on just 10 carries against a trash Detroit Lions run defense before the bye in Week 9, adding four catches for 20 more yards from scrimmage in what was by far his best game of the season.

With a long week and the rival Green Bay Packers scheduled as a soft run defense for Cook to face on Sunday Night Football, the stars could be aligning for Cook to have his first monster performance of the season. The Minnesota Vikings desperately need more from their high-profile running back, and this could be the week he delivers for fantasy owners, even after a dreadful Week 11 display against Chicago.

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