Uncover the Untapped Fantasy Football Goldmine: Why Tez Johnson Could Explode in Week 8 After Mike Evans’ Shocking Injury

Hunting for that elusive late-round pickup to catapult your fantasy squad into the stratosphere? We all crave those under-the-radar talents who turn Sundays into a celebration — while we lean back, cold drink in hand, watching our lineups light up the scoreboard. This season, Scott Pianowski’s got your back, spotlighting the sharpest sleepers to ease your fantasy anxieties. After a Week 7 packed with breakout moments — from Gadsden’s dazzling plays to Boutte’s scoring flair and Otton’s Monday night hustle — the question is: who’s poised to keep that magic flowing, especially with half a dozen teams on the sidelines? Buckle up, because these hidden gems could be exactly what you need. LEARN MORE

We’re all looking for that hidden gem to give our fantasy football team an edge, so we can kick back and relax on Sundays while gleefully watching our squad march to victory. Let Scott Pianowski help you rest easy this season with his top sleepers.

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Week 7 was a solid week in the sleeper streets, as Oronde Gadsden II smashed, Kayshon Boutte scored again and Cade Otton was useful on Monday night. Let’s see if we can keep the momentum rolling this week, especially with six NFL teams out of action.

WR Tez Johnson at Saints (46% rostered on Yahoo)

Johnson might be an obvious pick to start with, but often the wisdom of crowds is correct. He’s spiked in two straight weeks and had a season-best nine targets at Detroit. With Mike Evans out for months and Chris Godwin Jr. rehabbing slowly, Johnson becomes a priority target for Tampa Bay.

WR Alec Pierce vs. Titans (24%)

If Josh Downs is able to return, Pierce’s market share will likely take a hit. But Pierce is also coming off a snappy 5-98-0 line against the Chargers, and the Colts like to take deep shots to Pierce every week. At this point, any potential add in the Indianapolis passing game sounds good to me.

WR Troy Franklin vs. Cowboys (28%)

His Week 7 touchdown was a stone fluke, a lucky bounce from a deflection, but we can’t ignore that Franklin is up to 11 red-zone targets for the year. He’s also caught a couple of two-point conversions, underscoring his goal-line equity. Bo Nix and Franklin showed chemistry at Oregon, and that’s starting to translate in the NFL. And obviously the Dallas defense is a dream matchup.

TE Theo Johnson at Eagles (22%)

He’s collected four touchdowns in his last four games, and he’s also seen nine red-zone targets this year, third at the tight end position. It’s obvious Jaxson Dart trusts Johnson in confined spaces, so there’s touchdown equity at play on Sunday.

QB Joe Flacco vs. Jets (40%)

Age is just a number for Cincinnati’s temporary quarterback — he was good against Green Bay and outstanding against the Steelers. Now Flacco takes dead aim at a winless Jets defense that might be without cover ace Sauce Gardner (concussion).

RB Kyle Monangai at Ravens (36%)

Monangai saw a season-best 15 touches in the win over the Saints, turning them into 94 total yards and a score. Ben Johnson would love to create a two-headed backfield in Chicago, and an injury-plagued Baltimore defense has been ripped against the run all season.

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TE Dawson Knox at Panthers (1%)

This call is directly tied to Dalton Kincaid and his oblique injury; if Kincaid is cleared, Knox is a no-go. But Knox did sneak a touchdown in Buffalo’s last game and the Carolina seam coverage has been awful for two straight years.

RB Devin Neal vs. Buccaneers (3%)

Hail-Mary plays are sometimes called for in the backfield, and that’s why we have Neal ranked last on this list. But it’s worth noting that Kendre Miller was averaging about nine carries per week before his knee blowout, and Neal is next in line to assume that work. Alvin Kamara is no longer capable of handling bell-cow workloads, so Neal’s role is sure to expand.