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Fantasy Football Week 13 Sleeper: Ben Tate

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By @Tweets_ByJ

Ben Tate

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One of the most talked about free agents entering last offseason, Ben Tate has disappointed many this year. He was expected to take control of the starting running back job for the Cleveland Browns, but instead was cut in favor of two rookies. Now after joining the Minnesota Vikings, Tate may have a chance to revive his season in Week 13.

Tate was claimed off of waivers by the Vikings before Week 12 and did not receive a single carry in his first game. That is to be expected from a player still learning the offense, but after almost two weeks of practice, Tate should be able to find some touches, especially with starter Jerick McKinnon missing the action on Sunday. Joe Banyard and Matt Asiata look to carry most of the load with McKinnon out, but it would be surprising if Tate didn’t at least touch the ball a few times due to his experience and pedigree.

And Tate usually makes the most of his opportunities. After being hampered by an injury for most of the year in Cleveland, Tate only managed a meager 3.1 yards per carry on the ground for the Browns. This is not a very good showing from a running back, but it might just be a fluke year for Tate to this point. While playing with the Houston Texans the last four seasons, Tate averaged a full yard more per carry, rushing for 4.4 yards per attempt with Houston. That shows the talent that Tate has and can provide out of the backfield when healthy and given the opportunity. And given the opportunity this week, I would expect Tate to have similar numbers to his previous four seasons.

So Tate has some fantasy potential this week. Even though he won’t get the bulk of the carries with McKinnon out and he has performed very poorly to this point in the season, he can shine this week under a new regime. He won’t run over the Carolina Panthers‘ defense this week, but Tate should get enough touches to make him a sleeper in deeper leagues in Week 13.

Justin Broyles is a Pirates writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on twitter @Tweets_ByJ, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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