Saints' Juwan Johnson could have big Week 13 outing vs. Dolphins

If you're looking for a fantasy football sleeper in Week 13, perhaps take a look at New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson. The 2-9 Saints take on the 4-7 Miami Dolphins on the road in an early Sunday afternoon kickoff. Certainly not much to get excited about either team, two of the worst in the NFL this season. However, Johnson could be a valuable pickup for your fantasy team this afternoon if you're in need of a tight end.

Miami ranks a respectable 12th in pass defense this season, allowing 207 yards per game through the air. They've surrendered one 300-yard passer and just two more quarterbacks with over 240 yards. The Dolphins have given up only one 100-yard receiving game, but ten other players have had at least 59 yards receiving against them. Five of those ten have been tight ends. Mason Taylor, Tyler Warren, Dalton Kincaid, Orange Gadsden Jr., and Kyle Pitts have all managed at least 59 yards receiving against the Dolphins, catching a combined 33 passes.

Opposing tight ends have done very well when facing Miami coverage. The Dolphins have allowed 68 receptions for 760 yards and touchdowns to the tight end position over 11 games. That's an average of 6.2 catches for 69 yards per game to the position, with tight ends catching over 79% of their targets when facing the Dolphins.

Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough leads a Saints passing attack that ranks 20th in the league. However, they've seen a rise in passing production since Shough took over as starter in Week 9. In 14 quarters of action, Shough has thrown for 829 yards with 3 touchdowns and 3 interceptions, but has shown some impressive traits. Chris Olave is the Saints leading receiver, but someone else needs to provide a viable target for Shough and the offense.

Juwan Johnson has had his ups and downs this season and has struggled with both drops and separation. However, he's also been the second most productive pass catcher on the team. Johnson has 49 receptions for 537 yards and 3 scores, pulling in 73% of his 67 targets. He's already achieved a career-best in targets and is just one catch and 11 yards away from equaling career-highs in those categories.

Over his last two games against the Falcons and Panthers, Johnson has 10 receptions for 138 yards. He's gained a first down on 26 of his catches, also second only to Olave on the team. Johnson certainly isn't in the top tier of NFL tight ends. However, he has the athleticism and receiving ability to present matchup issues against a Dolphins defense that has struggled against tight ends. Shough and the Saints will need a big outing from Johnson today, but he could also be a sneaky good play for your Week 13 fantasy lineup.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Saints' Juwan Johnson could have big Week 13 outing vs. Dolphins