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Andrew Lovell scours the NFL wide receiver waiver wire and analyzes which Week 14 WR options are best to propel your fantasy football squad to victory.
It's here. Finally.
No, not Star Wars: The Force Awakens, nor Christmas, though both are inching closer. The fantasy football postseason is finally here! If you play in season-long redraft leagues, this is what you've been working toward all season. The standard format generally features a 13-week regular season, followed by a three- or four-week playoff bracket ending after Week 16 or 17. It's win-or-go-home time. Well, technically, it's win-or-go-to-the-consolation-bracket time, but you get the point.
If you've qualified for the playoffs in your league, you're most likely not looking to make radical roster changes at this point, but a wise owner knows they can never pass up an opportunity to improve their team. Perhaps some of the wide receivers listed below can help you win a fantasy title this season.
Wide Receiver Waiver Wire Targets
Ted Ginn Jr. - WR, CAR - 32% owned on Fleaflicker
Well, well, well, here's a familiar face. Just when you think it's safe to give up on Ginn, the veteran pulls you back in. A week after failing to garner even a single target in Carolina's Thanksgiving rout of the Dallas Cowboys, Ginn torched the New Orleans Saints for 80 yards and two touchdowns on five catches.
Ginn is never going to be consistent, but the combination of his speed and the potency of a Cam Newton-led offense gives him tremendous weekly upside. Plus, take a look at the Panthers' remaining schedule -- vs. Atlanta, at New York Giants, at Atlanta, vs. Tampa Bay. Those are three beatable secondaries that can give up big gains. This sets Ginn up as a gamble with major upside in the fantasy playoffs.
Dorial Green-Beckham - WR, TEN - 35% owned on Fleaflicker
The Tennessee Titans' rookie finally broke out in a big way this past weekend, piling up 119 yards and a touchdown on five catches against the Jacksonville Jaguars. "DGB" has shown flashes this season, but he posted his first 100-yard game in the back-and-forth shootout win.
The Titans certainly benefitted from facing a struggling Jaguars secondary, but as fellow rookie Marcus Mariota continues to develop and take more downfield shots, Green-Beckham could be the primary beneficiary. Tennessee's next two games come on the road, but they are against two suspect secondaries (New York Jets and New England Patriots).
Tyler Lockett - WR, SEA - 23% owned on Fleaflicker
Doug Baldwin was the popular waiver wire pickup this week, coming on the heels of a 145-yard, three-touchdown explosion. Baldwin was great again Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings (94 yards, two touchdowns), but so too was Lockett, who snagged a career-high seven passes for 90 yards.
Seattle has lost tight end Jimmy Graham and wide receiver Paul Richardson for the season, but Russell Wilson is playing the best football of his career despite that. Over the last three games, Wilson has 11 touchdowns and no interceptions. Lockett appears to be the No. 2 option behind Baldwin, and with inviting matchups against Baltimore and Cleveland up next, he carries serious upside.
Brian Hartline - WR, CLE - 8% owned on Fleaflicker
This is certainly not a flashy pick, but it's a relatively safe one, particularly in PPR leagues. Hartline has at least six receptions and 70 yards in each of Cleveland's last three games. Again, hardly flashy, but there's something to be said for consistency.
The Browns rank dead last in the NFL in rushing offense and consistently trail in games. That's an ideal formula for a wide receiver, regardless of whether his quarterback is Austin Davis, Johnny Manziel, Josh McCown or the ghost of Tim Couch. That doesn't even take into account injuries to Travis Benjamin, Andrew Hawkins and Taylor Gabriel. The Browns are woefully short-handed at wide receiver and it's Hartline that's reaping the benefits.
Other Wide Receivers to Consider Adding
Keshawn Martin - WR, NE - 4% owned on Fleaflicker
First, the good news: Martin was targeted eight times in Sunday's upset loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. The bad news? He only turned three of those targets into catches, and for just 45 yards. He also dropped a pair of passes late in the game.
So what's the upside here? Well, he's still a wide receiver in an offense led by Tom Brady. That alone carries significant value. As long as Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski continue to miss time, Martin will get more looks behind Danny Amendola, Brandon LaFell and running back James White.
Chris Givens - WR, BAL - 5% owned on Fleaflicker
As the No. 3 option on a struggling offense led by a backup quarterback, it's tough to recommend Givens for anything but the deepest of leagues. But there are a few reasons to at least be intrigued. First, he was targeted eight times Sunday, trailing only running back Javorius "Buck" Allen (13) and Kamar Aiken (11), and finished with 68 yards.
The Ravens host the Seahawks, Chiefs and Steelers over the next three weeks. All three teams will be favored and, if that holds to form, will force the Ravens to throw more in the second half. Fantasy points are fantasy points, and Givens would appear to have some serious garbage time potential over the next few weeks.
Brandon Coleman - WR, NO - 8% owned on Fleaflicker
Let's be clear about this -- any value Coleman has moving forward will be exclusively tied to the health of Willie Snead. Coleman finished Sunday's loss to Carolina with four catches for 73 yards and a touchdown with Snead inactive due to a calf injury. Coleman was a popular sleeper pick coming out of training camp, but he's since been completely overshadowed by Snead.
That will likely continue to be the case upon Snead's return, but if he's forced to miss another week or two, Coleman could be a deep sleeper play against Tampa Bay, Detroit and Jacksonville, all teams with beatable secondaries.
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