Week 4 Deeper Sleepers: Players Who May Still Be Available

Stuck with half your roster on bye this week, and need someone to fill in?  Take a look at some players that are almost definitely available in your league who could provide quite a boost to your team for this week and through the season.

Digging Deeper - Potential Waiver Wire Sleepers

Jeremy Kerley - WR, New York Jets

7% Owned in Fleaflicker

It’s very hard to find a starting receiver on the waiver wire, and even harder to find consistency.  Kerley provides just that.  With Eric Decker struggling to stay healthy with his hamstring injury, Kerley has been the top option for the Jets, and for good reason.  He’s somewhat quick and has above-average hands.  He’s seen 19 targets over the past two weeks, and ranks 25th in the NFL in that category.  With a battle looming against the Lions, you can expect that trend to continue. With Decker almost certainly not playing at full speed next week, expect Kerley to see upwards of eight targets.  He’s not a big scoring option due to his size, and isn’t quick enough to be a gamebreaker, but he should still provide your fantasy team with some decent production.  He’s makes for a safe WR3 play in Week 4.

Allen Robinson - WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

7% Owned in Fleaflicker

The Jaguars are a mess, but the future is very bright for them, and we are definitely going to be seeing glimpses of that this season now that mega-prospect Blake Bortles is at the helm. A finally healthy Allen Robinson figures to benefit from Bortles's presence.  Robinson is an exciting prospect coming out of Penn State, as he possesses a nice size-speed combination with football skills to match.  He’s also very physical and can take advantage of most corners in the league.  He has a favorable matchup against a below-average Chargers secondary, and he could be seeing some small corners all day to take advantage.  With Marqise Lee likely out, Robinson becomes a decent waiver wire add. He played on a majority of snaps this past week, out-snapping and out-targeting Allen Hurns.  That trend will continue this week, and with Blake Bortles targeting him over five times in the 2nd half, the looks will be there for Robinson to produce.  He could be a consistent WR3 by year's end.

It’s a thin week with all the byes, but those are the two players I’d highlight as potential matchup fillers this week.  Let’s look at some other players that may help you down the stretch that are almost definitely available in your league.

Andre Holmes - WR, Oakland Athletics

3% Owned in Fleaflicker

Freak-athlete that just needs some playing time.  Holmes struggles at times getting open, but as evidenced from his end of the year production last year, he can become a threat if he gets an opportunity.  If you have room to stash, I’d take the risk, especially now that Rod Streater is injured.

Blake Bortles - QB, Jacksonville Jaguars

15% Owned in Fleaflicker

Probably looking at a lot of inconsistency, but with his running ability and playing from behind, should have some QB1 games. Nevertheless, he's probably much closer to a mid-level QB2.

Marlon Brown - WR, Baltimore Ravens

6% Owned in Fleaflicker

With Dennis Pitta out for the season, look for the Ravens to involve three receivers more often to compensate, giving Brown some opportunities.  As a rookie last year, he had some decent production, an he wouldn't make a bad bye-week flex filler.  He has some long term potential.

Antone Smith  - RB, Atlanta Falcons

8% Owned in Fleaflicker

Digging very deep here, but both Devonta Freeman and Jacquizz Rodgers have been awful this year, which makes Smith the short-term backup to own in Atlanta.  He’s pulled off two huge runs this year already, and has the speed to produce a few more.  He’s a big gamble, as you hope he hits the home run the week you start him.  Freeman will eventually take over the backup role, but that day is not today.

More Week 4 Sleepers Who May Still Be Available

Brian Quick - WR, St. Louis Rams

Owned in 32% of Fleaflicker leagues, but is currently ranked #16 in ESPN PPR leagues... go figure. I noted him two weeks ago; he should be owned and starting in all leagues.

Lorenzo Taliaferro - RB, Baltimore Ravens

You may have already missed the opportunity to pick him up, but he is still only owned in 7% of Fleaflicker leagues.  Hard runner that can do it all, and with Bernard Pierce playing terribly, Taliaferro has a chance at a starting gig.

Alfred Blue - RB, Houston Texans

Only owned in 21% of Fleaflicker leagues, he's not the most talented backup, but as long as Arian Foster has hamstring problems, he’s a decent RB3.