September 19, 2017

Deeper PPR waiver wire sleepers and pickups to add for Week 3 of the NFL season. Frankie Soler finds lightly owned players for fantasy football owners to target.

Week 2 of the NFL season was a physical therapist's dream. Or nightmare, I guess. Either way, the amount of players that were either legitimately injured or had a scare was hard to watch. Throw in some shocking duds from superstars like Ezekiel Elliott and Brandin Cooks, and Sunday's slate had more face-palms than anticipated.

So, once again we take a look at some deep PPR sleepers who could help you bounce back in Week 3.

As a reminder, the rule of thumb here is that all players listed must be owned in no more than 20% of Yahoo fantasy leagues. As an added little guideline, no player will be allowed to appear more than two weeks in a row. That should keep things fresh.

Deeper PPR Sleepers For Week 3

Rashard Higgins - WR, Cleveland Browns (2% Owned)

Right off the bat we have ourselves a deep name that could end up going completely unclaimed in shallower leagues. Corey Coleman is out indefinitely with a broken hand, and Kenny Britt has turned back into a pumpkin. By virtue of being a victim of circumstance, Rashard Higgins is now the de facto No. 1 receiver in Cleveland. Higgins snagged seven receptions for 95 yards against the Ravens, racking up 16.9 points in PPR. Someone has to catch passes on the Browns right? Higgins can be that guy.

Heading to Indianapolis to face an ugly Colts team, the Browns are actually favored on the road for the first time in three years. That just goes to show you how bad the Colts actually are, specifically the defense. Higgins should be usable in that matchup for owners hoping for a quick fix at wide receiver.

Geronimo Allison - WR, Green Bay Packers (0% Owned)

You read that right. Geronimo Allison is currently 0% owned in Yahoo fantasy leagues. With both Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb banged up, Allison could step right into a starting role as early as this coming Sunday. The severity of Nelson and Cobb's respective injuries are unknown, so Allison could up being a long-term contributor. Even if one of the two are able to go, Allison is worth a deep league flier. You don't need me to remind you just how potent the Green Bay offense can be. Any wide receiver with a name and four working limbs can become fantasy relevant overnight with Aaron Rodgers is throwing to them.

Allison didn't do much against the Falcons on Sunday so it's hard to read his stat line and feel good about his production. This is a scenario where adding someone who is 0% owned is 100% based on team situation.

Kendall Wright - WR, Chicago Bears (15% Owned)

Kendall Wright has been the subject of every possible dialogue known to the fantasy world. From draft day sleeper to fantasy irrelevant and everything in between, Wright has done and not done it all. The Bears are extremely shallow offensively, leaving the door wide open for a fresh face to step up. Wright has totaled 10 receptions for 103 over the course of the first two games of the season. He's not putting up superstar numbers by any means, but there's reason to believe he can at least be a bye-week filler.

The drawback to adding someone like Kendall Wright is that this is an offense that could be one to avoid from top to bottom. Jordan Howard is banged up, the offensive line is in shambles, there are limited options at receiver, and Mike Glennon doesn't exactly instill confidence in the team's ability to put up points. If it sounds like adding Wright is super risky, that's because it is. Teams desperate for a deep bench stash should at least consider him an option if better ones aren't available.

Benjamin Watson - TE, Baltimore Ravens (1% Owned)

There's a justifiable argument to be made that tight end is the most unpredictable position in fantasy. Taking a look at Benjamin Watson for fantasy purposes might cause you to make a sour face, but with TE in the shape that it's in, it's not that craziest idea. Watson put up 91 yards on eight receptions in Sunday's win over the Browns, finishing as TE4 in PPR for the week. The Ravens are yet another one of these teams with limited options offensively. It would appear that Jeremy Maclin and Buck Allen are the most likely candidates to contribute, but Watson is certainly in the discussion. With several tight ends banged up and underperforming, Watson is a sneaky add for owners with questions at the position. Anyone searching for a Greg Olsen replacement would be wise to give Watson a shot.

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