RADIO
Here's hoping that your fantasy squads are not only healthy but competitive after three weeks. Even if they aren't, there's plenty of time to turn things around. For those of you in deeper PPR leagues, consider the names you're about to see listed here.
Each player listed is owned in less than 20% of Yahoo leagues, emphasizing that "deep league flier" feel. It takes more than a good draft to win, and stashing a savvy name keeps you afloat when it's looking a little dire.
Fair warning, this week's edition is shorter than normal. That's just the nature of the beast heading into Week 4. Some weeks will be light, some will be heavy. Such is life on the waiver wire.
Editor's Note: Discover RotoBaller’s top Fantasy Football Sleepers to gain an edge in your drafts. Our free who to draft tool and expert picks spotlight undervalued players, breakout candidates, and late-round gems for all league formats.
Deeper PPR Sleepers For Week 4
Wendell Smallwood - RB, Philadelphia Eagles (7% Owned)
The addition of Wendell Smallwood to the list is two-fold. First up we have the season ending injuries to Darren Sproles. Sproles had been the most productive back for the Eagles prior to tearing his ACL and breaking his arm on the same play in week three. It's a huge blow to an offense that hasn't had many bright spots out of the backfield in quite some time. And while Sproles wasn't exactly locked in as a fantasy starter, his absence certainly makes more room for Smallwood. Secondly, LeGarrette Blount is already on the shortest of leashes. There'a a realistic possibility Smallwood could end up being a true three-down back.
Smallwood is no sure thing to become a a focal point of the audience, but the opportunities are certainly there. 12 rushes for 71 yards against the Giants on Sunday shows he can at least turn touches into respectable production. And since it's Sproles he'd be replacing, he'd be walking into a pass-catching role, enhancing his PPR value significantly. Smallwood should be viewed as one of the top deep-league PPR adds at the running back position this week.
Robert Woods - WR, Los Angeles Rams (7% Owned)
How about that Thursday night barn burner between the Rams and 49ers last week? That has to be the leading candidate for shocker of the year thus far. Robert Woods of the Rams was able to take advantage of the shootout and turn it into a stat line of six receptions for 108 yards. Woods is the No. 2 receiver on an offense that is unlikely to come close to putting up 40+ points for a second time this season. Having said that, he's still worth a look in a deep PPR format. Watkins will draw enough defensive attention to allow for Woods to do some damage here and there. If you're in a serious pinch in week four, Woods could repeat his performance against a soft Dallas secondary come Sunday.
Alex Collins - RB, Baltimore Ravens (2% Owned)
Running back timeshare? Check. Only 2% owned? Check. Relatively unknown player? Check. Questionable offense? Check. Alex Collins breaks almost every rule for evaluating a fantasy asset yet here we are talking about him. The truth is the Baltimore Ravens are desperate for additional playmakers beyond Terrance West, Jeremy Maclin, and Javorious Allen. I had talked about Benjamin Watson last week, who I do still like, but Collins is the most recent member of the offense to contribute.
Collins had 82 yards on just nine carries in Sunday's beatdown by the Jaguars. A lot of that came in garbage time, but hey, yards are yards. We've seen teams utilize more than one back for fantasy purposes so it's not unheard of for a timeshare to be usable. What's particularly unusual is that the Ravens have three notable running backs, not two. It's hard to envision a scenario where Collins gets consistent work, but the Ravens are going to need to run, run, run. Besides, neither Terrance West nor Javorious Allen are the healthiest of backs. They both have a history of missing multiple games and West is already banged up. Based on depth chart questions and offensive situation, Collins is worth a stash in the deepest of PPR leagues.
