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Jackson Sparks' deeper-league waiver wire sleepers for Week 14 (2023). His top free agent sleepers for 14-team fantasy football leagues or deeper.
To be straightforward, the options on the deep-league waiver wire are slim to none. However, contending fantasy managers should continue to at least explore all possibilities every week to try to set their rosters up for a fantasy football championship run. Whether you need some running back stashes with upside, a boom-or-bust wide receiver play, or a quarterback flyer for two-QB leagues, we have you covered.
The top waiver wire adds are often obvious for traditional 10 and 12-team leagues, but a larger pool of players is in consideration in leagues of 14 people or more. Some of these Week 14 deeper-league waiver wire suggestions will have value right away, while others are simply bench stashes that could help your fantasy team in the future. We won't cover chalk pickups like Noah Brown and Ezekiel Elliott.
Without further ado, here are the top deeper league waiver wire targets for Week 14, including Tyjae Spears, Kenneth Gainwell, Jonathan Mingo, Jalin Hyatt, Brevin Jordan, and more.
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Running Back Waiver Wire Targets For Deep Leagues
Kenneth Gainwell has carried a limited role for much of the season, but D'Andre Swift exited the Week 13 loss to the San Francisco 49ers with an undisclosed injury. Even if Swift is fine and doesn't miss any action, Gainwell could see a boost in his workload as Swift works back to full strength. In one of the best offenses in the NFL, Gainwell has plenty of upside with additional touches.
Rico Dowdle remains the clear RB2 in the Dallas Cowboys offense that is playing as well as any unit in football. He'd have immediate overall RB1 upside if he earns a start late in the year due to a Tony Pollard injury.
Jeff Wilson Jr. is back on the bench after the return of De'Von Achane. However, the veteran back can be utilized as a handcuff stash for either Achane or Raheem Mostert.
Tyjae Spears would have been a chalk waiver wire pickup if Derrick Henry was in concussion protocol as previously reported, but King Henry is fine and is tracking to play in Week 14. Still, Spears is the only other running back on the Titans' gameday roster, so he remains a key fantasy handcuff.
D'Onta Foreman and Roschon Johnson will both be candidates to handle RB2 duties behind Khalil Herbert when Foreman returns from an ankle injury. In deep leagues, that's all it takes to enter the fantasy radar.
Ronnie Rivers and Royce Freeman are both on the fantasy radar as backups to Kyren Williams. Rivers (knee) has not been activated from Injured Reserve yet, but he could get back the No. 2 role in the Rams' backfield when he does. If not, Freeman remains a great handcuff stash.
Jerick McKinnon and Clyde Edwards-Helaire are viable handcuff stashes in the Kansas City Chiefs offense. McKinnon has been dealing with an injury, so CEH could emerge as a decent flex option if something happens to Isiah Pacheco.
Jordan Mason and Elijah Mitchell should both be rostered in deep leagues. Christian McCaffrey has already been banged up this season, and there's a real chance he will miss a game or two down the stretch. Mitchell and Mason would compete to have RB2 upside.
Joshua Kelley could see a usage uptick since Austin Ekeler is averaging just 3.5 yards per carry. Ekeler has not looked explosive all season after suffering a severe ankle sprain in Week 1, so the Chargers might opt to limit his role if they fall out of playoff contention soon.
Note: Any direct backup running back, especially one in a good offense, should be considered a bench stash in deep leagues.
Wide Receiver Waiver Wire Targets For Deep Leagues
Jameson Williams has seen three or fewer targets in seven of his eight games this season. However, he has scored a touchdown in two of his last three games, making him a touchdown-or-bust low-end flex play moving forward.
Jonathan Mingo has emerged as Bryce Young's favorite target recently. Over the last two games, the rookie from Ole Miss has hauled in 10 of his 16 targets for 129 yards. With the Panthers' season going nowhere, they'll likely continue to try to feed Mingo down the stretch.
Odell Beckham Jr. got some extra time to get healthy due to the Ravens' Week 13 bye, and he has a chance to make an impact in fantasy football moving forward. Mark Andrews (ankle) is out for the season, and OBJ has seen at least five targets in three of his last four games. The veteran essentially has no fantasy floor, but he's flashed some upside in recent weeks.
Curtis Samuel has 13 catches on 17 targets for 165 yards in his last two games. Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson have fallen off, and Samuel has taken advantage. The Commanders are on a Week 14 bye, but Samuel can be flexed in favorable matchups moving forward.
Quentin Johnston and Jalen Guyton remain on the fantasy radar, only because someone has to catch passes from Justin Herbert behind Keenan Allen. Neither is guaranteed to produce, though.
Jalin Hyatt posted his first career 100-yard game in Week 12. Although it's tough to trust the Giants' offense, it was a noteworthy performance, and surely, New York will want to feature their rookie wideout down the stretch. They are coming off a Week 13 bye to face the Green Bay Packers in Week 14.
Zay Jones can be viewed as a "handcuff" wide receiver for Calvin Ridley and Christian Kirk. If he becomes a top-two option in Trevor Lawrence's offense, he will have weekly flex appeal. Kirk exited the Monday Night Football game against the Cincinnati Bengals with a groin injury and did not return. If Lawrence (ankle) misses time, Jones could have reduced fantasy value.
Tight End Waiver Wire Targets For Deep Leagues
Isaiah Likely caught four passes for 40 yards in the Ravens' first game of the season without Mark Andrews (ankle). With Andrews unlikely to return this year, Likely should have at least a mid-range TE2 outlook.
Gerald Everett draws a Week 14 matchup with the Denver Broncos, who have allowed the most fantasy points per game to tight ends this season. Everett has failed to deliver in fantasy, but he's a matchup-dependent streamer in Week 14.
Cade Otton has been far from a consistent fantasy option, but he draws another favorable matchup in Week 14 against the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons came into Week 13 surrendering the sixth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends.
Jonnu Smith faces the eighth-weakest defense against fantasy tight ends this week versus Tampa Bay.
Quarterback Waiver Wire Targets For Deep Leagues
Desmond Ridder has had a few big fantasy performances due to his rushing upside, so he's on the fantasy radar against a struggling Tampa Bay defense this week. The Buccaneers have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.
Jameis Winston is likely to start with Derek Carr dealing with a concussion and rib injury. Although the Carolina Panthers have been stingy against quarterbacks, Winston always has fantasy upside due to his risk-taking playstyle that can lead to boom weeks.
Joe Flacco or Dorian Thompson-Robinson will start for the Browns in Week 14. Whichever one earns the nod will face a Jaguars defense that has allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.
Jake Browning gets to throw to Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd. That alone puts him on the fantasy radar in deep leagues.
Backup Quarterbacks To Stash For Two-QB/Superflex Leagues
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