RADIO
RotoBaller's Frankie Soler dives deep into the fantasy football waiver wire, providing some sleepers for PPR leagues entering Week 2 of the 2017 season.
Don't panic! It's only been one week, don't freak out about your lineups just yet. Unless you're one of the unfortunate folks who lost David Johnson or Allen Robinson, there is obviously a ton of time for your studs to perform. Having said that, it's always wise to keep your eye on some early pickups that could help you win.
In taking a look at some deep PPR sleepers, the key to making this list is that each player is owned in no higher than 20% of Yahoo fantasy leagues. Some weeks will see players who can contribute immediately, others will be long-term stashes.
Whatever the case may be, every experienced owner will tell you that managing the waiver wire is how you maintain success.
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Deeper PPR Sleepers For Week 2
J.J. Nelson - WR, Arizona Cardinals (7% Owned)
Not to toot my own horn here but I've managed to talk up J.J. Nelson at every available opportunity. Seeing him perform well as early as week one is some serious reassurance for his season long outlook. Technically speaking Nelson didn't start for the Cardinals with all of his production coming in the second half of Sunday's loss to Detroit. Sometimes it's not about how you start but how you finish. John Brown will continue to draw the start but with health a major concern, Nelson is someone who should be added for owners looking to stash a deep flier.
With five receptions for 43 yards and a score, Nelson doesn't necessarily need stellar numbers to push Brown for the No.2 gig. Brown's health has been a major issue in the past while also struggling when healthy. Nelson won't be an automatic starter, but there's reason to believe he can produce enough to warrant bye-week consideration with room for more.
Allen Hurns and Marqise Lee - WRs, Jacksonville Jaguars (Hurns - 10% Owned, Lee - 16% Owned)
The loss of Allen Robinson puts the Jaguars in a tricky situation. On the one hand, both Allen Hurns and Marqise Lee have flirted with being usable assets on a week-to-week basis in the past. On the other, Blake Bortles single handedly crushed Robinson's value in 2016. So if Jacksonville's quarterback play was poor enough to ruin a player with superstar potential, how can that same quarterback do enough to keep lesser talented receivers in the fantasy discussion? The answer might be simpler than you think.
Take the Minnesota Vikings, for instance. Sam Bradford's efficiency is more than enough to make both Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen worth owning, now even starting weekly, in most formats. Granted, Bortles is nowhere near as good or as reliable as Bradford. Having said that, maybe the loss of Robinson forces Bortles to dink-and-dunk rather than chuck it over the heads of his pass-catchers. This is admittedly wonky logic, sure, but it's at least within the realm of possibility. Owners who are already hurting at wide receiver should consider Hurns and/or Lee in PPR formats with Hurns getting the edge.
Charles Clay - TE, Buffalo Bills (11% Owned)
If you're wondering why some of these names are rather obvious, that's because they are. Again, the season just started. Being obvious doesn't make it any less true. As for Charles Clay himself, his week one stat line was a bit surprising although it makes sense within the context of the offense he plays in. 53 yards and a score on four receptions were enough to finish the week as TE6 in PPR. Clay's path to sustained success is the simple notion that the Bills are desperate for a legitimate pass-catcher. While Zay Jones and Jordan Matthews receiver the bulk of the attention, it's Clay who has been on the team for the last three seasons. This could be a case of a team leaning on the incumbent weapon rather than go all in on someone fresh.
Tight ends will always be tricky, so don't go crazy trying to acquire Clay. Still, owners who waited on tight end would be wise to double down and roster two lottery tickets at the position.
Javorius Allen - RB, Baltimore Ravens (6% Owned)
Poor Danny Woodhead can't catch a break. Now enduring his third season with a significant injury, Woodhead's absence leaves room for another running back to step up in Baltimore. The likeliest candidate is Javorious Allen, also known as Buck. The Ravens leaned heavily on the run in their rout of the Bengals, a sign that this team could look to play ball control. Both Buck Allen and Terrance West had solid outings, suggesting that the plan all along was to feature multiple backs. That's what makes Allen all the more intriguing. We've seen plenty of teams feature more than one back for fantasy purposes. By no means will Baltimore end up with a potent offense, but RBs with heavy usage are one of the most valuable commodities to own.
Allen finished Sunday's game with 71 rushing yards on 21 attempts, two more looks than West. An even split is likely with Allen getting the advantage on passing downs.
