Waiver Wire Sleepers - Week 11 & The Stretch Run

November 12, 2013

RotoBaller Uncle Leo discusses some Week Eleven fantasy football sleepers to target off the waiver wire for the fantasy stretch run. These are injury-marred sleepers and fantasy long shots that can potentially help your teams.

Below, I will highlight some fantasy football waiver wire sleepers for the Week 11 waiver wire. In most fantasy football leagues, certain players were dropped or never drafted because of injuries. As we look forward towards the fantasy playoffs, and a championship run, there are some players that can be picked up and stashed in hopes that they will return in the next few weeks and be solid fantasy contributors. Think Percy Harvin from the first few weeks of the season, or Shane Vereen over the past few weeks. Some other players listed here are fantasy long shots, but there are never any guarantees in football so stashing the right guy can pay nice fantasy dividends when it counts most. 

Waiver Wire Sleepers for Week 11 & The Stretch Run

Michael Crabtree - WR, San Francisco 49ers - 20% owned in Yahoo Leagues

Baller Move:  Stash in Deeper PPR Leagues, Deeper Standard Leagues
Analysis: Crabtree has been injured for the entire season with an achilles injury, but is expected to rejoin the 49ers sometime over the next few weeks. Crabtree has resumed practicing with the team as of last week, but is still taking it easy and ramping up. He still hasn't been activated from the PUP, but is expected to be in the next couple of weeks. The 49ers are starving for some wide receiver playmakers, and Crabtree had a breakout season in 2013. If you have room on your bench, Crabtree can be targeted as a sleeper off the Week 11 waiver wire as he may be able to return and provide solid WR value for owners who are in the fantasy playoffs down the stretch.

Randall Cobb – WR, Green Bay Packers – 25% owned in Yahoo leagues

Baller Move:  Stash in Deeper PPR Leagues, Deeper Standard Leagues
Analysis: Cobb has been on injured reserve since suffering a broken leg in Week 6 of the NFL season. Since he is on the designated to return list, Cobb will only be eligible to return to the football field in Week 15, which is the equivalent of the fantasy football semi-finals in most fantasy leagues. This is more of a long shot, as nobody really knows whether Cobb will be ready to play in Week 15. But if the Packers are still in contention, Cobb is healthy and practicing, and Aaron Rodgers is back from his own injury - well we all know what Cobb is capable of. It would need to be a perfect storm, but if you have a strong team and some extra bench space for a playoff-run sleeper, then Cobb is an option to consider.

Julian Edelman – WR, New England Patriots – 43% owned in Yahoo leagues

Baller Move:  Add in Deeper PPR Leagues, Stash in Deeper Standard Leagues
Analysis: As the NFL season progresses and the Patriots get healthier, Edelman's role in the offense seems to be diminishing each week. With the return of Rob Gronkowski and Danny Amendola, Edelman has been demoted to the #3 wide receiver and the 4th passing option behind Aaron Dobson too. Vereen is also expected back this week, which will most likely eat into Edelman's targets and receptions. So what's the silver lining here? Well the Patriots have been banged up, and there are no guarantees that Amendola or Vereen will remain healthy going forward. Amendola is especially injury prone, and any missed time would catapult Edelman back into the #2 wide receiver role. A lot of fantasy owners have understandably dropped Edelman, especially with the Patriots on bye last week. But if you're looking for a sleeper off the Week 11 waiver wire, and a bench stash with upside, then consider Edelman as an option.

Miles Austin – WR, Dallas Cowboys – 25% owned in Yahoo leagues

Baller Move:  Stash in Deeper PPR Leagues, Monitor in Deeper Standard Leagues
Analysis: Austin has been a shell of his former self this season, proving to be ineffective and injury-prone throughout most of the year, aside from his Week 1 performance where he hauled in 10 catches for 72 yards. He has yet to resume practicing, and is still being called week-to-week, but this is still a wide receiver with lots of talent. Terrance Williams has emerged as the #2 wide receiver for the Cowboys, and he will probably hang onto that role for the remainder of the season. But if Austin can get healthy, he still has a chance to produce for fantasy owners down the stretch. Given the way Austin has played this is more of a long shot, but this is football after all so anything is possible. And the Cowboys throw the ball enough that a healthy Miles Austin can be fantasy sleeper, and solid producer, even as the #3 wide receiver in Dallas.

Kris Durham – WR, Detroit Lions – 8% owned in Yahoo leagues

Baller Move:  Stash in Deeper PPR Leagues, Monitor in Deeper Standard Leagues
Analysis: Durham has been filling in for an injured Nate Burleson the past few weeks after Burleson went down with a broken arm. He's had some solid weeks for fantasy owners, especially in PPR leagues, and has racked up at least 6 targets in 4 out of the last 6 weeks. He's also sprinkled in 2 touchdowns and 21 receptions over that same timespan. Definitely not elite, but not too shabby either for a WR4 type off the waiver wire. Burleson isn't guaranteed to be back for Week 11, and Detroit has one of the most pass-heavy offenses in all of football. Anytime the #2 wide receiver in that type of offense is available, he can be considered as a sleeper off the waiver wire. If Burleson can't suit up in Week 11, has a setback, or gets injured again - Durham will be a decent wide receiver play in deeper PPR leagues.