November 15, 2016

Matt Terelle's deeper standard league sleepers & Week 11 NFL waiver wire pickups for the 2016 fantasy football season. These RBs, WRs & TEs and D/STs should be added as sleepers.

What's up RotoBallers. Welcome to my deeper standard league sleepers column for Week 11 of the NFL season. In this weekly article we are going to take a look at some deeper waiver wire options for standard leagues, who could help out your team in this upcoming week.

For reference's sake, we are looking at standard scoring leagues and will be using ownership percentage data from Fleaflicker. In order to qualify as a deep sleeper, a player must be 20% owned or less.

Let's get to the picks!

Editor's Note: Once you're done here, be sure to read about even more Week 11 waiver wire recommendations, for all fantasy-relevant positions. Just click on any link: ALL - RB - WR - TE - QB - DEF - FAAB - CUTS

Quarterback

Cody Kessler (CLE) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

(Ownership: 13%)

Kessler is basically the only quarterback option who is less than 20% owned on Flea Flicker who is expected to start this week and who is not named Case Keenum. How's that for a ringing endorsement? Although his benching just after halftime may say otherwise, Kessler didn't play terribly on Thursday night against the Ravens, completing 11-of-18 passes for 91 yards and a touchdown. He was benched because head coach Hue Jackson wanted to send a message to Kessler after the rookie continued to refuse to push the ball downfield, even though Jackson made that a point of emphasis in the week leading up to the game.

Anyway, Kessler could have some success against a Pittsburgh pass defense that was ranked 18th by Football Outsiders before Week 10's action. If nothing else, Kessler has some exciting weapons to target in Terrelle Pryor and Corey Coleman and will likely be throwing often in attempts to play catch up with the explosive Steelers offense in Week 11.

Running Back

Damien Williams (MIA) @ Los Angeles Rams

(Ownership: 9%)

In perhaps the least expected fantasy performance of the week, Williams burst onto the scene in Week 10 with two touchdowns on three touches. Now, the odds of a multi-touchdown week happening again on such a light workload are slim, but Williams has been prominently involved in Miami's goal line attack this season. Williams has now seen eight red zone carries this year and has scored three touchdowns in his past three games. As far as deep sleepers in standard leagues go, Williams has enough touchdown potential that he is worth considering if you are really desperate at running back this weekend.

Wide Receiver

Eli Rogers (PIT) @ Cleveland Browns

(Ownership: 13%)

Rogers, when healthy, has been a useful piece in the explosive Pittsburgh offense. He has seen five or more targets in five of his six games played this season and has really turned it up as of late. In his past two games, Rogers has 15 catches for 145 yards and a touchdown. He draws a prime matchup this weekend against a Browns defense that has really been struggling to stop opposing passing games this season. Before Week 10's action, Cleveland's pass defense ranked last in the league in DVOA according to Football Outsiders. With Cleveland's top cornerback Joe Haden likely to shadow Antonio Brown, look for Rogers to benefit from easier matchups against either Tramon Williams or Briean Boddy-Calhoun.

Tight End

Vernon Davis (WAS) vs. Green Bay Packers

(Ownership: 18%)

Davis has carved out a solid role in the Washington passing game, playing alongside Jordan Reed in two tight end sets. He's still only playing on under 50% of the team's snaps over the past two weeks, but he's making the most of his time on the field with eight catches for 159 yards and a touchdown over that span. His production in the passing game should put him squarely on your radar if you are in need of a deeper tight end this week. Still just 32, Davis is not that far removed from being one of the elite tight ends in the league. Davis will take on a Packers pass defense that was just torched by the Titans, and tight end Delanie Walker, in Week 10.

Defense/Special Teams

Oakland Raiders (OAK) vs. Houston Texans

(Ownership: 15%)

The Raiders are coming off their bye and will be well-rested heading into a home primetime game against the Texans offense. Houston, led by a struggling Brock Osweiler, has been a great matchup for fantasy defenses this season. Osweiler has really struggled in his first full season as a starter, throwing nine interceptions in his nine games played. His poor play has brought down the players around him, rendering star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins into an afterthought.

Before Week 10's action, the Texans were allowing the sixth-most fantasy points per game to opposing fantasy defenses. While Oakland's defense was looking like a pushover earlier in the season, they have improved greatly as a unit as the year has progressed. This is a great spot to fire up a Raiders defense that should be widely available in fantasy leagues.