Deeper Waiver Wire Sleepers: Players Who May Still Be Available

December 3, 2014

Evan O. analyzes deeper Week 14 fantasy football waiver wire sleepers (PPR and non-PPR). Target these waiver wire sleepers after Week 14 waivers have run in your leagues.

Did you lose someone to injury last week and want a stash? Well have no fear, because we’re digging deep every week for some waiver wire adds that can help propel your team through the fantasy playoffs. I'm going to take a look at some players that are almost definitely available in your league who could provide quite a boost to your team for this week and through the season.

In this piece, I’ve attempted to identify some deeper sleepers who may have either fallen off the radar, or are not getting enough love from fantasy football owners and are still underowned. Some of these players may be available in your leagues, depending on the league size and format, so feel free to pick them up and stash them if they’re still sitting out there.

You never know-- any of these players could emerge in Week 14 or beyond to become difference-makers for fantasy football owners– especially in deeper leagues. Remember, we’re digging deeper here, so let’s see what the free agent pool has lying around.

Digging Deeper - Potential Waiver Wire Sleepers

Marqise Lee - WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

8% Owned in Fleaflicker leagues

After struggling with hamstring injuries to begin the year, Marqise Lee has finally seen his targets rise dramatically the past two games, to the point where he may be entering fantasy relevance. With a fantasy playoff schedule of the Texans, Ravens and Titans (who just got torched by Fitzmagic), I’m buying Lee as someone to stash on my bench with the Jaguars in evaluation mode.  Lee’s extremely quick with the ball in his hands, and can make for an explosive option with quick screens and the deep ball.

While Cecil Shorts has played ahead of him the past few weeks, expect their snap counts to be similar going forward due to Shorts's disappointing season.  Blake Bortles is going to seriously hamper any Jacksonville receivers with his accuracy woes, but Lee is the best bet out of himself, Hurns and Shorts to have some type of value throughout their joke of a fantasy playoff schedule.  I’d keep him in mind as a FLEX option in PPR as well as a daily league flyer.

Colt McCoy - QB, Washington Redskins

6% Owned in Fleaflicker leagues

It’s very, very ugly in Washington.  Colt McCoy is the best quarterback on their roster at this point, which says a lot about the state of the team and Robert Griffin.  In a vertical attack with great weapons, McCoy makes for a decent QB2 in almost any matchup.

The Redskins are going to be playing from behind quite a bit, and they play some beatable secondaries for the fantasy playoffs in the Rams, Giants and Eagles.  If he’s able to avoid trouble in the pass rush, he’s likely to put up high-level QB2 value to end the year.

Jaron Brown - WR, Arizona Cardinals

0% Owned in Fleaflicker leagues

Not to be confused with John Brown, the extremely exciting rookie, Jaron Brown is a situational second-year receiver for the Cardinals. He actually possesses some pretty nice measurables at 6'2'' and 205 lbs. with good speed.  He’s been a virtual ghost throughout the season, playing behind Fitzgerald, Floyd and John Brown, but he led the team in receiving this Sunday, and Drew Stanton seemed to look his way as much as (if not more than) Michael Floyd.

With Larry Fitzgerald back sooner than later, Brown is going to lose most of his value, but with a catch in seven straight games now, he’s not going to go away forever.  He’s someone to keep an eye on in deep dynasty leagues and for those that want a high-upside stash in case of a Cardinal receiver injury.

Players Listed Previously That Should Be Owned

Isaiah Crowell - RB, Cleveland Browns - 58% Owned in Fleaflicker leagues

Great playoff matchups, and Mike Pettine's damning words of Terrance West make way for Crowell to be one of the safest and highest upside RB2s in the league over the next three weeks.

Charles Johnson - WR, Minnesota Vikings - 32% Owned in Fleaflicker leagues

Six points in a “down” week for the Vikings.  They didn’t have many offensive possessions because of their special team touchdowns.  He has some nice matchups coming up for the fantasy playoffs, so he can be started even with Bridgewater still struggling.

Stedman Bailey - WR, St. Louis Rams - 4% Owned in Fleaflicker leagues

That breakout game was going to happen sooner or later, as he’s by far the most talented Rams receiver.  Temper expectations, but he’s a good PPR bench guy to own.

Latavius Murray - RB, Oakland Raiders - 46% Owned in Fleaflicker leagues

He should be cleared from his concussion this week, but he has one of the most brutal fantasy playoff schedules for running backs.