September 27, 2016

Tony Peters identifies deeper 2016 fantasy football PPR sleepers & Week 4 NFL waiver wire pickups. These PPR RBs, WRs & TEs should be added off the waiver wire as fantasy football sleepers.

Week 4 brings to us the first bye week of the season, as the Eagles and Packers will be binge-watching Netflix's Luke Cage, premiering this Friday. Okay, maybe I'm projecting as that will be how I spent my non-parenting hours this weekend, but the possibility still exists.

Much like this bye week open up some new lineup possibilities for any infected fantasy players ("you have a bye-week player? So gross") or maybe the injury Godzilla came crashing through your team with a vengeance.

Whatever the reason may be that you need new players for your PPR league, here are some names to consider this week, all owned in 25% or less of Fleaflicker leagues.

Editor's Note: Once you're done here, be sure to read about more Week 4 waiver wire recommendations, for all other positions. Just click on any link: ALL - RB - WR - TE - QB - DEF - FAAB

PPR Wide Receiver Waiver Wire Adds

Adam Humphries (WR, TB) - 1% Owned

After getting a shout out in the "Others" section of last week's article, wide receiver Adam Humphries came up big Week 3 against a Rams defense that had held pass-catchers in-check. He caught 9-of-12 targets for 100 yards, putting him behind only fellow receiver Mike Evans in yards. For standard scoring leagues, a match-up against the Broncos would spell fantasy doom for most top receivers, let alone those further down in the pecking order. But PPR players should still be able to squeeze enough value out of him to make use for him, though he's best looked at as more of a short-term asset.

Terrance Williams (WR, DAL) - 6% Owned

If you have ever had the (mis)fortune of owning wide receiver Terrance Williams in fantasy before, you would know he is nothing but an inconsistent tease. That hasn't changed this season, as he started the season as terribly as a single player can. He caused his team to lose Week 1 by running out the clock, and wasn't even targeted Week 2 in response. Then when he finally put up some numbers worth caring about in Week 3 -- four catches for 88 yards -- he lost a fumble. But with rookie quarterback Dak Prescott coming off a decent passing game and about to face a 49ers defense that was just carved up by the Seahawks, Williams gets the benefit of the doubt once more.

Robert Woods (WR, BUF) - 1% Owned

With star wide receiver Sammy Watkins out with a foot injury Sunday, veteran receiver Robert Woods made his presence known for the first time this season. He caught 6-of-8 targets for 51 yards, easily beating his season totals for both in a single game. This was really all thanks to Watkins' injury, so if he returns to the field in Week 4, this Woods recommendation will be DOA. But with that not being a certainty at this time, Woods gets the nod against a very burnable Patriots' defense that ranks second in the NFL in yards allowed to wide receivers this season with 561.

Others: Jamison Crowder (15% owned) came up big Sunday for those who jumped on the bandwagon, catching 4-of-7 targets for 78 yards and a touchdown, and now gets to face one of the league's worst teams in the Browns. Seth Roberts (1% owned) is near the back of the Raiders' pass-happy feeding order, but after back-to-back six-target games, he's worth a flyer in the deepest of PPR leagues despite a tough Week 4 match-up against the Ravens. Anquan Boldin (18% owned) needed a touchdown to salvage his fantasy night Sunday, but he should be luckier in his Week 4 match-up against the floundering 0-3 Bears.

PPR Running Back Waiver Wire Adds

Bilal Powell (RB, NYJ) - 24% Owned

One of PPR's secret weapons the past few years, running back Bilal Powell finally came up big this season in the pass-catching department in the Jets' 24-3 loss to the Chiefs. He caught 6-of-7 targets for 41 yards (all season highs) while also rushing for 30 yards on four carries. With lead back Matt Forte unable to handle the passing game like Powell does, it allows for both backs to be productive without stepping on the other's toes. This will hold true in the team's Week 4 meeting with the Seahawks, a team that can be burned by pass-catching running backs-- a feat the Dolphins showed us in Week 1.

Jordan Howard (RB, CHI) - 23% Owned

The crowning jewel of this week's waiver wire action, running back Jordan Howard was able to capitalize on a Jeremy Langford injury to rush atop of the Bears' running back depth chart. Even before Langford's ankle injury knocked him out of the game, Howard looked the better back, finishing the day with 45 yards on nine touches and 47 yards on four catches. After looking like a possible breakout piece in the preseason, he could steal this position right from underneath Langford even if he doesn't miss additional time. The Bears face the Lions for their Week 4 match-up-- Detroit has already allowed running backs to catch 18-of-22 targets for 136 yards this season, further supporting the pro-Howard claim.

Others: Orleans Darkwa (1% owned) put himself on the fantasy map with a strong showing backing up Shane Vereen Sunday, and even with the possibility of Rashad Jennings returning Week 4, the news that Vereen will miss the entire season certainly boosts Darkwa's value. Damien Williams (1% owned) looks to be the new passing back in Miami after catching all three of his team-RB-leading three targets for 10 yards and a touchdown, but is very likely ticketed back to fantasy "no man's land" following Foster's currently uncertain return date.

PPR Tight End Waiver Wire Adds

Cameron Brate (TE, TB) - 2% Owned

Following the release of tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins a couple of days before the Buccaneers' Week 3 game against the Rams, Cameron Brate was thrust back into the No. 1 tight end slot on his team. He responded with easily his best game of the season, catching 5-of-10 targets for 46 yards and two touchdowns. The Bucs welcome the Broncos to Tampa Bay for their Week 4 matchup. Denver's defense will likely keep Brate out of the red zone, but if he can keep his targets up, he could still come up with enough points for desperate PPR owners.

Jeff Heuerman (TE, DEN) - 0% Owned

Making his professional debut after missing all of his rookie season last year with an ACL tear, tight end Jeff Heuerman came out with a bang in the team's 29-17 Week 3 win over the Bengals. He caught his only target for 29 yards while starter John Phillips pulled down 2-of-3 targets for only nine yards as both covered for the injured Virgil Green. But with neither Phillips nor Green looking like long-term options at the position, look for Heuerman to build on his Week 3 performance going forward. Tight ends haven't been able to figure out the team's Week 4 opponent -- the Buccaneers -- just yet, but with the Bucs allowing the second-most points to wide receivers this season, that could change.

Others: Jack Doyle (10% owned) saw his targets increase for the second game in a row as he pulled in all six of his targets for 65 yards Sunday, though he draws a tough-as-nails Week 4 match-up against the tight end-smothering Jaguars. Jace Amaro (0% owned) successfully returned to the field Sunday for this first time since 2014, proving to be a viable receiver if starter Delanie Walker misses any additional games.