RADIO
If you're still actively looking for research on sleepers for fantasy football, congrats on making this far and you have a deep league. Hopefully your team was set at QB/TE because Brian Hoyer and Luke Willson were dreadful, while Shaun Draughn was average at best. I apologize for the poor calls and accept all rotten tomatoes thrown my way.
Same rules as always - in this column we will be looking at NFL players owned in 25% or less of Fleaflicker leagues. These players can be sneaky fantasy football lineup sleepers for Week 12 as you consider adding players off the waiver wire and optimizing your fantasy football lineups. There were a few note-worthy injuries during the Week 14 slate. Thomas Rawls is out for the year with an ankle injury while Jonathan Stewart and Greg Olsen left the Panthers rout of Atlanta with injuries. Other injury names to note: DeSean Jackson, Charles Clay, T.J. Yeldon, LeGarrette Blount, and Todd Gurley. Of the names mentioned, Jackson, Clay, Yeldon, and Blount are the ones to keep an eye on. It sounds like Gurley, Olsen, and J-Stew will be OK for Week 15.
Same as last week, I'll include a player from every position (including D/ST) each week - as long as the options are worthy of discussion. Let's get to it.
Digging Deeper - Week 15 Playoffs Waiver Wire Options
No Quarterbacks
See that note in the intro about "as long as the options are worthy of discussion"? For the first time all season, I'm exercising my right to enact that rule. There really are no options I feel comfortable recommending in a crucial Week 15 playoff matchup. Seriously, here are your options: Brian Hoyer (injured), Johnny Manziel, Blaine Gabbert, Matt Hasselback, Matt Cassel, and Jimmy Clausen. The only one you could talk me into is Hoyer considering the Colts have been carved for 614 passing yards and six passing touchdowns in the past two weeks. That said, go with the guns that got you here and spend your waiver money elsewhere.
Tim Hightower (RB, NO)
18% Owned in Fleaflicker
Before we dive into Hightower, it must be noted how far C.J. Spiller has fallen. He was a first-round pick by Buffalo and ranked in the preseason top-25 for fantasy three seasons ago. Now he can't any crack starting time in favor of a player who's been out of the league for a few years. Crazy development.
On to Hightower. Hightower plays more closely to Mark Ingram's style and was somewhat effective on Sunday, rushing 28 times for 85 yards and touchdown. He added one catch for 10 yards in the passing game. He only averaged 3.04 yards per carry. That's nothing to write home about but the 29 touches sure are. At this point we are looking for playing time and touches as we head into crucial playoff matchups, and Hightower fits both criteria.
This week he gets a date with the Lions on Monday Night Football. The Lions have been a much improved defensive unit from the first half and rank 13th against the run according to Football Outsiders, so this is far from a cupcake matchup. Still, given the touches Hightower is in line for he makes for a solid RB2 or Flex for this week.
Bold Prediction: 25 carries, 75 yards, 2 receptions, 11 yards, 1 TD
FAAB: $25 (or whatever you have left)
DuJuan Harris and Bryce Brown (RB, SEA)
Harris: 1% Owned ; Brown: 2% Owned
The Seahawks just can't catch a break in the backfield. First Marshawn Lynch, now Thomas Rawls. One man's loss is another one's gain, although at this point in time it's difficult to gauge who's the biggest beneficiary of the situation.
DuJuan Harris replaced Rawls on Sunday against the Ravens and was underwhelming, rushing 18 times for 42 yards. Harris did not see a target in the passing game and had a goal-line fumble, although he did not get pulled after the play. I'd guess that's due more to the lack of options behind him and the fact the game was never in doubt. Passing back Fred Jackson only saw eight touches so it's safe to say his workload won't see a drastic increase.
The name to keep an eye on is Bryce Brown. Brown has yet to play a snap in 2015 but he's been part of the Seahawks organization twice already this year. He has big play potential and can contribute to both the running and passing game. It's likely Harris gets the first crack next week versus Cleveland, a game that will be really hard to screw up; the Browns rank 29th against the run. Should he fail to make an impact early, look for Brown to get some touches and potentially steal the job away until Lynch returns. I wouldn't feel safe using either of the backs in a playoff matchup, but if roster structure allows for it you should grab both Seattle running backs and hope one takes over. If you only have room for one, my vote is Brown.
Bold Prediction: Harris - 15 carries, 55 yards ; Brown - 8 carries, 35 yards, 3 catches, 15 yards
FAAB: $20
Malcom Floyd (WR, SD)
24% Owned in Fleaflicker
You want me to start a Charger!? I know, I know. It's madness. It's lunacy. It's... a deeper sleeper.
There are numerous reasons to call me an idiot. The Chargers haven't scored a touchdown in the past two weeks. The offensive line is a mess. Melvin Gordon has been a bust. Philip Rivers is so demoralized I'm not sure he'll ever have another kid.
But hear me out on Floyd. With Stevie Johnson out with a groin injury Floyd saw nine targets and caught three for 56 yards against the Chiefs. He dropped a wide open hail mary from Rivers that would've taken him over the 100-yard threshold and added a touchdown to his stat-line. That should help keep his ownership low and off most owner's radars, but if you're desperate for WR help give Floyd a chance.
This week Floyd gets a date with the Dolphins, a team that is ranked 25th among pass defenses. If Johnson sits out Week 15, Floyd should see at least eight targets again and given the Chargers struggles, they'll likely be losing. This will force Rivers to air it out and target both Floyd and Antonio Gates. Expect Rivers to try a few deep balls to Floyd to jump-start the offense. One completion for six and Floyd will easily exceed the value he costs on the waiver wire.
Bold Prediction: 4 catches, 80 yards, TD
FAAB: $5
Zach Miller (TE, CHI)
15% Owned in Fleaflicker
Had we known Martellus Bennett would miss Week 14 and the rest of the season with a rib injury, Zach Miller would've been our highlighted tight end. Hindsight is 20/20 and there's nothing we can do it about it now, but 85% of you with needs at tight end need to give Miller a look.
Miller took over the starting role and was excellent on Sunday, catching five-of-six targets for 85 yards and a touchdown. He was third in targets behind Alshon Jeffery and Jeremy Langford and should continue to be a focal point of the offense going forward. He has five touchdowns in his last six games and has seen at least five targets in four of his last five games.
This week Miller faces the Vikings, a team that is ranked 25th versus tight ends. He'll be on the TE1 radar here on out and is a must add for owners who are still looking to replace Jimmy Graham or Tyler Eifert.
Bold Prediction: 5 catches, 50 yards, TD
FAAB: $10
San Francisco 49ers Defense
15% Owned in Fleaflicker
Just a friendly reminder that A.J. McCarron is a starting quarterback in the NFL. He's right, Tom Brady did start as a backup. The confidence is great, but McCarron is no Brady. If you only look at the stat line McCarron played pretty well; 280 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. But keep in mind the first touchdown was poor defense by Pittsburgh on A.J. Green and the second was when the game was well in hand with 1:07 to play. More glaring, and what matters for our 49ers defense, is the interceptions were really poor decision making, with one going back for six.
The 49ers defense is far from sexy, but they've scored 11.0 and 9.0 fantasy points in the past two weeks and stand as the best option below 25% ownership. Take advantage of the inexperienced quarterback in his first road start and snag the 49ers D if you need some help.
Bold Prediction: 21 points allowed, 2 sacks, 2 INT
FAAB: $1
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