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It's not normally in our nature here at RotoBaller to toot our own horn, but after watching Sunday's games unfold, well ... beep, beep.
In this very same article space last week, we highlighted Carolina's Ted Ginn Jr., Seattle's Tyler Lockett and Cleveland's Brian Hartline as low-owned wide receivers to target on the waiver wire. All three topped 100 yards, and Ginn and Lockett both scored a pair of touchdowns. In fact, Ginn and Lockett were two of the three highest-scoring wideouts of Week 14 (entering Monday night's game), along with Doug Baldwin, who topped this list two weeks ago.
No, this isn't an obnoxious brag session, but rather an opportunity to once again stress that great performances can be found on the waiver wire each and every week. And unless your league freezes roster moves for the playoffs, there's no reason you should diverge from this approach.
Many fantasy owners' seasons are still alive because of Ginn and Lockett. Some of the wide receivers listed below could provide a similar boost in Week 15.
Playoff Wide Receivers - Waiver Wire Targets
Willie Snead - WR, NO - 38% owned on Fleaflicker
The fleet-footed Saints rookie missed last weekend's shootout loss to the Panthers with a calf injury, but returned with a vengeance in Week 14, shredding Tampa Bay for 122 yards on seven catches. Snead has had value all season and, quite frankly, it's surprising to see his ownership dip this low. If anyone was foolish enough to drop him in your league, get that waiver claim in now.
New Orleans' three remaining games - vs. Detroit, vs. Jacksonville, at Atlanta - all feature suspect secondaries capable of being beat deep. As one of the top targets in a Drew Brees-led offense, Snead is in must-own territory.
Jermaine Kearse - WR, SEA - 9% owned on Fleaflicker
True, Kearse is the third option in Seattle's passing attack behind Doug Baldwin (70% owned) and Lockett (28%). But the third option in the league's hottest offense is still plenty valuable. Kearse caught seven passes for 74 yards in Sunday's rout of the Baltimore Ravens. Those are nice numbers, particularly in PPR leagues.
But Kearse's value received a boost when rookie running back Thomas Rawls was lost for the season with a broken ankle. Russell Wilson continues to gash defenses (16 TDs, zero INTs since Week 11), and will be counted on to continue carrying the offense. Home games against Cleveland and St. Louis over the next two weeks offer tremendous upside to the entire Seattle offense. If you can't get Baldwin or Lockett, Kearse is worth a look.
Malcom Floyd - WR, SD - 24% owned on Fleaflicker
The veteran Chargers wideout offers little upside at this stage of his career, but the state of San Diego's offense isn't helping in that regard. Floyd was targeted a team-high nine times in Sunday's loss to division rival Kansas City. The bad news? He only turned three of those targets into catches, finishing with 56 yards. He also dropped a long pass that likely would have gone for a touchdown.
If fellow wide receivers Stevie Johnson and Dontrelle Inman continue to miss time, Floyd will continue to see a large portion of the targets from Philip Rivers. But his overall production is likely to remain volatile. You've been warned.
Nelson Agholor - WR, PHI - 33% owned on Fleaflicker
It's been a disappointing rookie season for the Eagles' first-round pick, but he flashed his raw talent and potential in Sunday's win over the Buffalo Bills. Agholor finished with three catches for 62 yards, including a highlight reel-worthy 53-yard touchdown. Philadelphia's offense has been one of the most confounding this season. Outside of Jordan Matthews, who himself has been up-and-down, no other wide receiver has made a routine impact.
A major breakout from Agholor over the final three weeks seems unlikely, but he certainly offers the most upside out of the non-Matthews wideouts (Josh Huff, Riley Cooper). Consider him for deeper leagues only.
Other Wide Receivers to Consider Adding
Albert Wilson - WR, KC - 3% owned on Fleaflicker
The second-year Chiefs wideout put together his finest outing of the season Sunday against the Chargers, catching four passes for 87 yards and a touchdown. He's hardly overtaking Jeremy Maclin or tight end Travis Kelce in the pass-catching pecking order, but he's now had at least four catches and 50 yards in two of the last four games. That should at least put him on radars for deeper leagues.
The main draw for Wilson over the final three weeks is the Chiefs' soft schedule. Kansas City travels to Baltimore before finishing with home games against Cleveland and Oakland. All three of those teams rank in the bottom half of the league in pass defense.
Javontee Herndon - WR, SD - 0% owned on Fleaflicker
We mentioned Floyd earlier, but Herndon is the Chargers wideout that offers the most upside. His five receptions in Sunday's loss trailed only tight end Antonio Gates. In fact, Rivers targeted wide receivers on 18 of his 43 attempts - nine to Floyd, seven to Herndon and two to Vincent Brown - so Herndon was heavily involved.
Moving forward, any value Herndon carries will be tied to the health of Johnson and Inman. If those end up returning next week against Miami, Herndon figures to slide back into a reserve role. But if he gets the start opposite Floyd against the 22nd-ranked pass defense, Herndon could surprise.
Seth Roberts - WR, OAK - 7% owned on Fleaflicker
The Raiders' passing attack is very much still a two-man show starring Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree. But Roberts has quietly carved out a niche as the No. 3. Though he finished with just two catches for 20 yards in Sunday's win over Denver, one of those catches was a nifty, diving grab for a touchdown.
He has at least 50 receiving yards or a touchdown in each of Oakland's last four games. Those numbers won't set the fantasy world on fire, but he's an intriguing commodity in deeper leagues.
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