Fantasy Playoffs Help: Deep Sleepers

December 18, 2009 at 11:13 am | Article by Paul Hickey |

Well folks, the fantasy playoffs are here, and if you find yourself ready for your Week 15 and 16 match-ups with no injury issues what-so-ever, than consider yourself in the minority and a likely contender to take home the title. Chances are though, that you’re the owner of a guy like Michael Turner, Calvin Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, Knowshon Moreno, Percy Harvin or Mike Sims-Walker – or have been relying on guys like Jeremy Maclin, Vince Young, Derrick Mason, Devin Hester, Hines Ward, Robert Mathis, Nate Burleson or even Neil Rackers recently, and you definitely have one or more tough decisions to make.

With that said, I don’t really have any inside information regarding injuries or issues with any of the following players, other than the fact that I can tell you to avoid Maclin, Hester and Burleson, because the odds of them playing over the next couple weeks are not good at all.

However, I can definitely help you with who to plug in your line-up this week that may give you a boost – and just may be available on your waiver wire, or via quick trade – assuming your league doesn’t have a trade deadline (and yes, there are plenty of those types of leagues out there). Let’s get started…

Quinton Ganther, Redskins RB – The Tennessee Titans always loved this guy, and we’re starting to see why. The powerful 5’9”, 214-pound 25 year old pounded out 50 yards and two scores on 14 rushes in his first career NFL start in Week 14 against the Raiders. He added three catches out of the backfield for 43 yards and could be a very useful plug-and-play guy over the next two or three weeks as the Redskins look to play spoiler against the Giants, Cowboys and Chargers. The match-ups look tough on paper, but Washington’s offensive line continues to improve under position coach Joe Bugel, and the Giants are the in middle of shuffling around the entire defensive line to find a combination that works. In Week 16, Ganther faces division rival Dallas, but will be one of the rare backs fresh this time of year, and seeing 20 touches.

Arian Foster, Texans RB – Foster is another big back (6’1”, 215 lbs.), who saw 17 touches in Week 14. Even with Ryan Moats in the picture, it looks like Foster will start at tailback and get the bulk of the load. The rookie from Tennessee has impressed head coach Gary Kubiak, and could be valuable in points per reception leagues against the Rams in Week 15 and Dolphins in Week 16. Just for the record, I recommend Ganther over Foster, but both backs could help owners in need during the fantasy playoffs.

Chris Jennings, Browns RB – The first player to score a rushing TD all year for the Browns, the undrafted rookie from Arizona rushed 20 times for 71 yards against the Steelers in Week 14, and will be coming off 10 days of rest heading into his friendly match-up with the Chiefs this weekend. Proceed with caution, as he’ll split work with Jerome Harrison and Josh Cribbs (who carved up the Steelers in Week 14 out of the direct snap), but he could make a fine flex play in deep leagues. Keep an eye out for a potential announcement from Eric Mangini soon regarding potentially moving Cribbs to RB full time though, as this would affect Jennings negatively.

Devin Aromashodu, Bears WR – With Devin Hester not practicing at all in Week 15 as of this writing, things are beginning to look like the 6’2”, 200 lb. target who Jay Cutler has begged for all season may play a key role again on offense against the Ravens and Vikings over the next two games. He was targeted 12 times in Week 14, and caught eight balls for 76 yards and a score. There are probably better options out there, but look here in a pinch.

Deion Branch, Seahawks WR – I know, I know, the guy hasn’t done squat all season, but with Nate Burleson ruled out for Week 15 against the Buccaneers, Branch suddenly has some relevance in deep leagues. He was targeted seven times in Week 14 and scored a TD in Week 13, meaning he’s getting back on Matt Hasselbeck’s radar. He’s not a top tier option obviously, but could bail out an owner with a sticky WR situation.

Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs WR – There’s a chance Bowe may have been dropped in your league after it was announced in Week 11 that he’d serve a four game suspension for violating the league’s policy against performance enhancing drugs. If he’s available, I’d give him a look, as the Chiefs have a dream match-up against the Browns in Week 15. Bowe may not start, but he’ll get plenty of snaps, and is the type of player that gets stronger as the game goes on.

Early Doucet, Cardinals WR – Perhaps our deepest sleeper on this entire list – but someone who almost definitely is available on waivers – even this late in the week – is the second year man from LSU. He appears to have passed Steve Breaston on the depth chart, and could be ready to take on a huge role against the Lions in Week 15. He stepped in for an injured Larry Fitzgerald and caught two balls for 41 yards on Monday night against the Niners. Whether it’s via garbage time or as an injury fill-in against the Lions this week and the Rams in Week 16, Doucet is a solid deep sleeper play for owners in need of a quick fix.

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