Fantasy Football Sleepers: 5 Receivers to Consider off of Waivers

When Wes Welker has his bye, you'll need a sub. Here are five receivers to consider that available in most leagues.
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The wide receiver position is a crap shoot week-to-week. Unlike a running back, a star wide receiver isn’t guaranteed a ball touch every game.

He’ll get passes thrown his way but there are so many things that are outside of a wide receiver’s control that it makes it difficult to guarantee productivity out of the position.

If your team is short at the position or you need to fill a void because of a bye in the next two weeks then here are five possible sleeper options:

Devin Aromashodu, Minnesota Vikings

Vikings receiver Devin Aromashodu has only one touchdown reception on the year, but with Bernard Berrian falling out of favor Aromashodu may get more playing time.
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In Week 4 Aromashodu caught his first and only touchdown reception of the 2011 campaign. But there is hope that there’s more to come.

Aromashodu plays the position very similarly to his current Viking teammate and former Chicago Bear teammate Bernard Berrian. But Berrian has shown no signs of life in 2011 which could open the door up for Aromashodu.

The Minnesota passing game has been putrid and unreliable in 2011, but it has gotten better each week. Quarterback Donovan McNabb still looks old and unimpressive, but he’s only gone up since throwing for 39 yards against the San Diego Chargers in Week 1.

If Aromashodu can lock down the No. 2 or No. 3 spot in Minnesota’s offense, he could be good for some deep passing plays like his 34 yard touchdown reception in Week 4.

Darrius Heyward-Bey, Oakland Raiders

In Week 4 Darrius Heyward-Bey had four catches for 115 yards.
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Everyone remembers Heyward-Bey as the receiver Oakland owner Al Davis selected over Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree in the 2009 NFL Draft because of his deadly speed.

Heyward-Bey hasn’t lived up to his hype as a speedster yet—he has only 33 receptions and two touchdown passes through his first two full NFL seasons.

But in Week 4 Heyward-Bey went off for 115 yards on four receptions. It’s just one game, but it’s a sign of life for Heyward-Bey—the same week that coach Hue Jackson guaranteed the Raiders would win the AFC West.

Oakland has surprised many teams this season. Why can’t Heyward-Bey be part of that surprise?

James Jones, Green Bay

James Jones had his first touchdown reception of 2011 in Week 4.
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The Green Bay Packers have arguably the best passing offense in the NFL. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers can sling the ball around the field with the best of them in the league. Any wide receiver on the field with Rodgers has the opportunity to make a large splash.

Cue in Jones.

Veteran wide out Donald Driver has battled a knee injury that may linger throughout the season. If that’s the case, Jones moves up to the No. 2 or No. 3 receiver then many opportunities will present themselves.

In Week 4 he caught three passes for 48 yards and his first touchdown of the season. If Driver goes down and misses significant time then pounce on Jones.

Titus Young, Detroit Lions

Rookie Titus Young has 12 catches for 181 yards over his last three games.
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Young is on an offense on the rise. As each week progresses, quarterback Matthew Stafford looks more confident as a starter in the NFL.

As Stafford grows so will this passing offense. And Young is the No. 2 or No. 3 wide receiver in the offense.

He hasn’t caught a touchdown pass yet but has 12 catches for 181 yards over the last three games. As he continues to catch three or four passes a game, it will allow his chemistry with Stafford to grow.

And as that chemistry grows, we can expect more out of Young. If Young continues to produce like this, then he’ll gain Stafford’s trust. As he continues to gain Stafford’s trust then he’ll get more of those “dangerous” passes thrown his way. And he’ll catch them.

Jabar Gaffney, Washington Redskins

Jabar Gaffney has had between 54 and 62 yards receiving in each of Washington's first four games.
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Gaffney has been the model for consistency. The first four weeks of the season Gaffney has caught between 54 and 62 yards per game. He has one touchdown on the season.

The large downside is that Rex Grossman is his quarterback. But four weeks in and Gaffney has shown no signs of stopping.

He won’t be the type of player that’ll go off for big points week-in-and-week-out, but he’s consistent. With Gaffney an owner can expect roughly five or six points a game which will serve as a viable substitute for the upcoming bye weeks—although Gaffney has his bye in Week 5—as long as Grossman can be a viable NFL quarterback.