Fantasy football: High on Pierre Garcon, Colin Kaepernick; Down on Kelvin Benjamin

With injuries piling up across the league, it’s more important now than ever to do your research on the waiver wire. Be sure to check out Rotoballer.com’s Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Tool for up-to-the-hour waiver wire advice and ideas, and to follow me @Roto_Dubs for quick-hitting news and analysis.

Pierre Producing

The Washington Redskins are poised for a playoff run thanks to a newly-balanced offense. Undrafted free agent Rob Kelley has been a revelation in the running game, rushing for 321 yards and four touchdowns over his last three games. With defenses forced to account for Kelley, Kirk Cousins has been able to air it out with great effect. Pierre Garcon has been the main beneficiary, scoring touchdowns in each of his last three games along with 246 yards on 16 catches. He should be a solid every-week WR3 that makes for a great depth add for the home stretch.

Kaepernick Has High Weekly Floor

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has been a surprising source of fantasy production since taking over for the inept Blaine Gabbert in Week 6. Kaepernick’s athleticism yields a high floor every week thanks to his rushing ability—he averages six rushes per game for 43 yards on top of whatever passing stats he accumulates. His upside is limited through the air given the lack of weapons around him, but he’s certainly been doing enough to merit fantasy consideration down the stretch with plenty of tasty matchups on the docket (atMIA, vs. NYJ, at CHI, atATL).

Lack of TDs forBenjamin

Kelvin Benjamin is the clear top talent in the Carolina passing game, but he simply has not produced in 2016. He enters Week 12 as the WR23 in ESPN standard leagues, which is disappointing given the high price owners paid on draft day. The problem isa lack of touchdowns, as Benjamin has seven games of 70 or more yards on the season. His floor is pretty high, at about seven or eight points, but he simply hasn’t gotten the looks in the end zone. He can’t be counted on as a WR1 or WR2 down the home stretch.

NFL Sleepers of the Week

Each week we will identify three players worth taking a shot on in deeper leagues.

Jared Cook, TE, Green Bay Packers – Cook returned from injury with a bang in Week 11, hauling in six passes for 105 yards and a touchdown. Aaron Rodgers spreads it around enough that Cook should be able to make an impact every week.

Wendell Smallwood, RB, Philadelphia Eagles – With Darren Sproles and Ryan Mathews both at less than 100 percent, the dynamic Smallwood could be the most productive back in Philly in the home stretch.

Tyler Boyd, WR, Cincinnati Bengals – With A.J. Green lost for at least the next few weeks, Boyd has an opportunity to show what made him a second-round pick in April.