Fantasy Football: Week 14 Watch List Candidates

Scouring the waiver wire can be a daunting and time-consuming task due to the sheer amount of talent that is usually available in a league each and every week. The purpose of this article is to identify players who should be put on watch lists so that fantasy owners can be proactive and aware of potential free agent gems over the course of the 2018 fantasy playoffs. Keep in mind that the names listed below are owned in a small percentage of leagues, but nonetheless offer statistical upside and therefore warrant our attention. The last edition of this article included names like Spencer Ware, Jaylen Samuels, and Gerald Everett. Now, let’s look ahead to Week 14 and players to watch for.

Dan Arnold (3% Owned)

It’s been quite some time since there has been a fantasy relevant tight end on the New Orleans Saints. Dan Arnold is not the heir apparent to Jimmy Graham talent-wise, but it appears that he could have a bright future with the team. Since Week 10, the 23-yeard-old out of Wisconsin-Platteville has registered at least 2 receptions in four consecutive contests. Over that span, Arnold has scored one receiving touchdown and seen 13 total targets. He remains a deep sleeper heading into the fantasy playoffs but is an advisable roster addition in dynasty formats for his future fantasy outlook.

John Kelly (4% Owned)

With the recent news that Malcolm Brown is out for the remainder of the season with a broken collarbone, John Kelly seems to be a logical handcuff to Todd Gurley. The Tennessee product has not seen the field as a rookie in 2018 from an offensive standpoint but is more than capable of filling in if need be. Kelly tallied 1,077 yards from scrimmage in his final college season in 2017 with 9 rushing touchdowns. Since there is a legitimate chance that Gurley could be rested down the stretch of the fantasy playoffs, Kelly should be rostered where available as a potential league winning bench stash.

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DaeSean Hamilton (5% Owned)

The NFL is an opportunity driven industry, and DaeSean Hamilton now has precisely that after Emmanuel Sanders tore his Achilles in practice this week. The Penn State product should now operate as the WR2 in Denver alongside Courtland Sutton, but his fantasy role is unclear. On the season, the fourth-round pick has a pedestrian 5 catches for 61 yards over 8 targets. Expect the 6’1” /206-pound receiver to man the slot from here on out, and monitor his production closely to see if he can contribute in the fantasy playoffs. For what it’s worth, Hamilton compiled 857 yards during his final college season while averaging 16.2 yards per catch in the process. He has legitimate talent. The question is whether or not it will equate to fantasy production in the latter end of his rookie campaign.

Bruce Ellington (8% Owned)

Seemingly under the radar, Bruce Ellington has corralled at least 6 receptions in three consecutive weeks for the Detroit Lions. In fact, the journeyman wide receiver is coming off of one of his best games of the year with 7 receptions on 10 targets. Ellington undoubtedly owns a relatively low statistical ceiling, but the former Houston Texan has seen at least 7 targets in three straight contests. He is worth a flier for those in need of assistance at wide receiver in deep PPR leagues.

Justin Jackson (50% Owned)

After his explosive performance in Week 13 with 8 carries for 63 yards rushing and a touchdown, Justin Jackson figures to be a popular commodity on playoff rosters. The seventh-round pick of Northwestern will continue to form a committee with Austin Ekeler until Melvin Gordon return from his MCL sprain. Jackson ran for at least 1,100 yards in all four of his collegiate seasons, which included three double-digit rushing campaigns. He now owns standalone value in redraft leagues and is a recommended player stash in dynasty provided his dominant college pedigree.