Week 14: Waiver Wire Sleepers

Many following the NFL have their attention focused on the fantasy football playoffs. It is no secret that waiver-wire picks could be your way into a championship. Here are five to check out for week 14.

Marion Barber, Chicago

Barber may not have lasted the day on your wire after Matt Forte went down with a knee injury and even though he had just 44 yards in a 10-3 loss to Kansas City, even Montreal Canadiens fans of the Bears would tell you that Jay Cutler is also hurt, which means Caleb Hanie is under center and he was picked off three times by the Chiefs. If the Bears are going to win in Denver this week, they’ll have to run the ball.

Dexter McCluster, Kansas City

McCluster caught Tyler Palko’s first touchdown pass on a Hail Mary, and he led the Chiefs with 61 receiving yards. Last season, McCluster was a darkhorse to win Offensive Rookie of the Year among NFL betting players as he can line up wide or out of the backfield, and he even returns punts and kicks sometimes, but he’s been hurt often. Palko will need him again this week against the New York Jets.

Michael Crabtree, San Francisco

Crabtree had 96 yards and a score in a 26-0 demolition of St. Louis, and the former Texas Tech star looks like he’s finally starting to get it. The 49ers will be in Arizona next week and fans of NCAA football should be drooling over a prospective matchup of Crabtree against Arizona cornerback Patrick Peterson, who starred at LSU and has been much improved as of late.

Damian Williams, Tennessee

Williams posted 62 receiving yards in the Titans’ 23-17 win in Buffalo, and if Chris Johnson can continue to put up big rushing yards (he had 153 yards and two touchdowns), that opens up the passing game for the Titans and Williams is getting better every game. Williams will go up against a New Orleans secondary that can be exposed through the air, and Tennessee quarterback Matt Hasselbeck upset the Saints with Seattle in last year’s playoffs, so he knows how to beat them.

Miami Defense

There may not be a hotter team in the NFL than the Dolphins, who were aided by a great rushing attack that kept them off the field in a 34-14 romp over Oakland. Miami’s defense was only on the field for just under 22 minutes, which means they should be rested for this weekend’s visit from Philadelphia, who can’t seem to get anything going right now, outside of LeSean McCoy. They would be a playoff darkhorse if the NFL schedule was longer.

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