Sleeper Watch

Late November is great. The playoff races are heating up, and just about every game has a serious impact on the postseason picture, both in the NFL and in fantasy leagues. Great football, and turkey, too – what more could we ask for?

Unfortunately, this is also the time of year when opportunities to pick up potential impact players off the waiver wire are few and far between. That’s why, when a player like Charles Lee comes along, owners in need of help at the wide receiver position shouldn’t hesitate to pounce.

Lee, a seventh-round pick by Green Bay in 2000, has a grand total of 18 receptions in his NFL career. He’s also third on Tampa Bay’s depth chart, behind Keenan McCardell and Joe Jurevicius. Yet while neither of those facts may make him sound like a solid fantasy prospect, Lee has one thing going for him: opportunity.

With Keyshawn Johnson no longer suiting up for the Buccaneers and Jurevicius not yet completely recovered from his knee injury, Lee is in a great position to make his presence felt. He should not only see plenty of looks in the next few games, but also find himself with better matchups than either of Tampa Bay’s top two receivers. If he capitalizes on this opportunity (as he did with 91 yards and a score against the Giants), he could turn into a contributor just in time for the fantasy playoffs.

Is Lee a sure thing? Certainly not. But with waiver wires as bare as tree branches at this time of year, he’s worth a shot.