Sleeper Watch

Fantasy owners, by and large, aren’t exactly known for their loyalty to the players who bring them success in their leagues. Never mind ‘What have you done for me lately’ – it’s all about ‘What can you do for me next Sunday?’ and yesterday’s heroes are quickly tossed to the waiver wayside when they no longer live up to expectations. Yet every once in a while, it can be useful to take a look at players who have showed flashes in the past. Case in point: Minnesota tight end Jermaine Wiggins.

Last October, Wiggins was a hot fantasy pickup following a two-touchdown performance in new Orleans in week 6. His stock received another boost thanks to a six catch effort at Lambeau Field in Week 10 that netted him 94 yards and a score. The following week, he didn’t disappoint his owners, finding the end zone again and catching eight passes for 51 yards as the Vikings edged the Lions at home. Yet although he considered to receive plenty of looks from Daunte Culpepper, he failed to score again for the rest of the season, and despite averaging nearly five catches down the stretch, he quickly fell out of the fantasy spotlight.

This year, Wiggins is being all but ignored by many fantasy owners, lasting until the closing rounds (or even going undrafted entirely) in a large number of leagues. That’s surprising, because with prime target Randy Moss gone, Culpepper is more likely than ever to find himself looking in Wiggins’s direction, particularly in the red zone.

The tight end position is evolving rapidly, and there are quite a few high-upside TEs available to owners who don’t want to use an early pick on the Tony Gonzalezes of the NFL this season. If you’re waiting until the late rounds of the draft to snare a TE, add Jermaine Wiggins to the list of those worth considering.