RADIO
With Brandin Cooks likely to miss Sunday's action against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Willie Snead limited in practice Thursday, nursing a calf injury, two wide receivers can step up and aid Drew Brees in once again lighting up the scoreboard.
This all depends on the health of Snead. If Snead plays, he will be one of the top starts at wide receiver this week. But let's play devils advocate for a couple minutes here. It's never a good sign when a player is limited in one of a team's last practice of the week. Sunday is still a long ways away in the fantasy universe, but if Snead can't suit up, Brandon Coleman is the next guy in line.
In Snead's absence last week against the Carolina Panthers, Coleman broke out for four catches on seven targets, for a season high 73 yards and one score. It was Coleman's first touchdown, and most catches and targets, since Week 1, numbers that'll likely remain consistent with Snead out of the lineup. According to Yahoo! Sports, Tampa Bay has given up the tenth most fantasy points to wide receivers this season, and have surrendered 24 touchdowns through the air.
It's difficult to trust Coleman on a week-to-week basis but owners of Snead and Cooks may not have another choice if both sit on Sunday. Coleman produced against a stingy Panthers defense, and does have future Hall-of-Famer Drew Brees throwing him the ball. He can provide plenty of value in deep 12+ team leagues, especially those of PPR scoring. Coleman will be a WR3 this week, but could easily fall back into the shadows if Snead plays. The same applies for Marques Colston.
Once a no-brainer WR1, Colston has disappeared off the radar in New Orleans. He has had only one big fantasy week this season, Week 8 against the New York Giants where he caught eight passes on nine targets for 114 yards and a touchdown; his sole score of the year. But, who doesn't have big fantasy weeks against the Giants?
Regardless, Colston's stock has still risen, despite being untrustworthy himself. The Saints' options are disappearing one by one, and as is the case for Coleman, if Snead can't take the field, Brees could very well look back to a formula of success from the past. Colston is still no more than a WR4, but shouldn't be overlooked in 14 to 16 team leagues. He is a borderline desperation start, although should be stashed away.
Monitor the health of both Snead and Cooks. If both are out long-term, Coleman and Colston could become even more valuable in a fantasy playoff run.
