By Week 4 of the NFL season, every fantasy football GM has a keen eye trained for those players who can help shore up some of the problems your lineup has faced along the way. Last week, we saw players like Bernard Pierce and James Starks topping the list of sleeper free agents you needed to grab. This week, one of the names you should think about stashing is Ted Ginn Jr.
Known more as a kick return specialist than a wide receiver, Ginn, is looking to prove himself in 2013 as a wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers. Ginn was original drafted by the Miami Dolphins with the ninth overall pick in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He was a track athlete in college, running a 4.28 time in the 40-yard dash. Ginn was prized early in his career for his lightning fast speed.
The biggest knock on Ginn has always been his questionable hands and concerns over sloppy route running.
In Miami, he struggled to catch on in more than a special teams role where he his speed was an asset in kickoff and punt returns. In the Spring of 2010, the Dolphins traded Ginn to the San Francisco 49ers for a fifth-round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.
Ginn never was able to play into the role of a starting wide receiver in San Francisco. Some could argue that poor quarterback play was also a factor in his lack of offensive production. Ginn, however, continued to have success in the return game.
At the end of last season, Ginn decided to leave the 49ers in hopes of finding a team that would give him the chance to demonstrate improved hands and route running ability. He signed on with the Panthers to specialize in the return game and compete for the third receiver spot. He is quickly pushing Brandon LaFell for a possible role as the no. 2.
Ginn flashed improvement through the preseason and continued on in Week Three where he caught three balls for 71 yards, including a 45-yard score. If your league allows points for scored in the return game, Ginn should move up your list of dark horse sleepers.
With this being his bye week, a lot of other owners are likely to sit on him until after all the waivers have gone through the cycle. If you fill all your holes early in waivers, I’d stash Ginn just to see if his ceiling continues to rise.
Eric Beuning is a Fantasy Football writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ericbeuning or add him to your network on Google.
