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Week 3 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Owen Daniels Is Worth A Look In Deep Leagues

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By @bradberreman24

Owen Daniels, Baltimore Ravens, Fantasy Football Waiver Wire

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Owen Daniels was a fantasy relevant tight end for most of his time with the Houston Texans, with at least 50 receptions in four of six seasons from 2007-2012 along with at least 500 yards five times in that span. He signed with the Baltimore Ravens this offseason, which looked bad for his fantasy value with Dennis Pitta atop the depth chart, but there was some chance Daniels would be productive with former Texans’ head coach Gary Kubiak taking over as Baltimore’s offensive coordinator.

Through two games Pitta has 13 receptions (on 18 targets) for 113 yards, and as long as he is healthy he’ll remain a prominent target for Joe Flacco. But Daniels had five catches and two touchdowns in Week 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he has nine catches (on 11 targets) for 62 yards and two touchdowns so far this season.

Baltimore’s Week 2 opponent, the Cleveland Browns, enters Week 3 allowing 12.5 fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends (tied for seventh-most in the league; ESPN scoring). It’s worth noting that facing New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham (10 receptions for 118 yards and two touchdowns) in Week 2 skews that number, but it also shows some vulnerability to tight ends that are a featured part of a opponent’s offense. That seems to be the case in Baltimore, as Pitt and Daniels have more targets through two games (29) than the Ravens’ wide receivers not named Steve Smith combined (23 targets). That shouldn’t change dramatically in Week 3, with Browns’ cornerback Joe Haden likely lining up across from Torrey Smith and plenty of targets available for others.

Daniels is more likely to diminish Pitta’s week-to-week consistency as a TE1 than carry a lot of fantasy value on his own, and that is what has occurred through two games. An injury to Pitta would make Daniels a must-add in all fantasy leagues, but we are obviously not at that point yet. Daniels is worth a look as a TE2 in very deep leagues, but relying on him as anything beyond that right now is a risky proposition.

Brad Berreman is a Columnist at Rant Sports.com. Follow him on Twitter or connect on Google +.

 

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