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This article covers a long list of players at each position because we try to cover all the bases for those of you in leagues with 8 or 10 teams, those that use PPR scoring or even those larger leagues with 14+ teams. What we've done this week is offer a list of players who may be available in smaller leagues that we've covered at length in previous weeks of this article. If you can grab a player from one of these lists at each position, do that first, then proceed into the write-ups that follow for players that may be better targets for deeper, more competitive leagues with larger rosters. Quarterback Grab one of these quarterbacks, if they are still available. League sizes and roster limitations vary greatly, so your mileage will vary. Romo was the hot pickup over the last couple of weeks, so it's doubtful that he's available in most competitive leagues, while Garrard, Gradkowski and Harrington are among those more likely to be lingering in some leagues. McNair may have been cut in some leagues after some rough weeks, but he's back on track and a good player to add for depth.
Add Immediately (Impact potential)
Garrard threw three TDs to lead the Jaguars to a home win against the Titans. Garrard made his second start in a row for Byron Leftwich. Last year, Garrard was an impact fantasy QB during the fantasy playoff weeks. A Garrard/Leftwich tandem should be productive for the rest of the season, but if Garrard were to start for the long haul, it might even be more productive. Garrard adds the wild card factor because of his ability to run. The Jags play the Texans next week followed by the Giants, at Bills, at Dolphins, vs Colts, at Titans, vs Patriots.
Simms was officially placed on the season-ending IR this week and the team activated Luke McCown from the PUP list to the active roster. Barring injury, Gradkowski likely will finish the season as the Bucs starting QB. He produced 185 yards and 2 TDs along with 12 yards rushing against the Saints this week. He finally clicked with Joey Galloway, which is a good sign for Gradkowski going forward. Since taking over as the team’s QB, Gradkowski amazingly has just one interception and four TDs. He has rushed for 10+ yards in every game, too. Add For Depth (Starter potential)
The possibility that Daunte Culpepper could be shut down for the rest of the season grows slightly with each passing week. Harrington has been effective, but not ideal. He’s thrown two or more interceptions in every game he has started. At least he’s thrown for 1049 yards in those four games with six TDs. If Harrington continues to make mistakes, don’t be surprised if the Dolphins give Cleo Lemon a chance. Lemon could be productive, too.
Wallace couldn’t lead the Seahawks to a win last week, but he did manage to produce 198 yards, 3 TDs and 18 rushing yards for anyone who owned him. The Seahawks face the Raiders on MNF, so it’s a perfect opportunity to scout him and his progress as a quarterback. If he’s productive for the second straight week, he’ll be snapped up quickly. The next two games are home vs the Rams and at the 49ers – both decent matchups. If Wallace start any more games, then the week 12 game vs the Packers looks good, too.
Young struggled badly this week as the Titans lost in Jacksonville 37-7. Young was intercepted three times and he completed only 15 out of 36 passes for 163 yards and a TD. He added 14 yards rushing. Get used to it. Young is far from polished, but he has so much raw talent and ability that he’ll still find a way to produce fantasy points some weeks. He’ll also be bad in other weeks. This week was one of the bad ones. Add for Later (Sleeper potential)
Campbell could get a shot at some point this year. Mark Brunell seems to do just enough to stave off a quarterback change, but Campbell is certainly lurking in the shadows if a change is ever made. Joe Gibbs has been reluctant to bench his veteran QB, but if the Skins fail to climb back into the playoff race (3-5 right now) then look for Campbell to get a shot.
Jake Plummer once again played well enough this week to stave off all the rumors that he's on his way out. It’s going to be that way for the rest of this season, or his tenure, in Denver. When the Broncos selected Jay Cutler in this year's draft, those two merged into the same timeframe. Cutler is the team's future and he’ll be the present soon, but not as long Plummer keeps the team on a winning track.
Green was active this week, but only as an emergency No. 3 quarterback. He was
expected back, perhaps as early as this week, but as of Monday morning it's now
looking like he won't return until Week 11. Damon Huard has played well as the
team’s starter this season, so Green seems like a great bet to be productive
if/when he becomes the starter again. The Chiefs upcoming schedule is at
Dolphins, vs Raiders, vs Broncos, at Browns, vs Ravens, at Chargers and at
Raiders. The best matchups appear to be the next week and then week 14 at
Cleveland. Huard threw three TDs this week and he’s been productive in four of
his last five games.
Brooks is close to returning to action, but the question now is whether he’ll do enough to earn the starting job back. Andrew Walter has struggled as a starter, but he has shown improvement and poise that Art Shell could stick with him. In other words, Brooks is no guarantee to be the team’s starter next week or any week, but conventional wisdom would point to Brooks at some point. Some think that Brooks may not play another snap for the Raiders. We shall see. Add for Insurance (Backup Plan for playoffs) Four QBs that have proven to be excellent picks this year are Marc Bulger, Michael Vick, Rex Grossman and Jon Kitna. If you own one of these quarterbacks, you’re probably doing quite well at quarterback, especially if you have the luxury of using Grossman, Vick or Kitna as your backup and not a starter. Think about adding the backups for these players as the fantasy season winds down the stretch and into playoffs in a few weeks.
Frerotte is experienced in Scott Linehan’s highly productive offense. Bulger has missed parts of the last few seasons because of injuries. If Bulger gets hurt, Frerotte would almost certainly be a productive fantasy QB with Holt, Bruce, Curtis and Jackson as targets.
Rex Grossman has easily out-produced his ADP this year, but he is also no stranger to the infirmary. If you own Grossman and you’re counting on him in a starting capacity, consider grabbing Griese to secure the Bears QB for the rest of the season.
Jon Kitna is a top five QB in most leagues. If you are riding the Kitna wave, do yourself a favor and get McCown for the stretch run. If Kitna gets hurt, McCown could actually produce better numbers because he’s more mobile. The Lions schedule looks great with at least four above average matchups in the last eight games (vs Falcons, vs 49ers, at Cardinals, vs Dolphins, at Patriots, vs Vikings, at Packers, vs Bears).
Schaub is highly regarded amongst NFL circles as a quality backup and a player who will ultimately get a shot as a starter with some team in the future. For now, he’s a great insurance policy for Atlanta and Michael Vick owners. If you own Vick, consider grabbing Schaub going into the playoffs if your other QBs are not strong options. Add for Next Year (Dynasty potential)
McCown was activated from the team’s PUP list this week as they placed Chris Simms on IR. McCown tore his ACL during the summer and he missed all of training camp and the first half of the season. He’s the team’s No. 3 at the moment, but he could challenge for a starting job next year along with Bruce Gradkowski and whoever else the team brings in during the off-season. Keep an eye on
Chris Mortensen talked about Lemon possibly getting onto the field this week in the event that Joey Harrington struggled against the Bears. Little did Chris know that Harrington would throw 3 TDs and 2 interceptions and the Dolphins would upset the Bears on their home field 31-13. Lemon’s time will have to wait, and it could very well happen in the near future. Harrington has been turnover prone. If that continues and the Dolphins start losing again, then Lemon just might take over as the starting QB.
Running Back In most leagues, the waiver options for RBs are slim after the first month of the season. Most of the players available at this point are backups on their NFL teams or part-time players. The players who garner the most attention, especially RBs, are those who benefit from injury and their role increases dramatically or those who gradually work into a larger role in their team's offense. The backs listed here are gone in most competitive leagues, but not all of them. We’ve covered them in previous weeks, but we continue to list them in the event they are available.
* - check injury status first
Add Immediately (Impact potential)
Willis McGahee left the Bills-Packers game early in the first half with an
apparent injury to his ribs/knee. He didn’t return and the Bills leaned on
Anthony Thomas as their featured back for the rest of the game. Thomas finished
with 95 yards and a TD on 20 carries. He also caught one pass for 6 yards. If
McGahee’s injury sidelines him for a few weeks, Thomas becomes the most sought
after player on waivers this week. After the game, HC Dick Jauron was asked
about McGahee’s injury. “It was bad enough and sore enough that he could not
finish,'' said Jauron. We’ll monitor McGahee’s status, but you may want to grab
Thomas first thing this week if your league uses a first come, first serve style
of waiver system.
Williams is expected to be ready next week when the Panthers play the Buccaneers. He’s missed more than a month with a high ankle sprain. He could still emerge as a key player for the Panthers offense in the second half of the season. If DeShaun Foster gets hurt, Williams could potentially be a force.
Last week, Mike took over for a hurting Tatum Bell against the Colts to run for 136 yards and two TDs. This week, Tatum was inactive and Mike got the start, but the defense was more formidable. Bell ran 17 times for 28 yards and he caught five passes for another 40 yards. It doesn’t look like Tatum’s job is in danger, but if Mike continues to play well; he could earn more carries at the very least. Tatum being inactive this week should help him recover quicker and potentially put the turf toe to rest. Add Mike Bell if he’s available and you have the ability to secure the Broncos RB. As Ernie Harwell would say, Bell is long gone in 99.9% of the leagues out there, but just in case – don’t stand there like a house by the side of the road.
Add For Depth (Starter potential)
Davenport continues to grow in the Steelers offense. Verron Haynes suffered a season-ending injury last week, now Davenport is the unquestioned No. 2 RB. He caught five balls this week for 57 yards and ran twice for 17 yards. He caught several balls as the Steelers played “catch up” against the Broncos. He could be quite productive in a featured role here, so he should have been on your roster for a few weeks if you own Willie Parker.
Vernand Morency was inactive this week due to injury. Herron served as the team’s No. 2 back behind Ahman Green. Herron ran five times for 25 yards and he caught 7 passes for 57 yards against the Bills. He’ll continue to produce solid numbers for a backup RB as long as Morency is out. When Morency returns, both backs will get touches making it more difficult to use either one as flex players or RB3 or RB4 in deeper leagues. Morency had a great game last week before getting hurt and Herron has proven capable when his number has been called.
Smith only had three carries this week, but he managed to produce 46 yards against the Bengals. If Jamal Lewis gets hurt, Smith would probably share touches with Mike Anderson, but Smith could very well be the lead back in that scenario, also getting most of the third down action, too.
Add for Later (Sleeper potential)
Houston could return as early as next week after being sidelined for over a month. Leon Washington is playing well and getting the most touches in the Jets backfield, but Houston could re-emerge in the second half, potentially taking some of Barlow’s touches. Barlow’s been getting touches near the goal line. If Houston supplants him in that role, he could be of value in TD-heavy leagues. Add for Insurance (Injury or bye week replacement)
With Tatum Bell inactivate this week, Cobbs was activated for the first time this season. Tatum Bell has been limited by turf toe problems on both of his feet. Cobbs carried three times for 9 yards. Cobbs is strictly for insurance purposes if you own either of the Bells already, but need to stake that third claim in the Broncos backfield. Injuries happen and Cobbs could see more extensive action if Mike Bell gets hurt before Tatum has recovered fully.
Pittman is worth a spot on the back end of a roster in deeper leagues, especially if you own Cadillac Williams or use PPR scoring. Last week, Pittman caught five balls and produced 40 yards. This week, Pittman ran once this week for 3 yards and he caught six passes for 27 yards, but he suffered a shoulder stinger, so make sure you determine what his injury status (stay tuned to our FBG New blogger) is if you’re thinking about adding him as insurance for Cadillac. Add for Insurance (Backup Plan for playoffs)
Larry Johnson is running down hill with a head of steam at this point in the season, but Bennett is healthy again and serving as his primary backup. If you own LJ, then think about adding Bennett for security as the playoffs approach. Bennett carried four times for 14 yards this week.
Like Steven Jackson, if you drafted Kevin Jones, your team is probably doing well in the RB department. If Jones gets hurt, protect yourself and keep Brian Calhoun stashed on the backend of your roster. Calhoun is a good fit for Martz’s offense. In a PPR league, Calhoun would be productive.
Davis is the primary backup to Steven Jackson. The Rams have also been getting
some production out of Tony Fisher as a third down back, but he suffered what
appears to be a significant injury to his right knee. Jackson is producing
exceptional numbers. Most of his owners are probably doing well in their
leagues. If he gets hurt, you need to protect yourself for a playoff run. Davis
would be the primary runner (20+ carries), and with Fisher hurt, he might even
get some action on third downs. This week, Davis ran for 18 yards on six
attempts and he caught two balls for 15 yards. Wide Receiver Here's a list of the top players that are likely to be available for those of you in smaller leagues. If any of these players remain on waivers, then grab them first. If not, keep digging and look at our players below for more options.
* - check injury status first
Add Immediately (Impact potential)
Holmes is becoming a bigger part of the Steelers offense after a slow start in
his rookie season. In the last four games, Holmes has 15 catches for 240 yards
and 13 yards rushing. He produced 50+ yards in three of those four games. He’s a
big play threat, who also returns punts. He may not emerge as a starter this
year, but he could finish as the team’s second most productive fantasy WR behind
Hines Ward.
We’ll get a chance to see Porter and Randy Moss work on prime-time television Monday night. Porter caught only one pass in his first game back last week, but it was one of the team’s few highlights (a 19-yard reception). The Seahawks haven’t been very good in coverage this year, so he could do something to warrant being a high priority target if he’s available.
With Joe Horn unable to go this week, Devery Henderson started in his place. Henderson flashed his big play ability that has teased Saints fans for three years. He caught three passes for 111 yards with a pair of TDs against Tampa Bay. He’ll return to the No. 3 spot when Horn is ready to play, but he’s a guy that could be very productive if he’s a starting role.
Wilford finally delivered the goods this week catching a pair of TDs from his favorite QB – David Garrard. He caught three passes for 44 yards against the Titans. It seems like Wilford thrives whenever Garrard is under center. Garrard played well this week and the Jags could be patient with Byron Leftwich’s ankle giving him another possible start or two. It’s simple. If Garrard remains the starter, Wilford has more value.
Add For Depth (Starter potential)
Curtis is on the come in recent weeks. He caught a TD for the second week in a row. He now has 14 catches for 138 yards and two TDs in the last two games. Curtis has 3 TDs in the last four games and he’s produced 50 yards in three straight games. Take caution before you run to the waiver wire to grab Curtis. He injured his ribs on the final play of the game Sunday, so be sure he’s not going to miss any practices or games going forward. If the injury turns out to minor, then he could be worth stashing as a WR5. If Isaac Bruce or Torry Holt gets hurt, Curtis would play an even larger role and instantly become a solid WR3 or WR4 for your team.
Lelie displaced Roddy White as the Falcons starting WR opposite Michael Jenkins
and he has produced 50+ yards in there of his last five games. He still hasn’t
scored, but he’s a good deep threat for Michael Vick and he’ll probably score
once or twice before the year is done. Vick’s improved passing in recent games
fuels the hope that Lelie could also produce something note-worthy. He’s worth a
shot as your WR5 or WR6.
Williamson has been a huge tease so far in his young career. Armed with dangerous speed, Williamson can get behind defenses. Unfortunately, he can’t seem to catch the ball consistently. Some owners may have bailed on him. He’s produced one game (5-44-0) of note since opening the season with two strong efforts. The Vikings schedule looks good the rest of the way, so Williamson could be a decent gamble as a WR5 or WR6 if he was cut in your league.
Booker caught a TD against his former team this week. He has now scored in each of the Dolphins last two games. Booker has 322 yards on 23 catches while playing in seven games. He could be useful as your WR5 or WR6, but he’s not someone you want to count on every week as a WR3.
The Cowboys No. 3 receiver almost got a start this week when Terry Glenn’s quad flared up in Friday’s practice. Glenn was able to start the game, but Crayton still produced a strong 84 yards on four catches. He now has 17 catches for 259 yards with a pair of TDs on the season. Keep in mind, if Glenn isn’t able to play in the future, Crayton is the guy to grab.
Add for Insurance (Injury replacement)
Bernard Berrian left the game this week and Davis moved into the starting lineup. Davis is the team’s No. 3 receiver, and the No. 2 like Berrian, in the event of injury. He finished with 40 yards on five catches. Davis has finished with at least 30 yards in five straight games with 13 catches in that span and 2 TDs.
Hackett is getting plenty of playing time in recent weeks with the injuries stacking up for the Seahawks. With Bobby Engram out, Hackett is working as the team’s No. 4 WR and there’s a small chance he could move into the No. 3 spot ahead of Nate Burleson if he continues to produce. In the last three games, Hackett has 10 catches for 128 yards and a TD. The next four games are against the Raiders, Rams, 49ers, and Packers. If Hackett remains in the picture, he has a chance to keep producing.
Lloyd has been a non-factor this year for the Redskins, but he’s someone to keep an eye as long as Santana Moss isn’t healthy. He may not amount to anything, but he has a small amount of upside because of his great hands and big play ability. If Moss ends up missing more playing time, then Lloyd could be worth a roster spot. Add for Next Year (Dynasty potential)
Hagan is a future starter for the Dolphins, but right now he’s the team’s No. 3 receiver. He caught one ball this week for 7 yards as all three of the other Dolphins receivers caught a TD from Joey Harrington. Hagan was productive replacing Marty Booker the last few weeks, but he’s back in a limited/reserve role for now.
The 6’ 2” rookie out of Oregon caught two passes for 31 yards this week against the Bengals. He’s caught a pass now in six out of the Raven’s eight games. He’s the team’s No. 3 WR, though Clarence Moore is favored more than Williams is in the red zone. The Ravens passing game is coming around, but neither of these two will be consistent unless Mason or Clayton get hurt. Keep an eye on
Carter got the start this week replacing the ailing Plaxico Burress (back). He had a 15-yard catch against the Texans. Carter is the team’s No. 3 WR, though Michael Jennings has also earned more time recently. Jennings caught two balls for 21 yards this week. Jennings and Carter are of interest if Burress or Toomer are unable to play. Plaxico’s back has flared up a couple times now. If it continues, these two deserve a closer look.
Copper earned more playing time this week with Joe Horn inactive. Copper caught an 11-yard pass and gained eight yards on an end-around. Copper is the team’s No. 4 WR. If Horn returns next week, Copper will be No. 4 – at best – so there’s no need to run out and grab him.
Tight End Here's a list of the top players that are likely to be available for those of you in smaller leagues. If any of these players remain on waivers, then grab them first. If not, keep digging and look at our players below for more options.
Add Immediately (Impact potential)
Daniels caught three balls for 34 yards against the Giants. He was a high
priority pickup on last week’s waivers following a huge 9 catch, 99 yard, 2 TD
performance in week eight. He has 5 TDs on the season. He’s not available in
most leagues, but if he’s out there, then don’t hesitate grabbing him. He could
produce starter numbers the rest of the way.
Martin has been consistently productive in the last few Packers games. With Greg Jennings trying to get healthy following a sprain ankle, Martin has taken on a larger role in the Packers TE-friendly offense. He caught four balls for 51 yards this week and he caught four passes for 48 yards with a 1-yard TD against the Cardinals last week. He caught two balls for 31 yards with a TD the week before that. He’s a great option going forward as long as he stays healthy, but his role could decrease a little once Jennings is back at 100%.
Davis is close to returning to action after missing most of the last two months due to a broken leg. He could develop into a prime target for Alex Smith in the last 6-7 weeks of the season. He was cut in most leagues after getting hurt. If he’s still out there, grab him as a potentially strong TE2.
Add For Depth (Starter potential)
Stevens could play a pivotal role in tonight’s game for the Seahawks, but the Raiders have been tough on tight ends all year, so don’t expect a lot of noise from Stevens. However, he could rebound from the knee problems that set him back in August to be a top 10 or 15 fantasy TE in the last month or two of the season. If he’s available, grab him and he might become a strong TE2 down the stretch.
Anderson is a decent backup TE option in deeper leagues. He’ll have a few more games that are productive in the second half of the season, but he’s not consistent enough to have any faith in as a starter each week.
Add for Later (Sleeper potential)
A week after Scheffler “broke out” with a 4-51-0 game against the Colts, he disappeared once again in the box score. He’s not ready for fantasy purposes yet, but he’s a kid who has enough talent to emerge in the second half of the year. He’s a natural in the passing game, but playing TE as a rookie in the NFL is no easy feat. He’ll need some time before he’s a worthy option, but look out when that time comes.
The Colts like to use 2 or 3 tight ends offensively. Dallas Clark is the
unquestioned starter. Behind Clark, Ben Utecht and Bryan Fletcher see enough
targets that they register an inconsistent blip on the fantasy radar. This week,
Utecht was productive catching four passes for 49 yards. Fletcher didn’t catch a
pass. Any given week, it could be the flip-flop with Fletcher catching a few
balls and Utecht not making the box score. If Clark gets hurt, the value of both
players would certainly be higher. At this point, Utecht would only be worth
acquiring in deeper leagues that require TEs. Otherwise, he’s just not
consistent enough week to week.
Fitzsimmons is finally healthy again. He was listed as the team’s No. 1 tight end when training camp opened, but he broke his wrist and missed the rest of the preseason and most of the season so far. This week, Fitzsimmons was more involved in the Lions offense catching two balls for 35 yards vs. the Falcons. The Lions cut Az-Zahir Hakim last week and kept Mike Williams inactive. They seem to be leaning more on their tight ends as Dan Campbell, Marcus Pollard and Sean McHugh all played and caught a pass. If that trend continues, Fitzsimmons could be worth a look in deeper leagues that require TEs.
Wilson caught an 11-yard TD this week against the Rams. Wilson could be good for 2-3 receptions each week as the Chiefs primary fullback going forward. He’s still listed as a TE, so you may be able to take advantage of the positional change and use Wilson to secure your depth. Add for Insurance (Injury or bye week replacement)
Blakley caught three passes for 25 yards against the Lions on Sunday. Alge Crumpler was injured on a play early in the 4th quarter, but he later returned to the field to catch another pass. If Crumpler were to get hurt and miss any playing time, Blakley would become the team’s starting TE, but understand that he’s nowhere near the receiving threat that Crumpler is for the Falcons.
Kicker Here's a list of the top players that are likely to be available for those of you in smaller leagues. If any of these players remain on waivers, then grab them for your bye week needs or as a new starter if your current kicker is not producing as much as you need.
Defense At this point in the season the best defenses are almost always gone. Some defenses are cut during the season because owners don’t like to carry more than one defense so they can use roster spots for an extra RB, QB or WR. Some owners prefer to go with a Defense-by-committee approach and play the matchups to the best of their ability each week. That strategy often requires a weekly look at the waiver wire defenses so they can grab one with a good home matchup for that week. There may be some defenses with a good schedule during the fantasy playoffs that remains available in your league. Here’s the list of defenses to target down the stretch to use either as a starting defense or to platoon with another defense and play the matchups.
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