Fantasy Football Info For Serious Players
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Quarterback Grab one of these quarterbacks, if they are still available. League sizes and roster limitations vary greatly, so your mileage will vary.
Add Immediately (Impact potential)
It finally happened. HC Joe Gibb announced Jason Campbell as the new starting QB
for the Redskins going into week 11 against Tampa Bay. The Redskins are 3-6 and
have nothing to lose by making the switch to Campbell. Campbell will be without
Clinton Portis and Santana Moss isn't 100%, but Campbell is all about upside, as
opposed to Brunell. He may struggle, have some success and ultimately be
inconsistent. At least he's getting his shot after a couple years of waiting and
learning. If he's available, grab him. He may not blossom like Philip Rivers,
but he could be productive.
It’s looking more and more like David Garrard will be the Jags starting quarterback for the rest of the year. Byron Leftwich has all but proclaimed himself good to go, but HC Jack Del Rio seems content to ride things out with Garrard at the helm. Maybe he’ll reconsider his position now that Garrard threw four picks in a disappointing 13-10 home loss to the Texans. Last week was a different story as Garrard threw three TDs to lead the Jaguars to a home win against the Titans. This week, Garrard managed 214 passing yards and 44 rushing yards, but he didn’t throw or run for a TD. The Jags play the Giants next week followed by games at Bills, at Dolphins, vs Colts, at Titans, vs Patriots.
With all the pre-game hype surrounding Steve McNair’s return to Tennessee, Vince
Young had a surprisingly strong game against a tough Ravens defense, giving fans
a glimpse of what might be a very bright future. He ran for 39 yards and a TD,
but he also made some big plays as a quarterback throwing for 211 yards. On one
play he appeared to be sacked only he flipped the ball back to TE Bo Scaife, who
scampered into the end zone with a 13 yard TD. Last week he struggled, this week
he surprised. Get used to the rough ride for now. The rest of the season
features a couple matchups where Young could be a sneaky play. He’s risky, but
in deeper leagues he could be useful against the Giants and Colts in weeks 12
and 13 and possibly against the Texans in week 14, playing in front on his
“home” crowd.
Matt Hasselbeck is on the verge of returning to the starting lineup, so Wallace is purely a short-term option. He threw for 2 TDs and 161 yards against the Rams this week leading the Seahawks to a 24-22 win at home. Wallace can be dangerous with his feet and this week he added 30 yards on two rushes. The Seahawks play the 49ers and Packers the next two weeks. If Wallace remains behind center he'll be an attractive option. Otherwise, he’s still a worthwhile handcuff once Hasselbeck returns to secure the Seattle QB through the fantasy playoffs.
Add For Depth (Starter potential)
Harrington led the Dolphins to a 13-10 home win over the KC Chiefs this week throwing for 201 yards on 19-of-35 passing with no TDs, but no turnovers either. Don’t look for Daunte Culpepper to return anytime soon. It’s looking like he could be on the mend until next year, especially with Harrington playing reasonably well in his absence. There are some games on the schedule where Harrington may make sense like on Thanksgiving in Detroit. If he remains the starter for the rest of the season, he may produce numbers in the QB15 to QB20 range.
Barring injury, Gradkowski will finish the season as the Bucs starting QB. Luke McCown was activated from the PUP list, but it’s unlikely that he or Tim Rattay would unseat Gradkowski without injury. It’s hard to expect him to be anything more than a QB20 to QB25 the rest of the way, but he’s capable and has been productive in spots. He’s a worthy backup in deeper leagues and he could be worthwhile in smaller leagues if you’re lacking one of the top QBs and you’re embarking on a QB-by-committee approach.
After a hot start, Pennington cooled off over the last two months possibly prompting an owner in your league to cut bait on him with the bye weeks behind us. He’s only thrown for 200 yards once since he threw for 300+ yards in the first two games. The Jets schedule features some potentially good matchups against the Texans in week 12, Packers in week 13 and Bills in week 14. Pennington produced 19-29-0-183 with a TD in week 3 at Buffalo. In week 17, he faces the Dolphins for the second time. Pennington had 2 TDs and 175 yards passing against Miami in week 6. Add for Later (Sleeper potential)
Jake Plummer got off to a horrible start this week against the Raiders throwing two interceptions on the Broncos first three drives before rebounding to lead the Broncos to a 17-13 road win. Plummer finished with 210 yards on 20-of-31 with two TDs and three interceptions. The Broncos are 7-2, so as long as they remain on track for a playoff birth, Plummer will start. Cutler’s only chance to see significant playing time this year is in the event of an injury to Plummer, or an unlikely 4 or 5 game losing streak.
Rosenfels finished up this week’s 13-10 win over the Jaguars for Houston as
David Carr was forced to leave the game with a bruised shoulder. Rosenfels has
piqued the interest of the Texans coaching staff after he finished another game
strongly when Carr turned the ball over three times in the first half a few
weeks ago. Rosenfels has a strong arm, but he’s largely untested against NFL
defenses. He has experience in the league, but no lengthy amount of game-time
experience to draw on. The Texans offense is good enough to support solid
fantasy production if Rosenfels is the starter – at any point. It’s too early to
tell whether Carr will be able to start next week, but keep Rosenfels on the
short list if Carr isn’t ready to go.
The Vikings lost a tough home game to their division rival Packers this week 23-17. In doing so, Brad Johnson completed 18-of-30 for 257 yards with a TD and an interception. He also lost a fumble. HC Brad Childress has hinted that if Johnson continued to struggle with turnovers that he would consider replacing him with backup Brooks Bollinger. Heck, if the Vikings don’t get off their slide soon, they may even consider using Travaris Jackson – their QB of the future this year. Add for Insurance (Backup Plan for playoffs)
Frerotte is well schooled in HC Scott Linehan’s offense having played under him in two other previous stops (Miami and Minnesota). 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.
Kitna has done enough in his first season with the Lions to earn the respect of the locker room, but if he falters down the stretch or gets hurt, McCown could be a top 10 fantasy QB in this offense, too. If you are riding the Kitna wave, do yourself a favor and get McCown for the stretch run (providing you can spare the roster spot). 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).
Michael Vick’s playing style keeps Schaub among the NFL backup QBs who draw the most interest in bigger fantasy leagues. Schaub is also coveted as a potential NFL free-agent by other NFL GMs. If Vick gets hurt, Schaub is capable of leading this team and running this offense effectively. If you have Vick, consider grabbing Schaub going into the playoffs if your other QBs are not strong options. Keep an eye on
His sore shoulder has been slow to heal and the Raiders don’t appear to be in any hurry to get him back on the field. Andrew Walter has struggled greatly, but he’s improving slowly and there’s a small chance that Brooks may not see another snap behind center this year. Still, Brooks is worth keeping track of in the even he does return. The Raiders offense is abysmal, but Brooks could help get something going if/when he sees the field.
So much for the expected return of Trent Green. He's still not 100% cleared to return to his starting duties, but even when he is totally cleared, there's a growing belief that HC Herm Edwards will keep rolling with Damon Huard. Huard has performed extremely well and he's one of the top rated passers in the NFL since taking over for Green in the season opener. Keep track of Green's progress, especially if Edwards does end up going back to him. In the meantime, it looks like Huard will keep the job for now and the Chiefs will take their time with Green's recovery.
Running Back In most leagues, the waiver options for RBs are slim this deep into 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 (like Ladell Betts) 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 others in previous weeks, but we continue to list them in the event they are available. Check this list and then start with the “Add Immediately” section and work your way down the list to find players that best fit your league’s criteria.
Add Immediately (Impact potential)
Clinton Portis was forced out of this week’s game against the Eagles with a broken hand/finger. Portis could be out as long as a month. He could have surgery as early as today (Monday) to insert pins in his broken ring finger. Betts replaced Portis in the game. He finished with 83 yards rushing on 20 carries and four catches for another 8 yards. Betts should be the primary ball carrier for the Redskins until Portis returns. I f he’s out around a month, Betts will start against the Bucs, Panthers, Falcons and the Eagles again. Those are mostly neutral matchups, but at this point if you can snag a starting RB off the heap, then don’t hesitate to do just that.
It’s unlikely that Thomas remains available after being the hot pickup in most leagues last week. Willis McGahee is expected to be out at least another 2-3 weeks, so Thomas has a good opportunity to rack up some yards in the short term. He ran for 109 yards on 28 carries against the Colts soft run defense this week. He’s getting the rock enough to produce, so if for some strange reason he’s available, grab him if you need a RB.
Williams is healthy again, but he’s still without a significant role unless DeShaun Foster is felled by injury. He’s worth a roster spot just for that possibility. Even though Foster has been durable in the past year or two, he has an extensive history of nagging injuries and Williams, of course, is a first round draft pick and an immense talent in his own right. Williams just needs that one chance to break into the lineup. If he gets that chance, he may never look back, so stash him if you own Foster. In most competitive leagues, he was probably rostered despite missing a month due to a high ankle sprain.
Add For Depth (Starter potential)
To quote our Injury Report: "Brown suffered a groin injury during the game on
Sunday, and though he managed to return to action it was not insignificant:
Brown said he was about 70% after the injury. "The main thing was when I was
running to the left, it kind of affected me a little bit," Brown said. 'Between
the tackles I felt pretty comfortable." He'll be evaluated further as the week
goes along - Brown owners will want to pay attention to his progress/status this
week."
Moore continues to get more playing time in the Vikings offense while serving as the primary backup to Chester Taylor. Of course, Taylor was dinged up coming into this game, but he was upgraded to probable and played the majority of the snaps without further problems. Moore has been getting more work on third downs to rest Taylor in recent weeks. He caught five balls for 57 yards this week against the Packers with three carries for another 15 yards. If Taylor gets hurt, Moore would be the featured back and an excellent option for PPR leagues given his fantastic receiving skills.
Musa Smith was carted off the field this week with a shoulder injury. It’s unknown how long he’ll be out (or not). If he is out for any length of time, that means Mike Anderson will be the team’s primary backup to Jamal Lewis. Of course, Anderson is a proven veteran who could be productive in a feature role if anything happens to Lewis, too. With Brian Billick calling the plays again, Lewis has been getting more touches and his productivity is back up. However, if Lewis goes down, with Smith’s status questionable, Anderson should once again draw some interest if he’s available.
If Davenport is still available, you might want to grab him just in case something happens to Willie Parker. The Steelers got 213 yards and 2 TDs from Parker this week while Davenport served as the No. 2. Parker carried 22 times to Davenport’s two times (for 3 yards). He caught one pass for four yards. Last week, Davenport caught five balls for 57 yards and ran twice for 17 yards. Verron Haynes is out for the season giving Davenport a chance to move up the depth chart. Duce Staley remains on the Steelers roster, but he’s unlikely to overtake Davenport for playing time.
Fargas is the team’s primary backup to Lamont Jordan. He’s a big-play threat as a runner given his speed and he’s earned more carries while Jordan was sidelined with an ailing back. Fargas didn’t take advantage of the playing time this week though. He lost six yards on eight carries, but he did snare a 21-yard catch. He offers little upside given how poor the Raiders offense has been this year, but he could be worth rostering if you’re desperately seeking help in a 14 or 16 team league.
Herron got into the end zone this week, but he did very little otherwise. With Vernand Morency on the mend, Herron is currently the primary backup to Ahman Green and the team’s No. 2 RB. When Morency is healthy again, the two backs will likely split playing time behind Green, though Morency seemed to earn more carries and a larger role before getting hurt. Herron is a capable receiver out of the backfield and a good runner near the goal line. He could be worth a roster spot in deeper leagues, especially in a PPR format.
Houston is healthy again, but he was a healthy scratch this week against the Patriots. Kevan Barlow and Leon Washington are shouldering the Jets rushing attack for now while Houston lurks in the background. Houston is a capable runner and he’s bigger than Washington is, but he’s struggled to remain healthy and the Jets may view Washington as a better potential every down back for the future, so they’re giving him the carries. Don’t forget about Houston though. If an injury strikes, Houston could be back in the picture.
Add for Insurance (Backup Plan for playoffs)
Davis is the primary backup to Steven Jackson. If Jackson gets hurt, you need to
protect yourself for a playoff run. Davis would be the primary runner (20+
carries), and with Tony Fisher out for the rest of the season, Davis might even
get some action on third downs.
If you drafted Kevin Jones, your team is probably doing very well. However, it’s more than likely that you don’t have a handcuff for Jones at this point since Shawn Bryson and now Brian Calhoun have been placed on the season-ending IR. Harris is now the team’s primary backup at RB to Jones, so add him if you own Jones to protect yourself going into the playoffs. Harris can catch the ball and he looked good in the pre-season before he was surprisingly cut. He could be a productive player as the Lions featured back, but the only chance of that happening is a Jones injury.
The former first round pick finally saw the field this week. With Clinton Portis sidelined due to a broken hand, Duckett logged two carries for 16 yards serving as a backup to Ladell Betts. Duckett could be in-line for more carries over the next month with Portis on the mend and he’s now one injury away from being back in a featured role.
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. Two weeks ago,
Pittman caught five balls and produced 40 yards. Last week, Pittman ran once
this week for 3 yards and he caught six passes for 27 yards, but he also
suffered a shoulder stinger. He appears to be fine going into the Bucs MNF
appearance against Carolina, but consider adding him if you’re looking for depth
at RB, especially in a PPR format.
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 last week, but he didn’t touch the rock this week. Add for Next Year (Dynasty potential)
Nash was a surprising activation from the practice squad this week. HC Mike Shanahan decided to deactivate Mike Bell and use Nash as the team’s change of pace back behind Tatum Bell, who returned to the starting lineup after missing last week due to turf toe injuries on both feet. Nash seemingly catapulted both Mike Bell and Cedric Cobbs with the surprising move. He may be worth a roster spot in deeper leagues, particularly if you have a stake in the Broncos backfield. Otherwise, he could be right back to the scrap heap next week if Shanny returns to Mike Bell or even if he turns to Cobbs or Cecil Sapp.
Keep an eye on
Frank Gore had a big game this week against the Lions going over 100 yards in the first half with a TD. In the second half, he was forced to leave the game for a while after his bell was rung. Hicks took the reigns temporarily until Gore was able to return to the game. Hicks shares touches with rookie Michael Robinson behind Gore, but in the event that Gore is unable to go, he could get the majority of the carries with Robinson handling the goal line duties. Hicks ran nine times for 20 yards and caught two balls for 18 yards. Robinson had five carries for four yards.
Crockett ran for 40 yards on seven attempts this week. LaMont Jordan ran 10 times for 12 yards and Justin Fargas ran eight times and lost six yards. Compared to the other Oakland backs, Crockett was far more productive. In the past, Crockett was used near the goal line and he was a good bench option in TD-heavy leagues. Unfortunately, he has scored just one TD since the 2004 season, so he’s more a player to keep an eye on at this point. Jordan and Fargas are the team’s top two backs, but if injuries continue to plague Jordan or Fargas, Crockett could play a key role in the Raiders running game.
Faulk is the team’s third down back, at times, and he’s the No. 3 RB on the Patriots offense overall. There is very little chance of him becoming the team’s featured back even if Dillon and Maroney get hurt. The team also has Patrick Pass, now back from the PUP list, and Heath Evans in the backfield. Both of those backs can play a little fullback and serve as the team’s featured runner in the event of injuries to Dillon and Maroney.
With Jerious Norwood sidelined due to a knee injury, Jackson is currently the backup to Warrick Dunn. He was activated from the practice squad a week ago and he had one carry this week for two yards. Jackson is a bigger back than Dunn or Norwood at 6’ 2” and 240 lbs, but he’ll likely go back to the practice squad once Norwood recovers.
Wide Receiver Here's a list of players we've covered in previous weeks in this column. Most of these players are gone in the majority of competitive 10 and 12 team leagues. That said, some of these players may remain on your league's waiver wire. If so, consider grabbing them first, but check them against the players in this week's column in the "Add Immediately" section for the players we feel will be the most sought after in this week's waivers.
Add Immediately (Impact potential)
I can’t imagine Clayton still being available even in most 8 or 10 team leagues,
but by all means run out there and grab him if he’s still there. Now. He’s
moving his way up the rankings and he’s caught 15 balls in the last two games
for 198 yards and a TD. He has 3 TDs in the last four games and 21 catches in
that span. He emerged as Steve McNair’s favorite target over the last month when
it looked like Derrick Mason would be that player in training camp. Clayton is a
polished receiver with lots of big-play potential and ability to run after the
catch. He’s in the mid-30s now, but he could finish the season in the 20s if he
keeps up his recent play.
Bradley made a strong return to the Bears after missing almost all of this year
recovering from a torn ACL. He caught a 29-yard TD from Rex Grossman before
half-time of Sunday night’s game to cut the lead to 13-10. Bradley finished the
game with four receptions for 79 yards and he should continue in a starting
capacity as long as Bernard Berrian is recovering. Pick him up if you’re looking
for more of an immediate help, rather than a player who might be worthwhile for
the rest of the season.
Holmes has been a hot commodity for the past few weeks now, but if he’s still
out there grab him if you can. It won’t be long before he’s starting opposite
Hines Ward giving the Steelers the deep threat they’ve lacked since Plaxico
Burress and Antwaan Randle-El departed via free agency. He caught two balls for
57 yards this week against the Saints.
Caldwell has been one of the most productive Patriots lately. This week, he caught 9 passes for 90 yards and a TD. He caught 7 passes for 84 yards and a TD two weeks ago. He has 22 catches in the last four games for 217 yards and 2 TDs. He and Doug Gabriel are the team’s top two fantasy options going forward. Jabar Gaffney worked his way into the mix this week catching three for 65 yards and rookie Chad Jackson had two catches for 5 yards. Veteran Troy Brown had 2 catches for 15 yards, too. Brady spreads the ball to all his receivers, but Caldwell seems to have his attention the most over the last month, so keep him in mind as a possible flex/WR4 and let’s see if he can sustain his recent upswing.
With Terry Glenn sidelined this week, Sam Hurd got the starting nod opposite
Terrell Owens, but Crayton had the big day in the stat sheet. Hurd produced four
catches for 42 yards, while Crayton recorded his first 100-yard game. He caught
five passes for 104 yards including a 30-yard TD in the 2nd quarter that gave
Dallas a 10-0 lead. Both players are of interest as long as Terry Glenn is out.
Glenn’s reportedly playing on a “bone-on-bone” condition in his knee, so Crayton
and Hurd could continue to play primary roles going forward, at least until
Glenn is back in the lineup and proves himself to be healthy.
Bennett finally had another big game this year. He caught six balls for 115 yards this week against the Ravens. In the last two weeks, he has 9 catches, 166 yards and a TD. Bennett has 50+ yards now in three of the last four games. The Titans pass offense will be a bit too risky for most fantasy owners’ taste as long as Vince Young is learning on the job. If Young levels out this year, Bennett could finish the season with a solid second half. His last four games are, at least, promising and the upcoming schedule includes matchups against the Eagles, Giants, Colts, Texans, Jags and Bills.
Eric Parker left this week’s game with a neck injury and Malcom Floyd took his spot in the starting lineup and responded with a big game. Floyd caught a 46-yard TD from Philip Rivers and finished with 109 yards on five catches. The Chargers won’t be throwing as often as they did this week, but Floyd is a young WR with plenty of upside. He is 6’5” and 225 lbs, so he can be a dangerous deep threat. He now has 3 TDs on 13 catches for 199 yards for the season. If Parker misses time going forward, Floyd is worth a gamble. He’s been productive in spots this year and he sure came through when he was inserted into Parker’s spot in the starting lineup this week.
After catching two TDs a week ago, Wilford produced two catches for 50 yards this week against the Texans. Wilford has only one big game this year, but at least he’s been consistent producing 2-3 catches each week for around 35-40 yards. He’s certainly more interesting as long as David Garrard is the starting QB. Wilford seems to be a favorite target whenever Garrard is the starter.
Add For Depth (Starter potential)
Terrence Copper hauled in six catches for 92 yards and a TD amidst Drew Brees’ 398 yards in Pittsburgh this week. Copper started in place of the injured Joe Horn. His production looks great on paper, but he did drop a few catchable passes, so we’ll see how that bodes on his ability to keep that temporary starting job, especially if Devery Henderson is healthy. Last week, Devery Henderson started and produced big numbers. The way Brees is playing, whoever starts for the Saints opposite Marques Colston is going to be a viable option for fantasy purposes, too. Copper (6’2”, 207 lbs) is in his fourth year out of East Carolina. He was previously with the Cowboys before this season.
With Bernard Berrian sidelined this week (and possibly for a couple more weeks), Mark Bradley moved into the starting lineup and produced 4-79-1. Davis remained the team’s No. 3 WR and he caught one ball for 26 yards. Davis has been productive throughout the season, but Bradley looked good against the Giants and he looks like the player to target for the next couple weeks until Berrian is healthy. Davis may still produce some solid numbers as he has working out of the slot all year, but Bradley has a better opportunity, especially if Grossman plays well like he did on Sunday night.
Hackett continues to get more playing time with Bobby Engram sidelined. Hackett caught two balls for 30 yards this week. In the last four games, Hackett has 12 catches for 158 yards and a TD. The next two games are against the 49ers and Packers. If Hackett remains in the picture, he could be useful since both games are good matchups for the Seahawks passing game.
Amani Toomer is on the season-ending IR as of mid-week allowing Tyree to get the start this week against the Bears. Tyree only produced four catches for 38 yards, but Eli Manning never got on track, so it’s difficult to predict if Tyree will be much better against other teams. Granted, the Bears defense is a bit easier to beat via the air than the ground. Either way, it was a tough matchup and Tyree figures to remain a starter for the rest of the season unless Tim Carter is worked into this spot and Tyree goes back playing a secondary role and being a special teams demon.
Lelie won a starting job but he was questionable this week, then inactive. Like Michael Jenkins and numerous WRs before him, he has struggled to produce fantasy stats on a consistent basis. Jenkins catches TDs every few games, while Lelie has 18 catches for 307 yards on the season, but he’s still looking for his first TD. Not to mention, Roddy White responded with 5 catches for 99 yards starting once again (for Lelie) this week. Lelie has to produce to keep the job, and White could certainly win it back with more performances like that. All three Falcons WRs have good size, speed and overall talent. It’s a shame they don’t get more production out of them.
Taylor isn’t the kind of player most of us target on the waiver wire. He doesn’t come with any allure or charming upside. He’s a decent possession-like receiver who will catch you two, three or four passes week in and week out consistently. He just won’t produce many, if any, 100-yard games or TDs. If you can live with that in a PPR-league, than great. Taylor is what he is.
Booker only produced 16 yards on two catches this week. Last week, against his former team, he caught a TD. He has 338 yards on 25 catches while playing in eight games. He could provide depth on your roster, but he’s not reliable enough to be a starter.
This has been another disappointing year for Clayton. He faces the Panthers tonight on MNF, but he’s only produced 50 yards in two games this year and he had only 1 TD and 24 catches in eight games. It’s hard to believe he isn’t more productive after watching him go nuts as a rookie, but Clayton hasn’t done enough to warrant a roster spot in smaller leagues, so he could be floating out there.
Add for Later (Sleeper potential)
Devery Henderson started for Joe Horn last week and responded with three catches for 111 yards with a pair of TDs. Yet this week Terrence Copper got the start and Henderson didn’t catch a single pass. If Henderson starts, he’s worth considering in deeper leagues simply because his speed, but also because the Saints passing game is firing on all cylinders and he’s been productive when he’s in the lineup.
David Givens returned to the starting lineup this week after missing much of the
season with a knee injury. Unfortunately, he injured his left knee against the
Ravens and had to be carted off the field. Yet another injury to Givens means
that Brandon Jones could be back in the starting lineup next week opposite Drew
Bennett. Jones caught one pass for 10 yards this week. Drew Bennett was Vince
Young’s top target along with TE Bo Scaife. Jones is probably available in most
leagues, but it’s hard to predict big things for him because the Titans passing
game is to inconsistent while Vince Young learns on the job. He’s a good young
WR, but until the Titans improve offensively, on a consistent basis, Jones may
not be able to take full advantage of being in the lineup.
White started this week for the injured Ashley Lelie, who supplanted White a few
weeks ago in the starting lineup. Against Cleveland this week, White caught five
balls for 99 yards – including one reception that went for 55 yards. White has a
ton of talent and good big play potential, but he’s one of three Falcons WRs who
are seemingly flowing with talent, but inconsistent as fantasy WRs. Michael
Vick’s inconsistency is a controlling factor, no question, but the fact that
tight end Alge Crumpler is the top target in an offense that is geared more
towards running the football speak volumes for the Falcons WRs lack of
statistics. For that matter, White could languish as a Falcon like Michael
Jenkins has done for a couple years. With Ashley Lelie in the mix, the Falcons
WRs spread the targets even further diluting their fantasy potential. At least
Jenkins produces the occasional TD catch. White was the hot hand this week.
Greg Jennings continues to be slowed by his sprained ankle. He was able to start this week, but Ruvell Martin also saw extensive action, too. Martin caught 3 passes for 47 yards against the Vikings. Jennings keeps tweaking his ankle, so if he’s unable to play, then keep Martin in mind as a last second pickup and play type.
Lloyd has been a non-factor for the most part this year, but he made a 43-yard diving catch this week. He finished with 2 catches for 47 yards. As long as Santana Moss isn’t healthy, Lloyd should draw more interest than usual. He’s capable of making the highlight reel catches, but he’s not consistent enough to warrant much attention from fantasy owners, expect in the deepest of leagues.
Add for Playoffs (Favorable schedule)
Jackson is another young receiver with a potentially bright future as a possible starter at some point in the future. Keenan McCardell can’t hold on forever and Eric Parker may not be able to hold off both Jackson and Malcom Floyd as starters next year. Jackson is 6’ 5 and 241 lbs. The Chargers can feature a tandem of Jackson, Floyd and Antonio Gates providing defenses with three huge targets for Rivers. He caught one ball for 18 yards this week. Add for Next Year (Dynasty potential)
We covered Williams last week as a player to keep in mind for the future. Well, this week Williams caught four balls for 75 yards, as the Ravens passing game clicked and Steve McNair threw for 373 yards in a 27-26 come from behind win at Tennessee. Williams could be a future starter for the Ravens, but that depends on how long Derrick Mason sticks around. Williams has good size/speed, but his time will come next year and beyond. He’s working his way into the WR3/WR4 mix right now along with Clarence Moore. Keep an eye on
Johnson is sort of like a Troy Williamson clone. He failed in New England and New Orleans, not because of his speed, but because he is too inconsistent. Yet, while Troy Williamson was held without a catch, Johnson caught two balls for 75 yards against Green Bay. The Vikings passing game isn’t consistent enough with Brad Johnson at QB anyway, but Johnson is even more precarious. Don’t expect anything more out of him, but keep in mind that he does have great speed, so if the Vikings are going to keep putting him out there, he could produce some long receptions.
McMullen managed to catch 3 balls this week for 64 yards and a TD. He also pounced on a Chester Taylor fumble at the goal line for another TD. McMullen is a big target but he’s not fast enough to be consistently productive in a feature role. Once Marcus Robinson returns, McMullen and Bethel Johnson can go back to the bench.
Just when we thought Jerry Porter would put something together for us this year, he has failed to do anything. For the second straight week, he didn’t catch a pass. It’s time to put him back into that “show me first” mode. He’s clearly not producing anything now, but he remains a big talent that has been productive in the past.
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 continued his strong rookie campaign with a 4 catch, 55 yard outing this week against the Jaguars. Last week, he caught three balls for 34 yards against the Giants. Of course, two weeks ago he was one of the hottest pickups following a huge nine catch, 99 yard, 2 TD performance. He has five TDs on the season. If he’s out there, then don’t hesitate grabbing him. He could produce starter numbers the rest of the way.
Stevens caught a TD this week against the St. Louis Rams and he finished with
three catches for 29 yards overall. In three games since his return, Stevens has
2 TDs among 6 catches for 49 yards. In the Seahawks offense, and with Hasselbeck
returning, Stevens could emerge as a top 10 or top 15 TE down the stretch.
Davis could return as soon as next week from his broken leg. He could be frequently targeted when he does return. If he’s still out there, grab him as a potentially strong TE2. It’s hard to expect much, since he’s only a rookie, but he’s a superior athlete and Alex Smith was looking for him early in the season before he got hurt.
Todd Heap left this week’s game gingerly. Heap struggled leaving the field and it appeared that he couldn’t put much weight on his injured leg, so he could miss some game-time in the next few weeks (his actual prognosis is not known at this time, check our FBG blogger for updates). Wilcox is a capable receiver, so if Heap is unable to go next week, consider adding Wilcox as an insurance policy. Wilcox caught one ball this week for 6 yards.
Technically, Wilson is starting at fullback for the Chiefs since they lost Ronnie Cruz to a season-ending injury. Tony Gonzalez hurt his shoulder this week and he may be sidelined for 2-to-3 weeks giving Wilson a bigger opportunity for the interim. Unfortunately, the injury to Gonzo may also mean the Wilson will need to block more and the Chiefs could go to a three WR formation instead. Jason Dunn is the primary backup to Gonzo at TE, but he’s always been known more for his blocking prowess than his receiving abilities.
Add For Depth (Starter potential)
Martin disappointed this week with only two catches for 12 yards as Bubba Franks
decided to make an appearance and catch a pair of passes himself for 22 yards.
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 last week and he caught four passes for 48 yards with a 1-yard TD
against the Cardinals in the week before that. He should have several productive
games the rest of the way, but in the best scenario, he adds quality depth
behind your starter.
Scaife had a big game this week catching two balls for 48 yards while adding a 13-yard TD run on a play where Vince Young scrambled, was about to get tackled, then pitched the ball to Scaife. The former Longhorn has been reasonably productive in his second season. As Young grows into a better QB, Scaife’s value could do the same. He’s already producing good numbers despite sharing time with Ben Troupe in the Titans two tight end sets.
The Colts like to use multiple tight ends each week in their offensive game plan. Dallas Clark is the unquestioned starter. Aside from Clark, however, Ben Utecht has also been quite productive in several games. He caught 7 balls for 66 yards against the Bills this week. Last week, he caught 4 for 49 yards. Bryan Fletcher is also in the mix, but he’s not producing nearly as many stats as Utecht. In deeper leagues, Utecht might be a decent gamble as a starting TE some weeks.
In his NFL career, Campbell has always been highly regarded as a blocker, but he’s never really earned a reputation as a valuable pass catcher. On the Lions, he has emerged as a viable player in both regards. This week, he caught a TD and had two catches for 32 yards. Granted, Marcus Pollard and Casey Fitzsimmons are also competing for playing time, but Campbell’s blocking make Campbell’s presence more of a certainty from week to week.
Add for Later (Sleeper potential)
Bergen caught five passes for 30 yards this week. He and rookie Leonard Pope (1 catch for 7 yards) both see action at tight end for the Cardinals. Neither one is productive enough on a consistent basis to warrant much fantasy value. If anything, Pope has more value in dynasty leagues, while Bergen has a leg up in experience, so he might be more productive between the two this year. It’s close.
Williams had the most productive week of all the Raiders receivers catching five balls for 61 yards against Denver. He’s a converted WR-turned-TE and he doubled his previous output for the season. He now has 10 catches for 136 yards for the season. If the Raiders offense ever takes shape, Williams could become a deep sleeper as a pass-catching TE.
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 a few good defenses remaining in your league that have good schedules during the fantasy playoffs. 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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