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Waiver
Wire Report
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by Bob Henry,
Exclusive to Footballguys.com
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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.
- Tony Romo – Dal
- Charlie Frye – Cle
- David Garrard – Jac
- Jeff Garcia – Phi
- Aaron Brooks – Oak
- Trent Green – KC
- Joey Harrington – Mia
- Jason Campbell - Was
- Bruce Gradkowski – TB
- Matt Leinart – Ari
- Vince Young – Ten
- A.J. Feeley - Phi
Add Immediately (Impact potential)
If an impatient owner in your league dumped, grab him. Even in smaller leagues,
most owners held onto Hasselbeck. If you’re fortunate enough to see him
lingering out there, just get him and ask questions later. There is a strong
likelihood that he’ll be productive the rest of the way when he resumes as the
starter – likely next week.
Donovan McNabb tore his ACL this week and he’ll miss the rest of the season.
Garcia isn’t nearly as valuable for fantasy purposes as McNabb, but he could be
productive if own McNabb and need another QB. Garcia was 26-for-48 for 189
yards, 1 TD and no picks against Tennessee. The Eagles remaining schedule is
mixed. Next week they are at Indianapolis followed by Carolina at home then
three straight road games in Washington, NY Giants and Dallas. Weeks 14 and 15
look better than the others, but Garcia will need to throw for the Eagles to
keep up with the Colts next week. At halftime of Sunday night’s game, it was
announced that Garcia has not been named the starter for the Eagles next week
yet. Keep an eye on this. If the Eagles go with A.J. Feeley, then be prepared to
go in either direction if you’re in dire straight and just need a QB. The Eagles
have enough talent around the QB to help them produce some reasonable numbers.
The Browns offense is playing much better since Maurice Carthon resigned and
Jeff Davidson took over the play calling duties as the team’s offensive
coordinator. Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow are performing up to
expectations, too. Frye isn’t putting up top 10 QB numbers, but he adds about
15-20 yards rushing each game and he’s averaging just shy of 200 yards per game
with 9 TDs and 12 INTs. The schedule has some potentially good matchups, too.
Next week, the Browns draw the Bengals followed by the Chiefs then at
Pittsburgh, at Baltimore, home vs Tampa and at Houston. He could be useful in
some of those games.
Byron Leftwich needs another surgery for his ailing ankle and Garrard is almost
certainly going to finish the season for the Jags in a starting capacity.
Garrard threw four picks last week, but all of them weren’t his fault either.
The Jags play the Giants on MNF followed by games at Bills, at Dolphins, vs
Colts, at Titans, vs Patriots. He’s been productive before and he pads his stats
each week with some rushing production, too. The question is whether he can put
together some consistently good performances the rest of the way and that
remains to be seen.
Campbell played reasonably well in his first NFL start against the Bucs this
week. He completed 19-of-34 passes for 196 yards and 2 TDs. He also ran for 11
yards on five attempts. The Redskins are 3-7 and have no reason not to ride
Campbell the rest of the way to see how he responds. They are hoping he’s the QB
of their future. The remaining schedule is vs. Carolina, vs Atlanta, vs
Philadelphia, at New Orleans, at St. Louis and vs NY Giants. He could be more
productive than you might think and more than half of those games appear to be
at least neutral or better than average matchups.
Brooks returned to the starting job this week against the Chiefs. He completed
13-of-22 passes for 179 yards with a TD and an interception. He added 34 yards
rushing. The Raiders lost RB LaMont Jordan to a torn MCL, so Brooks will be
counted on even more going forward. With Jerry Porter and Randy Moss sulking, it
will be interesting if Brooks can pull this offense together. He’s worth a
gamble at the very least. He could have some decent games with this remaining
schedule: at Chargers, vs Texans, at Bengals, vs Rams and vs Chiefs.
Green is back in the driver’s seat for the Chiefs, but his first start wasn’t
very productive for fantasy owners. He threw only 16 passes and finished with
102 yards. The Chiefs upcoming games are vs Broncos, at Browns, vs Ravens, at
Chargers and at Raiders. That schedule isn’t very friendly in terms of how well
QBs have fared, but Green could do something. He’s a bit of a reach at this
point, especially with Tony Gonzalez hurt. Once he returns, Green could become
more productive, but look for the Chiefs to ride Larry Johnson as much as
possible.
Add For Depth (Starter potential)
Amazingly, Gradkowski has thrown for 2 TDs in four of his first seven starts as
a rookie in the NFL. He has 1208 yards with 9 TDs and 4 picks. Here is the Bucs
schedule the rest of the way: vs Redskins, at Cowboys, at Steelers, vs Falcons,
at Bears and at Browns. Gradkowski is playing reasonably well, but he remains a
work in progress and he may not be consistently productive enough to use as a
starter, but he could add valuable depth to secure your hand at QB if needed.
Harrington was productive again this week throwing for 254 yards with a TD and
an interception on 26-of-42 passing against the Minnesota Vikings. Harrington
has now won three straight games as the starter after losing his first three.
Granted, the Dolphins defense had more of an impact today than Harrington or the
Dolphins running game, but a win is a win. In five games, Harrington has 1504
yards with 7 TDs and 10 interceptions. He’s worth picking up if you need a QB on
Thanksgiving – he returns to Detroit to face his former team. After that, the
Dolphins play Jacksonville and New England at home, then at Buffalo and back
home again to play the Jets.
Losman had a big game this week against the Texans throwing for 340 yards on
26-of-38 passing with 3 TDs, 1 INT and he added 14 yards rushing. Lee Evans
accounted for almost half of Losman’s completions, 265 yards and 2 TDs – both 83
yarders. Losman secured his job by throwing a 15-yard TD pass to Peerless Price
with 9 seconds left for the Bills win. Losman has been productive now in four
out of 10 games. The remaining schedule for the Bills begins at home next week
vs. Jaguars, then vs Chargers, at Jets, vs Dolphins and vs Titans. He could be
decent in weeks 15 and 17, but he’s far from being a steady, productive fantasy
QB still.
Add for Later (Sleeper potential)
Brad Johnson threw for 262 yards and ran for 19 yards as the Vikings lost a
close game to the Miami Dolphins 24-20. Johnson has struggled with turnovers
recently, but his starting job seems to be on solid ground. Bollinger could get
in there if the Vikings continue to slide. They are at 4-6. If Johnson struggles
in the next couple of games, then Bollinger could get a look. If their slide
continues, then don’t be surprised if rookie Tarvaris Jackson even gets some
action.
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. Now, with Orlando Pace gone for the
year, Bulger is likely to get hit even more. If Bulger gets hurt, Frerotte would
almost certainly be a productive fantasy QB with Holt, Bruce, Curtis and Jackson
as targets.
McCown could be a top 10 fantasy QB in this offense in the event that Jon Kitna
gets hurt. The Lions were even using McCown at WR in the last week or so. That
shows his athletic ability. 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
See Jeff Garcia above. At halftime of Sunday night’s game, it was announced that
Garcia has not been named the starter for the Eagles next week yet. Keep an eye
on this. If the Eagles go with A.J. Feeley, then be prepared to go in either
direction if you’re in dire straight and just need a QB. The Eagles have enough
talent around the QB to help them produce some reasonable numbers. The Eagles
remaining schedule is mixed. Next week they are at Indianapolis followed by
Carolina at home then three straight road games in Washington, NY Giants and
Dallas. Weeks 14 and 15 look better than the others, but who ever does start
next week will probably need to throw for the Eagles to keep up with the Colts.
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 are those who
benefit from injury (Arlen Harris, Justin Fargas and DeAngelo Williams) 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.
- DeAngelo Williams – Car
- Justin Fargas – Oak
- Arlen Harris – Det
- Samkon Gado – Hou
- Jason Wright - Cle
- T.J. Duckett – Was
- Zack Crockett - Oak
- Cedric Houston – NYJ
- Vernand Morency – GB
- LenDale White - Ten
- Nick Goings - Car
- Sammy Morris - Mia
Add Immediately (Impact potential)
DeShaun Foster left this week’s game in the 2nd quarter with a hyper-extended
elbow. X-Rays were reported to be negative and Foster didn’t return to the game.
DeAngelo Williams finished off the Rams rushing for 114 yards on 20 carries with
two receptions for another 24 yards. Williams could be a special back in this
league. Depending on the severity of Foster’s injury and how much time he’ll
miss, Williams could be a huge player down the stretch. He could establish
himself as the team’s RB of the future – and present – with more strong showings
like this week’s.
LaMont Jordan is likely out for the season after suffering a serious injury to
his left knee on Sunday. "Jordan's prognosis is that he tore his MCL (medial
cartilage ligament)," Raiders coach Art Shell said after the 17-13 loss to the
Kansas City Chiefs. Fargas saw extensive action after Jordan left the game
running for 52 yards on 19 carries with 1 reception for 12 yards. The Raiders
haven’t run the ball well this year, but he might be the closest thing to a
starting RB that you’ll find at this stage on your waiver wire. If he’s there,
consider grabbing him. He should see 15-20 touches each week as long as he can
stay healthy. Here’s the Raiders schedule going forward: at Chargers, vs Texans,
at Bengals, vs Rams and vs Chiefs. Fargas could be a sleeper in a few of those
games. Beyond the Chargers the rest of the matchups aren’t bad at all.
Kevin Jones left this week’s game with an ankle injury. Arlen Harris took over
running 10 times for 40 yards with a TD. He caught one pass for 6 yards. It'ds
worth noting that Harris got all the carries near the goal line, too. Aveion
Cason also handled the ball four times for 20 yards in Jones’ absence, but
Harris is the guy to grab for all of you who own Jones. Harris was productive
during the pre-season and he's a veteran who is familar with Mike Martz's
offense. So, if Jones is limited or unable to play next week, grab him. The
Lions offense isn’t the problem anymore. We’ll keep you informed on Jones on our
FBG news blogger.
Betts started this week for the injured Clinton Portis, but he never got on
track. Betts ran for only 18 yards on seven carries but he did look good
catching the ball – 5 catches for 48 yards. Betts figures to be the Skins
primary back the rest of the way, but don’t forget about T.J. Duckett either.
Duckett was active and he ran 26 yards on five carries. Betts has been rostered
for most of the season in most 12 team leagues, but he could be out there in 8
or 10 team leagues (if he wasn’t snatched up last week already).
Gado is back in the mix for the Texans running game. He split the carries with
Wali Lundy this week as both backs scored a TD. Gado caught 5 balls for 30 yards
and he carries 10 times for 69 yards. Lundy had eight carries for 61 yards and
four catches for 22 yards. It looks like Gado will continue to get the rock
going forward and he could be a decent RB4 on your roster and possibly even a
player worth considering as a flex option in PPR leagues.
Reuben Droughns wasn’t able to suit up and play this week. Jason Wright got the
start in his stead and he ran for 74 yards on 18 carries. Jerome Harrison also
got some action running four times for 5 yards. Wright is bigger and the team
seems content using him as the featured back when Droughns isn’t able to go. He
may go right back to the bench next week if Droughns returns to the lineup, but
monitor his status and be prepared to grab Wright if you need a back and
Droughns isn’t able to play next week.
Add For Depth (Starter potential)
LaMont Jordan is out for the year. That means Crockett should be able to get a
handful of carries each week going forward. He ran for 19 yards on 5 carries
this week and we expect his touches to remain in that neighborhood at the very
least with Jordan out. Justin Fargas will start and handle most of the carries,
but Crockett and even ReShard Lee will also work into the backfield and log some
carries, too.
Duckett is now the Redskins No. 2 back with Clinton Portis out for the year. He
gained 26 yards on five carries while substituting for Ladell Betts. Keep an eye
on Duckett. He could come in handy still at some point this year. He’s playing
for a contract, too. If you can spare a roster spot, Duckett might be worth a
flyer in the event that Betts fizzles or gets hurt in the upcoming weeks.
Morency returned to action this week for the Packers. He had 1 carry for 5 yards
and two catches for 9 yards. Morency is a capable back and he had a strong game
before getting hurt about a month ago. If anything happens to Green, then
Morency would probably get the bulk of the touches along with Noah Herron. Both
backs can catch the football, but Morency is a bit more explosive. Add him if
you own Green and want to protect him.
Add for Later (Sleeper potential)
Houston returned to the field this week and he ran 11 times for 50 yards in the
Jets 10-0 home loss to the Bears. Kevan Barlow ran just four times for two yards
while Leon Washington ran 13 times for 22 yards. Houston looked good before he
got hurt this year. However, it was thought his opportunity was lost because
Washington has played reasonably well and Barlow continues to play hard despite
being limited to mostly a short-yard and goal line role. Houston could be worth
another look. With 10 carries this week, you might want to grab him just in case
his workload increases in the 2nd half of the season. Houston is bigger and
perhaps more durable than Washington, though that hasn’t proven to be the case
this year.
Goings got some action this week with DeShaun Foster sidelined due to a
hyperextended elbow. He gained 34 yards on 4 carries and another 25 yards on 2
catches. He’s the super sub for the Panthers over the last couple of seasons and
he’ll probably get a handful of touches each week if Foster is out for an
extended period. DeAngelo Williams will get the starting nod, but Goings will
play, too.
Travis Henry is having a fantastic season after taking over as the team’s
starter shortly after the season began. However, White’s workload could be on
the rise in the second half of the season, so if an owner drafted him and then
lost patience and cut him – think about adding him now. White had 8 carries this
week for 17 yards and he caught an 11-yard pass. If Henry gets hurt, White would
take over as the starter, but the Titans could also activate Chris Brown and get
him a few carries, too.
Add for Insurance (Backup Plan for playoffs)
In most leagues, the Brian Westbrook owners probably own Buckhalter for
insurance. He’s a worthy policy if you have Westbrook, particularly knowing how
often he’s been hurt. Buckhalter caught six balls this week for 41 yards and he
ran three times for 16 yards. If Westbrook goes down, Buckhalter’s touches would
obviously go up, but Ryan Moats would also get a shot to contribute.
Moore continues to get more playing time in the Vikings offense while serving as
the primary backup to Chester Taylor. Moore caught 5 balls for 32 yards this
week and ran once for 14 yards. He also returns punts for the Vikings. If Taylor
gets hurt, Moore would be the featured back and an excellent option for PPR
leagues given his fantastic receiving skills.
Ronnie Brown was less than 100% this week, so we thought we might see more of
Sammy Morris this week, but that never happened. Morris didn’t get any carries,
but he caught two balls for two yards. He remains the primary backup to Brown,
so think about adding him if you own Brown and need to make sure you have that
spot locked down.
Stecker caught five balls this week for 53 yards. He doesn’t carry much value,
but he could be a decent PPR handcuff for Reggie Bush.
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.
- Devery Henderson - NO
- Reche Caldwell - NE
- Marty Booker – Mia
- Santonio Holmes - Pit
- Mark Bradley - Chi
- Doug Gabriel – NE
- Ernest Wilford – Jac
- Arnaz Battle – SF
- Terrence Copper - NO
- Malcom Floyd – SD
- Patrick Crayton - Dal
- Vincent Jackson - SD
- David Tyree - NYG
- Brandon Jones - Ten
Add Immediately (Impact potential)
Henderson was a semi-hot pickup a couple of weeks ago, but then he laid an egg
when owners counted on him as Joe Horn’s replacement only to see Terrance Copper
put together a big game. He bounced back with a huge game this week as Marques
Colston left the game early with an ankle sprain. Henderson caught nine balls
for 169 yards against the Bengals. If Colston is out next week, look for
Henderson to be a nice replacement. He’s got premium wheels and the Falcons and
49ers are potentially good matchups the next two games. The Saints are throwing
the ball around much like the Kurt Warner-led Rams teams did a few years back.
Take advantage of that if you can. Grab Henderson and hope the Saints remain red
hot offensively.
Caldwell is moving into the top 40 WRs after coming on strong around a month ago
for the Patriots. He appears to be Tom Brady’s go to guy at the moment. We all
know that is subject to change from week to week, but Caldwell caught three
balls for 70 yards against the Packers and he scored his third TD in the last
four games. Get him if you can. The Patriots are steadily productive and
Caldwell is their #1 WR right now, so ride Caldwell while you can.
Holmes has been a hot commodity for the past few weeks now, but if he’s still
out there grab him if you can. Holmes had five catches for 75 yards and a TD
this week. He’s quickly becoming the team’s second-best WR next to Hines Ward.
If he’s still available then grab him. He won’t last much longer if he’s out
there.
Wilford has been hot and cold over the last few games, but with David Garrard
likely starting at QB the rest of the way, Garrard is worth a roster spot. He’s
a big play WR who has a knack for catching TDs when Garrard is the QB. He’s
dropped a few big plays this year, too. At worst, he’ll catch 2-3 balls each
week and produce 35-40 yards.
Add For Depth (Starter potential)
Marques Colston could be out for a couple/few weeks with a sprained ankle, so
Copper is definitely a player with some high interest in the short-term. He had
a big game for the second straight week catching 6 balls for 87 yards and a TD
against the Bengals. Last week he hauled in six catches for 92 yards and a TD.
Keep in mind, Brees amassed over 900 yards in those two games and it’s doubtful
he can sustain THAT level of production. But we know Brees will remain
productive and if Colston is sidelined, Copper is definitely worth a roster spot
and possibly a spot in your lineup as a WR3/WR4/flex option in the interim.
Check Colston’s status first.
Battle had another solid game this week. He scored one TD and had another called
back on an instant replay reversal. Battle played with a broken hand, but still
managed to catch five passes for 47 yards. He’s been playing better than Antonio
Bryant lately, so you might consider grabbing him if you still can just in case
he continues to build momentum. He’s a good possession WR but Smith seems to be
looking to him more often these days and less often to Bryant.
Bradley was snagged in most leagues a couple weeks ago when Bernard Berrian got
hurt. Berrian is getting healthier now so it looked like Bradley’s window of
opportunity would be shorter than originally expected. That was not the case
this week though. Bradley caught a TD and finished with four receptions for 80
yards. There’s a chance he could remain productive when Berrian is 100%, but his
overall fantasy value could have peaked this week.
David Givens went down last week with a torn ACL and he’ll miss the rest of the
season. Jones was tabbed as his replacement in the starting lineup and he could
be a semi-productive player in the second half. The former Sooner caught two
balls for 22 yards this week. Don’t expect big numbers here as Vince Young has a
lot of talent but he’s still developing as an NFL passer. Jones has big play
talent, but he could have a few good games at the cost of Drew Bennett, so
roster him in deeper leagues if he’s out there.
Add for Later (Sleeper potential)
Last week, it was Malcom Floyd with a big game. This week, Jackson caught a nice
5-yard TD in the back of the end zone using his 6’ 5” height to grab the ball
and barely keeping his feet inbounds. Jackson finished with three catches for 39
yards. He has tremendous potential, but he hasn’t fulfilled it thus far. He’s
only in his 2nd season in the NFL, so the future could be bright for him.
Jackson, Floyd and Antonio Gates give Philip Rivers three king-sized targets for
throwing downfield and in the red zone. He’s not someone you should look to for
immediate or consistent production, but his time could be coming in the future.
He’s worth holding/buying in dynasty leagues if you don’t mind waiting another
year for bigger things (potentially).
Lloyd has been a non-factor for the most part this year, but he made a 43-yard
diving catch last week. He finished with two catches for 47 yards in that game
and this week he had two more catches for 25 yards. Lloyd is similar to Marcus
Robinson from a fantasy-scoring standpoint. He’s not reliable or consistent, but
he can make big plays from time to time.
Amani Toomer is gone for the year, so David Tyree will likely start opposite
Plax moving forward while Tim Carter remains behind Plax. Sinorice Moss may also
work his way into the mix now that he’s finally getting healthy. Tyree is a
gamble. He had four catches for 38 yards last week, but Eli Manning never got on
track either. If you’re in a deep league, Tyree might be one of the better
options out there.
While Randy Moss was conspicuously absent from this week’s box score, Ron Curry
surprised with a five catch, 85-yard effort. Alvis Whitted had two catches for
37 yards. It’s hard to say what this means. Moss didn’t endear himself to HC Art
Shell by his recent public comments and it’s hard to imagine the Raiders top
receivers being Alvis Whitted and Ron Curry when they have Moss and Jerry
Porter, but right now, that is the case. Aaron Brooks gives the offense a better
chance of producing more consistently, so if Moss doesn’t get out of the mud,
it’s possible that Curry and Whitted could have some decent games in the second
half, but neither figure to be consistently productive.
Keep an eye on
He’s back! The Lions cut him about a month ago, but they brought him back last
week. Bradford didn’t take long to reacquaint himself to the Lions offense. He
caught three passes for 54 yards against the Cardinals this week. Look for him
as a deep sleeper, perhaps, but don’t expect much. He was a starter to open the
season, then he lost his job and then he was cut. Still, he’s getting more PT
than Mike Williams, so don’t discount him completely.
Robinson is closer to being 100% after missing the last few games. He caught a
17-yard pass this week against the Dolphins. Robinson isn’t a reliable or
consistent performer, but he’s a decent gamble in TD-only leagues because of his
good hands and size, which he utilizes well in the red zone.
The Redskins were down to three healthy WRs this week with Santana Moss and
David Patten on the mend. Thrash caught four balls for 46 yards while serving as
the team’s No. 3 WR behind starters Antwaan Randle El and Brandon Lloyd. Don’t
expect Thrash to sustain any production. Once Moss is healthy, Thrash will go
back to being more of a special teams guy. He’s strictly a short-term
consideration and a weak option at that.
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.
- Vernon Davis - SF
- Randal Williams – Oak
- Eric Johnson - SF
- David Martin – GB
- Ben Utecht – Ind
- Dan Campbell - Det
- Anthony Becht – TB
Add Immediately (Impact potential)
Williams caught three balls for 41 yards against the Chiefs this week. Earlier
in the week, he supplanted Courtney Anderson in the starting lineup. Williams is
a converted WR who has been a pleasant surprise for the Raiders. Last week he
caught five balls for 61 yards against Denver. If the Raiders offense ever takes
shape with Brooks back under center, then Williams could become a prime sleeper.
Davis should be targeted frequently down the stretch once he’s back in the
lineup full-time. Right now, the team is working him back into the mix slowly.
This week, Johnson was productive catching four balls for 48 yards. There may be
room for both players to be semi-productive, but Johnson is a better short-term
option, but if you’re thinking ahead a few weeks the think about grabbing Davis.
Wiggins has been super quiet this year, so there’s a good chance he’s available
in many leagues. This week, he caught six balls for 66 yards against the
Dolphins. He hasn’t been a focal point of the offense this year as he has been
in the past. Keep an eye on Wiggins. He’s still a good player who’s known more
for his receiving ability than blocking.
Add For Depth (Starter potential)
Davis should be targeted frequently down the stretch once he’s back in the
lineup full-time. Right now, the team is working him back into the mix slowly.
This week, Johnson was productive catching four balls for 48 yards. There may be
room for both players to be semi-productive, but Johnson is a better short-term
option, but if you’re thinking ahead a few weeks the think about grabbing Davis.
Utecht caught two balls for 18 yards this week. The Colts like to use multiple
tight ends each week in their offensive game plan. Dallas Clark is the starter,
but there’s enough Peyton Manning to go around for Utecht to be productive at
times, too. He caught seven balls for 66 yards against the Bills last week. Two
weeks ago, he caught four for 49 yards.
Alex Smith left this week’s game with an ankle injury allowing Becht to work as
the primary tight end for the Bucs. He caught two passes for 9 yards and a TD
against the Redskins. Becht isn’t likely to be a big splash even if Smith isn’t
able to go next week. Becht and Smith are more like co-starters anyway, but the
Bucs haven’t been throwing to their TEs as much as many expected them to do this
year. He’s still worth a look in deeper leagues if Smith is potentially out for
a couple weeks.
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.
- Mike Vanderjagt
- Lawrence Tynes
- John Kasay
- Josh Brown
- Jeff Reed
- Dave Rayner
- Stephen Gostkowski
- Josh Scobee
- Morten Andersen
- Jason Hanson
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.
- Miami Dolphins
- Cleveland Browns
- Oakland Raiders
- Arizona Cardinals
- New Orleans Saints
- Tennessee Titans
- Buffalo Bills
- San Francisco 49ers
- Green Bay Packers
- New York Jets
- Houston Texans
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