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This article tends to cover 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, or more competitive leagues with larger rosters. Quarterback 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)
Through the first quarter of the season, Losman has outperformed expectations. He’s averaging just shy of 200 yards per game with 3 TDs, 1 interception and one rushing TD to rank him around 15th to 18th in most scoring systems. This week, against the Vikings, Losman completed 23-of-32 for 222 yards with a TD and no turnovers as the Bills beat the Vikings 17-12. The schedule is favorable for Losman with better than average matchups against the Patriots, Lions, Packers, Texans and Titans. As long as he stays healthy, he should continue to perform well enough to provide great depth and spot-duty as a starter.
Kurt Warner was awful for the second week in a row. Warner was benched after he failed to ignite the Cardinals offense. Leinart didn’t fare much better against the tough Falcons defense. He, too, threw an interception (albeit on a tipped pass) and lost a fumble – matching Warner with two turnovers of his own. HC Dennis Green didn’t waste anytime in naming Leinart as his week 5 starter. "I've been waiting patiently for my turn," said Leinart. "I'm not arrogant, but I have a lot of confidence. I feel the more experience I get, the better I will be." The next two weeks may be tough for Leinart - against Kansas City, who blanked the 49ers this week, and Chicago. If he can make it past those, the schedule gets a bit easier with Oakland, Green Bay and Philadelphia and Detroit in four of the next five games.
Young made his first NFL start this week against the Cowboys and he played like
it, too. Young completed just 14-of-29 for 155 yards with 1 TD, two
interceptions and a lost fumble. Bradie James returned one of his interceptions
for a 15-yard TD in the 4th quarter. The Titans decided to throw Young to the
wolves after Kerry Collins flopped badly in the first three games. Young may
provide some big plays and add some value with his athleticism and running
ability, but it’s questionable that he’ll be an effective fantasy QB until he
gains more experience.
The Bucs had a bye in week 4 giving HC Jon Gruden an extra week as he prepares his rookie quarterback for his NFL debut against the Saints next week. Chris Simms was released from the hospital on Sunday, but the timetable for his eventual return is unknown. Gradkowski will likely remain the Bucs starting QB for the immediate future pending a roster move. There’s a chance Simms could return this year, but it’s premature to place any expectations on when he’ll return. Gradkowski played extremely well in the preseason and he impressed Gruden enough to win the #2 job over veteran Tim Rattay. The Bucs offense is struggling, so don’t expect much from Gradkowski, but he’s still worth a look in deeper leagues if your other options are thin. Add For Depth (Starter potential)
Huard took advantage of a strong matchup against the 49ers this week. He completed 18-of-23 for 208 yards and threw two TDs. Trent Green is at least two weeks away from making his return to the lineup, so keep Huard in mind as a stop-gap measure over the next two weeks. The Chiefs face the Arizona Cardinals next week, so Huard could be a decent reach in that game, but the following two weeks he may not be worth gambling on against the Steelers and Chargers defenses. Huard is strictly a short-term play at this point, but keep him in mind as a possible pick-up-and-play option next week.
Walter hasn’t performed well at all since taking over for the injured Aaron Brooks, but next week the Raiders face a 49ers secondary that could provide a better opportunity for some production. Brooks will likely return to the starting job once he’s healthy. He was expected to miss 2 to 4 weeks, so he could return in a couple of weeks. In the interim, Walter might be worthwhile if you’re truly desperate next week (at SF) and in week 7 vs Arizona (if Brooks isn’t back yet). Otherwise, he's a short-term play at best this year, but still perhaps someone with more value in dynasty formats.
Add for Later (Sleeper potential)
Optimistically, Green could return as the Chiefs starting QB in two weeks. In many leagues, Green was cut by the owner that drafted him after he’s been unable to play for longer than originally expected. If he’s available, consider making a move on him now. If you wait another week, or two, it might be too late. When healthy, Green could certainly produce top 10 numbers, but the Chiefs offense isn’t firing on all cylinders so a more realistic expectation might be top 15 to top 20 numbers for Green (the rest of the season).
Brooks could possibly return in time to play week seven against the Cardinals. Brooks, like Green, was waived by many fantasy owners following a horrific start that snowballed when his injured shoulder forced him to the sidelines for up to a month. Brooks is a risky endeavor given the current state of the Raiders, but when he returns to the lineup he might be worth a look when the matchup isn’t formidable.
Add for Insurance (Injury or bye week replacement)
Byron Leftwich is playing good football, but he’s not the poster boy for
longevity at this point in his career. Garrard proved last season that he could
be a dominant fantasy QB when given the opportunity, so if you have Leftwich,
make it a priority to grab Garrard, especially after the Jaguars bye week passes
Michael Vick has missed a game or two in each of the last couple of years. He’s
running as much or more than he did in the past, too. Atlanta’s bye is next
week, so if you own Vick, you may consider picking up Schaub after the bye and
simply running with the Falcons QB the rest of the way. It’s usually a good idea
to have another option (from another team), Schaub has shown he’s capable of
running the offense and producing starter-quality numbers if he’s thrown into
the fire.
The Broncos were on the bye this week. Jake Plummer’s performance has been sporadic this season raising the possibility that he could be benched in favor of the Broncos highly touted rookie. Plummer isn’t in immediate danger of losing the job yet, but it’s a situation that bears watching. If Plummer gets hurt or benched at some point, Cutler could seize the opportunity and not give the job back.
The Bengals are also on the bye this week. Given the Bengals offensive potential, if you own Palmer, you might consider adding Wright as an insurance policy if you can afford the roster spot. Once the bye week passes, you’ll have the Bengals QB locked up for the rest of the year barring a run of injuries to both Palmer and Wright.
Running Back In most leagues the waiver options for RBs are slim after the first month of the season. The players that become available are usually those who benefit from an injury to a start (see Maurice Morris) or those who start taking on a larger role within their team's offense (see Cedric Houston, Ron Dayne). That said, entering week 5 most standard leagues of 12 or more team have few gems remaining, so we've prepared a hit list for those of you in smaller leagues that we've covered at length in previous weeks. Check this list first and then go onto the players written up in this week's article if no players are available on that list.
Add Immediately (Impact potential)
In his first game starting in place of the injured Shaun Alexander, Morris ran into a brick wall otherwise known as the Bears defense. Morris ran 11 times for 35 yards, but the Seahawks couldn’t generate any offense on the road against an extremely tough Bears defense. The Seahawks have a bye this coming week and then the schedule looks like this: at St. Louis, vs Minnesota, at KC, vs Oakland, vs St. Louis and then at SF. Most of those matchups are neutral, but if Alexander’s broken foot keeps him sidelined longer than expected, Morris could be useful in several of those games – particularly against the Raiders and Rams.
At least for now, Dayne is the Texans starting RB. He plodded for 58 yards on 22 carries against the Dolphins this week, also catching three passes. Dayne had six carries inside the 20-yard line, but he failed to score and he was stopped at the one-yard line twice. Newly acquired Samkon Gado is behind him on the depth chart and there’s a distinct possibility that HC Gary Kubiak could turn to Gado as the team’s starter if Dayne’s production doesn’t improve. The Texans are on the bye this coming week followed by games against Dallas, Jacksonville and Tennessee. If Dayne remains the starter, he could be worth a start against the Titans in week eight, but not so much in week seven against a stout Jaguars run defense.
IMPORTANT! Before making any move for Houston, let’s be sure what his injury status is beforehand. If he's ok, he's a great pickup. If he's not and initially the injury looked potentially serious (knee), then he wouldn't be on this list at all. Houston was arguably the best looking runner among the Jets committee this week against the Colts’ weak run defense. He ran strong, gaining 49 yards on 12 carries before apparently hyper-extending his knee. He was then carted off the field. If the injury isn’t serious, Houston could realistically emerge as the top option in the Jets backfield. Right now, we just don't. Houston left the stadium on crutches sporting a brace on his knee. If Houston is out next week, look for Derrick Blaylock to be activated, and take his place in the Jets rotation. We’ll update this once we have more information from our trusted FBG News blogger.
Perry is reportedly making solid progress and there’s a good chance he could be activated following week 6. He’s on the PUP list meaning he can’t be activated until after week 6, when the Bengals play at home against the Carolina Panthers. The reason we’re discussing him now is that you may need to go get him before that time. If you own Rudi Johnson, a healthy Perry is a great handcuff, so you may consider making the move ahead of time if you have the roster flexibility to do so.
Add For Depth (Starter potential)
Smith passed Mike Anderson on the depth chart to assume the backup spot behind Jamal Lewis. He’s been productive when give the ball all year – going back to training camp. He’s a solid handcuff for Lewis owners and a decent gamble for those prospecting - looking for a talented back who could be a good fantasy starter if they are thrown into a larger role due to injuries.
Washington looked good again this week rushing for 33 yards on nine carries as
part of the Jets rotation that included Kevan Barlow and Cedric Houston. Barlow
scored twice but gained only 35 yards on 12 attempts. Houston injured his knee
and he was carted off the field. If Houston’s injury is serious, then Washington
could assume the #2 job in the Jets rotation and he could see as much as 50% of
the carries along with Barlow. At worst, Washington is worth a roster spot at
this point. At best, he could emerge as a decent flex starter in bigger leagues.
It all depends on Houston’s status going forward.
For the second straight week, Ahman Green tweaked a hamstring in practice prompting the team to downgrade him to questionable. Last week, Green was no worse for the wear. He started and produced strong numbers across the board. However, if Green continues to have setbacks and injury problems, both Herron and Morency are worth a strong look. Morency would probably get the first crack at the primary running duties with Herron serving as the third down back. We’ll have to wait and see if Green plays tonight against the Eagles, but be prepared to snatch either of these backs if Green’s injuries continue to cause a problem for him moving forward.
Buckhalter is getting enough touches each week that he could be used in deeper leagues as a RB3/flex option. In the event that Brian Westbrook’s knee sidelines him, Buckhalter’s role would certainly increase, but Ryan Moats would also get into the rotation.
The Steelers were on the bye this week. Haynes is currently the backup to Willie Parker and he’s getting consistent action each week as a change-of-pace runner and third down option. That said his role could be tenuous with Najeh Davenport on the roster. Davenport seems like a better fit to serve in the old Jerome Bettis role because he’s bigger and stronger at the point of attack. For now, Haynes is the more valuable player, but that could change quickly if Davenport proves to be a fast learner and – even more importantly – he, too, can stay healthy.
Add for Later (Sleeper potential)
See Verron Haynes. Davenport could work his way into the rotation and potentially get some goal-line work in the weeks ahead. Davenport seems like a better fit as a short-yardage option and alternative to Willie Parker, but Haynes is a reliable and versatile back in his own right. If Davenport begins to get some of that short-yardage work that Jerome Bettis handled in the past, then his value will rise quickly.
See Ron Dayne. Dayne is the Texans starter for the moment, but Gado is definitely a threat to his job security. Gado ran six times this week for just 9 yards, so he’ll need to get more out of his touches than he did this week if his role is to grow in the offense. Still, with Dayne’s track record, Gado is without question a player of interest and he could ascend to the starting job sooner rather than later.
Add for Insurance (Injury or bye week replacement)
Davis is looking good as Steven Jackson’s backup. He made some nice runs at the
end of the Rams-Lions game this week. He gained 26 yards on four carries. If
Jackson gets hurt, Davis is the guy you want, but Tony Fisher would get some
third down work and potentially split some of the workload with Davis.
Reuben Droughns bounced back with a strong effort this week against the weak
Raiders run defense leaving nothing but crumbs for backups Jerome Harrison and
Jason Wright. Harrison had four touches. He ran three times for -3 yards and he
caught a 12-yard pass. Harrison would ultimately split carries with Jason Wright
in the event that Droughns is sidelined. Wright is bigger, but Harrison is the
more explosive option and probably the one that would carry more fantasy value,
especially in PPR formats.
Cadillac Williams isn’t having much success behind the woeful offensive line of
the Bucs. With Chris Simms sidelined, his outlook seems a bit more bleak as
defenses will almost certainly stack the line and force rookie Bruce Gradkowski
to beat them with his arm. If Willams gets hurt and misses any games, Pittman
would step right back into the starting role, and arguably, he could be even
more productive because of his receiving skills.
Chester Taylor entered this week at less than 100% and he failed to generate much offense against the Bills. Moore has proven effective as a starter in the past given his versatility. However, he’s not durable and he’s not much of a threat to score TDs. On the flipside, he’s an excellent source for yardage and catches if he’s thrown into a bigger role. Taylor’s job is not in jeopardy, but if he’s sidelined Moore would be the first to benefit.
Calhoun is the primary backup to starter Kevin Jones, but he would ultimately split action with RB/FB Shawn Bryson. Both Bryson and Calhoun are good receivers out of the backfield and both possess better than average speed. Calhoun is someone to consider as a handcuff for Kevin Jones in deeper leagues.
Fargas broke off 48-yard run this week for the Raiders against the Browns. He ran three times for 54 yards. He’s the primary backup to LaMont Jordan, so you may consider him as a possible handcuff if you own Jordan and there’s nobody more viable on your league’s waiver wire.
Keep an eye on
Bryson’s speed combined with his blocking and receiving ability continue to serve him well. He’s never going to be a featured back, but he can be a solid option in deeper leagues with PPR scoring if you’re desperate. He caught two passes for 30 yards this week and he scored last week. If Kevin Jones gets hurt, his role would increase, but Brian Calhoun would likely see more touches and serve as the primary back.
Henry was declared inactive this week against the Cowboys after he ran 21 times for 60 yards in week 3 against Miami. Chris Brown started for the Titans, but rookie LenDale White carried nine times for 39 yards while serving as the backup. Look for White’s carries to increase the rest of the way. The Titans are certainly not going anywhere this season and they’ve already turned to Vince Young at QB. Look for them to do the same with White in the near future. If Brown and White are both healthy, Henry may continue to be inactive each week.
Weeks was activated to the roster this week with Shaun Alexander (broken foot) out for an extended period. Weeks will serve as the backup to Maurice Morris until Alexander returns. Beyond that, his value is extremely limited unless Morris gets hurt, too.
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.
Add Immediately (Impact potential)
We’ve been suggesting Jackson and Gabriel over the last few weeks as considerations on the waiver report expecting their roles to increase as the season continues. Gabriel took a big step forward in that direction this week as he led the Patriots in catches and yardage while also scoring on 25-yard catch from Tom Brady that made the score 14-6 before halftime. Gabriel finished with four catches and 57 yards. He was targeted nine times and appeared to be Brady’s go to guy when it counted. “He’s a big, strong, physical guy, and he’s a great asset to the team,” Brady said. “We’ve got to continue to find ways to get him the ball.” “He sure looked like our (go-to receiver) today,” OG Logan Mankins said.
Furrey was picked up already in most leagues, but after this week’s game he’s jump to the front of the list if he’s still lingering in your league. Furrey caught eight balls for 82 yards with two scores against his former team – the Rams. He’s been targeted frequently and consistently since displacing Corey Bradford (who’s been cut since) in the starting lineup. The Lions will be throwing a lot going forward, so grab Furrey is you still can.
Add For Depth (Starter potential)
Welker has been consistently productive as the Dolphins #3 receiver through the first four weeks of the season. He was targeted seven times this week while catching four passes for 55 yards. He’s also the Dolphins primary return man on special teams. Despite being the #3 WR, Welker has produced better stats than Marty Booker and he leads the team with 18 receptions and 222 yards. Barring injury, his ceiling is limited, but he’s a solid contributor on a consistent basis that could serve your team well during the bye weeks.
Jurevicius returned to action this week after missing the first three games due to injury. He caught three passes on five targets for 22 yards including a 5-yard TD that gave the Browns the lead for good in the 3rd quarter. He’s a great target for Charlie Frye in the red zone and with the emergence of Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow; Jurevicius will see plenty of single coverage the rest of the season.
Lelie started his second game in a row in place of 2nd year WR Roddy White.
Lelie caught two passes for 61 yards this week on his only two targets. White
could regain his starting job at any time, but Lelie is proving to be an
effective target downfield for the elusive Vick. He’s worth rostering during the
bye weeks when the matchup is good. Lelie should score a few TDs this year and
he could be a decent sleeper play if you’re looking for a home run type of play,
but keep in mind he’s just as likely to strike out, too. FWIW, Roddy White
caught four balls for 24 yards serving as the #3 receiver this week.
Henderson didn’t play against the Panthers this week after he was downgraded to doubtful late in the week. That said, he’s still worth considering for your roster if you need a receiver. He’s the Saints #3 WR and he has the speed and big play ability to be worth a reach if you pick your spots well. Be cognizant of his injury status first and foremost, but if he's back on the field quickly, he should be on your radar as a good player with plenty of upside to roll the dice on when you're looking for players during the bye weeks as a spot starter.
It’s hard to put much faith in the Bills #2, #3 and #4 receivers, but Reed and Price have both been productive at times during the first 4 games of the season and they warrant roster consideration for bye week purposes. Reed caught four passes for 43 yards this week while Price had 5 receptions, 40 yards and a TD. On the season, they are 2nd and 3rd on the team in receptions (Price 13, Reed 15) and each has a TD. Roscoe Parrish is on the come, too. The 2nd year WR caught three passes this week for 25 yards, but he’s also a big play threat and he could be the best option of the three down the road.
Add for Later (Sleeper potential)
We’ve been suggesting Jackson and Gabriel over the last few weeks as considerations on the waiver report expecting their roles to increase as the season continues. Jackson was targeted just twice this week, but he caught both balls for 9 yards and he also ran for 10 yards on an end around. Jackson’s time will come, but Gabriel remains the better pickup for in the short-term. With the Patriots secondary reeling from injuries again, Troy Brown filled in as the team’s nickel back this week. Additionally, Reche Caldwell was on the receiving end of a nasty helmet-to-helmet collision. If injuries continue, Jackson’s role will increase significantly along with Gabriel.
Curry led the Raiders WRs with a grand total of 3 catches and 27 yards this week. If/when Aaron Brooks returns to the lineup, there’s a small chance the Raiders offense could be more productive, but Walter has struggled in his stead and Curry probably isn’t worth a roster spot until further notice.
Add for Insurance (Injury or bye week replacement)
Carter scored on a 5-yard catch this week, but his potential is extremely limited now that Steve Smith is healthy and back in the lineup. Carter is primarily of interest to Smith owners as an insurance policy, but if Smith gets hurt again you want to keep Carter in mind.
Laveranues Coles was writhing in pain after he injured his shoulder on a bizarre
play to end the Jets-Colts game on Sunday. Coles seemed to be better following
the game, but he was already banged up entering this week’s contest so we’ll
have to wait until later in the week before we can make a better assessment. If
Coles is sidelined or limited, McCareins becomes a player of interest. Chad
Pennington is playing well and the Jets pass offense is good enough that
McCareins could be worth a reach as an insurance policy for Coles.
Hurd doesn’t have any significant value in redraft leagues unless Terrell Owens is unable to play. Despite all the “suicide” news and his hand injury, Owens did play this week and he played rather well. If Owens, for any reason, doesn’t play in the weeks ahead, then Hurd is worth a roster spot and possibly an emergency start if the matchup is better than average. Add for Next Year (Dynasty potential)
Floyd caught a 31-yard TD from Philip Rivers this week against the tough Ravens defense. Floyd, like Vincent Jackson, is a king-sized target as a receiver. He’s a player that could develop and emerge as a possible starter down the road – like Jackson. He could have some value in deeper re-draft leagues this year, but let’s see if he can produce anything in another game before we deem him roster-worthy in non-dynasty formats.
Jones appears to be healthy again following a torn ACL that shortened his rookie season just as he was beginning to emerge as a productive player. He caught two passes for 18 yards this week, but it’s hard to see him being super productive this year with the way the Titans are currently playing. Vince Young will probably require a lot more game experience before he’s able to give hope for the Titans receivers in terms of fantasy production. Jones has talent, but he’s more valuable as a player to stash away in your dynasty league than as an option in re-draft leagues.
Keep an eye on
Porter may be available in many leagues since he’s yet to see any action during the regular season because of his attitude problems. He’s firmly in HC Art Shell’s doghouse and that doesn’t figure to change anytime soon. As fantasy owners, knowing Porter’s ability, we can only hope that his status changes or somehow the Raiders trade him to another team where he could be productive. Neither seems likely right now, but you might consider gambling on him in the event that either materializes at some point.
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)
There are always owners that bail on players too early. Chris Cooley might a prime example of that in your league. In several leagues, I’ve noticed Cooley being waived in lieu of players who got off to quick starts like Desmond Clark, Eric Johnson or even Chris Baker. Cutting Cooley will probably come back to haunt those owners, especially if he can produce more games like this week when he caught four balls for 70 yards. The Skins offense is gradually rounding into shape and Cooley figures to be a prominent figure the rest of the season. If he was cut, you might want to grab him while he’s out there. He won’t last long.
Lewis missed the first month of the season recovering from a high-ankle sprain that he suffered early in the preseason. During his absence, George Wrighster has been productive catching three or more passes in each game. Moving forward, look for Wrighster’s role to diminish and Lewis to emerge as a strong option for Byron Leftwich. He could emerge as a strong backup option in the second half of the season, but if he’s available, you may need to grab him now before he starts putting up numbers.
With Erron Kinney still sidelined following arthroscopic knee surgery in the preseason, Scaife has been a pleasant surprise. He’s even outplaying starter Ben Troupe in the stat sheet. Scaife caught three passes for 40 yards this week and he’s 2nd on the team with 10 catches and 158 yards (with 1 TD). When Kinney returns to action, Scaife’s role could decrease, but it’s too early to speculate when that will happen. For now, Scaife is proving to be a consistent option just like Kinney was a year ago.
Add For Depth (Starter potential)
Wilcox caught three passes for 17 yards including a 5-yard TD in the first quarter. Unfortunately, he also lost a fumble on one of his catches at the 1-yard line, or he might have scored a second TD against the Chargers. Wilcox has seven catches for 79 yards and two TDs through four games. As long as Todd Heap is healthy, Wilcox is only value if you’re reaching for a starter during bye weeks or if you’re in a league with 14 or more teams.
The Colts will continue to use multiple TEs as their base formation as long as
Brandon Stokley is limited and their running game is struggling. Utecht has been
productive when healthy, but he’s been limited and this week he left the game
early due to a back injury. Fletcher was productive in Utecht’s absence catching
three balls for 19 yards and a TD. Utecht contributed two catches for 16 yards
before he left the game. Both players bear watching, but if Utecht is limited,
then give Fletcher the benefit of the doubt going into next week as the more
viable option of the two.
See Marcedes Lewis, who missed the first month of the season recovering from a high-ankle sprain that he suffered early in the preseason. During his absence, Wrighster has been consistently productive, catching three or more passes in each game. Moving forward, look for Wrighster’s role to diminish and Lewis to emerge as a strong option for Byron Leftwich. Wrighster could still be worth a roster spot, but look for his opportunities to go down as Lewis ramps up and eventually garners more attention from Leftwich.
Add for Later (Sleeper potential)
Conwell finally produced something note worthy this week catching five balls for 37 yards against the Panthers. It’s hard to project much from him going forward since he didn’t catch a single pass in any of the three games before this week. Still, he has been productive in the past when healthy, so he’s worth a look in deeper leagues.
Martin is said to be taking on a larger role in the Packers offense though his production has been sporadic through the first three games. The Packers have historically utilized their TEs extensively around the goal line giving them some added value, but Martin deserves some consideration if his role does increase. He’s a converted receiver from college and he’s someone that Brett Favre is comfortable with as a dump off receiver. He was targeted seven times in week two catching six balls for 44 yards, but in the other two games, he was barely noticeable.
Stevens has missed the first month of the season following another surgery to his aching knee during the preseason. He could return within the next few weeks and he could become a top 10 or 15 option in the second half of the season. If you can afford to pick him up now and wait on him, then he’s a good buy low candidate.
Keep an eye on
Kinney could be set to return to action at some point in the next few weeks. He was listed as OUT in week 4, so if he does return it probably won’t happen for another 2-3 weeks, but he’s been productive when he’s in the lineup and Bo Scaife has picked up where he left off in his absence as one of the most consistent options among the Titans receivers and tight ends.
Kicker Add Immediately (Impact potential)
Carney is 10-for-11 on FG attempts through the first four weeks. He’s getting up there in years, but he’s still an accurate option for a team that plays more than half their games indoors and the Saints offense is performing much better under the new regime of Sean Payton with Drew Brees at QB.
In most leagues, Gould was already snatched up after week two or three. However, if he remains out there, you should consider adding him. He’s already made an amazing 13 FGs in just four games and the Bears offense has been remarkably consistent so he should continue to benefit from a strong defense and plenty of opportunities for more FGs and points.
Kaeding is 8-for-9 on FG attempts including a career-long this week of 54 yards. Kaeding benefits from the Chargers strong play on both sides of the football. Anytime you have a team that plays this good defensively coupled with a balanced offense, look for a lot of good field position and scoring opportunities.
Longwell is 10-of-12 on FG attempts through four weeks. The Vikings defense is playing better and their offense is good enough to create opportunities but not so good at sealing the deal in the red zone. Longwell also benefits from playing more than ˝ of his games indoors as opposed to the cold, windy confines of Lambeau Field where he was consistently a productive kicker for years. He looks like a solid player to count on going forward.
Defense Add Immediately (Impact potential)
The Chiefs shutout the 49ers 41-0 on Sunday. They did a solid job of limiting the Bengals in the season opener (236 total yards) and they held the Broncos to 9 points on the road in week two. In three games they have six sacks and nine turnovers. They also have one of the game’s most dangerous return men in Dante Hall. The Chiefs appear to be finally turning the corner defensively under Herm Edwards after years of being a turnstile, especially defending the pass. If you’re looking for a pick-up-and-play specialty, look no further. The Chiefs defense could fare well against the Cardinals as Matt Leinart will be making his first NFL start.
The Falcons defense has played excellent football through the first quarter of the season. They’ve allowed just one offensive TD in those four games (the 11-yard end around by Devery Henderson on MNF). They’ve intercepted six passes, recovered 6 fumbles and sacked the opposing QB 10 times. They have several games that look like good matchups on their remaining schedule, so if you can still snag them off the waiver wire, do it.
The Saints are off to a good start in 2006 despite losing this week to the Carolina Panthers. Their defense is fueled by one of the best pairs of pass rushers in the NFL (Charles Grant and Will Smith) and they’ve sacked the opposing QB 13 times in their first four games. They’ve also forced 8 turnovers (3 interceptions, 5 fumbles recovered). The Saints are another team, like the Chiefs, that has been in the basement of NFL defenses for the past several years. If they can sustain their strong pass rush and continue to limit opposing teams from running the ball as well as they have in the past, then they’ll be fine. They may not be a top 5 or top 10 defense when it’s all said and done, but if you pick the right matchup, they will be very helpful as a strong backup or co-starter if you adhere to the defense by committee approach.
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