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Quarterback 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, more competitive leagues with larger rosters.
Add Immediately (Impact potential)
Making his first NFL start, Leinart got out of the gate quickly throwing TDs to Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald in the first quarter. Bryant Johnson also dropped a TD in the end zone later in the game. Leinart finished with a respectable 253 yards on 22-of-35 passing with the 2 TDs and 1 interception. Not bad, especially against the Chiefs defense that has performed admirably against the pass so far this year. Leinart has a tough game next week (vs Chicago), but with games against Oakland, Green Bay, Detroit, St. Louis and San Francisco remaining on the schedule – Leinart could be a pleasant surprise.
On the road, making his second NFL start, Young showed flashes of his fantasy potential when he kept the ball on an option play for 19 yards to give the Titans an early 7-0 lead. Young ran for 43 yards on the day with just four attempts, but he didn’t do enough damage with his arm – throwing for just 63 yards on 10-of-21 with an interception. Young will have matchups that are (more) favorable in the next three weeks – week 6 at Washington (if Springs is still out) and week 8, when he returns to his hometown – Houston.
The Bucs rookie had a strong performance in his first start. He completed 20-of-31 for 225 yards with two TDs and no interceptions. Gradkowski ran the offense well, showing poise and leadership, but ultimately the Bucs fell short on the scoreboard. He will add some value with his legs. He ran for 19 yards this week. If you need some insurance at QB, Gradkowski could be a nice investment at this point in the season. The Bucs have talent if they can get some better play up from an offensive line that has been hurt by injuries and ineffectiveness. Gradkowski will be the team’s starter for the immediate future with Chris Simms recovering from a ruptured spleen and the surgery that followed.
Huard is playing well enough in the short-term that he could still be useful if you’re not worried about anything more than a week or two. Huard has been remarkably efficient in the past two games. He was 26-of-38 for 288 yards with 2 TDs in Arizona this week and he’s now 44-of-61 for 496 yards with 4 TDs and no interceptions in the last two games. Be careful using him next week in Pittsburgh. Playing Huard against the Steelers aggressive defense might prove to be a bad decision. The next week, at home against San Diego, is also a tough draw. That being said, Huard could be starting both of those games.
Add For Depth (Starter potential)
Brooks could return in the next week or two as the Raiders starting QB. Andrew Walter isn’t playing well enough to keep Brooks on the bench either. There are some interesting matchups where Brooks could re-emerge as a viable starter – if he’s healthy. Consider playing him in week 7 vs Arizona, week 13 vs Houston and week 15 vs. St. Louis. Unfortunately, most of the other matchups are less than desirable – two games against Denver and Kansas City, San Diego one more time, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Seattle.
The Chiefs keep rolling along with Damon Huard, but we still expect Green to return within 2 or 3 weeks. The Chiefs aren’t rushing him back, not when Huard is playing well enough in his stead and the team is winning. However, if Larry Johnson’s neck injury sidelines him for any games, then there will be a lot more pressure on the Chiefs passing game. Green is available in many leagues, as owners simply don’t want to keep a roster spot filled waiting for him to get healthy. If you can afford to do so, Green could be a decent option in the second half of the season. Add for Insurance (Injury or bye week replacement)
Harrington drew the start this week as the Dolphins held out Daunte Culpepper due to a sore/hurt shoulder and what’s been painfully obvious – a lack of mobility behind a porous offensive line. Harrington completed 26-of-41 for 232 yards, but he didn’t throw a TD and he was intercepted twice in the Dolphins 20-10 loss to New England. The rumor is that HC Nick Saban may stick with Harrington until Culpepper proves he’s capable of moving around better. When asked about Culpepper’s return, Saban snipped, “'Don't ask me when that's going to be because I don't know. So if you ask me and I get [peeved], you got it coming.'' If Culpepper is out next week, then Harrington could be a possible sleeper against the Jets, but let’s not get carried away either. The Dolphins passing game has been disappointing all season, so don’t expect much out of Harrington this coming week if he’s given the ball. Add for Next Year (Dynasty potential)
Who really knows what Brett Favre will do after this season, but the Packers have Rodgers waiting in the background, ready to emerge. If Favre retires or moves onto another team, then Rodgers could be a top 15 option next year throwing to Donald Driver, Greg Jennings and perhaps Koren Robinson (he’ll serve a 1-year suspension soon).
Running Back In most leagues, the waiver options for RBs are slim after the first month of the season. Most of the players available at this point are backups on their NFL teams or part-time players. The players who garner the most attention, especially RBs, are those who benefit from injury and their role increases dramatically (like Maurice Morris or Noah Herron) or those who gradually work into a larger role in their team's offense (see Ron Dayne, Michael Robinson). The backs listed here are gone in most competitive leagues, but not all of them. We’ve covered them in previous weeks, but we continue to list them in the event they are available.
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Benson made the most of his 14 carries this week gaining 48 yards and scoring 2
TDs in a lopsided 40-7 win over the Bills. Interesting is the fact that Benson
also caught two passes for 14 yards this week – which isn’t his strong suit.
Thomas Jones also had a big game, but Benson has carried 10 or more times in
each game he’s played this year. We fully realize that Benson was drafted in
most leagues, but if you're in a smaller league or if he was cut by the
frustrated and impatient owner in your league because Thomas Jones remained the
starter, then you should definitely go get him now. He now has 46 carries for
144 yards with 2 TDs in four games.
Washington ran for 101 yards on 23 attempts against the Jaguars. Granted, most of his carries came after the Jets trailed by 3 TDs, and the Jags were lacking two of their starting defensive linemen. Washington still ran hard and ran well. Kevan Barlow managed -1 yard on four carries. The coaches seem to be making Washington a bigger part of the offense. Barlow hasn’t been very productive, Houston is hurt and Blaylock has fallen behind on the depth chart. Washington is being mentored by Curtis Martin to boot. Washington should see plenty of carries in the next few weeks, but he could still give way to Barlow in short-yardage situations and there’s still a shot in the dark that Martin could return to the team after week 6 (PUP list), but that seems like a long shot.
Ahman Green was held out this week. Vernand Morency started the game, but
fumbled early and Herron took over after two series, handling the bulk of the
rushing duties for the rest of the game. Herron carried 20 times for 106 yards
and he caught five passes for 20 yards. He scored on a 1-yard run in the first
quarter, too. If Morency can’t hold onto the football, Herron’s value is related
to Green’s availability. Whether the coaching staff will go back to Herron or
give Morency another opportunity despite the fumbling, remains to be seen.
This week, Jeff Fisher turned to Travis Henry and declared Chris Brown inactive and Henry responded with a 123 yards on 19 carries. He also caught two passes for 10 yards. Henry has appeared in three games rushing 49 times for 205 yards and 2 TDs. The tricky part is trying to read Fisher’s mind. He will make one of his veteran backs active and the other inactive each week, opting for rookie LenDale White as the primary backup. White’s role will only increase each week, so Henry’s opportunity is based on staying healthy (he got banged up this week, so check his status for next week first) and Fisher keeping him active.
Add For Depth (Starter potential)
Perry is reportedly making progress and on track to return to the team following week 6. He’s on the PUP list so he’s not eligible to return until that time. If he’s healthy, then he’s worth a roster spot given his speed, big play ability and great hands out of the backfield. Perry gives the Bengals offense one more explosive option for Palmer. If Rudi Johnson ever gets hurt, Perry could be a top 10 fantasy back.
The Texans are coming off their bye week. Dayne is the team’s starting RB for the moment, but his production has been mediocre at best. He’s carried 47 times for 153 yards in three games catching four balls for another 24 yards. We expected Samkon Gado to supplant him at some point, but Gado hasn’t been productive either. The Texans might not produce anything from the RB spot all year, but whomever they start will have some fantasy value. Right now, Dayne is their man, but his hold on the job is tenuous.
Pittman combined for 58 yards – 2 rushes for 27 yards and 2 catches for 31 yards
– against the Saints on Sunday. He’s the primary backup to Cadillac, too. He has
some value in leagues with 14 teams, especially with PPR scoring. Otherwise,
he’s a decent handcuff for Cadillac owners.
Haynes is currently the Steelers change-of-pace back when Willie Parker needs a breather and, in the event of a Steeler blowout, Haynes sometimes finishes off games with some gratuitous carries in the fourth quarter. He’s averaging 5.2 yards per carry (9-46-0) and he’s caught 13 balls for 66 yards in four games. Najeh Davenport is somewhat of a threat to Haynes if he can stay healthy and work himself into a larger role.
Add for Later (Sleeper potential)
Gado could emerge as the starter in Houston, but so far he’s biding his time behind Ron Dayne and waiting for an opportunity. Gado hasn’t made the impact the coaching staff had hoped for when they acquired him from Green Bay for Vernand Morency, but there’s still time for him to breakthrough. Given that Dayne is probably one of the starters who are most likely to lose their job, Gado will command some attention – if he’s still out there in your league.
Davenport is slowly working his way into the Steelers backfield rotation. He caught a 32-yard pass this week against the Chargers and it wouldn’t be a major surprise to see Davenport emerge as a short-yardage option in the future. If Willie Parker gets hurt, Davenport could get a shot at the starting gig before a veteran like Duce Staley (who is thought to be on the way out). Davenport just needs to stay healthy, something he’s struggled to do as a pro, but he’s definitely talented enough to produce if his role increases in Pittsburgh.
Houston will reportedly miss the next 2 to 3 weeks with a hyperextended knee. He was starting to emerge as the Jets best RB when he got hurt. If he’s available in your league, and you can afford to burn the roster spot for potentially a month to hold him, then you can buy low on Houston now and hope he bears fruit in the second half of the season. The Jets back to own in the short-term appears to be Leon Washington. Add for Insurance (Injury or bye week replacement)
Michael Bennett hurt his hamstring while racing a teammate at the team’s practice facility a little over a week ago. As a result, he was inactive the last two games and Dee Brown is the team’s backup to Larry Johnson while he’s out. Johnson was hurt as he was tackled from behind on a 78-yard reception that helped setup the Chiefs with a game-winning field goal. Brown took over for Johnson. The Cardinals had a 1st down on the Cardinals 14-yard line. Brown ran for 2 yards, lost a yard and then gained a yard back and the Cardinals settled for the winning field goal. Bennett is more talented and a better player, but if he’s not healthy then Brown will get the call if Johnson is sidelined. Obviously, everything hinges on Johnson’s neck and his availability going forward. If you’re interested in Brown, there are two things we need to know first (and we don’t have answers to them yet). First, what is Johnson’ status? Second, what is Bennett’s status going into next week? If Johnson is limited, then everything goes to Bennett first and then Brown second. Stay tuned to the FBG news blogger as news becomes available. If both Johnson and Bennett are questionable next week, then obviously Brown shoots way up this list based on the short-term opportunity. Johnson is scheduled to have an MRI today (Monday).
Kevin Jones had his bell rung toward the end of this week’s game against the Vikings. In the first month of the season, Jones has been a pleasant surprise, especially in PPR leagues. If Jones gets hurt, Brian Calhoun would probably get most of the touches and be the team’s primary back. Shawn Bryson would get more work, too. Calhoun is a two-way talent, but he lacks Jones’ size and power. He’s worth a roster spot if you’re counting heavily on Jones to secure the Lions backfield – and many catches for owners that need a flex/RB3 with PPR scoring. Jones/Calhoun would serve you well the rest of the season.
Davis is fitting in nicely as the change-of-pace back to Steven Jackson. Davis
has 46 yards on 12 carries and 3 catches for 16 yards in four games. If Jackson
misses any games, Davis would probably handle the bulk of the running duties
with Tony Fisher (2 catches for 51 yards this week) getting some touches and
working on third downs.
Fargas has made the most of his limited opportunities this year serving as LaMont Jordan’s primary backup. This week, he ran for 63 yards on 8 carries. In week 4, he ran for 54 yards on three carries. He doesn’t offer much value as long as Jordan is healthy and the Raiders offense is dormant. If something happens to Jordan, then Fargas would likely be the Raiders featured back and Zack Crockett would probably get some carries (short-yardage), too.
Harrison is getting on the field for a handful of plays each week, but unless Reuben Droughns gets hurt or stops producing, his value will continue to be limited. In four games, Harrison has 10 carries for 26 yards with 8 catches for 41 yards. He’s compact, quick, deceptive and he can catch the ball, but Jason Wright is also in the mix and he would likely handle some of the carries in the even that Droughns is out, too.
Brian Westbrook’s knee is a topic of great concern. Westbrook reportedly needs micro-fracture surgery when the season is over, but he sure seemed no worse for the wear on the field this Sunday. When Westbrook is unable to play, Correll Buckhalter handles the bulk of the rushing duties. Moats is activated and he serves as the change-of-pace to Buckhalter. With Buckhalter and Westbrook’s combined history of injuries, it would be a good idea to keep an eye on Mr. Moats in your league. He’s a big play back with a compact running style and great quickness. He’s like Westbrook, he’s just not the real thing.
Moore has been a consistent yardage producer each time he’s been forced into a starting role. He’s the backup to Chester Taylor, though he’s flip flopped in that role with Ciatrick Fason since the pre-season because of alternating injuries to both players. In spot duty, Moore has 50 yards on eight carries with 13 catches for 90 yards. He caught five balls for 38 yards this week, but also lost a fumble while fielding a punt. Add for Next Year (Dynasty potential)
DeAngelo Williams hurt his leg and DeShaun Foster isn’t a poster boy for durability either. Foster’s injury history leads us to ponder whether Eric Shelton is worth rostering. The 2nd year back brings a lot more size to the picture, but he struggled to learn the offense and he missed all of his rookie season with a broken foot. If a situation unfolds where Foster and Williams are both hurt, one can’t help but think Shelton would get a shot to deliver the goods. That’s not discounting old reliable Nick Goings, either. Shelton is young, big, strong and conceivably a poor man’s Brandon Jacobs, though that remains to be seen. He could be just as good if he’s given the opportunity. If Williams is sidelined for any length of time, Shelton could even emerge, as a change-of-pace back for Foster until Williams is healthy. Keep an eye on
Cobbs has been sidelined for most of the regular season because of a sprained ankle/foot. He removed a protective boot on Friday (last week), so he’s on the mend and could be back in action in a few weeks. Cobbs had a strong preseason, as did Mike Bell and Tatum Bell. Everyone knows the propensity for just about any back with a pulse to be very productive when given a chance in Denver, is ridiculously high. If either Tatum or Mike Bell succumbs to injury, Cobbs immediately becomes a player of great interest. If you’re able to gamble on him with a roster spot and the outside chance he could emerge later this year, then he’s a decent back for that purpose.
One interesting angle to think about is adding the combination of Maurice Hicks
and Michael Robinson as a RB4/RB5 combo to the back end of your roster. You
would obviously need to have a solid RB1 thru RB3, but if Frank Gore gets hurt,
you’d have the 49ers productive backfield secured. Norv Turner usually gets
solid production out of his starting RBs. If Hicks or Robinson emerges into a
starting role due to injury, have confidence that either one, or both, would be
productive. Hicks caught a 33-yard TD this week, but he’s been used sparsely (1
run, 3 yard, 7 catches, 84 yards, 1 TD).
The more things change, the more they remain the same. Mike Alstott is still good for a handful of short-yardage TD runs a year. If you’re in a deeper league with basic scoring (TDs only), then Alstott may be a decent back to gamble on as a spot starter. Granted, it’s just 1 TD in four games, but he’s also used as a receiver. He has caught 8 passes for 33 yards while rushing 8 times for 17 yards. He’s a TD or burst player unless Cadillac gets hurt, but then he’d still serve in the same role while Michael Pittman would pickup most of the running duties.
Morris served his four-game suspension and returned to action this Sunday against the Patriots. Morris served as the backup to Ronnie Brown. Morris could regain his job and displace Lee Suggs in that role.
Wide Receiver Here's a list of the top WRs likely to be available in smaller leagues. We covered these players in greater details during the first month of the season and don’t believe them to be readily available in most leagues. That said, if you find one still lingering around in your league, grab them first. Otherwise, look at the list of players covered in this week’s waiver report for more realistic options.
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Johnson’s immediate value depends entirely on the health of Larry Fitzgerald,
who injured his hamstring in the Cardinals-Chiefs game on Sunday. Fitzgerald
left the game in the second quarter and Johnson immediately moved into the
starting lineup. He finished with 6 catches for 82 yards. He was targeted 10
times. Even when Fitz is healthy, Johnson has value. He’s a big, fast WR who can
produce big plays. He produced a 39-yard catch in the first game of the season,
then a 40-yard TD catch in week 2, then a 54-yard catch the next week. This week
his longest was 26 yards. If Fitzgerald is out next week, bump Johnson way up
this list. He’s averaging 47 yds/gm as the team’s #3 WR, if he’s starting we
know he can put up even better numbers. The only thing we know at the time of
this writing is that Fitzgerald’s hamstring injury is potentially serious. If
that’s the case, and HC Dennis Green said it "looked fairly serious." Fitzgerald
could be sidelined for a month or longer. Hamstrings are tough to gauge,
especially with WRs. He’s set for an MRI on Monday, so watch the FBG News
blogger for more as it becomes available.
If Welker is still available in your league, you might as well grab him if you need a receiver. Welker was targeted 12 times this week as Marty Booker got hurt and Welker essentially became Joey Harrington’s #1 target of the day. Chris Chambers was targeted 11 times. Welker has been the team’s most consistent WR during the first five weeks, but he’s not likely to become a starter unless injuries happen. Booker was hurt this week, so keep an eye on his status. Even when Booker is healthy, Welker is productive, so any increase in Welker’s role means his fantasy value follows suit.
Battle caught four balls for 37 yards and two TDs against the Raiders this week.
He’s caught at least two passes in each of the 49ers games this year and he now
has 15 receptions for 194 yards and 2 TDs in five games. Antonio Bryant remains
the top WR in San Francisco, but Battle could be productive at times, too. There
are some soft spots on the schedule where Battle might be a decent reach as a
WR3/WR4/flex like weeks 10 (at Lions), 12 (at Rams), 14 (vs Packers) and 16 (vs
Cardinals).
Baskett broke loose this week in a huge way. He caught a pass from Donovan McNabb, broke a tackle and sprinted for an 87-yard TD. Baskett finished with 112 yards on three catches. Baskett started for the injured Donte Stallworth. If Stallworth’s hamstring continues to flare up, then Baskett deserves consideration as a starter/sleeper each week he’s in the lineup. McNabb is playing like the league’s MVP this year, so Baskett has value as long as Stallworth is sidelined.
Roy Williams left the Lions-Vikings game early in the first quarter with a shoulder injury. That opened the door for Hakim, who caught eight passes for 92 yards. If Williams is sidelined for any length of time, then Hakim might be worth a roster spot. Curiously, we're still not sure if Mike Williams will ever be given any sort of role in the offense. He seems to be the new scapegoat for the front office with Charles Rogers long gone. On the other hand, Mike Furrey has been productive opposite Roy Williams and Hakim already knows the offense. Williams’ time may come, but Hakim will almost certainly be given the first crack, so he’s worth a pickup if Williams can’t go next week.
Add For Depth (Starter potential)
Parker caught his first TD of the year against the Cardinals. He finished with five catches for 37 yards (8 targets) to give him 14 catches and 107 yards and a TD through 4 games. Parker’s value should only get better from here on out as long as he doesn’t get hurt. The Chiefs offense has remained productive with Damon Huard at QB, but there’s still a distinct possibility they would be even better once Trent Green returns to the field.
Curry finally put together a big game this week. He caught four passes for 94
yards. He was targeted 7 times. Curry’s potential would likely improve if Aaron
Brooks returns to the lineup and lifts the Raiders offense up off the ground.
Curry could emerge with some fantasy value if the Raiders could just generate
some consistent offense from week to week. Curry has caught a pass for 15 or
more yards in every game this year – despite how badly the Raiders have been. He
now has 10 catches for 173 on the season.
Jurevicius is back in the lineup for the Browns. He’s starting opposite Braylon
Edwards and this week he caught 3 passes for 28 yards (3 targets). He’s a huge
target in the red zone, just like fellow receivers Kellen Winslow and Edwards.
Jurevicius is worth a roster spot in deeper leagues, but there probably aren’t
enough TDs to spread amongst these three for Jurevicius to have serious value –
unless he starts catching most of them.
Stokley returned to the Colts lineup this week after missing most of the season
due to injuries. The Colts have leaned more on their two TE sets than their 3 WR
sets featured so heavily in Manning’s record breaking 2004 season. He led the
receivers this week with five catches and 57 yards. If he stays healthy, he’s
worth a roster spot knowing that Manning likes to go to him. It all depends on
the Colts offense. If they start using more 3 WR formations again, then
Stokley’s value would increase significantly.
Robinson scored TDs in two of his first three games, then he disappointed this week with just 3-25-0 against a Lions secondary that was beaten badly through the first four weeks. Robinson and the Vikings are on the bye this week, so if you’re looking for a quick solution, keep looking. Otherwise, the schedule gets soft with games against NE, SD, GB, Miami and Arizona in weeks 8 thru 12. He’s the team’s #3 WR, but he still gets some looks in the red zone because of his great size and good hands.
Henderson isn’t healthy yet and he’s been inactive in each of the last two
games, but he’s worth adding if you’re looking for a home run type to gamble on
during the bye weeks. Henderson caught 8 passes for 110 yards and he scored 2
TDs in the first three games. Henderson has excellent speed, but he’s been slow
to develop with the Saints. This year, he’s getting opportunities but he has to
get healthy before he’s of any value to you. So, keep an eye on his status.
Lelie is slowly emerging as a viable big play threat for the Michael Vick. With 2nd year WR Roddy White struggling in the first month, Lelie has started for the last two games. Looking ahead, Lelie and White could both enhance Vick’s passing potential, but there probably isn’t enough stats to go around in Atlanta for even 2-3 WRs to sustain value. Alge Crumpler and Michael Jenkins are the top two, so Lelie and White have their work cut out if they are to become consistent producers.
Add for Later (Sleeper potential)
For the second game in a row, Rashied Davis caught a TD pass from Rex Grossman,
this one covering 15 yards. In the last two games, he’s produced 3-48-1 and
3-41-1. He also caught a 31-yard pass three weeks ago (week 2). The Bears
passing attack continues to surprise and produce consistently week to week.
Davis isn’t quite as consistent or as productive as Muhsin Muhammad or Bernard
Berrian, but he deserves consideration in deeper leagues or TD-heavy leagues.
Jones is working his way back into the rotation now that he’s close to 100% following a torn ACL last year. Jones caught three balls for 40 yards against the Colts – leading the team in both categories – and he was targeted six times. David Givens hasn’t been healthy and Drew Bennett was banged up this week. If the Titans WRs continue to struggle then Jones will have a great chance to produce. Jones has good long-term value and he could eventually develop into a starter for the Titans.
White didn’t make an impact during the first month of the season, but don’t be surprised if his role increases in the second half of the season. Ashley Lelie is cutting into his opportunity right now, but don’t be surprised if White regains the starting job soon and has a few strong games. He’s merely worth watching right now, but if he show sign and wrestles the job back from Lelie, then you might snatch him up.
As much as the Giants are disappointed that rookie Sinorice Moss has been inactive due to lingering hamstring problems, they have to be ecstatic that Carter has been healthy and productive when called upon. Carter caught four balls for 44 yards this week. In their last game, Carter had 3 catches, 43 yards and 1 TD. If Plaxico Burress or Amani Toomer get hurt, Carter’s role would grow, but David Tyree replaced Burress against the Seahawks and Carter remained inside as the team’s #3. The main thing to know about Carter is – speed. He’s got a lot of it. With the Giants spreading the field and defenses focusing on Plax, Toomer, Tiki and Shockey – Carter could end up being a sneaky big play threat the rest of the season.
Gardner caught his first two balls as a member of the Chiefs this week. Dante Hall injured his hip giving Gardner an opportunity to play in the slot. He was targeted three times, catching two balls for 17 yards. Keep an eye on his progress. He’s a long shot, but if injuries force him into a larger role, with Trent Green returning, he could do something. He’s failed to produce anything other than disappointment in the last few years of his career, so we’ll see.
Add for Insurance (Injury or bye week replacement)
Chris Henry has been suspended and he will miss the next two games giving Washington another opportunity to step in as the team’s #3 WR and earn some meaningful minutes. Washington has appeared in three games catching nine balls for 115 yards and 1 TD. He’s always been a talented player, but he never distinguished himself while T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chris Henry have done just that. There’s a window of opportunity for him the next two weeks, but the Bengals matchups aren’t particularly good either – Tampa and Carolina. Consider him for deeper leagues as a potential source for points for the short-term.
Curtis’s role decreased when Mike Martz left town. Until Isaac Bruce shows any signs of slowing down, or getting hurt, Curtis won’t be much of an option as a fantasy WR. He scored a TD this week, but he’s caught only 9 balls for 66 yards in four games. If Bruce gets hurts, then Curtis would immediately deserve consideration as a Top 40-ish fantasy WR.
You can’t knock Reed’s consistency. He caught three, four, four and 4 balls producing 40, 39, 45 and 43 yards with 1 TD in the first four games, but he didn’t catch a pass against the Bears. The Bills passing game is still too shaky to depend on for fantasy points unless it’s Lee Evans. Losman’s play has improved this year, but you’ll generally want to avoid considering Bills WRs unless it’s a strong matchup. Reed, Peerless Price and Roscoe Parrish all get looks and any of those three could be worthwhile as a reach when the matchup looks good for Buffalo. Weeks 6 (at Detroit), 7 (vs NE), 9 (vs GB), 11 (at Houston) and 16 (vs Tennessee) all could bode well for Reed, Price or Parrish.
Larry Fitzgerald may very well miss several weeks if his hamstring injury is as serious as expected. That means an expanded role for Walters, who slides into the #3 spot with Bryant Johnson moving into the starting role replacing Fitz. Walters has caught at least one pass in each of the Cardinals four games, but he could see a few more targets and he’s a player to keep your eyes on if Leinart performs the way he did this past week. The Cardinals will throw the ball plenty this year.
Williams is reportedly on the brink of earning a bigger role and more playing
time in the Lions offense. With Roy Williams getting hurt this week, you’d think
that Williams would definitely get a chance. Instead, Mike didn’t catch a ball
while Az-Zahir Hakim caught eight passes for 92 yards. Mike Furrey caught three
passes for 41 yards, but still no Mike Williams sighting in the box score. He
was targeted once, though. It’s hard to discard Williams completely, but if the
Lions ever give him a shot, then he could be worth a look. Until he gets more
playing time, he’s just not worthwhile.
Donald Driver wasn’t close to 100% this week and Robert Ferguson didn’t play at all. Koren Robinson is about to serve a 1-year suspension. That leaves the 6’ 4” 217 pound Martin potentially playing as the team’s #3 WR. Greg Jennings and Donald Driver are the starters, but Ferguson is hurt and Robinson’s playing on borrowed time. Martin has the size to be a great target for Favre down field. Who knows if he’ll get an opportunity, but Ferguson isn’t very dependable and Robinson won’t be around long either. It seems like a matter of time before Martin, or someone off the free agent heap, becomes the Packers #3 WR.
Add for Next Year (Dynasty potential)
The Jets average about 3 yards more on players when Smith touches the football
compared to plays when Smith doesn’t touch the ball. He’s been used at QB, RB,
WR, H-back, punt returner and just about any way conceivable. Smith has
tremendous potential and he could emerge as a starter for the Jets in the next
year or two. He’s great after the catch and his presence give the Jets offensive
coordinator plenty of room for creativity if they want to draw up trick plays to
utilize his skills.
Robinson seemed like a good short-term play last week, but this week we’ve learned that Robinson will be suspended for one year by the NFL. Robinson can keep playing until his appeal hearing, expected to be in a few weeks. If he loses the appeal, his suspension will take effect immediately. Therefore, Robinson’s primary value at this point hinges on whether Ferguson/Driver can play as a short-term option, or a long-term player that you’d have to sit on for a year before you get any return on your investment.
Floyd isn’t targeted enough to warrant any consideration as a possible starter, but he did score a TD for the second straight week. For those counting at home, that’s 2 TDs and 4 receptions in four games. Floyd is 6’ 5” and 225 pounds. He’s in his third season out of Wyoming and he’s spent the last two years on and off the Chargers roster and practice squad. Consider a potential lineup that includes Floyd, Vincent Jackson and Antonio Gates in the red zone. A lineup like that is comparable to the Jaguars with both receivers standing 6’ 5” – ironically making Gates – at 6’ 4” the shortest of the three.
Marty Booker hasn’t done anything in Miami in X years.. Hagan could compete for a starting spot by next year. Welker is more likely to stay in the slot, so Hagan could leapfrog him at some point and emerge as a future starter in Miami.
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.
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Smith isn’t available in most leagues, but he did get off to a slow start. It’s possible he was drafted then cut for a Desmond Clark, Eric Johnson or even Chris Baker (which would’ve been a mistake). Smith put together a solid performance for the second game in a row and he scored his first TD of the season. In the last two games he’s caught 9 passes for 88 yards and a TD. With rookie Bruce Gradkowski starting at QB, the Bucs could leverage their athletic 2nd year TE on more underneath routes to counter the pressure defenses want to apply on their inexperienced QB. Throughout the preseason, Gruden talked about how the team had looked for ways to get Smith more involved in the team’s offense. They designed plays to take advantage of his skills. Yet he was nonexistent during the preseason and he caught just 2 passes for 18 yards in the first two games. He’s coming around now. He might be the best available player in many leagues, so if you can still grab him, go for it.
Davis is expected to miss at least two more weeks recovering from a broken bone in his leg. Davis’ physical abilities are well written. He’s a physical freak who many expect to develop into an elite pass-catching TE in the NFL. As a rookie, it takes time for the mental side of the game to catch up to all that physical ability. Davis should return after the team’s week 7 bye. In the second half of the season, Davis could be a nice surprise. He caught a TD in his first NFL game (5-37-1). Eric Johnson’s presence could hinder his stats, but it could enable him as defenses will be forced to choose who they want to roll the coverage towards – Johnson or Davis, load up on the run, or double Antonio Bryant. He’s available in many competitive leagues due to his injury, but he’s a guy that could get healthy and put up some surprising stats in the 2nd half. Add him as a backup now with the hope that he pushes your current starter and provides potentially excellent depth.
HC Mike Holmgren expects Jerramy Stevens to return to the team following the team’s bye week when they face the Rams on October 15th. That’s next week. Stevens had another surgery to clean up some lingering issues with the knee he had worked on following last season. When healthy, Stevens is a king-sized target in the red zone for Matt Hasselbeck and he’s capable of putting up top 10 numbers. If he’s still available, he’s another player you could grab right now that could pay big dividends down the stretch. Add For Depth (Starter potential)
Franks is a well-known veteran who simply hasn’t produced enough in the past couple of years to sustain any staying power in fantasy leagues. This year is no different. He’s caught 2-3 balls in each of the Packers last four games – but nothing more. To make matters worse he hasn’t even caught one of his standard 1- or 2-yard TDs. Franks best serves your fantasy needs as a bye-week replacement starter, but don’t rely on him for much more. He’ll put together a few good games, mostly when he scores. Otherwise, his value is reserved for much larger leagues that require TEs and emphasize TD scoring.
Through the first five games, Wrighster is checking in as the 9th ranked fantasy
TE in PPR scoring systems. He’s caught 17 passes for 141 yards with a TD. He
caught a TD this week, his first of the season. Wrighster’s bubble could pop
once rookie Marcedes Lewis gets up to speed and puts his high-ankle sprain
behind him. Still, Wrighster could remain productive as Byron Leftwich seems to
be comfortable with him and he’s playing well. At the very least, he’s a good
short-term option for the bye weeks and if you’re lucky he can sustain his
production the rest of the season.
Conwell did absolutely nothing in the first three games of the year. However, in the last two games, he’s been a solid performer with 5-37-0 and 2-14-1. He scored his first TD of the season this week. In 12 team leagues with PPR scoring that require TEs, Conwell might have enough to offer as a fantasy backup TE. Let’s not get carried away though, Conwell has just two decent games out of five. If he strings together a couple more semi-productive games his value will increase, so it could be a case where you need to grab him now depending on the competitive makeup of your particular league. Add for Later (Sleeper potential)
Kinney is still at least a couple weeks away from returning to the Titans. He had arthroscopic surgery on his knee during preseason. He was originally expected to miss 4 to 6 weeks, but he’s been out a bit longer. Last year, Kinney was incredibly consistent from week to week leading the team in receptions when he was healthy. This year, our expectations are tempered due to his health issues and the emergence of 2nd year TE Bo Scaife. Kinney was a starter before the injury/surgery, so if he’s able to regain that spot alongside Ben Troupe, he could have solid value in the second half.
Lewis is healthy but as a rookie it could take him some time before he becomes a
productive option for the Jaguars, especially with George Wrighster performing
well in the mean time. Wrighster has always been a talented player, too, but
he’s never been able to put it all together on a consistent basis. Lewis is even
more talented and a bigger target, too. If he begins to emerge in the Jaguars
offense, he could be a sneaky play in the second half of the season as a strong
red zone option for Byron Leftwich. Lewis was incredibly productive in college
at UCLA as a pass-catching TE.
Pope is expected to eventually emerge as the Cardinals #1 TE, but he’s still
earning his minutes and sharing time with 2nd year player Adam Bergen. Pope is a
guy to watch around the end zone if Larry Fitzgerald is out for a while with
what appears to be a serious hamstring injury. Pope could pick up some red zone
targets and become a super sleeper in the 2nd half of the season.
The Raiders offense has been so bad it’s hard to count on any of their players for anything fantasy related. That said, under HC Art Shell, the tight end position is once again getting some looks and Courtney Anderson is the team’s starter. Realistically, Anderson hasn’t done enough to warrant a roster spot even in deeper leagues. He caught a TD this week, but he’s produced only 5 catches for 51 yards in five games. With Aaron Brooks potentially returning soon and possibly giving the Raiders offense even a small amount of improvement, Anderson could become a more intriguing option.
Add for Next Year (Dynasty potential)
Like Delanie Walker, Williams is another former WR who beefed up and converted
to TE. Williams is 6’ 3” and 235 pounds. The Raiders like his ability as a
receiver and he’s been steadily productive playing in a limited role. Starting
TE Courtney Anderson has 5 catches for 51 yards and a TD. Williams has four
catches for 62 yards. It’s hard to say if he’ll ever become anything more than a
role player, but he’s got the skills to be a decent pass catching TE if he works
his way into an expanded role in the future.
The 49ers rookie hybrid is healthy after being limited since the preseason with nagging injuries. He’s a bit undersized as a TE at 6’ 237 lbs but he was switched over to TE after playing receiver at UTEP and splitting time between the two during the preseason. Walker hasn’t caught a single pass yet, but he’s earning his way returning kicks for now. He could emerge at some point, but he’s still a bit raw and a project that the team hopes could be a solid backup and alternative to Vernon Davis. Keep an eye on
Campbell was signed by the Lions in the offseason to give them a quality blocker at the TE position, not because of his prowess as a receiver. Ironically, he’s been a solid receiver in Mike Martz’s offense, too. He’s been more productive than veteran TE Marcus Pollard, last year’s starter. Campbell caught a 12-yard TD this week and on the season he has 7 catches for 120 yards and 1 TD – but he’s only caught more than one ball in just one game, so temper your enthusiasm and don’t expect much here moving forward.
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 first. If not, keep digging and look at our players below for more options.
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Feely had a slow start to the season. In the first three games most of his work came on PATs, but this week he booted 4 FGs. The Giants offense should give him ample opportunities to be a decent fantasy kicker and he could be available in many leagues after his poor start due to lack of opportunity.
As we make our way through the bye weeks, you’ll see a lot of kickers get churned through your league’s team rosters. Most teams will carry only one kicker and cut their starter for another kicker on their bye, then make another move, if they’re not satisfied with that kicker. Players like Tynes can often find their way onto 2 or 3 different rosters throughout the season. Tynes has kicked 2 or more FGs in each of the last three games. The Chiefs offense isn’t as good as last year, but their defense is better. That combination could be just what Tynes needs to be a consistent option for your fantasy scoring needs. Add For Depth (Starter potential)
Michael Koenen failed miserably at his attempt to be the Falcons triple crown of kickers (kickoff specialist, FG kicker and punter). That lead the team to bring back the old veteran Andersen, how kicked 6 FGs in 7 attempts in his first two games. He doesn’t have the leg to kick 50 yarders anymore, but he should be a reasonably accurate option on most of the Falcons FG attempts. For long ones, they’ll use Koenen.
Since the Packers were shut out in the season opener, Rayner has made good on 8-of-10 FG attempts. He’s averaging 8-9 points/game depending on your scoring system.
Defense The following teams went undrafted in some leagues and were probably picked up during the first few weeks via your league’s waiver wire. If they remain available, these are your top options to consider before going to the defenses written about below.
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The Broncos are lacking big plays in the first month of the season, but they’re still playing good defensive football. They have four sacks and only 2 turnovers in the first three games, but tonight they have a chance to flex their muscles against a fellow AFC contender in Baltimore. The Broncos run defense was tested by the Chiefs and Rams, but they bounced back with a strong game limiting the Patriots to 50 yards in week 3. They’ve also done an excellent job keeping teams out of the end zone. They’ve allowed only 31 points in three games. They’ve done this without DE Courtney Brown, too. The Broncos should have more success in the coming weeks once they line up against teams like Oakland (twice), Cleveland and then Arizona later in the year (week 15).
The Giants defense got off to a slow start. In the first three games, they garnered only 2 sacks and allowed an unhealthy 92 points combined to Indianapolis, Philadelphia and Seattle. Go figure – three of the top offensive teams in the league. The Giants fared MUCH better this week at home against the Redskins – limiting them to 164 total yards with 3 sacks. There are some matchups in the next month where the Giants figure to be very productive. Take a look at them for the following weeks: week 8 vs Buccaneers, week 9 vs Texans, week 10 vs Chicago, week 12 at Tennessee and week 13 vs Dallas. Add For Depth (Starter potential)
The Rams have some solid matchups that might come in handy if you match them well against a stronger #1 defense on your roster. The weeks where you might get the most bang for your buck out of this defense are: week 12 vs. 49ers, week 13 vs Cardinals, week vs Bears, week 15 at Raiders, vs week 16 vs Redskins. In other words, their schedule during the fantasy playoffs is favorable and it could be enough to strengthen your hand during those crucial weeks.
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