Fantasy Football Info For Serious Players
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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 Here's a list of the top QB likely to be available for those of you in smaller leagues with 8 or 10 teams. For the majority of owners, these players were drafted late or acquired in the first week or two of the season via waivers. If any of these QBs are available, then grab them first. If not, keep digging and consider the players summarized below.
Add Immediately (Impact potential)
The Bucs rookie completed 25-of-44 for 184 yards with two TDs and an interception leading the Bucs to a 14-13 come-from-behind win against the Bengals. He added 19 yards rushing on six runs. Gradkowski is showing great poise and ability for a sixth round rookie. He was probably plucked in most leagues last week following his first start, but if he’s still there grab him if you need a QB. He has the goods and he’s in an offense where he can be a productive player – even as an NFL rookie QB if you pick your matchups wisely.
Young threw for 161 yards against the Redskins on 13-of-25 passing with a TD. He added 10 yards rushing on six attempts while leading the Titans to a 25-22 win on the road. Young is on the bye this week, but in week 8, the Titans face the Texans (great matchup). In weeks 12 through 14, the matchups look good: NY Giants, Houston and Indianapolis.
Add For Depth (Starter potential)
Losman threw for 207 yards with 2 TDs and an interception against the Lions this week. He also added 16 yards rushing. Not a great game, but not terrible either and about what we would expect from Losman in what was a good matchup against Detroit. He’s still available in many leagues, but for a reason, too. He may be useful in the right situations, but he’s still a work in progress as an NFL signal caller – albeit he’s showing improvement this season.
Steve McNair suffered a concussion and was forced to leave the game. Kyle Boller took over for McNair and responded well completing 17-of-31 for 226 yards with 3 TDs and 1 interception, rushing 27 yards for six attempts. It’s way too early to speculate what McNair’s status is for next week, or if Billick would switch to Boller because of McNair being ineffective recently. Keep Boller on the short list. He’s flawed, but he was also productive in stretches last year and he could be this year if he’s starting as long as the matchups aren’t too bad.
Harrington started very slowly this week, but he ended up with solid stats thanks to playing from behind – he finished with 266 yards on 27-of-43 passing with 1 TD and a pair of interceptions. Harrington will be the starting QB until Nick Saban lets us know otherwise, or until Daunte Culpepper is healthy again.
Add for Later (Sleeper potential)
Brooks could return to the lineup in a week or two – like Trent Green. It’s questionable whether he will be productive enough to carry any serious fantasy value when he does. Randy Moss isn’t performing well. Jerry Porter was suspended for four games. The offensive line is a mess. The whole team is a mess. Brooks is still worth a long shot if you’re hurting at the position, but at this point, its wishful thinking if you hope him to regain that top 10 form he had for years as the Saints QB.
Green could begin practicing this coming week and, with any luck, return to the lineup in a week or two. He’s worth a roster spot if you can carry him until that happens. He was cut in most leagues because owners didn’t want to wait him out. If you can, it could be worthwhile.
Romo took the field this week for some gratuitous snaps with the Cowboys holding a comfortable lead against the Texans. Romo even threw a TD – the third of the day to Terrell Owens in the fourth quarter. Bill Parcells seems like he’ll stick with Bledsoe for the time being, but if you’re counting on Bledsoe for your team, then Romo makes sense as a backup and handcuff. The Cowboys passing game should be productive given the surrounding talent, so if Bledsoe gets hurt or benched, Romo would be a player worth owning. Keep an eye on
Could things be bad enough in Miami for HC Nick Saban to turn to their #3 signal caller? We’ll see. Joey Harrington has looked like the same flawed QB he was in Detroit since taking over for the injured/benched Daunte Culpepper. It wouldn’t be a major surprise if Saban turns to Lemon if the Dolphins ship continues to sink.
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 (Najeh Davenport). 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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Henry exploded for 178 rushing yards on 32 attempts against a good Redskins run defense (on the road, too). Henry scored a 2-yard TD and caught two passes for 3 yards. LenDale White was deactivated and Chris Brown served as the backup carrying three times for 6 yards. Henry should continue to be the team’s starter going forward as long as he doesn’t fumble it away, get hurt or become unproductive. That doesn’t seem likely since he’s been the most productive and best looking back on the Titans roster this season. He’s quick to the hole and he’s run for 100+ yards in two straight games. Henry has 81 carries for 383 yards (4.7 yds/att) with 3 TDs in 2 starts and splitting carries with Brown in another game.
Washington was productive again for the Jets as they continued to give him a
bigger role in the offense. Washington led the team with 58 yards rushing on 11
carries (compared to Barlow’s 13 rushes for 45 yds). Of course, Washington ran
for 101 yards last week on 23 carries, so you’re probably a week late in most
leagues on acquiring him. Washington should remain a significant part of the
Jets RB rotation. Right now, he’s their most productive back.
Herron earned a bigger role in the offense with his strong play in week five.
Recall, Vernand Morency fumbled away his opportunity and Herron seized the
opportunity rushing for 106 yards on 20 attempts with a TD and five catches for
20 more yards. Herron benefited from a strong off-season and he continued to
work hard despite all the players coming and going around him. Most importantly,
he proved to be a productive player and he’ll be the team’s starter if Ahman
Green isn’t healthy.
After the way Davenport performed this week, it might be safe to say that if Willie Parker gets hurt, Davenport will have a significant role. Davenport ran for 78 yards on 12 carries. His first carry went for 48 yards in the second quarter. For comparison, starter Willie Parker carried 20 times for 109 yards and fellow backup Verron Haynes had five carries and two receptions (33 yds).
Add For Depth (Starter potential)
Perry is eligible to come off the team’s PUP list now – after week 6. Perry
could give the Bengals offense a major boost as an explosive runner and receiver
out of the backfield if he’s truly healthy. Perry made great progress in the
last month and reportedly should be ready, so if he’s out there, grab him while
you can. In PPR leagues, Perry could be gold in the event that Rudi Johnson gets
hurt.
Gado ran for 5 yards this week on four carries. Fortunately, he caught four
balls for 26 yards to give fantasy owners something to grasp that’s tangible.
The Texans just can’t generate any offense on the ground this year. It doesn’t
seem like it would take Gado much to overtake Dayne as the starter, but first he
has to do something. So far, Gado has not done enough to warrant a change even
though Dayne is averaging less than 3 yards per carry (57 times for 167 yards).
Buckhalter caught a 10-yard pass and ran once for five yards against the Saints.
He’s still the team’s primary backup to Brian Westbrook and change-of-pace
option. His two touches this week represent the lowest total of the season for
Buckhalter. He now has 35 carries for 142 yards and 7 catches for 82 yards, but
no TDs, in six games.
With Shaun Alexander sidelined, Strong is playing a larger role in the offense picking up some carries and a couple receptions a game. Strong is a good option at the goal line with Alexander unavailable. This week, Strong had a 32-yard TD nullified due to a holding penalty. Darrell Jackson’s 42-yard TD came on the next play. In deeper leagues or those with TD-heavy scoring systems, Strong is a solid pickup until Shaun Alexander returns to the lineup.
Jamal Lewis called for more work this week and HC Brian Billick responded by giving Mike Anderson more work instead. Anderson lost his No. 2 job to Musa Smith early this year, but he’s still in the rotation as we saw this week. He carried six times for 7 yards – not thrilling – and Lewis ran just 9 times and Musa Smith once.
By the time you read this, Dayne could lose the starting job in Houston. That’s how much faith I have in Dayne sustaining his role and/or being a productive fantasy option. Dayne ran 10 times this week for 14 yards and caught one pass for 4 yards. Dayne knows the system, so he has that working for him, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if Samkon Gado supplants him as the starter at any time. The problem is that Gado isn’t doing any better with his touches.
Add for Later (Sleeper potential)
Houston could be healthy enough to return to the lineup in the next few weeks. He was well on his way to a bigger role in the offense when he got hurt, again. The nagging injuries have created some doubt in the Jets front office about Houston’s ability to be the team’s featured back. That’s led to an opportunity for Leon Washington. If Houston gets healthy, the Jets could begin using Houston and Washington more, and Barlow less.
Add for Insurance (Injury or bye week replacement)
Despite coming out of quasi-retirement Davis looks good and seems to have some pep to his step serving as the backup and change-of-pace back to Steven Jackson. Tony Fisher is the team’s third down back and he’ll always have a role in this offense regardless, but Davis would handle the bulk of the rushing duties if Jackson gets hurt.
Jones went to the sidelines briefly this week against the Bills, but he returned quickly. In the meantime, Calhoun took his spot and he carried twice for 5 yards. Calhoun is the main backup to Jones. Shawn Bryson also plays a role regardless of who is starting, but he injured his knee against the Bills on Sunday. HC Rod Marinelli said that he is “worried” about Bryson’s knee injury. Calhoun is a great fit in Mike Martz’s offense because of his quickness and pass-catching ability
Fargas is one of the players that HC Art Shell is quite happy with as opposed to malcontents on the team like Jerry Porter. After breaking some long runs in the past few games, Fargas earned an expanded role in the offense. It’s not a RBBC yet, but Shell clearly likes Fargas and he has praised his toughness and speed in the last week, saying Fargas deserves more touches. Fargas gained 54 and 68 yards in weeks 4 and 5. He gained 35 yards on five carries in the opener and he’s run for a 15-yard gain in three different games. This week, Fargas gained 11 yards on three carries and he injured his shoulder, too. His status for next week is uncertain at this time. You’ll obviously want to see what impact this injury has on his availability before acquiring him.
Moore is the primary backup to Chester Taylor, though that could change quickly.
Moore’s been listed up and down the depth chart since last season because of an
assortment of injuries. He’s healthy for the moment and he gained 50 yards
rushing on 8 attempts (6.3 yds/att) and 90 yards receiving on 13 receptions (6.9
yds/rec). In the last four games, Moore averages ~ 5 touches per game. That
would go up drastically if Taylor gets hurt. Ciatrick Fason and Artose Pinner
are behind Moore – Fason isn’t healthy.
Moats benefits when Brian Westbrook can’t play. The Eagles start Buckhalter,
obviously, but they also work Moats into the mix. Moats carried once this week
for 7 yards, but he’s barely played this year when Westbrook is active or
healthy.
Deuce McAllister missed most of the first half this week after tweaking his hamstring. Stecker played briefly carrying three times for 9 yards. He also caught two balls for 14 yards. Stecker would benefit if McAllister or Bush gets hurt. Otherwise, he doesn’t have much value.
Morris served his four game suspension and was immediately activated, and the team waived Lee Suggs to make room for Morris. Morris is once again the primary backup to Ronnie Brown in a backfield that also includes Travis Minor.
Thomas continues to hold the backup job behind Willis McGahee. Thomas started
strongly with a TD in the season opener, but he’s barely touched the ball since
that game. If McGahee gets hurt, he’s the guy you want though.
Arrington is the primary backup to Edgerrin James. Arrington’s been mostly a bust in the NFL, though 21 games still might not be enough of a sampling. Arrington didn’t do anything as a rookie, so it’s questionable how productive he’d be this year, while likely splitting touches to some degree with Marcel Shipp. As such, Arrington is a weaker handcuff unless you have huge rosters. Keep an eye on
Martin hopes to be activated at some point after week 6, once he’s eligible to
come off the team’s PUP list. We’ll have to see it to believe it though. Martin
is probably headed to Canton in the near future, but it would be a major
surprise if he’s activated and productive at this point.
Michael Bennett is hurt and Dee Brown has been unimpressive. That has opened the door for Ross to get a shot in the Chiefs backfield behind Larry Johnson. Ross carried the ball three times this week for 8 yards at the tail end of the game (down 45-7). If Bennett isn’t healthy, Ross could be the first back into the game if LJ gets hurt.
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.
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Clayton’s been gaining momentum since the year began. Derrick Mason might be the team’s #1 WR, but Clayton is the most productive. This week he exploded for 101 yards and 2 TDs on five catches. He was targeted 10 times compared to three targets for Mason, who didn’t catch a pass against Carolina. For the season, Clayton now has 25 receptions for 287 yards with 2 TDs while Mason has 23 for 310 with no TDs. Note: Clayton’s expectations should get a slight bump if Boller remains the starter (due to McNair’s concussion suffered this week).
Larry Fitzgerald could miss anywhere from 2 to 5 weeks with his injured
hamstring. Recent reports indicate that Fitz could be back in the earlier end of
that period, but that remains to be seen. Johnson benefits while Fitz is out.
Otherwise, Johnson’s value is diminished, but he’s still worth a roster spot in
deeper leagues. He gets a start this week against the Bears (tonight on MNF). If
he produces in this tough matchup, that bodes well for his immediate and
short-term value.
The Patriots were on the bye this week. Doug Gabriel and Troy Brown are the Patriots top receiving threats, along with TE Ben Watson, while rookie Chad Jackson is a player who could emerge as a factor in the second half. The Patriots still spread the ball around from week to week, so Gabriel, Brown, Watson, Jackson and even Reche Caldwell will all have productive weeks and quiet weeks, too. Tom Brady already seems comfortable with Gabriel, and he’s probably the team’s best big play threat.
Parker caught five balls for 72 yards against the Steelers this week in a
lopsided 45-7 drubbing in Pittsburgh. He was targeted six times. He caught 5
balls for 37 yards last week. Parker’s the No. 2 WR in KC. His numbers might
improve once Trent Green returns, but Damon Huard has played well, so that might
be wishful thinking. Parker has 19 catches for 179 yards and a TD in five games.
He’s worth a roster spot in most 12 team leagues, but more so in PPR leagues.
Parker had his second strong week in a row catching seven passes for 88 yards on
eight targets. Last week, he caught five passes for 86 yards against the
Steelers. Don’t expect him to sustain an average of 80+ yards going forward, but
he is capable of producing solid stats in just about any game. The problem is
that the Chargers also have Gates and Tomlinson as the top two targets and big
red zone targets like Malcolm Floyd and Vincent Jackson to steal his thunder.
Parker’s a solid starter, but as a fantasy WR, there’s not a bunch of upside
here. He’s a quality player who will produce a solid game every few weeks, but
not someone you want to rely on every week. He’s worth a roster spot, just in
case he does prove to be more consistent and reliable the rest of this year.
He’s playing well right now.
David Givens has already missed several games due to injury and he could miss a
few more games looking forward, so Jones should continue to have some
opportunities in the next few weeks to showcase his talents. Jones may not quite
be 100% following a torn ACL injury that prematurely ended his rookie season,
but he’s close. The Titans will be throwing the ball enough the rest of the
season, but Vince Young is still developing as a passer, so it’s difficult to
expect much from the Titans WRs. That said, Jones may be a buy low candidate off
the waiver wire in deeper leagues and he’s sure to get more opportunities as a
3rd/4th WR either in spread formations, or as a starter if Givens/Bennett can’t
stay on the field.
Hagan started for the Dolphins this week while Marty Booker was sidelined with a
shoulder injury. Booker was expected to miss a couple weeks, so Hagan could be
in the lineup next week, too. The Dolphins have Green Bay, Minnesota and Detroit
next on the schedule. Green Bay and Detroit, in particular, are nice situations
where Hagan could have some sleeper value. He caught six passes for 66 yards
against the Jets. He was targeted 12 times, 4 times in the red zone.
Baskett started for the second game in a row while Donte Stallworth remains sidelined. Baskett didn’t catch a pass this week despite being targeted seven times. He’s another short-term play. Once Stallworth returns to the lineup, Baskett’s value decreases considerably. He’s worth holding for dynasty/keeper leagues, of course, but his redraft value is marginal if Stallworth is healthy. Right now, Stallworth isn’t healthy.
Add For Depth (Starter potential)
Welker was targeted 10 times this week and he added another six catches for 56
yards. He almost scored a couple times, but he was tackled at the 1-yard line on
each play. Welker is a consistent player who is a perfect fit for a WR3/WR4/WR5
in PPR leagues. He’s a rock solid No. 3 WR for the Dolphins who is frequently
targeted and a good, consistent performer. Unfortunately, he’s still looking for
that first, elusive TD of the season. He now has 33 catches for 355 yards on the
season (6 games).
Jenkins is the most valuable amongst the Falcons underwhelming WR corps. Despite
the much-improved talent level in the Falcons WR corps, they’re still not
productive enough to consider in most fantasy leagues aside from spot duty.
Jenkins is the most reliable of the three (Jenkins, Roddy White and Ashley
Lelie). He caught three passes for 30 yards against the Giants this week.
Davis is the team’s #3 WR. He runs good routes and Rex Grossman found him twice
in the last few games for TDs. Teams are paying more attention to their running
game, starting WRs Muhsin Muhammad and Bernard Berrian and even TE Desmond
Clark. Defenses will cheat towards those players often leaving Davis in single
coverage against nickel or dime corners giving Davis a better chance to get open
for big plays.
The Browns were on the bye this week. Jurevicius returned to the lineup a couple
of weeks ago to give Charlie Frye another big target in the red zone. Jurevicius
teams with Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow to give Frye three talented
players who can make big plays. Jurevicius is probably the third wheel behind
Winslow and Edwards, but he’s worth picking up for depth.
Henderson missed a couple of games due to injury, but he returned to the field this week against the Eagles. The Saints are on a bye this coming week, so don’t look here if you need immediate production. Henderson has big play potential with his excellent speed. He was off to a decent start before getting hurt, so he could produce a few strong games the rest of the way.
Curry followed up a strong performance last week (4-94-0) with a goose egg on
Sunday night against the Broncos. He’s the Raiders 2nd best WR behind Randy
Moss, but for some inexplicable reason Alvis Whitted continues to be a roadblock
for Curry. Whitted has good speed, but beyond that he’s a limited player with
little upside. Curry, on the other hand, is more of a playmaker and conventional
wisdom suggests that Curry should also be the more valuable WR for fantasy
purposes, too. We’d like to see more consistency from Curry before making a move
to acquire him, but he might already be worth a shot in some leagues.
Battle caught five balls for 39 yards against a tough San Diego defense. Last week, he caught four balls for 37 yards and 2 TDs. Battle is a solid #2 receiver who will generally be good for 3-to-5 catches and 35-to-50 yards each week. He may catch a couple more TDs this year, but mostly he’s a decent bye week starter (replacement) when the matchup makes sense.
Robinson’s primary value comes in the red zone for Minnesota. Brad Johnson relies on Robinson in that area because of his great size, hands and ability to come down with tough catches. He’s another guy who can be a decent bye week starter if you play the matchups. Anything more? He’s just not consistent enough to count on from week to week.
Washington continues to be a solid option for the Steelers passing attack. He led all Steelers WRs this week with three catches, 68 yards and 47-yard TD. Rookie Santonio Holmes caught a 50-yard pass this week, too. Washington now has 12 catches for 185 yards and 2 TDs (5 games). He’s worth a look in deeper leagues while Holmes is a player to hold onto in dynasty leagues. His time will come. Right now, Washington seems like the team’s best option aside from Hines Ward, and so far, Washington has been just as productive as Ward. Cedrick Wilson caught three for 42 yards. Wilson is the team’s #2 and Washington the #3 for now, though Santonio Holmes is unquestionably in that mix. It’s hard to get a great read on the Steelers pecking order at WR. Ward is definitely their #1, but after that it gets murky. Wilson is the starter opposite Ward, but Washington is producing equal or better numbers many games.
Add for Later (Sleeper potential)
Wilford had a tremendous run in the 2nd half of last season. This year, Reggie Williams is the story with Matt Jones playing through injuries and Wilford receding into the background. He could still put together some big games, especially if David Garrard takes over for Leftwich for any reason. Wilford was especially productive last year when Garrard was at QB. Right now, his value is marginal until further notice.
Hackett’s opportunity came this week when Bobby Engram was forced to miss this
week’s game due to a thyroid condition. Engram is out indefinitely, which means
Hackett is no getting work in the Seahawks four WR sets as the No. 4 WR. He
caught three passes for 66 yards while Nate Burleson didn’t catch a single pass.
Don’t be shocked if Hackett pushes Burleson for the No. 3 spot. If Engram
remains sidelined for prolonged period of time, then Hackett becomes a player
who could emerge in the 2nd half of the season with some solid fantasy
potential.
Crayton produced 5 catches for 61 yards this week for the Cowboys. Terrell Owens, Terry Glenn and Crayton all caught five balls each against the Texans, while Owens caught all three TDs. Crayton is in an interesting position. If Glenn misses any time due to injury, Crayton moves into the starting lineup. Owens is another concern whether its injury or the possibility that he could end up suspended for conduct, again. Regardless, Crayton has good size, hands and plenty of upside if he’s thrust into a larger role. For now, he’s the #3 Cowboys WR.
Jackson caught a 33-yard TD this week in what was his only catch of the game. He
and Malcolm Floyd seem to be taking turns catching TD passes this year, but
neither of them is producing consistently enough to have any serious value right
now. If Eric Parker or Keenan McCardell gets hurt, then Jackson becomes a player
to own. Otherwise, he’s mostly a dynasty league prospect still, and a sleeper
who could still emerge in the second half of the season for re-draft leagues.
Hakim followed up his big week 5 (8-92-0) with a less than stellar game against the Bills this week (3 catches for 14 yards). Hakim is the team’s No. 3 WR behind Roy Williams and Mike Furrey. He could have a few more good games the rest of the way given how much the Lions throw the football, but don’t expect him to produce consistently as he did in week five unless Mike Furrey gets hurt or Hakim takes on a larger role.
Parrish has drawn comparison to Steve Smith because he’s small, quick and explosive, but don’t confuse these two players. Smith is an All-Pro player; Parrish isn’t even a starter on his own team yet. He caught 44-yard TD this week against the Lions and he caught two passes for 48 yards before leaving the game Sunday with a tweaked hamstring. He could emerge as a starter in the future and he does have potential, but he’s not being targeted enough to be valuable unless you’re in a deep league. He has two TDs in six games with 12 catches for 201 yards.
Add for Insurance (Injury or bye week replacement)
Drew Carter is a one of the few “handcuffs” at the WR position. If you own Steve Smith, it’s a good idea to own Carter, too. Even with Smith healthy, Carter holds value as he showed this week catching four passes for 65 yards including one that went for a 42 yard TD. Carter is tall, fast and a dangerous slot WR for the Panthers, but if Smith or Keyshawn gets hurt, his role increases considerably.
Chris Henry will miss one more game due to his 2-game suspension, so Washington’s window of opportunity is probably closing as quickly as it came open. Washington failed to catch a pass this week against Tampa Bay (he was targeted once). The Bengals face the Panthers next week. Not a great matchup, so it’s hard to expect much from Washington while serving as the #3/#4 receiver. Add for Next Year (Dynasty potential)
Moss has been sidelined for most of his rookie season because of injuries. He’s a quick, elusive receivers and Santana Moss’s younger brother. Once healthy, he should emerge as a dangerous, big play WR for the Giants either working in the slot or eventually earning a starting job. He’s of no value in re-draft leagues, but could be worth a look later in the season if he gets past his current ailments.
Webb saw his first real action of the season catching 3 balls this week for 23 yards. Dante Hall was banged up coming into this game allowing the 6’ 2” 211 lb. rookie from San Diego State an opportunity. Webb could figure into the Chiefs plans next year and during the remainder of this season.
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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Stevens was originally expected to return this week, but he was declared
inactive and Itula Mili got the start instead. Look for Stevens to slowly work
his way back into the Seahawks offense starting next week. He may take a few
weeks to get back into the groove, but he’s a great pickup for depth if you can
still snag him off your league’s wire.
Davis remains out with a broken ankle/leg suffered about a month ago. He could return in next couple of weeks, so you may consider grabbing him now. Davis is obviously a physical freak, but he’s bound to struggle as most rookies do while adapting to the NFL game. If you’re starter is past the bye, Davis could be a strong backup for you and he could become a strong 2nd option later this year once he’s back in the lineup.
Add For Depth (Starter potential)
Anderson had a strong game against the Broncos on Sunday night catching three balls for 56 yards. Anderson has the size to be an effective weapon in the red zone, but the Raiders team is just a mess. It’s hard to rely on any of their players, but it’s worth noting that – at the very least- they are leaning on their TEs more often than in the past. Anderson is strictly backup material right now, but if the Raiders offense improves going forward (hard not to) then Anderson could become a marginal starter in deeper leagues.
Wrighster and the Jags were on the bye this week. At some point, we expect
rookie Marcedes Lewis to possibly overtake Wrighster on the depth chart and the
fantasy radar. Until then, Wrighster is taking advantage of his opportunity
playing consistently well and giving Byron Leftwich a capable outlet receiver.
Erron Kinney’s knee wasn’t responding quickly enough for the Titans so they
placed him on the season-ending injured reserve list last week. The move
solidified Scaife’s role in the offense. The former Longhorn has been productive
in the first month of the season, but he appeared to be a short-term option with
Kinney’s expected return on the horizon. With Kinney out, Scaife will continue
to serve as Ben Troupe’s mate in the Titans two-TE attack. Scaife is capable of
top 10 to top 15 numbers the rest of the way.
Wilcox isn’t known by many people, but I guarantee anyone who owns Todd Heap also recognizes his name and it may even invoke anger. Wilcox caught three balls for 20 yards this week, while Heap had 5 for 55 yards including a 7-yard TD that kept the Ravens in the game at the end. Wilcox is like George Wrighster. He’s a marginal fantasy TE and isn’t consistent enough to start in most circumstances, but he does have some value in deeper leagues and he gets a fair amount of targets in the red zone, too.
Conwell put two solid games together in a row, but he couldn’t make it three this week. He caught only one pass for 6 yards against the Eagles. Conwell isn’t the most productive fantasy TE, but he will put together some solid games here and there and when it’s all done he’ll probably finish ranked around 20th in most leagues. Some weeks, he’ll produce starter quality numbers and he’ll pitch some goose eggs in there, too.
Add for Later (Sleeper potential)
Graham has caught 8 balls for 105 yards with 1 TD in four games. He’s a strong blocker and a capable receiver, but he’s never really developed into the playmaker that most envisioned he would become when he was drafted in the first round out of Colorado. He’s also a free agent following this year. He could have more value next year depending on where he ends up, but he could also emerge as a viable fantasy TE this year if Ben Watson gets hurt.
Bubba Franks is being asked to block more this year giving Martin more opportunities to be the pass-catching TE in the Packers two tight end formations. Franks seems to be slowing down this year, too. Martin isn’t consistent and he’s not a starter for the Packers, but he’s capable as a receiver and Favre targets him downfield enough to make him a possible consideration for depth / sleeper potential in leagues with deeper rosters.
Pope is a rookie who could emerge, along with Matt Leinart, in the second half
of the season. He’s a gigantic target (6’ 8”) in the red zone and he could even
see a few more targets with Larry Fitzgerald out of the lineup. Pope could
emerge down the road as decent fantasy TE, but that may not be this year. 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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Brown is struggling with accuracy a little making 8 out of 12 attempts this year, but look at it this way – he’s attempted 12 FGs! Brown is a top 10 option for the rest of the season most likely.
Feely has 8 FGs in 10 attempts and had a monster game a week ago. The Giants should continue to be productive offensively this year so Feely should get plenty of scoring opportunities. He’s around 12th to 15th in most leagues on a PPG basis.
Reed is just 5-of-8 on FG attempts with 13 PATs and ranks outside the top 20 FG kickers this year. That could change considering that Reed’s generally been a good option for fantasy purposes as the Steelers kicker. The Steelers offense has struggled a bit in the first six weeks, but if they continue to improve then Reed should benefit and return to his productive ways.
Scobee is 9-for-12 on FG attempts with 13 PATs in five games to rank him around 9th to 11th on a PPG basis. The Jags can move the football and Scobee is productive more often than not.
Tynes is 8-of-9 on FG attempts through five games and he’s nailed all 9 of his PATs. He’s right around 12th to 15th in scoring.
Shaun Suisham was cut by the team last week ensuring that Vanderjagt will indeed be active each game. As long as he’s the man, he’ll be productive in Dallas. He’s kicked 6 FGs (1 miss) in four games with 16 PATs to rank him around 8th to 10th in most leagues (PPG).
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 Patriots defense is playing solid football, but they probably aren’t a team you want to start week in and week out. This week they could be worth a shot playing in Buffalo against the Bills. The Patriots have held all of their opponents to 17 points or less, but they aren’t forcing turnovers or sacking the QB like they’ve done in past years. Other weeks where they may be useful include week 10 vs NYJ, week 11 at GB, week 12 vs Chicago, week 13 vs Detroit, week 14 at Miami, week 15 vs Houston and week 17 at Tennessee. So, basically the whole 2nd half of the season has favorable matchups for the Patriots defense. Add For Depth (Starter potential)
The Dolphins host the Green Bay Packers next week, which may be a decent situation for them to be used as a “bye week” or spot starter basis. The Dolphins have 15 sacks in six games and have held all but one of their opponents to 20 points or less. If there’s one unit on the Dolphins team that is playing well, it would be the defense, but they are no longer the elite unit they were a few years ago. Plus, Favre has this tendency to throw INTs, so this week the Dolphins might be a decent play.
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