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.
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Drew Bledsoe was benched at halftime of Monday night's game in favor of Tony
Romo. Bledsoe was 7-of-12 for 111 yards and he even ran for a TD, but his
interceptions proved too costly. Romo threw for 227 yards and 2 TDs in the
second half on 14-of-25 passing, but he threw three interceptions and the result
was the same - a home loss to a division rival. Romo could get the call next
week. Let's see what Bill Parcells says about who starts next week in Carolina.
If he goes with Romo, then he's obviously one of the top players to acquire in
most leagues (if he's even available).
Daunte Culpepper won’t return until he has regained his mobility and he’s 100%.
So, look for Harrington to be the Dolphins starting QB for the near future.
He’s not pretty and the Dolphins aren’t winning many football games with
him, but he’s producing some decent numbers for fantasy purposes. This week,
he threw 62 passes, completing 33 of them for 414 yards with 2 TDs and three
interceptions. In the last three games, Harrington has 912 yards, 3 TDs, 7
INTs (yikes!). Those interceptions are laughable, but if your league doesn’t
subtract any points for them, Harrington could be a top 10 or 15 fantasy QB
when the matchup is average or better. The Dolphins have a couple tough
matchups in a row after their upcoming bye – at Chicago in week 9 and home
against KC in week 10. Harrington could make for an interesting starter in
Detroit on Thanksgiving day, though.
Trent Green is cleared to practice, but he may not return to the field for
another 3-to-4 weeks, so Huard remains a viable option in deeper leagues or if
you need to start two QBs. Huard performed surprisingly well against a tough
Chargers defense completing 15-of-27 for 232 yards with 2 TDs and no
interceptions. In nearly each of Huard’s starts, he managed to throw for 200+
yards and 1-2 TDs. He’s among the top 10 fantasy QBs in the last four weeks with
six TDs, 1 INT and 890 yards. He’s proving to be an effective game manager for
the Chiefs. Huard should continue to have nice sleeper value over the next three
games against Seattle, then at St Louis and at Miami.
Ben Roethlisberger was rocked by three Falcons as they converged on him in the
pocket and literally knocked him out of the game. Veteran backup Charlie Batch
took over for Big Ben and Batch rallied the Steelers to tie the game and send it
into overtime. He threw for 195 yards and two TDs on 8-of-13 passing in the
second half. Combined, the Steelers passing game produced 433 yards and 5 TDs.
Keep an eye on Big Ben’s status and pick up Batch if it looks like he’ll need to
make a start or two. Batch is obviously capable of producing solid-to-strong
numbers when he starts, so bump him accordingly based on Roethlisberger’s status
going into next week. The Steelers upcoming games are at Oakland, home against
Denver and New Orleans and then at Cleveland and Baltimore. It wouldn’t be
surprising if Batch needs to start for the Steelers next week or even longer,
but it’s too early to make the call at this time. Stay tuned to the FBG Blogger
for more.
Matt Hasselbeck was knocked out of the Seahawks-Vikings games with what appears to be a sprained MCL in his right knee. Seneca Wallace replaced Hasselbeck and finished the game for the Seahawks completing 14-of-25 for 134 yards with two interceptions. The NFL Network’s Adam Schefter reports that Hasselbeck will have an MRI on Monday to determine the severity of the injury. He could miss two to three weeks, perhaps longer. That’s likely the best case scenario, but we won’t know more until the MRI results are available. Wallace clearly isn’t a reliable passer like Matt Hasselbeck. He’s not as accurate and he lacks game experience, but he does offer more athleticism and running ability to help pad his fantasy stats at the end of the day. The Seahawks travel to Kansas City next week and then they have home games against Oakland and St. Louis. If Wallace has to replace Hasselbeck for a bunch of games, then look at games like week 11 at SF and week 12 vs Green Bay or even weeks 14 at Arizona and 15 vs SF.
Add For Depth (Starter potential)
Byron Leftwich’s ankle became an issue late last week when he missed some
practice on Friday. He was listed as questionable and he played against the
Jags, but he didn’t amass anything useful. If Leftwich doesn’t play, then
Garrard is a great player to grab off the waiver wire for an impromptu starter.
He can be just as good as Leftwich through the air, but much more productive
with his legs and running ability.
Brooks shoulder has been slow to heal, but he should return to the lineup in the next 2-or-3 weeks. The Raiders offense showed signs of life this week against the Cardinals and Brooks could provide a little boost when he returns. The Raiders have two upcoming games against Seattle (week 9) and Houston (week 13) that could be productive spots for Brooks (or the Raiders passing game in general if he’s not playing).
Steve McNair started well this year, but he’s been hurt and he’s just playing poorly in the last few games. Boller played well a week ago against Carolina, throwing for 226 yards, three TDs, an interception and 27 rushing yards. It’s hard to say what Boller might do if he’s the starter for a few games, especially with good matchups. The Ravens upcoming games are at New Orleans followed by a home game against Cincinnati, at Tennessee (great matchup), home against Atlanta (see Steelers this week) and then some tougher matchups against Pittsburgh, at Cincinnati and Kansas City.
Add for Later (Sleeper potential)
Trent Green is cleared to practice, but he’s still probably 3-to-4 weeks away from playing again, according to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen. Green has missed nearly the entire season so far because of a concussion. The Chiefs GM Carl Peterson said that Damon Huard will probably get the majority of snaps in practice this week. “We’re still anticipating Damon to be the starter for the next week (against Seattle),” he said. “But we’ll see how fast Trent comes along." Until Green’s ready to play, his value is minimal and it’s hard to recommend picking him up this early when you could make better use of that roster spot for 2-3 weeks.
Plenty of Redskins fans would like to get a glimpse of their future at QB, Jason Campbell, but HC Joe Gibbs continues to stick with his veteran Mark Brunell. Don’t expect that to change unless injury strikes or the Redskins continue losing (they’ve lost three in a row now). It’s still a situation that could change, so keep an eye on Campbell. If Brunell gets benched, he could be a pleasant surprise in the later parts of the season.
Cutler is the Broncos future at QB, but right now he’s in a holding pattern
behind Jake Plummer. That will continue as long as the Broncos have playoff
aspirations. So, Cutler may not see the field this year, but if Plummer
struggles badly or gets hurt, then that could change. He could be a gold mine in
dynasty leagues, but as a re-draft option, his value is minimal until Plummer
gets benched or hurt. 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 those who gradually work into a larger role in their team's offense (Leon Washington). 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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Washington took advantage of a depleted Lions defense (lacking DTs Shaun Cody
and Shaun Rogers and SS Kenoy Kennedy) and his role in the Jets offense
continues to grow and widen following his stellar performance this week. He
exploded for 129 yards rushing on 20 carries, two TDs and he caught an 8-yard
pass. Kevan Barlow remains in the picture, but his 12 carries (for 49 yards and
one TD) were secondary to Washington’s big game. We expect Washington’s role to
expand moving forward. The Jets don’t view Barlow as the answer and Washington
has been impressive in the past month while growing into a larger role each
week. Cedric Houston could re-emerge in a few weeks, but Washington looks like a
solid option. If he can stay healthy, then he’ll be play a significant role in
the Jets offense for the rest of the season.
Samkon Gado got the start this week for the Texans, but Lundy stole most, if not
all, of his thunder rushing for 93 yards on 19 carries (compared to 10-27-0 for
Gado), scoring TD and catching four balls for 15 yards. HC Gary Kubiak said Gado
would get the start and the first shot in this game, which he did, but he also
wanted Lundy to log some carries. As it turned out, Lundy handled the rock
almost twice as much as Gado and he could have done enough to win the job back.
Kubiak has switched starters three times already this season, so anything is
possible. Lundy had a solid outing this week, so it makes sense that he should
get another opportunity to produce going forward. Ron Dayne was deactivated for
this week’s game.
Perry was activated from the team’s PUP list last week and he returned to action against the Panthers this week. Perry ran twice for 4 yards and he caught three balls for 26 yards spelling Rudi Johnson. The Bengals waived Quincy Wilson to make room on the roster for Perry. He could have some strong games the rest of the way, but he’s best used in PPR leagues because of his expected production as a receiver.
Clinton Portis briefly left Sunday’s game against the Colts with a leg injury prompting Ladell Betts to take over and handle the bulk of the rushing load. Bettis carried the rock 10 times for 52 yards and he caught 5 balls for 41 yards. If Portis isn’t available for the Redskins next game, then Betts jumps to the front of the list of available free agent RBs. The Redskins are on the bye this week, but they face Dallas in week 9. If Portis is fine, then Betts is just a strong handcuff for Portis owners.
At a minimum, Brian Calhoun is a strong handcuff for Kevin Jones owners now that Shawn Bryson was placed on season-ending IR. The Lions signed veteran Arlen Harris, who was cut before the season after having a solid pre-season. Calhoun seems like a perfect fit for the Lions offense. He’s quick like a cat and he can catch the ball well. Several of his fellow rookie backs have emerged so far and Calhoun could be the next to get a shot if Jones is banged up. He entered this week’s game with a hip pointer, but Jones seemed no worse for the wear. Calhoun ran three times for 10 yards and he caught an 18-yard pass against the Jets. If Calhoun starts for Jones due to injury, he could be an impact player in this offense. Jones owners should consider picking him up as the second half of the season approaches for insurance.
Add For Depth (Starter potential)
The Raiders were without Lamont Jordan this week as they beat the visiting
Arizona Cardinals 22-9. Justin Fargas and Zack Crockett shared the team’s
rushing duties, but Fargas handled the bulk of the workload rushing 23 times for
66 yards. Crockett ran for 44 yards on only eight carries and he caught three
balls for an additional 20 yards. In the end, both backs combined for roughly
the same yardage and neither scored a TD. Monitor Jordan’s status for next week.
If Jordan can’t go, these two backs could have some marginal value.
Unfortunately, the Raiders have three touch rushing matchups in a row against
Pittsburgh, Seattle and Denver.
The Ravens were on their bye this week, but it’s no secret that Jamal Lewis hasn’t been very productive while Musa Smith and Mike Anderson get their turns in the backfield. In the last three games, Lewis has 39 carries for 118 yards (3.0 yds/att) while Musa Smith has 6 carries for 33 yards (5.5) and eight catches for 52 yards. Anderson has 12 carries for 38 yards (3.2). Smith has been playing like the Ravens best back since the preseason. If Lewis continues to struggle or if he gets hurt, Smith could be a nice sleeper with some good value in an expanded role.
Gado started, but he didn’t finish the job – so to speak. He carried 10 times for 27 yards and caught three balls for 15 yards (most in the first half). However, rookie Wali Lundy took over and finished with stronger numbers (19-93-1) this week. Gado could get the starting nod again next week, but don’t be surprised if Gary Kubiak turns to Lundy again after his effort against the Jaguars.
Add for Later (Sleeper potential)
Bell handled the rock a few more times than expected this week as the Broncos beat the Brown 17-7 in Cleveland. Tatum Bell left the game briefly in the second half, but later returned to the field and he went over 100 yards rushing for the week. Mike, the other Bell, ran for 25 yards on 10 carries compared to Tatum’s 115 yards on 24 carries with a TD. Mike’s primary value, at this point, is as Tatum’s handcuff. He would obviously have strong value if he’s thrust back into the starting job due to injury.
A week after fumbling and losing carries to Noah Herron, Morency carried the
ball seven times for 12 yards against the Dolphins. Herron ran twice for 5
yards. Both Herron and Morency have earned roles behind starter Ahman Green.
With Green’s recent injury history a factor, Morency and Herron both get a
little more attention on the waiver wire. Morency was thought to be behind
Herron after last week, but he had more carries against the Dolphins. Both
players are worth a shot if you’re looking for a RB5 or RB6 as a “shot in the
dark”.
Moore actually threw a TD pass this week against the Seahawks as the Vikings won
on the road 31-13. Moore tossed a 15-yard score to TE Jermaine Wiggins and he
caught a ball for 5 yards in the game. He’s the primary backup to Chester Taylor
(who had a huge game), so he’s worth a spot as a handcuff. If Taylor gets hurt,
Moore could be a solid option in the lineup as a RB2/flex option, especially in
PPR leagues. The Vikings have a favorable schedule, so having a Taylor/Moore
roster combo could be a smart option.
Houston could return to action in the next few weeks. Leon Washington is playing extremely well at the moment and he appears to be the Jets best back moving forward this year. That could change with one hit or one injury though. Houston is bigger and when he’s healthy should see some carries, but Washington will probably get the first look and retain a big share of the carries as long as he is healthy.
Add for Insurance (Injury or bye week replacement)
Pittman combined for 37 yards this week against the Eagles. He ran 3 times for 14 yards and he caught two balls for 23 yards. If Cadillac gets hurt, Pittman would be the Bucs featured back and a solid fantasy contributor (RB2/flex) in PPR leagues, especially.
The Raiders were without Lamont Jordan this week as they beat the visiting
Arizona Cardinals 22-9. Justin Fargas and Zack Crockett shared the team’s
rushing duties. Fargas handled the bulk of the workload rushing 23 times for 66
yards. Crockett ran for 44 yards on eight carries and he caught three balls for
20 yards. In the end, both backs combined for roughly the same yardage and
neither scored. Monitor Jordan’s status for next week. If he can’t go, these
both backs could have some marginal value as a spot starter in deeper leagues
(RB2/RB3/flex). Unfortunately, the Raiders have three touch rushing matchups in
a row against Pittsburgh, Seattle and Denver.
Bennett is healthy again and he has regained the backup job to Larry Johnson after he missed the last few games with a hamstring pull. Bennett injured his hamstring racing and losing to Brian Walters after practice. “I shouldn’t have been doing it, and I got my punishment for it. I had to sit and watch. So no more stupid mistakes,” Bennett said. Derrick Ross and Dee Brown are also on the Chiefs roster, but with a healthy Bennett, they are no better than the third and fourth options.
This guy just won’t go away. It’s been a while since Goings held any definitive value, but with DeAngelo Williams sidelined for a few more games because of a high-ankle sprain, Goings will get more work behind DeShaun Foster in the Panthers backfield. He scored a TD this week on a 20-yard reception and he ran two times for 1 yards. He’s strictly a short-term consideration, but his window of opportunity closes once Williams is returns to the lineup as Foster’s primary backup and the back of the future in Carolina.
Harrison was inactive this week against Denver. Reuben Droughns handled all of the Browns rushing duties this week (12-33-0 with a lost fumble). Harrison got some work in the previous game, but as long as Droughns remains healthy, don’t expect Harrison to have enough touches to hold any value outside of an insurance policy or handcuff for those who own Droughns.
Morris is settling back into his role as the Dolphins No. 2 back. This week, he had a 44-yard reception and he ran once for 5 yards backing up Ronnie Brown. He won’t see many touches as long as Brown is healthy, but he would likely be the Dolphins featured runner if Brown weren’t able to play.
While Shaun Alexander is out, Strong is essentially the team’s backup RB. He can handle short yardage duties and he’s adept as a receiver. Maurice Morris is starting and handling the bulk of the running duties, but Strong is someone to remember, if Morris gets hurt he could be like a Heath Evans or Patrick Pass type. Strong has 14 receptions for 71 yards in 6 games. He’s rushed for 93 yards and a TD on 16 carries. He had a long TD run called back due to a penalty in week six.
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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Booker was cut by most fantasy owners who drafted him after he hurt his shoulder
and missed the last Dolphins game. He’s back now after a short hiatus and he
hung up some nice numbers working with Joey Harrington against the Packers.
Booker caught 7 balls for 110 yards and a TD, while also catching a 2-point
conversion. Don’t expect big numbers from Booker moving forward, but he could
produce a few strong games the rest of the way. Booker is a solid player for the
Dolphins, but he’ll be competing for touches with Chris Chambers, Wes Welker,
Randy McMichael and Ronnie Brown, not to mention rookie Derek Hagan who could
press Booker for playing time later this season (and possibly displace him as a
starter next year).
Troy Williamson got banged up this week and Robinson came forward for the Vikings with a strong day catching four balls for 77 yards and a TD. Robinson is the team’s best target in the red zone and if he’s pressed into action as a starter, then he deserves more consideration as a viable fantasy WR. He’s better in TD-heavy leagues in his current role, but if Williamson is limited in practice this week or unable to go, then keep Robinson on your short list.
Jurevicius is back in the Browns starting lineup and this week he caught a TD in the 4th quarter to prevent the Browns from being shutout by the Broncos. Jurevicius is starting opposite Braylon Edwards as Dennis Northcutt is sidelined by injury. Josh Cribbs is playing a larger role as well. He’s the team’s No. 3 WR and serving as the primary return man for the time being, too. Jurevicius is worth a roster spot simply because of his presence as a red zone target and potential to score TDs.
Parker has caught 13 passes for 133 yards and a TD in the Chiefs last four
games. He only caught one ball for 15 yards this week against the Chargers, but
he’s a solid WR4/WR5 to add depth on your roster for spot starting duties.
Parker has five catches in three of the Chiefs six games. He’s been targeted 6
times or more in three of the last five games. Two of the Chiefs next three
games feature good matchups against Seattle and Miami.
The 49ers were on their bye this week. Battle has been a fairly consistent and
reliable possession receiver for the 49ers this year. He’s been targeted 4 or 5
times in every game and he’s produced 20 receptions for 233 yards and 2 TDs in
the team’s first six games. He’s not a difference maker in terms of a fantasy
WR, but he could provide some good depth and be useful as a spot starter if
you’re in a pinch.
When Marty Booker couldn't play two weeks ago, Derek Hagan took advantage of his opportunity catching 6 balls for 66 yards. This week, Booker returned to the lineup and Hagan had 5 catches for 53 yards with a TD. He's been targeted 19 times. He may not sustain that production going forward, but he's a talented rookied who the team wants to develop and eventually start. Right now, he's producing at the expense of Chris Chambers. It's hard to think that will continue, but Hagan is a worth rostering on the chance he has a decent second half of the season.
Add For Depth (Starter potential)
Washington continues to make plays for the Steelers, and in turn, he deserves a roster spot in deeper leagues. He produced 76 yards on three catches with 10-yard TD this week. The former Tiffin product played well down the stretch for the Steelers and made some plays in their Super Bowl run last year. This year, he’s been reasonably consistent and productive as the team’s No. 3 WR. He’s been targeted three-to-four times every game and he has 15 catches for 261 yards with three TDs in six games.
Curry is the second best receiver on the Raiders, at least those that art playing since Jerry Porter is suspended. Curry caught three passes for 42 yards against Arizona this week. Last week, he didn’t catch a single pass and the week before he produced 4-94-0. Curry has 13 catches for 215 yards in six games.
Davis has settled in nicely as the Bears No. 3 WR this year. The former Arena league player has 10 catches for 159 yards and 2 TDs in six games though he caught only two balls in the first two games. He’s averaging 40 yards in the last three games with 2 TDs. The Bears may not continue to support the passing stats they’ve produced in the first two months of the season, but Davis is a good receiver who could be worthwhile considering the number of good matchups on the Bears schedule. They host the 49ers and Dolphins the next two weeks (both good matchups) then at the Giants (mostly good), Jets and Patriots (not bad matchups, but even). In week 16, they play Detroit. Davis could be a solid WR to stash on the end of the roster, especially if Berrian or Muhammad gets hurt.
Henderson is healthy and back as the Saints No. 3 WR behind Joe Horn and Marques Colston. TE Ernie Conwell is hurt, so maybe the Saints will use more three WR sets and Henderson could be featured a bit more – like earlier in the year. Henderson scored two TDs in the first three games before he got hurt. In three games, Henderson caught eight passes for 111 yards and a TD. He also scored on an 11-yard end around.
David Givens isn’t healthy and Drew Bennett has struggled somewhat with nagging injuries this year. Jones is recovering from a torn ACL that ended his rookie season last year. The Titans were on the bye this week, but Jones caught three passes in each of the Titans last two game with 1 TD. He was targeted 10 times in the last two weeks (total). Jones showed solid potential as a rookie catching 23 passes for 299 yards and two TDs. As long as Givens is out, Jones will start opposite Bennett. The Titans are a risky pick with Vince Young learning the ropes at QB, but there will be some good weeks and they’ll pan out on those weeks.
Lelie caught four balls for 58 yards against the Steelers this week. He’s produced 48, 61, 14 and 58 yards in the Falcons last four games. He’s a big play threat, but in the Falcons offense, he won’t be productive enough on a consistent basis to warrant much more than a short-term roster spot as a bye week replacement or spot starter.
Price is available in many leagues, mostly because he’s not a high ceiling
player at this point in his career. Nevertheless, Price caught five passes for
53 yards against the Patriots this week. For the season, Price has 23 catches
for 212 yards and 1 TD (7 games). The Bills are on the bye this coming week, so
he doesn’t have any immediate value. He could be a good sleeper option in week 9
vs Green Bay though. He could also be worth a look in weeks 10 at Indianapolis
and 11 at Houston. The last three games against the Jets, Dolphins and Titans
could be good spots, too.
Baskett drew another start for the Eagles this week, as Donte Stallworth didn’t make the trip. Stallworth has been sidelined for the last month giving Baskett an extended opportunity as a rookie starter. He caught two balls for 30 yards this week and last week he was held without a catch despite being targeted 6 times.
Wilford is starting for the Jaguars while Matt Jones is sidelined due to injury. We expected Wilford to produce better numbers this week in what appeared to be an excellent matchup for Wilford, Leftwich and Reggie Williams. It just didn’t materialize though as Houston defeated the Jaguars soundly 27-7 at Reliant Stadium. Wilford managed two catches for 26 yards. He’s still worth a look in deeper leagues, but let’s be honest. His production is way off this year after finishing last year strong. He might benefit if David Garrard is forced into action as his best games came with Garrard behind center.
Add for Later (Sleeper potential)
Santana Moss injured his hamstring this week and he was forced out of the game. That opens the door for Lloyd and Antwaan Randle-El to increase their production as Randle-El would join the starting lineup if Moss is sidelined. Lloyd has showed some signs of life in the past couple of weeks following a horrible start. He caught four balls for 37 yards this week, while Randle-El returned a punt 87 yards for a TD, caught three balls for 42 yards and rushed for 19 yards on two carries. The Redskins have a bye this coming week (8), so Moss could be fine and Randle-El’s opportunity limited to finishing this week’s game in his place.
Holmes is finally emerging in the Steelers offense after a slow start. He has all the talent in the world thanks to his blazing speed and big play ability. Right now, he’s running as the Steelers No. 4 WR, though he could push Nate Washington and Cedrick Wilson for a bigger role as the season continues. This week, Holmes caught five balls for 91 yards. He’s turning the corner, but like rookie WRs, he could be inconsistent and frustrating if you count on him too much.
Jackson caught a 35-yard TD this week against the Bills. It was his only catch, but it’s noteworthy as Jackson continues to make progress in his rookie season. He’s slowly emerging as a more viable candidate for a roster spot, but he’s not quite there yet. Doug Gabriel is the best option amongst the Patriots WR corps followed by Troy Brown, then Jackson and Reche Caldwell. We know Tom Brady spread the ball around a lot, so Jackson probably isn’t reliable enough to use as a spot starter yet even in the deepest leagues. But keep tabs on his progress because he’s a first round pick and the talent is present for him to bloom into a prime-time receiver down the road.
Marshall caught his first NFL touchdown this week against the Browns. He was targeted two times in a row in the red zone making good on the second play for a 9-yard TD from Jake Plummer. The Broncos rookie has great size and tangibles, but he’s inexperienced and probably won’t be very consistent as the Broncos No. 3 WR. Down the road, he could be a starter for the Broncos, so his long-term value is solid in keeper and dynasty formats.
Martin is now the Packers No. 3 WR with Koren Robinson suspended and Robert Ferguson possibly out for the rest of the season with a foot injury. Martin caught two balls for 25 yards against the Dolphins. Greg Jennings twisted his ankle, so there’s a possibility that Martin could move up another notch in the Packers offense if Jennings is limited next week. Martin is a 6’ 4” WR who played collegiate ball at Saginaw Valley State. He could have some value in the second half of the season knowing that Favre will be throwing plenty of passes in those games.
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)
Anderson had a strong game this week against the Cardinals catching three balls for 55 yards. The Raiders continue to use their tights ends more than they have in the past few years and that trend should continue for the rest of the season. Anderson could produce starter-quality numbers in a handful of games the rest of the way, but most likely, he’ll continue to be inconsistent and spotty as a fantasy option. He’s still perhaps the most talented player available at TE in many leagues, so grab him if it makes sense.
As a rookie TE, Daniels is producing at an impressive clip. Most rookie TEs struggle to adjust in the NFL as the need help with their blocking and learning all their roles and assignments within their team’s offense. Daniels has been a great fit from day one for Houston. He caught two balls for 20 yards this week and he caught his 4th TD of the season against the Jags. Add For Depth (Starter potential)
Dallas Clark caught a 40-yard pass and a TD, yet the Colts other two tight ends were still productive. Fletcher caught three passes for 28 yards and Utecht four passes for 52 yards against the Redskins. With Brandon Stokley injured, the Colts will continue to use two (and sometimes 3) TEs as their base offensive formations. They are decent players to gamble on for bye week replacements in your lineups, but if Dallas Clark gets hurt, they would have bigger roles and more value – obviously.
Lewis is finally healthy after a high-ankle sprain derailed his immensely talented first-round pick. Lewis should emerge in the second half as a good red zone option and receiver for the Jags, but right now it’s hard to expect big things as George Wrighster is playing well and the Jags passing numbers were disappointing this week. Lewis will be fine in the long run, but he should have a few solid games this year as he earns more playing time.
Add for Later (Sleeper potential)
Martin is a solid receiving option at tight end for Brett Favre. This week he caught two balls for 31 yards with a TD. Bubba Franks has struggled to stay healthy, as he’s getting older and less reliable. Martin is certainly more able to get open down field, but he’s not nearly as good at blocking as Franks. Martin is worth watching, but he would mostly be worth picking up if Franks gets hurt or if he puts together a few more good games in a row.
Technically, Wilson is now the Chiefs starting fullback since Ronnie Cruz was
placed on season-ending IR. Wilson may still be considered a TE in your league
though, so you may be able to take advance, for right or wrong, and use him a TE
just the same. Wilson caught 2 balls for 13 yards this week including a TD. He
was considered a good receiver as a tight end coming out of Pittsburgh, but he’s
never made any impact because of Tony Gonzalez and Jason Dunn’s presence.
Royal caught four balls for 36 yards this week for the Bills. That’s his best
output of the season. He’s not a consistently productive player and the Bills
just don’t use him enough to warrant using him as anything other than a somewhat
desperate option as a spot starter.
Scheffler only has two catches for 16 yards this year, but he’s still worth
keeping an eye on if you’re in a deeper league or you can stash players for next
year. Scheffler could still emerge in the second half. The Broncos offense
hasn’t fired on all cylinders yet, so Scheffler still has a chance to do
something.
Fasano caught three balls for 39 yards in week two against Washington. In the rest of the games, he hasn’t caught a ball. He’s been targeted eight times. He’s the Cowboys No. 2 TE opposite Jason Witten. If anything happens to Witten, Fasano would certainly benefit from a larger role. Keep an eye on
Every year, Kelly has a game or two when he produces fantasy-worthy numbers. This week was that game for him. The rest of the season, he might not produce a game like that, so don’t run out and pick him up unless he strings together 2 or 3 games like that.
Kicker Here's a list of the top players that are likely to be available for those of you in smaller leagues. If any of these players remain on waivers, then grab them for your bye week needs or as a new starter if your current kicker is not producing as much as you need.
Add For Depth (Starter potential)
Bryant hit a game-winning 62 yard FG against the Eagles on Sunday. Bryant kicked three FGs in the game from 30, 44 and 62 yards. Bryant now has 5 FGs on the season in 8 attempts. That’s not fantasy worthy in all seriousness, but he did knock a 62-yard game winner this week, making him a hero for the day. Bryant could be worthwhile as a bye week kicker, and if he continues to do well, give him a shot. Unfortunately, he hasn’t had enough opportunities yet this year to be a difference maker from a fantasy perspective.
Defense The following teams went undrafted in some leagues, but they were probably picked up during the first few weeks via your league’s waiver wire. If not, great, consider these options before going to the write-ups below.
Add Immediately (Impact potential)
The Patriots have seven sacks and forced eight turnovers in their last three games allowing just under 10 points/gm, 70 rushing yds/gm and 205 passing yds/gm. The Patriots could be a great option in week 10 vs the Jets, week 11 at Green Bay, week 12 and 13 at home against Chicago and Detroit, then weeks 14 at Miami, week 15 vs Houston and week 17 at Tennessee. With a schedule like that, the Patriots defense should outperform or maintain their current production in the second half of the season. Add For Depth (Starter potential)
Buffalo is tied for third in the NFL with 20 sacks and they have a schedule that includes some nice matchups where they could be part of an effective defensive tandem. They are on the bye this week and then at home vs. the Packers the following week. In week 11, they’re at Houston, then at NY Jets in week 14 and home against Miami and Tennessee in weeks 15 and 16.
The Packers have 18 sacks and some good remaining matchups, beginning this week
against Arizona and then at Buffalo in week 9. Other remaining games that
are decent matchups are with the Lions, Jets, 49ers and Bears. The Packers
allowed 381 passing yards to the Dolphins this week, but they also sacked
Harrington four times and intercepted him three times – one for a TD. |
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