12/14/10
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Targeting weekly waiver picks is a completely subjective business,
but this column hopes to point out some obvious and not-so-obvious
selections to help your team from week to week while you strive
to collect fantasy wins, reach your league playoffs, and win the
elusive title that your friends say is out of your grasp. While
I’m a big proponent of making trades to bolster your roster,
the waiver wire can be an almost limitless resource when it comes
to discovering fantasy value in strange places. Each week, I’ll
target both offensive and defensive players — sometimes breakout
stars that eluded your team’s draft — as well as players
who can help your squad that may still be lurking in deeper leagues.
Off the Top - Includes my premier
recommendations. These are sometimes players available only in more
shallow leagues, and occasionally guys who are more readily but
are thrust into the fantasy spotlight because of opportunity or
exceptional production.
Digging Deeper - Covers the next
tier of quality waiver wire specimens, usually players available
in a majority of online leagues. There are a lot of gems in this
range who can be plucked rather easily.
Scouring the Barrel - Chronicles
the deepest of fantasy adds — and sometimes highlights players
being tacked onto fantasy squads who I don’t have much confidence
in. Make sure you read the fine print.
Each week, I’ll also provide a brief update on the 30-40 players
I covered the previous week. It’s the most accurate, comprehensive
one-stop waiver-wire column available on the Internet, and it’s
only available here at fftoday.com.
Feedback is always welcome,
appreciated and encouraged. I’ll get to as many e-mails as
I can.
Note: Each player’s
next four matchups are listed in parentheses ()
Quarterbacks
Off The Top
Josh
Freeman, TB (DET, SEA, @NO) – Freeman has at least one touchdown
pass in 12 of the Bucs 13 games this season (only the Steelers
kept him out of the end zone), and while he only has five two-TD
games and none with more than two scores, he’s a reliable performer
who advances the football and limits turnovers (just six INT on
the season). The Lions got a break last week when Aaron Rodgers
struggled and then got hurt on a second quarter scramble, but
Freeman and the Bucs should be able to figure them out with a
week of preparation.
Digging Deeper
Kerry Collins, TEN (HOU, @KC, @IND) – Collins was among
the weekly QB leaders last week and draws a favorable matchup
against the Texans this week. The pickings are slim right now
at QB, and Collins might be your best option if you’ve lost
Rodgers or desperately need a playoff win.
Scouring The Barrel
Matt Flynn, GB (@NE, NYG, CHI) – Flynn might have the job
in Green Bay for the nest couple weeks, but while the numbers
can’t be as bad as they were on Sunday, the Patriots are
a formidable foe. I’d look elsewhere.
Updates
Chad Henne, MIA (BUF, DET, @NE) – Henne was putrid on Sunday
(55 passing yards, TD, two lost fumbles) but the Dolphins managed
a win over the Jets and are clinging to some desperate playoff
hopes. He’ll definitely improve over the next couple weeks,
but he’s too inconsistent to trust at such a crucial juncture.
Alex Smith, SF (@SD, @STL, ARI) – Smith was the top-scoring
Week 14 fantasy QB in a lot of formats, throwing for 255 yards
and three TDs with no turnovers. Hopefully, he helped you snag
a win already, because the rest of the schedule is pretty tough.
Tarvaris Jackson, MIN (CHI, @PHI, @DET) – He got the start,
ending Favre’s streak, but couldn’t get much going
against the Giants. He was 15-of-30 for 118 yards, an INT and
a fumble.
Running Backs
Off The Top
Tim Hightower, ARI (@CAR, DAL, @SF) – Hightower might be
a Top 10 RB play this week facing the Panthers. He had a career
day versus the Broncos (148 rushing yards, two TD) and has once
again lapped Beanie Wells on the depth chart.
Digging Deeper
Ryan Torain, WAS (@DAL, @JAC, NYG) – the Cowboys won’t
be as easy to crack as the Bucs’ run defense – a unit
that Torain cut through for 182 total yards on Sunday. He averaged
7.2 yards per carry, a number that will likely be cut in half
versus Dallas.
Scouring The Barrel
Rashad Jennings, JAC (@IND, WAS, @HOU) – The Jags caught
lightning in a bottle on Sunday with Jennings, who ran for 109
yards and a score on five carries. He’s rushed for TDs in
three straight contests and could easily find the paint once again
in Indy.
Updates
LeGarrette
Blount, TB (DET, SEA, @NO) – Blount ran for just 68 yards
and lost a fumble on Sunday. He’s still worth starting at RB2
the next couple weeks.
Jonathan
Stewart, CAR (ARI, @PIT, @ATL) – For the second straight week,
Stewart impressed, but his 133 rushing yards were marred by a
lost fumble.
Marshawn
Lynch, SEA (ATL, @TB, STL) – The Niners did an excellent job
on Lynch, curtailing his ground production to a measly 29 rushing
yards on 10 carries. In PPR leagues, Lynch had a solid day, going
for 7-37-0 receiving.
Javarris
James, IND (JAC, @OAK, TEN) – James scored against the Titans
on Thursday night and finished with 49 yards on 17 carries.
James
Starks, GB (@NE, NYG, CHI) – While every waiver wire column
in America recommended rolling out Starks in Week 14, I advised
a little more caution. Turns out I was wise not to trust him,
as he collected just 8 yards on six carries – a 1.3 average.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Off The Top
WR Deion
Branch, NE (GB, @BUF, MIA) – Despite snowy conditions, Branch
lit up the scoreboard again last week for New England, catching
eight passes for 151 yards and a score. Though the Packers did
an excellent job shutting down Calvin Johnson and Nate Burleson,
Tom Brady is a tad better than Drew Stanton. I like Branch’s chances
again this week.
Digging Deeper
WR Earl
Bennett, CHI (@MIN, NYJ, @GB) – Once again, Bennett has emerged
as the go-to-guy for Jay Cutler. He’s hooked up with his former
Vanderbilt teammate for 216 yards the past there games.
WR Brandon
Gibson, STL (KC, SF, @SEA) – Gibson has a favorable schedule
down the stretch and is probably the best possession receiving
option for rookie Rams QB Sam Bradford. The Chiefs have been hit-or-miss
against the pass this season, but I’m expecting 5-7 catches, 50-70
yards and a score from Gibson in Week 15.
Scouring The Barrel
WR Michael Jenkins, ATL (@SEA, NO, CAR) – He’s yet
to break out this year and is an ultra-sleeper this week in Seattle.
I have a feeling he’ll score, but this is a litmus test
best left to deeper leagues that start four WRs.
Updates
WR Donald Driver, GB (@NE, NYG, CHI) – Driver couldn’t
make it work with Matt Flynn at QB, and his already tenuous value
takes a serious hit if Rodgers – who suffered his second
concussion of the season on Sunday – misses additional time.
WR Sidney Rice, MIN (CHI, @PHI, @DET) – Rice hauled in five
catches for 60 yards but didn’t find pay dirt against the
tough Giants pass defense.
WR Robert Meachem, NO (@BAL, @ATL, TB) – Goose egg. Meachem
had a shot for a score in the second half, but couldn’t
haul in the end zone grab. This one hurt.
TE Ben Watson, CLE (@CIN, BAL, PIT) – Wow. Last week’s
top tight end was inexplicably quiet against the Bills on Sunday,
finishing with just one catch for 8 yards. The Bills are pretty
tough on TEs, but for an offense with so few options, it made
little sense he wasn’t targeted more than once.
WR Anthony
Armstrong, WAS (@DAL, @JAC, NYG) – Anticipating blanket coverage
on Santana Moss, I went out on a limb and plugged in Armstrong
(4-30-0) over Moss (7-82-1) in a non-PPR league on Sunday and
paid a hefty price. That’s been the story in Washington all year.
Very few owners have cashed in on big games from Redskins because
nobody on this bizarre offense repeats a solid performance from
week to week.
IDP
Off The Top
LB Shaun Phillips, SD (SF, @CIN, DEN) – He was remarkably
quiet last week against the Chiefs, but Phillips is a beast of
a OLB pass rusher (10 sacks this season) and the 49ers are prime
fodder for him to rack up a couple more QB takedowns.
Digging Deeper
DL Kyle Williams, BUF (@MIA, NE, @NYJ) – Williams was active
on Sunday despite a neck injury and still managed to come up with
a big play – a fumble recovery that swung the early momentum
to the Bills. If he’s ready to go on Sunday, he could be
in for another big game in what’s been a Pro Bowl caliber
season.
Scouring The Barrel
DB Abram
Elam, CLE (@CIN, BAL, PIT) – Elam had six total tackles last
week and draws a favorable matchup in Week 15 against the Bengals,
who have nothing to lose at 2-11 and always force the ball downfield.
The surging Browns DB could have a solid game, along with fellow
safety T.J. Ward.
Updates
DB Michael
Griffin, TEN (HOU, @KC, @IND) – Griffin had just five total
tackles on Sunday, while teammate Alterraun Verner posted 12 stops.
LB Rolando McClain, OAK (DEN, IND, @KC) – McClain was inactive
this week with a foot injury.
DL Greg White, TB (DET, SEA, @NO) – White didn’t record
a sack against the Redskins, but he did post three solos –
so it wasn’t a complete loss.
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