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Week 6 Waiver Wire Reportby Bob Henry, Exclusive to Footballguys.com
Quarterback Add Immediately (Impact potential)
Don’t look now, but Bledsoe is perched at or near the top of the QBs in most standard scoring systems after five weeks with 1351 yards, 10 TDs and 3 interceptions. Bledsoe even has a rushing TD. Bledsoe has several good matchups sprinkled along the schedule the rest of the season, too. The first two weeks of the fantasy playoffs look particularly nice at NY Giants in week 13 and home against Kansas City in week 14. Other favorable matchups include the Giants next week, Arizona in week 8 and at Carolina to end the season. As always, the key to Bledsoe’s production is protection up front. The Cowboys are doing a good job keeping him upright and as long as he can sit in the pocket and hit his receivers, he’ll remain effective as an NFL and fantasy quarterback.
Brunell is like the daylight savings QB; expect he turned back his clock about 7 or 8 years. Brunell now has 6 TDs and 2 interceptions with 909 yards in four games (but 3 starts). Three weeks in a row, Brunell has 2 TDs and 225+ passing yards. Surprisingly, he also has at least 16 yards rushing in each game. The next three weeks in particular look exceptional on paper. At Kansas City (next week) is nice on paper, but don’t underestimate the Arrowhead affect. The next two games include the 49ers at home and then on the road against the NY Giants. Both are solid matchups. Heading down the stretch, Brunell’s schedule looks great, too. Weeks 11 through 16 look promising: Oakland, San Diego, at St. Louis, at Arizona, Dallas and NY Giants. If he stays healthy, Brunell has an excellent chance to be a worthwhile fantasy QB the rest of the way.
Griese is a tricky player to evaluate. If Cadillac Williams is healthy, then Griese’s value might be a bit more limited as the Bucs have shown a willingness to pound the football and play defense. When Williams isn’t healthy, they are much more inclined to revert to their 2004 form – and let it fly. In the first three games with Williams, Griese threw 29, 22 and 26 passes. In the last two games with Williams sidelined, he threw 39 and 42 times. There’s an abundance of favorable matchups on the remaining schedule, too. Next week against Miami looks good, then at San Francisco in week 8, Carolina week 9, at Atlanta week 11, at New Orleans week 13, at Carolina week 14 and then New England, Atlanta and New Orleans again down the stretch.
In his second season, Manning is looking much better than anyone anticipated. He’s not quite the plug and play starter that his brother is, but he’s close. He should be a decent play most weeks, particularly at home. While he’s probably not available in most shark leagues, he might be out there in 8 or 10 team leagues. Snag him quickly, if you still can.
His four game window of opportunity could now turn into a long-term starting job if he keeps up his current rate of production. McCown’s case is aided by the Cardinals’ inability to run the football, a pair of elite receivers and a below average pass defense. That combination makes McCown a potentially lethal fantasy QB, particularly at home. There are several nice spots for McCown if he remains the starter. Week 7 against Tennessee, week 8 at Dallas, week 11 at St. Louis, week 13 at San Francisco and week 15 at Houston are all solid matchups on paper. The key to McCown is keeping the job. If he does, he’s an impact free agent QB. If he doesn’t, then Warner could still somehow emerge as a shark play, though his ability to stay healthy has to be a serious concern given the Cardinals less than desirable pass blocking. McCown can scramble and create plays where Warner lacks that ability.
Ben has a great matchup tonight in San Diego to build on his first three games where he’s thrown for no less than 216 yards with 2 TDs in each game. He hasn’t thrown an interception in 60 passes and he’s completed a 50+ yard pass in all three of his starts. Like the rest of the QBs that fall into this category, he’s probably not available in most (competitive) leagues with 12 teams or more. If he’s available, grab him while you can. Add For Depth (Starter potential)
We might consider 2005 to be the renaissance year at quarterback with Dilfer, Bledsoe and Brunell proving to be surprisingly reliable options in the first month of the season. Dilfer has thrown for 200+ yards in all four games with 7 TDs and 4 interceptions. If he remains healthy, Dilfer looks like a strong backup with several games where he could be useful in a starting capacity as a sleeper play (week 8 at Houston, week 9 vs Tennessee, week 11 vs Miami, week 12 at Minnesota and week 15 at Oakland).
Frerotte isn’t blowing anyone away with his production, but he’s clearly become a steady option and a solid fantasy backup for most leagues. He may be available in 8 or 10 team leagues, but is probably not out there in leagues with 12 or more teams. He’s thrown 1 or 2 TDs in each of his four starts. He looks like a decent bye week fill-in in week 7 vs KC, week 8 at New Orleans, week 9 vs Atlanta or week 10 vs New England. He may also be useful in week 12 at Oakland and week 14 at San Diego.
For better or worse, the Bills turned to Kelly Holcomb last week after J.P. Losman’s dismal start. Holcomb completed 20-of-26 in his debut as the team’s starter throwing for 169 yards with a TD. Holcomb isn’t a great option, but he could be semi-useful if you wisely pick your spots with him. He might be a decent sleeper play in weeks 7 at Oakland, week 10 vs Kansas City, week 11 at San Diego, week 12 vs Carolina.
In most competitive leagues, your best option on the waiver wire might be someone like Vinny. He’s a veteran and he has some decent talent at WR to work with, but don’t expect much more than about 200 yards and a TD each week. Add for Later (Sleeper potential)
In almost every 12-team league, David Carr was drafted as a backup. However, after a dismal start, he’s lurking on the waiver wire in many leagues. While we typically don’t care about excuses when it comes to fantasy production, it’s worth noting that Carr’s been sacked 5, 8, 7 and 7 times in the first four games. At this pace, if he survives 16 games then he deserves a medal for something. He still has some fringe value, too. He’s rushed for 40, 46, 35 and 24 yards and completed at least 60% of his passes in the last three games. Unfortunately, that’s looking at Carr with rose-colored glasses. In reality, he’s thrown just 3 TDs with 4 interceptions and still hasn’t thrown for more than 175 yards in a game yet this season. The schedule will lighten up to some degree. Down the stretch, he faces Kansas City and St. Louis at home in weeks 11 and 12, and then Arizona in week 15. There’s an outside chance that he’ll produce something those weeks, but like Joey Harrington, he’s on the hot seat as his team’s starter, so it’s time to produce or move out of the way.
Believe it or not; the Lions are one blown TD call from being 3-1. That said, Joey Harrington still looks terrible. It should be noted that he has faced three of the toughest defenses in the league so far (two of them on the road) – at Chicago, at Tampa and Baltimore. If Harrington continues to stink up the joint with softer matchups ahead on the schedule, then Jeff Garcia will have an excellent shot to return as the Lions starter in a few weeks when he’s healthy. Next week, Harrington should be more productive at home against the Panthers. Otherwise, Garcia could hit the ground running around week 9 at Minnesota followed by week 10 vs Arizona, week 11 at Dallas, week 12 vs Atlanta and week 13 vs Minnesota again. The Lions have what might be two solid matchups in the playoff schedule, too. Playing week 14 in Green Bay looks good on paper, but it might turn out different depending on the weather; and week 16 at New Orleans could be a productive spot for Garcia is he’s at the helm.
See Josh McCown’s analysis. If Warner regains the starting job when he’s healthy, he could be a solid spot starter certain weeks. Week 11 at St. Louis, week 13 at San Francisco and week 15 at Houston are all solid matchups on paper. However, if McCown keeps throwing the ball as well as he has the last two weeks, Warner could potentially be unseated from the starting job for the second year in a row. Add for Insurance (Injury or bye week replacement)
Replacing the injured Michael Vick this week, Schaub produced better results than Vick likely would have as a passer. He threw for 298 yards with three TDs and no interceptions. Schaub is good sleeper fodder as long as he’s starting, but Vick should back by next week. Schaub is a great handcuff if you own Vick, otherwise his only true value is when Vick isn’t playing.
There are few backups in the league that have Volek’s upside. If McNair misses any length of time because of injury, Volek immediately becomes a player worth starting in most leagues. Others to Keep an Eye On
Smith is one of the few players on this list that is probably available in 99.9% of 12 team re-draft leagues, and for good reason. There is very little chance that Smith will turn into a worthwhile fantasy QB this year. He’s athletic and has plenty of talent, but he was overwhelmed in the preseason, and he looked even worse this week against a good Colts defense. As long as he’s the 49ers starting QB, you might as well keep Brandon Lloyd and Arnaz Battle firmly on your bench. It’s going to get worse before it gets better for the 49ers and Smith. Running Back Add Immediately (Impact potential)
Bell broke out of the gate quickly this week. He broke a 34-yard TD run on 4th and 1 during the Broncos opening drive against a good Redskins (run) defense. He carried five times for 55 yards in the first half, and then he exploded in the second half with a 55-yard TD run. On the day, Bell ran for 127 yards on 12 carries with a 5-yard reception. As Mike Anderson’s backup, Bell has 47, 47, 60 and 127 yards rushing in the four games he’s been active. He is averaging 6.3 yds/att this year and averaged 5.3 last year. If Anderson slips, Bell will immediately become a top 10 fantasy RB. Until then, he’s worth holding if you have him and picking up immediately if he’s available. The sky is the limit if he has the opportunity to start, but Anderson is not likely to be benched so Bell must be patient and wait for his chance if Anderson gets hurt. If another owner lost patience with Bell after the first couple weeks and cut Bell free, then grab him if at all possible.
Thomas Jones rushed for 137 yards on 24 carries, but he left midway through the fourth quarter with an injured right knee. Following the game, Jones said his knee felt better describing the injury as a “bone bruise or something”. It should also be noted that offensive tackle John Tait left the stadium in a walking boot with a sprained ankle. The point being that if Jones and Tait are sidelined for any length of time, then Benson has an excellent chance to start finally. Of course, if Tait is out, then the Bears run blocking might suffer, too. Benson saw brief playing time this week, but looked unimpressive losing a fumble (which sure looked like a bad call from the couch and on instant replay) and gaining just 6 yards on five carries. Benson’s value is 100% dependent on the status of Jones moving forward.
Everyone’s eyes will be on the Steelers backfield when they take the field tonight against the Chargers. Willie Parker seems well entrenched as the team’s starting RB given his fast start (no pun intended), but now that the Bus is out of the garage and Duce Staley is also healthy, the Steelers have the potential to evolve into a RBBC. Bettis is simply too powerful as a force in the red zone to be ignored. If he’s on the waiver wire, he’s a great player to add to the back end of your RB rotation. He still has the potential to be a solid scoring threat either in TD-only leagues, or if Parker gets dinged and misses any time.
Pittman didn’t light up the scoreboard starting in place of Cadillac Williams this week, but he produced combined 87 yards on 13 carries and 7 receptions. He’ll be relegated to the backup within a week or two once Williams is back in the lineup. His primary value is in PPR leagues considering his receiving ability and the likelihood that Gruden will continue to use him as an occasional slot receiver and third down back.
Like Bettis, Staley still has some gas left in the tank. He’s not going to score many TDs with Bettis on the roster (assuming both players are healthy), but he’s still a viable runner between the tackles and an under-utilized receiver out of the backfield. He lost the starting gig to Willie Parker, but that could change with one injury, so snap up Staley is he’s available if only for the chance that he could wind up starting a few games the rest of the way. Add For Depth (Starter potential)
Betts is a solid change-of-pace runner who is getting a decent amount of work behind Clinton Portis. Joe Gibbs has been singing his praise all year, so his role isn’t going to change unless Portis gets hurt, in which event, Betts would become a solid RB2 in most scenarios.
Kevan Barlow remains the team’s starting RB and that doesn’t appear likely to change anytime soon (barring injury). Gore looked like a guy who could push Barlow to the bench during the preseason and even in the first few games of the regular season. However, Barlow has responded well the last couple of weeks to keep Gore at bay.
Jacobs is the team’s goal line RB and he could be in-line for even more work as the season moves forward. The team talks about getting him into the game for an occasional series in the second quarter to spell Tiki Barber, but at the very least, he’ll remain an option in the red zone and has great value in TD-only leagues in his current role. If Tiki Barber gets hurt, Jacobs would be the team’s featured back and his value would soar accordingly.
For now, Pass is Corey Dillon’s primary backup. He’s one of Bill Belichick’s “do it all” type of players. Pass is a solid lead blocker who can also serve as the team’s short yardage back or third down back in a pinch. He scored the first rushing TD of his career Sunday. More importantly, Corey Dillon left Sunday’s game in the fourth quarter with an undisclosed leg injury. If Dillon is unable to go next week at Denver, Pass would have some decent value as a spot starter. However, the Pats have a bye week the following week and Dillon could be back by then, or Amos Zereoue could emerge as the featured back while Pass goes back to serving as a role player.
For now, Chris Perry is a super backup RB for the Bengals. He’s an excellent change-of-pace runner and an even better receiver out of the backfield. If Rudi Johnson goes down, then Perry immediately becomes a serious consideration among the top 10 fantasy RBs moving forward. Otherwise, Perry’s an excellent RB in PPR leagues and is a “must have” handcuff for Johnson’s owners. He has 18 receptions in 5 games and he will continue to be a significant part of the Bengals offense in his current role spelling Johnson.
Shipp is the Cardinals’ starting running back, but he’s failed to run for more than 54 yards in a game this year and still hasn’t found the end zone. Simply put, the Cardinals ground game is horrible no matter who is logging the carries. Shipp has better value in PPR leagues given his 16 receptions in 5 games, but otherwise, he’s a spot starter and a weak play in most situations unless the Cardinals figure out a way to get more out of their offensive line.
Taylor already holds decent value as the primary backup to Jamal Lewis and the Raven’s third down back. In four games, Taylor has 11 receptions and no less than 21 yards receiving in every game. He carried the ball 11 times for 32 yards in week 4 and 9 times for 46 yards this week against Detroit. Taylor’s upside is limited as long as Lewis is healthy, but if Lewis goes down again this year, then Taylor holds great value and is worth a roster spot in most leagues if he’s on the waiver wire.
Thompson has emerged as the primary backup to Julius Jones after Anthony Thomas has apparently fallen out of favor with Bill Parcells. Jones didn’t play in the second half of yesterday’s game because of an apparent ankle injury. Parcells could have been playing it safe with a 24-point lead, but it’s worth noting that Thompson gained 75 yards on 20 carries in his stead. Thompson is a super-quick back with decent size (6’ 1”, 215 lbs) and an increasing amount of opportunity, particularly if Jones is forced to miss any time moving forward because of injury. If Jones is inactive, then it’s still possible that Anthony Thomas would be activated and play a larger role. However, at this stage, Thompson looks to have passed Thomas on the depth chart and he gives the team more speed and playmaking ability at the position than Thomas.
Williams’ four game suspension is over now and he’ll rejoin the Dolphins backfield next week. It’s unclear what role, if any, Williams will have since Ronnie Brown’s play has been much improved the last two weeks. Nick Saban will probably find a way to use Williams along with Brown, but he’s not likely to start barring injury. Clearly, if Williams is available, then you should grab him if you’re lacking talent at RB. Add for Later (Sleeper potential)
With Najeh Davenport likely gone for the year, Fisher might be an excellent pick up this week depending on the health of Ahman Green. Green believes he’ll be ready to start when the team emerges from the bye week to play in week 7, so Fisher will likely be a good handcuff or a speculative pickup, if anything. There’s still a chance that Green might not be ready and he certainly could go down again, so Fisher is definitely worth a roster spot either way. Even with Green healthy, Fisher serves as the team’s third down back. He caught 6 balls for 40 yards this week, almost scoring on two different plays. He took an 11-yard pass down to the 1 and a 9-yard pass down to the 4. In PPR leagues, he adds slightly more value and he could be a sleeper play even with Green in the lineup.
The Eagles don’t have much of a power running game, but Gordon is the team’s designated goal line back so he has some value right now. If Brian Westbrook gets hurt, it’s possible that Gordon’s role would expand, though Ryan Moats would also become a factor as well. For now, Gordon is worth a roster spot in 12 or 14 team leagues, but his upside is limited and depends largely on Westbrook’s health.
Pearman is working his way into the offense more in the last few games as the team’s third down back. He passed LaBrandon Toefield on the depth chart and he is now Fred Taylor’s primary backup as well. For now, his value is limited, but his upside should command a roster spot knowing Taylor’s history with injuries and his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield.
Suggs is healthy again, but he didn’t touch the ball at all this week. Reuben Droughns is clearly the team’s featured back at this point, but as a backup, Suggs has plenty of talent and is still a good guy to add to the back end of your RB corps. If he gets the opportunity to start a game or more this year, Suggs will have solid value. Unfortunately, until Droughns falters, Suggs doesn’t look like he’ll have much opportunity. Add for Insurance (Injury or bye week replacement)
The Lions are using Pinner as a change-of-pace runner to Kevin Jones and, frankly, he’s looking good. He’s 100% healthy this year (for the first time in his brief NFL career) and he would have solid value if KJ goes down. Otherwise, he’s limited to about 4 to 6 carries each week and his upside depends completely on KJ’s health.
Smith carried the rock 12 times for 36 yards this week. Two factors combined to allow Smith plenty of playing time. Deuce McAllister twisted his ankle and the Saints were trailing 35-3 at halftime prompting Smith to see much more playing time than anticipated. Aaron Stecker also played, but it’s worth noting that Smith carried 12 times while Stecker touched the rock just once. If McAllister were to miss a few games, both Smith and Stecker would likely split the load to some extent, but Smith is more likely to be the team’s featured runner given his size advantage. McAllister is scheduled to have an MRI on his right knee today after spraining it in the third quarter and leaving the game. He claimed that he’ll be fine after the game, but let’s wait and see what the MRI tell us and make an educated decision after that.
Surprisingly, Michael Turner is on the waiver wire in many leagues. If you own Tomlinson, obviously you don’t want to think about him getting hurt, but don’t be fooled into thinking he’s invincible. Like any other running back in the NFL, Tomlinson is susceptible to injury and Turner is without question the primary backup. Turner has good power and if you can afford a roster spot to handcuff your team’s most valuable asset, then it’s probably worth the peace of mind to pickup Turner.
Zereoue signed with the Patriots after Kevin Faulk went down with a leg injury that will sideline him for at least the next couple of months. Zereoue still has to earn a role with the team and he’s currently behind both Corey Dillon and Patrick Pass on the depth chart. Zereoue is a sleeper who could emerge with solid value if Dillon misses a few games due to injury, but right now, he’s more of a speculative play depending on Dillon’s leg and status moving forward. Add for Next Year (Dynasty potential)
Fason isn’t even part of the RB rotation right now, but with Mike Tice calling the shots, whose to say that he won’t be in the near future? Fason has an outside shot of becoming the team’s starter next year, but he’ll need to pass Mewelde Moore on the depth chart and contend with the presence of goal-line back Moe Williams, too. The Vikings could easily draft or acquire another back next year, so there is no guarantee Fason will ever start for the team, but he’s a good player with the ability to catch the ball. He also has better size than Moore has and could force his way into a RBBC situation next year, if anything.
Moats is similar in stature to Brian Westbrook and he performed well in the preseason. His primary value right now is limited to Westbrook getting hurt. Otherwise, Moats has been inactive each week and Lamar Gordon is serving as the backup on game day. If Westbrook misses a game or more, Moats would be active and likely would share the rock with Gordon in some capacity. His value is decidedly higher in keeper or dynasty leagues with Westbrook’s contract expiring at season’s end. There’s an outside chance that Moats could be the team’s starter next year barring Westbrook re-signing or the team drafting another back in the first couple of rounds next April.
Morency may be forgotten in some leagues and he could be lingering on the waiver wire because he’s been on the sidelines all year. Morency has the talent and potential to be an impact player if Domanick Davis misses a few games due to injury. He’ll probably split carries with Jonathan Wells to some degree, but Morency might be the most talented back on the Texans roster outside of Davis. If an impatient owners cuts ties with Morency in your dynasty league, then snap him up immediately.
Morris will be a free agent following the season and he’s stated numerous times, like Lamont Jordan, that he wants a shot to be an every down back somewhere. Whether he gets that chance or not, Morris does have some talent and could be a nice long-term sleeper in dynasty leagues if his free agent status lands him on a team where he’ll have a legitimate chance to play.
Rhodes vultured a TD from Edgerrin James this week and he could have some value at the end of this season if the Colts secure their playoff spot with a few games left on the schedule. Otherwise, his primary value is as Edge’s handcuff or in dynasty leagues where he’s worth holding onto if Edge leaves as a free agent following the season. Others to Keep an Eye On
Goings remains an option in deeper leagues considering how well the Panthers can run the ball seemingly with whatever back they put in the game. Stephen Davis, so far, has looked very good. It might seem like a minor miracle that both Davis and DeShaun Foster remain healthy after five weeks, but they are. If injuries strike the Panthers again, Goings remains one of the coaching staff’s favorite players and he could somehow find himself with an opportunity to play and have solid value in most leagues. Until then, he’s a speculative pickup at best and remains third on the depth chart for the immediate future.
Payton scored his first career TD on his first touch this Sunday. He carried eight times and gained just 11 yards, but he’s the primary backup to the oft-injured Chris Brown for two more games. Once Travis Henry returns from suspension, Payton could be relegated to the practice squad again.
If Thomas Jones missed an extended amount of time because of an apparent knee injury suffered on Sunday, then Peterson might also stand to gain as many carries as the Bears first round pick Cedric Benson. Peterson entered the game before Benson and promptly ripped off a 19-yard run. Benson is obviously the player with the most to gain from an injury to Jones, but don’t forget about Peterson either. He could split carries with Benson and he probably offers more in pass protection than Benson does at this point, which would prompt Lovie Smith to use him more frequently than most people would expect. Wide Receiver Add Immediately (Impact potential)
Bryant may not be a true #1 receiver, but he does have plenty of talent and a good opportunity to continue producing for the Browns. Trent Dilfer gives him a stable QB with a good arm and Braylon Edwards’ recent setback means Bryant will continue to be Dilfer’s primary option for the immediate future.
While it’s highly doubtful that Glenn would still appear on anyone’s waiver wire, we’re just doing our due diligence. If he’s there, do the right thing and snag him while you can. He’s clearly Bledsoe’s biggest playmaker in the passing game and he’s consistently producing for the first time in years. As long as he can sustain this type of production, he deserves to be in the starting lineup.
Henry is now a threat to score a TD in almost every game he plays. He’s scored a TD or had a TD called back due to penalty in almost every game he’s played this year. He’s the Bengals’ No.3 receiver and will have a starting role as long as T.J. Houshmandzadeh isn’t healthy. Even with Houshmandzadeh on the field, Henry is involved in the game plan and Carson Palmer is going to him in the red zone enough to warrant starting him in deeper leagues or TD-only leagues.
Jurevicius lived up to his hype this week as Darrell Jackson and Bobby Engram both were sidelined due to injury. Jackson will likely miss several games meaning Jurevicius isn’t just a one-week special. As long as Jackson is out, Jurevicius will have tremendous short-term value as a starter in most leagues. If he’s available, he’ll be among the hottest players on the waiver wire following his 9 catch, 107 yard, 1 TD game against the Rams. Add For Depth (Starter potential)
Bradley is now officially the Bears starting receiver opposite Muhsin Muhammad. He caught four balls for 33 yards this week, but also lost a fumble. His role is growing as the season progresses and he could become a viable option as a spot starter or sleeper pick during the bye weeks. Otherwise, he’s still best in a dynasty or keeper league format, but he could emerge with better value as he gains experience in the 2nd half of the season.
Colbert is a mystery this year. He’s clearly a talented receiver and he should see plenty of action as teams do their best to control Steve Smith. Unfortunately, despite plenty of targets, Colbert just hasn’t been productive yet. Look for that to change at some point. Colbert may very well be available in some leagues as owners lose patience. If you can afford a roster spot, he’s worth picking up and his fortunes should turn around at some point.
Edwards underwent surgery on his elbow this week. He’ll be back soon, but in the mean time, if an impatient owners cuts him loose, don’t be afraid to snag him. In the second half of the season, Edwards could become a valuable player. He’s the real deal.
Hackett caught five balls for 43 yards this week and saw more playing time than anticipated with Darrell Jackson and Bobby Engram sidelined. He started along with Joe Jurevicius and he will continue see extensive playing time as long as Jackson and Engram are sidelined. Jackson will miss at least a couple/few more games, so for the short-term (and perhaps in dynasty leagues), Hackett might be worth a roster spot.
Jones was probably snatched off your league’s waiver wire in the past few weeks, but if he’s still out there, then grab him while you can. The Titans figure to be a good passing team moving forward and Jones is only going to get better as he gains experience. He’s caught between 2 and 5 passes every game this year and there’s a good chance his targets and receptions will improve in the coming weeks.
With Charles Rogers suspended and Roy Williams leaving the game this week with a leg injury, Mike Williams suddenly has a great opportunity to show the world why the Lions took a WR for the third straight year in the top 10 picks of the draft. Williams only caught one pass for 7 yards, but clearly, the opportunity is there for him to make an impact. Now, it’s just a matter of coaxing Joey Harrington to do something, heck, anything.
With the Vikings team playing terrible in almost all facets of the game, Williamson could find himself on your league’s waiver wire, though not likely. If he’s out there, grab him if you can. Even with Nate Burleson returning from injury, Williamson looks like the team’s best deep threat already and the team will probably look for ways to get him more involved when they return from the bye next week. Add for Later (Sleeper potential)
Bradford has forever been long on potential and short on production. He’s one of the faster receivers in the league, but all too frequently, he doesn’t show up in the box score. This week he managed 35 yards on four catches with a TD, but it’s tough to project him with any serious level of production moving forward – even if Andre Johnson is sidelined with an injury. Either way, he’s probably available, but he’s a risky bet to produce anything on a consistent basis.
Chatman is heavily involved in the team’s offense as the third receiver and could be worthwhile in deeper leagues or PPR leagues. His upside is limited, but he could serve a purpose as a spot starter during the bye weeks.
Clayton is starting opposite Derrick Mason and continues to grow into a larger role in the offense. He’s a player to watch, or perhaps add to your roster if he’s available, as the Ravens passing game is bound to improve in the second half of the season.
All of the Falcons receivers have questionable value given the Falcons tendency to run the football and Michael Vick’s inconsistent nature as a passer. However, if Matt Schaub is starting, then throw that logic out the window. With Schaub behind center this week, Finneran exploded for 103 yards on 5 catches. He’s caught at least 3 balls in the last four games and his size makes him a nice target in the red zone, but the only player that has serious value in the Falcons passing attack continues to be TE Alge Crumpler.
Gaffney disappointed this week in what appeared to be a good matchup against the Titans secondary. Gaffney caught 6 balls for 88 yards the previous week, but produced only 2 catches for 24 yards this week, despite the fact that Andre Johnson left the game in the first quarter with a strained right calf. Gaffney has the potential to be a decent possession receiver, but the Texans offense just isn’t getting it done right now and it’s questionable whether they’ll be able to turn things around or not this year.
Gardner finally saw some playing time this week after being inactive during the first month of the season. He could emerge at some point, but right now, he’s clearly a deep sleeper with little value.
If Joe Horn’s injury lingers then Hakim could have a little short-term value. Hakim isn’t the most durable player either, but he had an excellent opportunity and cashed in this week. The Saints were playing from a huge deficit and Hakim took advantage finishing with 108 yards on 5 catches.
While the Lions have invested heavily at wide receiver in the draft, ironically, Johnson might be their most productive receiver over the next few weeks. As a veteran, he can get open and apparently has the trust of Joey Harrington. If Roy Williams is unable to play next week, then Johnson will start along with Mike Williams. Both are limited by Harrington’s poor play, but there’s always a chance they could turn things around and Johnson might be worth a roster spot for the short-term.
Robinson looked like he would emerge as a possible starter or significant role player with Nate Burleson injured, but it didn’t happen. There’s always a chance that things could change via injury otherwise, and Robinson still has a good amount of talent, so in deeper leagues he might be worth a look as a sleeper.
Warrick has a solid opportunity with Darrell Jackson and Bobby Engram both injured, but he only caught one pass for 7 yards this week, despite what appeared to be a great opportunity for him to see a larger role. Until he sees more targets, he might be worth a gamble, but his role is unclear at this point and he’s being outperformed by D.J. Hackett. Others to Keep an Eye On
Johnson reminds me a lot of former Patriots WR Tony Simmons. Forever a dynasty league sleeper, Simmons flashed his potential numerous times, but never emerged as a long-term starter or a viable fantasy WR. Like Simmons, Johnson has top-flight speed, but he’s been in the league three seasons and still hasn’t broken into the lineup. He caught a 55-yard TD this week, but unless he strings together a few good games in a row, he’s probably not worth a roster spot in most leagues. Tight End Add Immediately (Impact potential)
Cooley is on a tear right now. He started the season a little slowly with 5 catches for 54 yards in the first two games. Since then, he has 12 catches for 143 yards and a TD in two games. If he’s available, grab him while you can.
Stevens is living up to his vast potential this year and currently ranks among the top 10 fantasy TEs in almost every possible scoring system. He caught three more balls this week for 65 yards and a TD. At this point, Stevens really shouldn’t be on the waiver wire in any league, but if he is, then do the right thing. He looks like a solid starter for the rest of the season even with Itula Mili returning to the lineup.
The Ben Troupe bandwagon is getting really full right about now. He caught 8 balls this week for 67 yards with a TD. He has caught a TD in three of the Titans’ five games so far and is quickly becoming a bigger part of the offense with each passing week. His production should continue to grow in the second half of the season and he could easily finish among the top 10 TEs by season’s end. Add For Depth (Starter potential)
Graham broke out in a big way this week and he might very well be available in most leagues. He had just two catches for 18 yards and a TD through the first four games. That’s the rub with Graham. He’ll go games without a catch and then explode for a couple TDs any given week. Look for that to continue as Tom Brady spreads the football around to get all of his receivers involved from week to week. As a bye week starter or fill-in, he’s worth a gamble.
Shea returned to the lineup this week after missing the first month of the season due to injury. He made an immediate impact catching 6 passes for 65 yards. He and Steve Heiden will both be productive at times, but they’ll both limit the other’s upside and ultimately their collective fantasy value. In deeper leagues, Shea is definitely worth a roster spot and could be a useful spot starter (like Heiden).
Watson is going to be a sporadically productive player despite having a first round pedigree like his teammate Daniel Graham. Both players are great talents, but Watson has the ability to be an elite pass-catching TE if he could just get the targets to live up to that massive upside. Don’t count on that happening though. He’s caught one ball in every game this year, but no more than two. He’ll have games where he may break out, but more often than not he’ll be a frustrating player to count on in a starting capacity. Add for Later (Sleeper potential)
Teyo started this week for the Cardinals and while he hasn’t produced anything tangible yet, he has the potential to emerge later this year as a viable fantasy TE in deeper leagues. Otherwise, despite being a bust in Oakland, Dennis Green believes he has something with Johnson, and in dynasty leagues, you might consider stashing him away for down the road.
Smith resurfaced this week with five catches for 46 yards after disappearing for the last four weeks. He caught two TDs in the season opener, since then we’ve barely seen his name in the box score. Smith is a talented rookie TE who will only get better with time, but for right now, he’s better to own in a keeper/dynasty league than a re-drafter. He’ll have his weeks, but it will be tough expecting consistent production. Add for Insurance (Injury or bye week replacement)
As long as Bubba Franks is unable to play, Martin has some value. He caught another TD this week but only had 7 yards on two catches otherwise. Martin’s a squeeze play for the most part. If Franks can’t go, then Martin is a decent plug-n-play option for the short term. Otherwise, if Franks is healthy, Martin’s value is limited at best to TD only leagues. Kicker Add Immediately (Impact potential)
Feely is off to a great start in New York connecting on all eight of his field goal attempts so far. The Giants offense is getting into scoring range for Feely at an extremely high rate, and his 16 PATs mean some of those could turn into FG opportunities.
David Akers could miss anywhere from 8 to 12 weeks. France has a good, accurate leg and could slide right into a good Eagles offense and produce Akers-like points. Then again, if McNabb isn’t right this team could go into a little funk affecting France, too.
Scobee has been consistent enough from week to week and accurate enough making 10 of 12 FGs to be considered as a starter in leagues with 12 teams or more. Add For Depth (Starter potential)
Bironas ranks among the top 10 in most scoring systems with 8 FGs in 11 attempts. He made a 49 yarder and a 52 yarder this week against Houston. He’s got a reasonably strong and accurate leg so far and the Titans offense should continue to be productive.
Bryant has been steady so far making 8 out of 9 FGs ranking him around the starter range in most 12 or 14 team leagues.
Cortez caught fire this week helping the Cowboys defeat the rival Eagles with 4 FGs. He’s made 8 of 9 FGs on the season ranking him around the middle of the pack for the league’s kickers as far as fantasy scoring is concerned.. Defense Add Immediately (Impact potential)
The Lions defense came alive this week thanks mostly to a superb effort by their defensive leader and playmaker extraordinaire Dre’ Bly. Bly himself forced three turnovers – recovering a fumble and intercepting Anthony Wright twice (once in the end zone). They have 10 sacks in 4 games with 11 turnovers. The Lions special teams are usually among the best in the league, but they’ve been transparent so far this year. With Eddie Drummond shaken up this week against the Ravens, they may not as explosive as usual until he’s 100%. The Lions might be a decent plays in weeks 7 (at Cleveland), 8 (vs Chicago) and 10 (vs Arizona).
The Titans sacked David Carr 7 times on Sunday. They intercepted him once and forced two fumbles. Through five games, the Titans have 17 sacks. Free agent Kyle Vanden Bosch is having a fine season. He’s even surprising himself lingering among the league leaders in sacks. The Titans have forced 7 turnovers and scored 1 TD. Week 12 they host the 49ers, which could be an incredibly good matchup if the 49ers continue to trot rookie Alex Smith out there as their starting quarterback. Two weeks later (week 14), they host the Houston Texans, which could be even uglier than this week’s outcome (for Houston). Add For Depth (Starter potential)
The Browns had four sacks and forced/recovered three fumbles against the Bears on Sunday. The Browns run defense is soft, but overall they are playing better than anyone could’ve expected in head coach Romeo Crennel’s first season. They host the Lions in week 7, who are well known for being a shaky (losing) road team. The next week (8) they are in Houston, another decent matchup. Finally, week 17 is home against Baltimore, which may or may not be a good matchup depending on whether the Ravens QB play improves before that game, or not.
In five games, the Cardinals have 12 sacks, 5 INTs and 4 fumbles recovered with 1 TD; allowing 106 rushing yards and 197 passing yards per game. They lost their top young corner Antrel Rolle for the year making their secondary is even more young and vulnerable. They’re a decent sleeper pick some weeks, particularly when they are at home. Week 13 they play in San Francisco, which could promise to be a productive game is rookie Alex Smith is starting for the 49ers at QB. Weeks 14 and 15 they are at home against Washington and then in Houston. Both weeks the Cardinals could be a surprising sleeper play.
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