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Week 7 Waiver Wire Reportby Bob Henry, Exclusive to Footballguys.com
Quarterback Add Immediately (Impact potential)
Brunell is probably not available in 95% of the leagues out there. If he remains an option, he should be a high priority addition whether you have a glaring need at QB or not. He’s been consistently productive and ranks within the top 10 fantasy QBs despite not starting the season as the Redskins’ starter. Brunell has nine TDs, 2 interceptions and 1240 passing yards in 5 games. In 8 or 10 team leagues with 16 or 18 player roster limits, Brunell is probably the biggest impact free agent QB available. Get him if you still can.
Holcomb has completed 73% of his passes in his two starts throwing for a modest 341 yards with three TDs and two interceptions. He’s not quite starter material, but he could be a decent one-week plug-in if the matchup makes sense. If he continues to play well and the Bills keep winning, he’ll keep the starting gig. Otherwise, he could be a just a rental for a few weeks to cover your starter’s bye week. The schedule looks great for the next several games – at Oakland, at New England in week 8, they’re off in week 9 and then Kansas City in week 10.
McCown and the Cardinals were idle this week and there’s still a decent chance that Dennis Green could go back to Kurt Warner when he’s ready to play (which might be as soon as this coming week). Surely, McCown has played well enough to keep the starting gig, but Warner was the starter and most of the time players don’t lose their starting job because of injury. If McCown is available in your league, watch the news carefully, or gamble that he keeps the job and add him to your roster, as a possible impact QB should he keep the job. The Cardinals can’t run the ball, their pass defense is struggling and their receiving duo is dynamic. That’s a lethal combination that makes McCown an incredibly attractive sleeper for the rest of the season.
Obviously, Roethlisberger wasn’t healthy enough to play this week. In 95% of the league’s he’s already on a roster, but in smaller leagues there’s a decent chance he could’ve been cut free in the past week or two. Roethlisberger isn’t likely to throw the ball 30 or 40 times a game like most impact fantasy QBs, but he does make the most of his opportunities. He has seven TDs and no interceptions so far this year with 913 yards on only 52 completions. If another owner cut him unceremoniously, snatch him up and use him if it makes sense.
Brian Griese was knocked out of this week’s game against Miami prompting our first Chris Simms sighting of the year. Simms completed 6 out of 10 passes for 69 yards, but with a healthy lead, he wasn’t called on to do much otherwise. If Griese is sidelined for a few weeks, then Simms might be one of the best waiver wire options available at QB in most standard 12 team leagues. However, the Bucs have a bye week coming (week 7) so he might not be needed if Griese will be healthy by week 8 at San Francisco (which is an excellent matchup by the way). Add For Depth (Starter potential)
Anthony Wright has been a decent caretaker for the Ravens quarterbacking duties in Boller’s stead. However, it looks like Boller will regain the starting job in the next couple of weeks once he’s healthy enough to return. Whether he’ll be worthwhile or not is another question. Both history and our gut instinct may tell us otherwise. Boller hasn’t exactly been a beacon of bright light for fantasy owners in the past, so adjust your expectations accordingly.
For better or worse, Vinny will be the Jets starter for the rest of the season barring injury. There’s a small chance he could develop a rhythm in the Jets offense under Mike Heimerdinger and he could be useful in a few spots as a backup to cover your starter’s bye week. Otherwise, his value is extremely limited.
Wright’s window of opportunity is closing quickly. As the Ravens starter, Wright has completed 102 out of 160 passes for 1013 yards with 5 TDs and 7 interceptions. Nothing special here, but in many leagues, he might be the best thing available and could be useful in the next couple of games before Boller returns. The next two games are on the road at Chicago and Pittsburgh, so don’t expect much here. Add for Later (Sleeper potential)
Don’t fall asleep on Garcia. It’s questionable just how much zoom he has left in his arm, but he can still run around and make something out of nothing when the protection breaks down (which is just about every play for the Lions). Joey Harrington obviously isn’t doing anything and Garcia started practicing lightly last week. He could return by the end of the month and emerge as the Lions starter in the second half of the season. With a weak division, Garcia could conceivably lead the Lions down the stretch towards a possible playoff spot. Wouldn’t it be ironic if Rogers and Williams return about the same time and Garcia turns this team around? Stranger things have happened in the NFL, that is for sure.
Orton’s only real value might be in a dynasty league format. Otherwise, he just isn’t putting up enough stats to be of much use except in the deepest of leagues. Orton produced 117 yards and 2 TDs with one interceptions against the Vikings this week. It’s hard to expect him producing more than 150 to 200 yards (tops) on a consistent basis as long as they keep playing good defense and running the ball effectively with Thomas Jones. Add for Insurance (Injury or bye week replacement)
Maddox is strictly an injury replacement and nothing else. If Big Ben is healthy, he’s the unquestioned starter. This week Maddox got the call, but only threw for 154 yards and a TD while throwing three interceptions and losing a fumble. He’s not a great option even if he continues to start for another game or two, but it would probably be a minor miracle if Roethlisberger isn’t back on the field by next week.
If Michael Vick is hurt again or unable to start, Schaub has shown that he’s a guy you can pick up off waivers (should he remain available) and plug into your lineup. The way Vick plays, another leg injury is always possible. Keep Schaub on your short list. If you own Vick, do the smart thing and pick up Schaub if you can afford the roster spot.
Volek is to McNair what Schaub is to Vick, except he’s proven himself over a longer period of time as a starter in the league. If McNair goes down (he was questionable this week), then Volek is a guy you could probably scoop right up off waivers and put right into your starting lineup.
Jake Delhomme was knocked silly this week by the Lions’ Kenoy Kennedy on a questionable hit as he began to slide. The Panthers have a bye week in week 7, so Delhomme probably won’t miss a start, but if his injury lingers or he’s not available in week 8, then keep Weinke in mind. He responded well after Delhomme was knocked out of the game and threw the winning TD pass to Ricky Proehl against the Lions this week. Add for Next Year (Dynasty potential)
Don’t forget about Grossman. He looked pretty darn good in the preseason, but seems to have luck working against him in a bad way after suffering a long-term injury for the second straight season. There’s a very small chance he could be back on the field at the end of this year, too. Either way, barring Kyle Orton making big strides in the next couple of months, Grossman still appears to be the team’s favored QB of the future, but that could change.
Losman lost the starting gig this year because of poor play. However, he remains the team’s QB of the future for better or worse. He could still regain the job later this year and almost certainly will be the team’s QB looking ahead to next year. He’s athletic and can add some bonus points with his running ability, but right now, he looks a lot more like Rob “Surfer Boy” Johnson than a viable starting QB in the NFL.
Orlovsky may not be the team’s starting QB of the future, but the way Joey Harrington is playing, it’s conceivable that Orlovsky could get a crack at the job either via injury this year or perhaps if Harrington doesn’t return next year. Garcia signed a one-year deal. That means the Lions could be back to the drawing board in the off-season looking to sign a veteran like Drew Brees or draft another QB. Either way, Orlovsky could very well be the team’s backup of the future and right now he’s one good whack on Harrington from being the team’s starter until Garcia is ready.
Just a friendly reminder that Rivers remains the Chargers QB of the future despite the continuing strong play of Drew Brees. The Chargers remain hesitant to commit long-term to Brees, and for good reason, providing Rivers is up for the challenge once he gets the opportunity. Chargers GM A.J. Smith continues to say that he will not consider trading Rivers making it very likely that he’ll be the team’s starter in 2006 with Brees signing elsewhere as a free agent.
Walter could emerge down the road as the Raiders starting QB, but right now he’s third string behind Kerry Collins and long-time backup Marques Tuiasosopo. Walter has the size, arm strength and overall talent to be a solid NFL quarterback in the future. Al Davis shrewdly drafted him with that in mind. By the time, he becomes the Raiders starter – assuming he ever does – he could move into an extremely favorable situation with a good young offensive line, a pair of stud receivers and a solid running game. Running Back Add Immediately (Impact potential)
Bell broke out again this week producing his second straight 100 yard game despite not starting either game. It’s highly doubtful that he’s available in any 12 or 14 team leagues, but it’s possible an impatient owner cut him free after a rough preseason and a slow start in 8 or 10 team leagues. It is fairly obvious that Bell is a home run talent if you can snag him. He’s routinely ripping off long runs each week and if Mike Shanahan ever decides to commit to Bell as the featured back, then the sky is the limit even though the Broncos run schedule isn’t the greatest.
In the last few weeks, we kept raising the profile of Patrick Pass as a waiver wire option. However, after Sunday’s performance, he’s no longer flying under the radar. Pass ran 10 times for 64 yards with a 8-yard TD run; he also caught six balls for another 89 yards and was the Patriots key offensive player this week against the Broncos (not named Brady). Corey Dillon was held out of the game despite dressing, so Pass probably won’t be utilized to the same degree moving forward, but he’s still likely to catch several balls each week and produce 40 or 50 yards a game as the team’s third down back and primary backup to Dillon. Forget about Amos Zereoue. He was signed to replace Kevin Faulk, but Pass seems to be doing just fine in that capacity and it would be a major surprise if Belichick went in another direction with Pass playing so well.
Perry continues to be a repeat offender in this column. By now, he’s been snapped up in most leagues, but he’s still amazingly lingering in many smaller leagues. The surprise factor is gone with Perry. He’s one of the best young RBs, and arguably the most talented backup, in the NFL. He’s obviously a better option in PPR leagues and he’s almost good enough to start in that format, especially if your league is 14 teams or larger. Perry broke out this week with six carries for 28 yards and nine catches for 45 yards including a 1 yd TD catch. Perry runs hard, breaks tackles and makes people miss. He would be an elite fantasy back if Rudi Johnson goes down. Enough said.
Smith is the Saints co-featured back now that Deuce McAllister is out for the season splitting carries with Aaron Stecker. Smith had a big game on Sunday rushing 12 times for 88 yards with 2 TDs. He’s not going to catch many balls and is mostly a 2-down back, but he’s the better option at the goal line and a fair bet to get more carries than Stecker, though that wasn’t the case this week. Most likely, he was the #1 waiver wire pickup in your league last week. If he’s still available, get him.
While almost everyone ran to acquire Antowain Smith last week, Stecker might be just as good over the rest of the season if this week proves to be a good sampling of things to come for the Saints offense. Stecker carried 16 times (compared to Smith’s 12) for 86 yards while catching two balls for no gain. Stecker isn’t as likely to score TDs as Smith, but he’s more likely to catch a handful of balls each week and still combine for as much yardage. Depending on your league’s scoring system, Stecker might be a great pickup if you can grab him. Add For Depth (Starter potential)
If Clinton Portis gets hurt, Betts would be a solid #2 fantasy RB. In the mean time, Betts is a decent player to have on the roster even though he didn't play this week because of a groin injury. He’s been consistently involved in previous games as the primary backup and change-of-pace runner to Portis. He’s bigger and more physical than Portis, but his ability to make linebackers miss is often under-rated. If it makes sense, pick up Betts, especially if you own Portis.
With Ahman Green probably healthy enough to return this week following their bye in week 6, Fisher won’t likely be counted on in a starting capacity. With Najeh Davenport out for the season, Fisher’s value is obviously higher than ever before. He’s already the team’s third down back and he’s used sporadically in the red zone, too. If Ahman Green misses any more time because of injury, Fisher is the team’s starter. If you can pick him up, he’s probably a great player to add to the back end of your RB rotation.
Goings continues to lurk on the waiver wire in many leagues. He proved he can be productive in a feature role for the Panthers last year with his gritty performances. Stephen Davis has been reasonably healthy so far this year, but he’s on the wrong side of 30 years old with a track record of not staying healthy for a full 16 game run. DeShaun Foster is another talented, but oft-injured back. As such, Goings could go from being the third back on the depth chart to the starter real quick with an injury or two. Keep that in mind.
Jacobs blew it this week fumbling at the goal line and that gaffe might cost him some valuable touches moving forward. However, he remains the team’s clear-cut backup to Tiki Barber. Up until his fumble this week, Jacobs has been money in the bank in short yardage and goal line situations. The team wants to get him more involved in the offense, too. If he’s available, then grab him.
Pearman got the starting nod this week as Jack Del Rio held Fred Taylor out of the game as a precaution. Pearman didn’t muster much on the ground this week against a strong Steelers run defense (15 carries for 22 yards), but he displayed his receiving skills by catching 5 balls for 35 yards. Pearman is definitely worth a roster spot if Taylor continues to be limited by injury, but Taylor has been consistently healthy for the past four years so that old label of “Fragile Fred” isn’t as applicable as it once was. Regardless, Pearman has solid value, especially in PPR leagues.
If you own LaDainian Tomlinson and you haven’t picked up Turner yet; then it might be too late. There are enough shrewd owners out there that will pre-emptively add Turner to their roster even though they don’t own LT. Turner is like a battering ram. He bounces off would-be tacklers and seems to keep forging ahead for more yards every time he touches the ball. If LT ever gets hurt, the Chargers appear to be in good hands with Turner. Add for Later (Sleeper potential)
Chatman was acquired by the Saints for a conditional 7th round draft choice in the 2006 draft from the Dolphins. He’s behind Antowain Smith and Aaron Stecker on the depth chart, but if either player gets hurt, Chatman could immediately have solid value. In deeper leagues, Chatman might be a good player to pick up right now.
Henry will return to the team after one more game from his four game suspension. Chris Brown is running well, but Henry will almost certainly regain at least a share of the RB duties when he returns. As such, he’s definitely worth a roster spot, especially knowing how frequently Brown gets knicked.
With Derrick Blaylock hurt and out of the lineup for at least 6 weeks, Houston becomes the team’s primary backup to Curtis Martin. In dynasty leagues, Houston is already on a roster, but in re-draft leagues, he’s probably available. He won’t likely produce anything unless Martin gets hurt, but he’s worth picking up just in case that happens.
Kevin Jones injured his shoulder, but returned to the game and played through the injury. Pinner has played well when he gets the rock, but he’s also marginalized by Mooch’s usage and insistence on playing Shawn Bryson. As such, Pinner’s only real value would come if Jones is unable to play moving forward. With Bryson in the picture, if Jones is unavailable, both Pinner and Bryson would split carries so neither one would have a tremendous amount of upside.
Everyone who picked up Thompson last week was probably discouraged this week when Parcells activated Anthony Thomas and gave him the bulk of the workload in place of Julius Jones. Thompson looks good when he touches the football, but he only carried the rock three times this week for 13 yards. Surprisingly, even Marion Barber carried the ball more than Thompson (11 times for 30 yards also catching two balls for 21 yards). If he’s still available, he might be worth a gamble, but knowing that he got pimped by Parcells this week he appears to be marginalized by Anthony Thomas. Ironically, he might have more value for deeper leagues if Jones is healthy. Otherwise, it looks like Thompson might be a classic case of fantasy owners chasing stats only to be disappointed.
Zereoue was added to the Patriots roster when Kevin Faulk went down a couple weeks ago. However, Patrick Pass is playing extremely well as Corey Dillon’s primary backup and that won’t likely change barring another injury. As such, Zereoue might not be worth a roster spot unless Pass or Dillon miss a game moving forward. Add for Insurance (Injury or bye week replacement)
Jones got the call this week with Fred Taylor sidelined. After the team made a point of him being a fullback during the preseason, it’s a slight surprise that he carried the ball 18 times for 77 yards and a TD. He might be the Jaguars equivalent to Anthony Thomas. If Taylor plays, Alvin Pearman holds more value as a change-of-pace runner and third down back. However, if Taylor doesn’t play, then Jones is an intriguing option after Del Rio made him for all practical purposes the lead back on Sunday.
With Julius Jones out of the lineup this week, the A-Train got the start against the Giants. He didn’t do much rushing for 47 yards on 21 carries he still appears to be the featured back if Jones is inactive. If Jones is active, then Thomas will usually be inactive. So, it’s either all or nothing for Thomas – meaning his value is strictly as a handcuff to Jones, otherwise, he’s not worth much right now. Add for Next Year (Dynasty potential)
Davenport is out for the rest of the season, but he’s an unrestricted free agent for 2006 and so is Ahman Green. Davenport will come cheaper and he has less mileage, but he also hasn’t been able to stay healthy. Either way, he’s a good player to gamble on because of his pending status as a free agent and possible opportunity to be a starter either in Green Bay or elsewhere next year.
Graham will probably never be a starter for the Bucs with Cadillac Williams holding down the position for the near future and Michael Pittman also in the fold. However, with Williams sidelined for another week, Graham ran well enough to be draw some interest in deeper leagues. He’s not an explosive runner, but he’s the kind of back who does everything well enough to keep a roster spot. He ran 17 times for 50 yards and he could wind up being the team’s backup when/if Pittman departs via free agency.
Travis Henry signed a contract extension, but he’s still not a guarantee to be on the Titans roster next year. Payton has looked good enough in limited duty that he could emerge as the primary backup to Chris Brown in 2006. As such, his dynasty value warrants a possible roster spot now if you’re the speculative type.
Edge is a free agent at the end of the year and Rhodes is under contract for next year. That alone is fuel enough for the fire to roster Rhodes on the outside hope that Edge could leave and Rhodes would have a chance at the job next year. However, if that happens, it’s a good bet the Colts would draft a back in the first round or two and Rhodes still might not be the team’s starter. Either way, he’s worth a gamble. Wide Receiver Add Immediately (Impact potential)
If Randy Moss is unable to play next week, Doug Gabriel becomes one of the hottest waiver wire picks this week at the WR position. He filled in nicely this week with Moss sidelined catching five balls for 84 yards against the Chargers. Gabriel works well with Kerry Collins and he’s a legitimate deep threat. With a healthy Moss, Gabriel’s upside is limited as the team’s third receiver, but with Moss out, he’s a strong play.
While Gaffney won’t be targeted as often as he was Sunday night when Andre Johnson is on the field and healthy, it’s a good sign that he caught 10 balls for 87 yards. He’s the team’s possession receiver and he showed signs of becoming a consistent threat on third downs in the second half of last year. He could be a productive player the rest of the season if he can stay healthy. In the last three games, he has 18 receptions for 199 yards.
Henry was probably scooped in most leagues by now. He’s been on the fast track for a rookie receiver, but he came up short for those who played him this week in what appeared to be a good matchup against the Titans secondary. Henry caught only one pass for 5 yards. Prior to that, he had nearly caught a TD in every game, but a couple were called back on penalties or overturned by instant replay. Henry is a big, fast receiver with an excellent opportunity to produce the rest of the season. If T.J. Houshmandzadeh returns to the lineup, Henry goes back to the No. 3 role where he’s been relatively productive. If Houshmandzadeh remains sidelined, Henry’s upside is a bit higher. Regardless, Palmer looks for him in the red zone and the way the Bengals are moving the football, Henry is a great player to have for depth and an occasional start if needed.
Jones continues to ascend the fantasy rankings after catching five balls for 82 yards. He’s currently the 47th ranked receiver in PPR leagues with 19 receptions, 224 yards and a TD. Jones appears to have McNair’s trust already and he could be as productive as Drew Bennett over the rest of the season, especially if Bennett’s thumb injury turns out to worse than thought.
Jurevicius continues to be a solid receiver in lieu of Darrell Jackson’s knee injury. He caught just three passes, but made them count for 29 yards and a TD (his fourth of the season). Since replacing Jackson in the starting lineup, Jurevicius has 12 catches for 166 yards and 2 TDs in two games. He’s a strong play given how well Matt Hasselbeck and the Seahawks offense is playing right now. Once Darrell Jackson returns he’ll still have some limited value in the red zone, but over the next month Jurevicius is a guy you can pick up (if he’s still available after last week) and put right into your lineup if need be. Add For Depth (Starter potential)
The Packers are coming off the bye this week, so Chatman might be floating around on the waiver wire in most leagues. He’s the team’s No. 3 receiver and a frequent target of Brett Favre. He has 10 catches for 155 yards and he’s caught a TD in each of the last two games. In PPR leagues or deeper leagues, he might be worth a spot start as a bye week starter. If the Packers suffer another injury to their WR corps, then Chatman would be even more reliable and productive. The Packers defense is bad, so look for Favre to continue airing it out which means Chatman is a good bet to collect garbage time stats frequently this year.
Clayton injured his ankle this week, so there’s probably no rush to acquire him without knowing his availability in the coming weeks. He was starting to emerge as a solid playmaker opposite Derrick Mason before the injury, so if he’s fine, then keep an eye on him as a possible spot starter or guy to stash on your roster for down the stretch this year. He’s quick and explosive out of his cuts. The Ravens still don’t have the offense or QB to support great fantasy stats for their receivers, so Clayton’s upside is limited this year until something changes. He’s still worth a shot in deeper leagues, but obviously a much better prospect in keeper formats.
There’s a good chance that an impatient owner in your league drafted Colbert and then dumped him after a few bad weeks in a row. With Steve Smith gobbling up all the fantasy numbers from the Panthers passing game, Colbert has seemingly been ignored. He remains inconsistent, but he won’t see a double team all year the way Smith is killing opponents. He caught three balls for 53 yards on Sunday against Detroit, was shut out against Arizona (disturbingly) and caught four balls for 52 yards against the Packers in week 4. He’s probably worth a roster spot depending on your league size and roster limits, but it’s hard to predict when/if he’s become a consistent option. Ironically, Ricky Proehl (the team’s veteran No. 3) might be just as good of an option considering the way he’s been making plays in clutch situations.
Just when it looked like Finneran might be developing a small amount of consistency, he lays a goose egg on us. Finneran failed to catch a ball against the Saints this week, but prior to that, he caught at least two balls in every game with 19 catches for 238 yards and a TD through the team’s first five games. The Falcons WRs have long been spotty in terms of statistical production and that remains the case this year. Michael Jenkins and Finneran are the team’s two best options right now and rookie Roddy White could come on in the second half of the season. However, if Vick is sidelined again this year because of injury, ironically, Finneran’s value would get a boost with Matt Schaub behind center.
McCareins broke out this week with his first career 100-yard game against the Bills. Considering the matchup and his relative lack of production this year, his numbers this week comes as a pleasant surprise (unless you own Laveranues Coles). The Jets offense isn’t productive enough on a consistent basis to support good fantasy production from McCareins yet, but there’s a sliver of hope if Vinny stays healthy. McCareins is worth a roster spot in 12 team leagues with 20 man rosters, but smaller leagues or those with 16 or 18 man rosters, he’ll probably be floating around on waivers until he puts together something worthwhile a few weeks in a row.
With Braylon Edwards sidelined for about a month, Dennis Northcutt will remain in the starting lineup. He caught four balls for 60 yards this week against the Ravens and should be reasonably productive until Edwards eventually returns and presumably takes his spot. Northcutt hasn’t produced a “big” game yet this year, but he’s capable. He’s caught three or more balls in every game but one, so at least he’s consistent from a PPR perspective. Add for Later (Sleeper potential)
Edwards will be sidelined for the next month with what appears to be a staph infection in his elbow. Edwards was hospitalized last week, but has since been treated and released. Once healthy, Edwards is a good bet to pick right up where he left off. He’s a rising star and quite capable of stringing together some big games before this season is over. Keep him on your radar if he’s been cut free. He’ll be back on the field in a few weeks, but until then he’s worth nothing if he’s not playing.
Gardner saw more playing time this week and responded with four catches for 32 yards – his best game of the year. He’s still not any higher than fourth on the depth chart behind Steve Smith, Keary Colbert and Ricky Proehl, but Gardner has the size and skills to be a playmaker for the Panthers in the second half of the season.
Henderson was productive this week with four catches for 53 yards and a 15-yard TD reception. Henderson now has three solid games in five appearances. He is one of the faster receivers in the league, but he’s still learning the fine points of playing the position at the NFL level. He could be productive in spots this year, but his opportunities will be more limited when Joe Horn returns and with Az-Zahir Hakim healthy and productive. As a dynasty league consideration, Henderson is worth a roster spot simply because of his upside as a deep threat. Knowing Donte’ Stallworth’s penchant for injury and Horn’s ongoing injury status, Henderson might very well be worth stashing on your roster in re-draft leagues if you have the room.
It looks like Patrick Crayton broke his ankle and he will be sidelined for several weeks. Crayton has been the Cowboys No. 3 receiver this season. With Crayton hurt, Price now has a shot to be the Cowboys No. 3 giving him an outside shot to be a factor. Crayton had a few solid games, but wasn’t consistent enough to be considered in a starting role in most leagues. The same thing should apply for Price, barring injury of course.
Yeh, we all know Rogers is serving a four game suspension for hanging out with Mr. Greenleaf, but let’s also keep in mind that by the time he returns to the team it’s highly probably that Joey Harrington could be on the bench in favor of Jeff Garcia. Such a chance might prove to be futile, or it could spark a fire under the Lions offensive players and give Rogers the kick in the pants he needs. He did nothing when he was healthy, but the kid is too talented to ignore, unless you don’t think the juice is worth the squeeze. The Lions schedule looks good if they could just get some pass protection and steady QB play. Ok, those are two HUGE “ifs”, but keep him on your radar just in case.
Jack Del Rio hinted towards more playing time for Ernest Wilford heading into the Jags/Steelers game on Sunday. Wilford didn’t exactly light up the scoreboard with two catches for 15 yards, but he’s in the mix. Matt Jones may have staved off Wilford’s challenge by rising to the occasion this week with a 10-yard TD catch. If the matchup is right, Wilford (or Jones) might be of slight value, but otherwise there simply isn’t enough targets to go around after Jimmy Smith and now Alvin Pearman, who is emerging as the team’s 3rd down back (he caught 5 balls this week for 35 yards). Add for Insurance (Injury or bye week replacement)
Bradford caught four balls for 38 yards this week against the Seahawks, but once Andre Johnson returns to the starting lineup, Bradford could be relegated to the No. 3 receiver. Jabar Gaffney is coming on lately and the team might be more likely to start Johnson and Gaffney, though Bradford held the starting job at the beginning of the season. Bradford has long been a down field threat, but he has inconsistent hands. He caught a TD a week ago and has 8 catches for 73 yards in the last two games. His upside is limited, at best, so he might be strictly a short-term play (until Andre Johnson is healthy) for those in deeper leagues.
Hakim produced his second solid game in a row while Joe Horn continues to be sidelined. He caught six balls for 85 yards this week after reeling in 5 balls for 108 yards a week ago. As long as Joe Horn remains sidelined, Hakim is a decent play. Once Horn returns to the field, however, Hakim will be relegated back to slot duty or serving as the team’s No. 4 receiver.
Johnson started this week for the injury depleted Lions. When Roy Williams rejoins the starting lineup, Johnson will go back to the slot, where he’s been fairly productive, though not from a fantasy perspective. As a starter, Johnson produced four catches for 23 yards - not exactly a starter material in most leagues. As such, he’s a marginal play for the interim with Williams ailing, Charles Rogers suspended and rookie Mike Williams still learning the ropes in the NFL. What you see is what you get with Johnson.
Warrick caught three balls for 53 yards this week flashing his quick feet and open field running ability. Warrick likely has a limited window of opportunity where he’ll have much fantasy value. Once Bobby Engram and Darrell Jackson (probably out another month at least) are healthy, Warrick will be the team’s No. 4 receiver at best. He’ll compete with Jerheme Urban and D.J. Hackett for that role once everyone is healthy. If you can use him in the short term as a bye week receiver or injury replacement, then he might have some value. Add for Next Year (Dynasty potential)
Parrish began practicing last week for the first time this season. He broke his wrist in the preseason after looking great in mini-camps as a rookie. Parrish comes from the “U”. He’s a receiver in the Santana Moss mold - small, compact and explosive with a good burst. His upside is limited due to the Bills struggling pass offense and the presence of Eric Moulds and Lee Evans, not to mention Josh Reed. Parrish was well on his way to claiming the No. 3 job from Reed before the injury, so look for him to make a play for that job now that he’s healthy again. Next year and beyond, Parrish could emerge as a solid slot receiver with playmaking ability.
It’s hard to predict how much opportunity Roby will have with Tennessee in the next couple years, but it doesn’t look like Tyrone Calico may ever live up to his potential after two debilitating knee injuries in as many years. Roby has speed to burn, but looks like he could be relegated to the No. 3 or No. 4 receiver behind Drew Bennett and Brandon Jones. He’ll also have competition from fellow rookie Roydell Williams. Roby is being used on reverses (he ran twice for 16 yards this week), but he’s not likely to do much as a receiver without a couple of injuries.
Welker is already one of the best return men in the NFL in his second season in the league. If he continues to make big plays like he did on Sunday, then he could emerge as a viable fantasy receiver, too. He led the Dolphins with 97 yards receiving on three catches. Welker is sort of a Tim Dwight type of player. He’s quick, shifty and tough to tackle in the open field. With David Boston proving to be unreliable (if not unhealthy), Welker could keep the No. 3 job and be a decent pickup even this year. Otherwise, he might emerge down the road as a playmaking receiver, but he may never be a starter in the league. Think of a cross between Tim Dwight and Ricky Proehl here. Others to Keep an Eye On
Morgan isn’t the kind of player one should get excited about, quite honestly. He’s been a bust on two teams now. He’s always looked the part, except when it comes to consistently catching the football and producing in games. Morgan has the requisite size and speed, but he lacks something elsewhere – perhaps between the ears or he just simply doesn’t have the heart to live up to his potential. With Hines Ward sidelined, he caught 2 balls for 33 yards, but don’t expect much from him moving forward unless Ward, Antwaan Randle-El or Cedrick Wilson get hurt.
Smith is the classic one-week wonder. He caught an 8-yard TD pass to break open the scoring on Sunday against the Jets, but he’s only on the field when the Bills go to four receivers. With Roscoe Parrish getting healthy, Smith’s chances of moving up the depth chart is minimal at best. He’ll pop up every now and then with a big play or a TD, but overall he’s not worth rostering until he gets a better opportunity to play consistently.
Walter had his second productive game of the season with four catches for 65 yards. He’s not exactly a one-week wonder. He’s more like a two or three week wonder. Walter is one of the coaching staff’s favorite players. He’s the consummate pro who works hard and continues to improve and take advantage of the opportunities given to him. The former Eastern Michigan alumnus will be on the field as long as Houshmandzadeh is unable to play, but that window of opportunity appears limited. Tight End Add Immediately (Impact potential)
Franks could return to the starting lineup in week 7 after missing two games with a sprained knee. The Packers play the Vikings next week, so if Franks is able to play and he’s on the waiver wire, pick him up and play him in a pinch. Just look at what Desmond Clark accomplished against the Vikings last week with Kyle freaking Orton throwing the rock. Enough said.
Unbelievably, Kinney leads all NFL tight ends with 29 receptions through the first six weeks, but he remains available in many leagues because of Ben Troupe’s presence and because he doesn’t have a TD yet. Regardless, Kinney is consistently catching the football each week producing 4 or more catches in 5 out of 6 games and 40+ yards in four games. That’s exactly the type of consistency one seeks at the tight end position if you don’t have one of the handful of stars like Shockey, Gates, etc. He’s not flashy, but he’s consistent. Sometimes that can make the difference in a close game as opposed to swinging for the fence and getting a Daniel Graham goose egg.
Hines Ward’s absence this week proved to be a boon for Miller’s fantasy stock. With Ward sidelined because of a sore hammy, Miller produced 72 yards and a TD on four catches. Miller now has three TDs in five games as a rookie. Once Ward is healthy again, Miller might be inconsistent as a fantasy TE, but he’s proving to be a solid red zone presence and should be worth a roster spot in almost any league format if he’s available.
It’s doubtful that Pollard is on the waiver wire in most leagues that require a tight end. However, if you’re in a league that doesn’t, Pollard might still have some marginal value. He produced an 86-yard catch this week while finishing with three receptions for 105 yards. Ironically, with three first round WRs on the Lions roster, Pollard is probably the team’s most consistently productive receiver and arguably Joey Harrington’s favorite target. Pollard started the season strong, but then produced two stinkers in a row. He might be available even in leagues that require a TE as a lot of owners won’t want to dabble with the Lions bad karma (and for good reason perhaps). Still, Pollard is consistently getting favorable coverage and that will only get better once Roy Williams is healthy and Charles Rogers returns to stretch the field. Add For Depth (Starter potential)
Graham only caught one ball for five years this week after breaking the bank with five catches, 119 yards and two TDs the previous week. That’s par for the course if you’ve followed Graham throughout his career. The Patriots simply spread the football around too much for Graham to be a consistent fantasy threat. He doesn’t lack in terms of talent or ability, but for him it’s all about opportunity, or the lack there of. Graham and Ben Watson could both be top 10 fantasy TEs as starters on different teams, but they’ll both have big games spread out through the season with a lot of goose eggs and unproductive games in between.
Smith is your typical rookie TE. He’s productive at times, but disappears at other times. He’s splitting time with veteran Anthony Becht, so that will limit his upside to some extent, too. Long term, Smith promises to be a very good vertical threat as a tight end in Jon Gruden’s system. For the immediate future, Smith is a spotty player who will produce some big weeks and some forgettable ones, too. In six games, he’s produced top 10 numbers twice, but from a consistency stand point he’s caught at least one ball in every game. Add for Later (Sleeper potential)
Clark delivered this week against a great matchup with the Vikings (who have been repeatedly victimized by tight ends all year long). Clark caught four balls for 19 yards and two TDs, but don’t expect kind of production to continue. At best, Clark is worthy of being a decent roster filler for backup duty given the Bears underwhelming passing numbers.
The Jets passing game is like a quagmire right now. They just aren’t productive enough to merit any sort of production outside of a player or two each week. Jolley remains mired behind Chris Baker on the depth chart, but Baker hasn’t done squat since his big game in the season opener. Mike Heimerdinger’s offense makes use of their tight ends, but until Vinny Testaverde can right this ship (assuming he can), this is more of a bookmarker to remind you that Jolley is still out there. If Baker gets hurt and/or the Jets turn things around, Jolley might still have some value down the road, but right now he’s best kept on the radar screen and not on your roster. Add for Insurance (Injury or bye week replacement)
See Bubba Franks. If Franks is unable to go next week, then both David Martin and Donald Lee are worth a stab in the dark in deeper leagues, particularly those geared more towards TD scoring only.
See Bubba Franks. If Franks is unable to go next week, then both David Martin and Donald Lee are worth a stab in the dark in deeper leagues, particularly those geared more towards TD scoring only. Kicker Add Immediately (Impact potential)
Bironas is quickly becoming a consistently productive fantasy kicker. He’s connected on 11 out of 14 field goal opportunities this year making him a top five fantasy kicker in almost all scoring systems. The Titans offense should continue giving him opportunities, so if he’s available you might want to make a move to improve your production if it makes sense.
Bryant is 10 for 11 on field goal opportunities ranking him within the top 10 in most leagues. The Bucs are playing good defense and Bryant should continue to be in a good situation to produce moving forward. Grab him if it makes sense.
With David Akers sidelined for another 6 or 7 weeks, France is in a great situation to consistently produce fantasy points as the Eagles kicker. He’s probably available, too. In limited duty, France is 4-for-5 on field goal attempts, but was rock-solid during the pre-season and perhaps somewhat of a surprise cut by the Bucs. Add him if you can.
After a terrible and uncharacteristically bad start to the 2005 season, Stover looks like he’s back on track. He missed three FGs in the first game of the season, but now he’s made seven in a row. The Ravens are on the rebound and Stover could easily be a top 10 kicker the rest of the season. Add for Insurance (Injury or bye week replacement)
Doug Brien was waived this past week because he’s not healthy, but also because Gould played well in his stead in week 5. Gould is almost certainly available in most leagues, but he’s probably not the top option considering that he’s largely unknown and is a risky pickup knowing the Bears offense isn’t exactly generating a ton of points. Defense Add Immediately (Impact potential)
The Lions don’t have the best defense in the league, not by a long shot, but they do have an opportunistic defense and strong special teams. Dre’ Bly, all by himself, is sometimes worth having them in the starting lineup. The Lions scored two TDs this week on returns following a turnover. They’re playing incredibly physical and have 12 sacks in five games. They’ll be useful down the stretch if you pair up their good matchups with your current defense’s potentially poor matchups, or road games. At home, the Lions are a solid top 10 fantasy defense at this point. When Eddie Drummond returns, they’ll be even more dangerous on special teams.
Maybe it was the Lions inability to pass protect. Whatever is was, the Panthers pass rush came alive this week with six sacks against Detroit. With Steve Smith returning punts and a dormant pass rush that is showing signs of life, the Panthers are worth a roster spot if they’ve been cut after looking horrible in the first month of the season. They remain suspect against the pass, but they should be able to produce some big plays and return a TD or two on special teams the rest of the way.
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