WAIVER WIRE WEEK 8
This is our waiver wire pick-ups column. Dave B scours the free agent pools in fantasy land for the best available talent every week. Availability, of course, depends on the league. We’re using 12 team, 15 roster spot leagues as the median, but we’ll look for roster candidates for leagues of all shapes and sizes.
After all of the weekly games are finished be sure to check our cheatsheets, a who’s hot, and who’s not report plus more in our fantasy football guide.
Another Week in the NFL has passed and now it is time to bolster your lineups with players that emerged on the Fantasy Radar this past Week.
Some of these players are backups, some were replacements for ineffective starters, and others are players that came out of nowhere to draw the attention of the Fantasy Football fanatic.
There are some obvious Adds, but if you are one of the lucky few leading your league, you will be resigned to finding that diamond in the rough.
Good luck folks – and good choosing!!
QBs
Alex Smith – San Francisco – It looks like the Shaun Hill era could be over in San Fran. Enter former 1st round draft choice Alex Smith. He should start in Week 8 and immediately contribute to a team that does have some talent.
Bruce Gradkowski – Oakland – Coach Tom Cable has said that Jamarcus Russell will remain the starter in Oakland, but how long can the team depend on the “New Ryan Leaf”? Gradkowski is not much of an upgrade, but when he takes over for Russell, he could be an OK matchup play.
Josh Freeman – Tampa Bay – The Bucs drafted Freeman as the QB of the future. The fact that the present and past are clearly not working, might mean that the future might be NOW. Tampa might let Freeman get his feet wet and get some experience for a job that is surely to be his next year.
RBs
Shonne Greene – NY Jets – There is no doubt that Greene will be the most added player off the Waiver Wires this week. With super-sub Leon Washington out for the year with a broken leg, Greene figures to get all of the 10-12 touches per game that Washington had. Make no mistake folks, the Jets are a running team and Greene will be a huge part of it.
Justin Fargas – Oakland – Clearly the best of the 3 Running Backs in Oakland, Fargas is finally 100% healthy, and poised to be Oakland’s #1 Back going forward. He’s done it before with pretty good success – the Raiders obviously need a stabilizing force on their offense and if the coaches do their job, they will give Fargas the starting nod.
Jason Snelling – Atlanta – Another player that is capitalizing on an injury. With Jerious Norwood out, Snelling produced a good stat line behind the unquestioned starter, Michael Turner. Snelling is a battering ram and could surprise in the Falcon’s upcoming games.
WRs
Michael Crabtree – San Francisco – What a debut for Crabtree – so much for easing him into action. Crabtree looked completely comfortable with his 5 catch 56 yard effort in Week 7, and he already looks to be the most dangerous receiving weapon that the Niners have.
Mike Wallace – Pittsburgh – 3rd or 4th option on a team that passes for 300 yards per game could translate into decent yardage numbers week in and week out. Wallace has proven trustworthy over the last few weeks and if Ben Roethlisberger trusts you, you will get the ball.
David Clowney – NY Jets – Jerricho Cotchery can’t seem to heel from his injury and I suspect that it might be a season long problem. Braylon Edwards is a Dud. That leaves David Clowney as one of Mark Sanchez’s only reliable options – a definite formula for success.
Others to Monitor – Danny Amendola – St. Louis : Sammie Stroughter – Tampa Bay : Brian Hartline – Miami : Sam Aiken – New England
TEs
Donald Lee – Green Bay – Jeremichael Finley left Week 7’s game with an injury, leaving Donald Lee to take over the starting Tight End position in Green Bay. Aaron Rogers is putting up close to 300 yards per game and Lee could be the beneficiary of a lot of targets.
Anthony Fasano – Miami – Getting more involved with every start from his new QB Chad Henne. A young QB needs a strong Tight End and Fasano offers that.
Defense
San Diego – Absolutely demolished the Chiefs last week, the Defense obviously used the bye week to work toward respectability. They have play makers – they just haven’t been able to put it all together. The Chargers should be able to build off of last week and similarly manhandle Oakland this week.
Indianapolis – Don’t know if they will be available on the Waiver Wires this week, but if they are – grab them. They were strong before Bob Sanders returned from injury, and with Sanders back from injury, they could be scary.
Dave B has been a Fantasy Football Junkie and writer for CappersPicks.com for 10 years. A couch potato wannabe, Dave’s insights have been read by 10’s of people for years. He hope’s for world peace + global relaxation. Enjoy folks – and remember only smoke things that are completely natural.
