2012 Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Advice & Analysis
 Javon Ringer (credits below) The NFL's collective shift towards spread offenses and committee running games has had a marked effect on fantasy football. The draft strategy of taking a RB with each of your first two picks is no longer the standard, with many imaginary GMs even choosing to forego taking a RB until the third round. Members of (12 or 10-team) standard scoring leagues should not be surprised to see nearly half of the first round picks be either passers or catchers. But while the fantasy community has done itself a service in heeding the winds of change, old habits die hard. Of course, we're talking about handcuffs. Not the ones I saw this weekend that delayed this column, but the age-old practice of stashing your top RB's backup on the bench. Most fantasy owners insist on locking up the backups to their stars. Now, there are arguments to be made for and against this strategy; on one hand you have the peace of mind in knowing you have a stand-in should your horse goes down, and on the other you have additional bench spots for late round flyers and bye week replacements. Rather than arguing the merits of these views, let's take a look at some of the top running backs on the board and their respective handcuffs and evaluate each situation. Arian Foster, HOU (Average Draft Position 1.3) Handcuff: Ben Tate/Derrick Ward (ADP 209) Ward is the second man on the depth chart so, strictly speaking, he is the handcuff and will probably see some serious carries if last season's leading rusher goes down. That said, Tate has impressed in preseason and would definitely step in as a short yardage back. At the tail end of the draft, Tate is a solid replacement in a system that has spawned two stud RBs in the past three years. Adrian Peterson, MIN (ADP 2.0) Handcuff: Toby Gerhart (ADP 178.3) Like the Texans, Minnesota is another team that has churned out stud fantasy talent in recent years. However, in this case, the heavy lifting was all done by one man: Adrian Peterson. The Vikings once-elite offensive line is on the decline and the quarterback situation is shaky to put it gently. Adrian Peterson is not going second overall because of his situation, he is doing so in spite of it. Peterson is bad QB and bad line-proof; Toby Gerhart is not. This late round pick is better spent on a flyer like Delone Carter (ADP 206.9) or potential goal-line back Willis McGahee (ADP 192.3). Chris Johnson, TEN (ADP 3.4) Handcuff: Javon Ringer (ADP 201.0) The refrain around fantasy circles is that Johnson will eventually show up to log his 1500 yards and 10+ touchdowns. Call me pessimistic, but I'm a little more concerned. We've already seen the effects of the lockout in a sharp increase in injuries throughout the league. I have to believe the longer Johnson holds out, the more likely he is to tweak a hamstring when he returns (and I do believe he will return). Either way, there is a real chance Ringer will see the field in 2011. With the Titans' offensive line and run-first mentality, anyone in the backfield will put up solid numbers. Jamaal Charles, KC (ADP 4.2) Handcuff: Thomas Jones (ADP 81.5) AND Darren McFadden, OAK (ADP 12.1) Handcuff: Michael Bush (ADP 89.6) I lump Charles and McFadden together because their backups will see a fair share of carries even if they stay healthy all season. The Raiders placed a first and third-round tender on Bush in the offseason and plan to deploy him in a similar manner to last season in which he notched 800+ total yards and 8 TDs. Todd Haley continues to deny Charles a full workload, much to the chagrin of fantasy owners. While Charles should see more touches than in 2010, a significant timeshare with Jones is likely. If you’re drafting Jones or Bush this high it’s not to stash them on the bench, so whether you take them will depend on how you feel starting two RBs from the same team on a given week. Personally, I’m content to pass on Bush and Jones and grab some mid-round talent with higher upside. Maurice Jones-Drew, JAC (ADP 7.3) Handcuff: Rashad Jennings (ADP 103.3) Mojo is spreading the word that his knee will be fine – and he has played through injury before – but it’s worrisome to spend a first round pick on someone who hasn’t touched the field in preseason. The past few years we’ve heard that Jennings is star in waiting behind Jones-Drew, and he boasts a 5.4 yard per carry in limited action. If you’re using an early pick on Mojo, Jennings is a must have. * All average draft positions from www.mockdraftcentral.com (October 17, 2010 - Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images North America) Written by Chris Sheehan exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com. Follow The Fantasy Fix on Twitter @thefantasyfix or for Free Fantasy Sports Advice use our Quick Fix to get help with your team!  Tags: The Fantasy Fix, 2011 Fantasy Football, Auction Values, 2011 Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Tips, Draft Kit, PPR ranks, handcuff Add Comment  Toby Gerhart, RB – Minnesota Vikings (16 percent owned) With Adrian Peterson suffering from a sprained ankle that was “unbearable,” rookie battering ram Toby Gerhart could be in for a huge day when the Vikings host Buffalo, owners of the league’s worst run defense (167 yards per game). Even if Peterson is able to go on Sunday, Gerhart should see a number of carries to limit Peterson’s touches as he returns from the injury. More information will crop up as the week develops, but as of today Gerhart is a must-add for Peterson owners and a strong pickup for anyone looking to capitalize on a great matchup. Brian Westbrook, RB – SF (24 percent owned) Another top tier running back went down last night in the form of Frank Gore’s broken hip. The underutilized veteran Westbrook showed signs of life in Gore’s place – albeit against a terrible Arizona defense. Rookie Anthony Dixon will poach some carries, but expect Westbrook to get the lion’s share of touches for the rest of the season as his pass protection and catching skills greatly exceed those of Dixon. He is an immediate starter in all leagues as a RB2 or flex. Legedu Naanee, WR – SD (5 percent owned) Naanee appears to be back in the starting lineup after Vincent Jackson suffered multiple calf injuries that will sideline him this weekend according to early reports. The past two weeks we’ve used the waiver wire to pick on the Oakland secondary, and this week will be no different. A less than 100 percent Nnamdi Asomugha will likely shadow Malcom Floyd leaving rookie Walter McFadden on Naanee. After watching Chad Henne throw for over 300 yards this weekend, Philip Rivers should easily surpass that number with a significant portion of that going to Naanee. He is a great WR3 or flex play in most leagues. Joel Dreessen, TE – HOU (11 percent owned) Playing in place of injured Owen Daniels, Dreessen is doing just enough to make owners happy. He isn’t catching a ton of balls, but he is making them count. He has now scored in back to back weeks and goes up against an Eagles defense this Sunday that has been especially generous to opposing tight ends. Dreessen is a great pickup for anyone streaming tight ends on a weekly basis, or who was counting on Zach Miller down the stretch. All ownership percentages are from Yahoo! Got any other Waiver Wire Gems?Leave a comment and let us know, or reply to us on Twitter@TheFantasyFix Written by Chris Sheehan exclusively for the www.thefantasyfix.com. Chris is an avid football fan and has been playing fantasy football for over ten years. Check back for more great articles from him weekly. Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Sports Blog, Fantasy Sports Advice, Fantasy Football, Waiver Wire, Week 12,Week 13, NFL, Carolina Panthers, Brian Westbrook, Frank Gore, Anthony Dixon, San Francisco 49ers, Toby Gerhart, Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings, Legedu Naanee, Vincent Jackson, San Diego Chargers, Joel Dreessen, Owen Daniels, Houston Texans  Mike Goodson, RB – Carolina Panthers (33 percent owned) Back to back weeks with a 100 yard rusher is nothing new for the Carolina Panthers – doing that without their top two backs is. After a solid game at Tampa that was attributed to a soft matchup, Goodson impressed everyone with a 150 total yards (120 rushing) against the Ravens in Week 11. Goodson will get another full workload this weekend against Cleveland, which should translate into 100+ all purpose yards. He’s a great flex play in all leagues, and a potential RB2 in yardage-heavy leagues. Keiland Williams, RB – Washington Redskins (38 percent owned) It’s always dangerous playing with a Shanahan backfield. But with injuries limiting Clinton Portis and Ryan Torain, it appears that Williams is in line to get the bulk of work in Week 12 against Minnesota. The Vikings run defense is not what it once was, and a full day of work is more than you can count on for a lot of running backs these days. Williams is a solid flex play this week against Minnesota, and should contribute down the stretch with solid matchups against Tampa and Dallas in the weeks to follow. Nate Washington, WR – Tennessee Titans (49 percent owned) Vince Young is out for the season and Kerry Collins is still sidelined with a calf injury; rookie quarterback Rusty Smith will be under center on Sunday. So why is Nate Washington still on this list? The Houston Texans secondary is giving up over 300 passing yards per game, and Washington has Randy Moss lining up opposite him to attract the attention. He’s certainly not a sure thing, but if you’re in need of an injury replacement or stream a flex/WR3 spot in deeper leagues, you could do a lot worse. Brian Hartline, WR – Miami Dolphins (6 percent owned) Last week I rolled the dice on Emmanuel Sanders burning the Raiders secondary – jackpot! Sanders outgained starting WR Hines Ward – and this week I’m doing the same with Brian Hartline. While the Raiders are giving up under 200 yards passing per game, they have allowed 19 touchdowns through the air. Regardless whether shutdown corner Nnamdi Asomugha returns from his ankle injury in time for this Sunday’s game, Hartline is an excellent flex play (with an additional bump in PPR leagues – five or more catches in four of the past six games, no less than four). All percentages taken from Yahoo! Got any other Waiver Wire Gems?Leave a comment and let us know, or reply to us on Twitter@TheFantasyFix Written by Chris Sheehan exclusively for the www.thefantasyfix.com. Chris is an avid football fan and has been playing fantasy football for over ten years. Check back for more great articles from him weekly. Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Sports Blog, Fantasy Sports Advice, Fantasy Football, Waiver Wire, Week 11, NFL, Carolina Panthers, Mike Goodson, Keiland Williams, Washington Redskins, Nate Washington, Tennessee Titans, Brian Hartline, Miami Dolphins  Jon Kitna, QB – Dallas Cowboys (Owned in 17 percent of leagues) It’s yet to be determined whether the Dallas Cowboys have really turned a corner with new coach Jason Garrett or if this weekend’s performance against the New York Giants was simply a dead cat bounce. Personally, I have never been terribly impressed by the G-Men’s latest run on account of it having been against some pretty poor teams. That said, Dallas was embarrassed by these same Giants just three weeks ago while Wade Phillips was head coach. If you’re unstable at the QB position, Kitna could provide a solid return for the home stretch and into the playoffs (where he gets Washington and Arizona – both bottom 10 pass defenses – in Weeks 15 and 16).  Troy Smith, QB – San Francisco 49ers (Owned in 8 percent of leagues) I guess I’ll give coach Singletary the benefit of the doubt on this one and assume that Alex Smith getting the starting nod over Troy Smith was simply a clerical error. In his two starts this season, Troy has amassed over 550 passing yards and accounted for three scores (two passing, one running). Additionally, he has limited turnovers (no INTs, no fumbles lost) and has gotten the ball downfield. His 11.7 yards per attempt (YPA) is out of this world. With the talent the 49ers have at the skill positions, Smith will have every opportunity to make plays down the stretch.  Javarris James, RB – Indianapolis Colts (Owned in 6 percent of leagues) With a rash of injuries at the RB position, James has ascended into the rotation. While Donald Brown has gotten the majority of the carries over the past two weeks, the work shifted toward a 50-50 share this week with James getting short yardage and goal line work. In the Colts’ explosive offense, that alone is enough to warrant a waiver pickup.  James Jones, WR – Green Bay Packers (Owned in 18 percent of leagues) I’m somewhat embarrassed that it has taken me this long to mention San Jose State’s very own James Jones as a waiver pickup. To be honest, I just assumed his ownership numbers were a lot higher. Coming off the bye, it’s still unclear whether Donald Driver will be active this Sunday at Minnesota. Regardless of Driver’s status, Jones figures to be productive. In the Packers’ last game against Minnesota, in which Donald Driver was active, Jones was targeted eight times, pulling in four catches for 107 yards.  Emmanuel Sanders, WR – Pittsburgh Steelers (Owned in 1 percent of leagues) Let’s call this one a dark horse, speculative waiver pickup. Sanders’ value will depend on Hines Ward’s availability against Oakland this Sunday. Although Ward says he will definitely be on the field, we’ve seen concussions force a number of players to miss time this year, so take nothing for granted. Keep in mind that he also said he could’ve come back into this past Sunday’s game but the medical team wouldn’t allow it (but I’m sure he knows better than the doctors). If Ward sits and Sanders starts at WR, he should find some holes in a secondary that looks to be without shutdown corner Nnamdi Asomugha for at least another week. All percentages taken from Yahoo! Got any other Waiver Wire Gems? Leave a comment and let us know, or reply to us on Twitter@TheFantasyFix Written by Chris Sheehan exclusively for the www.thefantasyfix.com. Chris is an avid football fan and has been playing fantasy football for over ten years. Check back for more great articles from him weekly. Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Football Advice, Fantasy Football Blog, Fantasy Sports Blog, Waiver Wire Pickups, Week 11, Week Eleven, Jon Kitna, Troy Smith, Javarris James, James Jones, Emmanuel Sanders, Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys,  Matt Cassel – QB, KC (Owned in 48 percent of leagues) With Nnamdi Asomugha nursing an ankle sprain that will most likely keep him out next week against the Chiefs, it should be easy sailing against the Oakland secondary. While the Raiders' safety play has improved markedly over the season, Chris Johnson and Stanford Routt continue to get burned and Cassel should be able to take advantage of the matchup. Not to mention, if the Raiders’ offense keeps performing like it has the past few weeks then the Chiefs will be throwing all day to keep up.  LeGarrette Blount – RB, TAM (Owned in 29 percent of leagues) I said it a month ago; I said it last week. I’ll say it again one more time: Get your hands on that Blount.  Keiland Williams – RB, WAS (Owned in 2 percent of leagues) It remains to be seen how bad the hamstring injury is for Ryan Torain; it’s entirely possible that the bye week allows him enough time to get back on the field in two weeks. However, a Shanahan backfield is never as simple as it seems. Williams outplayed Torain after taking over and may earn himself a role moving forward even if Torain is healthy. At this point Williams is worth a speculative add, especially if you rely on Torain for consistent points.  Darrius Heyward-Bey – WR, OAK (Owned in 3 percent of leagues) The Oakland offense has come alive the past two weeks, putting up a combined 92 points. This past week, the underachieving second-year WR Heyward-Bay joined the act with his first ever 100-yard game, his second career touchdown and added 30 yards on the ground. Whether this was a fluke game for DHB or a sign of bigger things to come is yet to be seen, but with Louis Murphy (bruised lung) joining Chaz Schilens on the sidelines, Heyward-Bey will be given every opportunity to succeed.  Jacob Tamme – TE, IND (Owned in 19 percent of leagues) With Dallas Clark on injured reserve, Tamme filled in nicely, racking up 64 yards receiving, including his first career touchdown. Peyton Manning has shown he is willing to trust the Colts’ younger players in big games, so Tamme figures to play a major role in the Indianapolis offense moving forward. That is an enviable position for any player, and a boon to fantasy owners in need of help at the TE position. All percentages taken from Yahoo! Got any other Waiver Wire Gems? Leave a comment and let us know, or reply to us on Twitter@TheFantasyFix Written by Chris Sheehan exclusively for the www.thefantasyfix.com. Chris is an avid football fan and has been playing fantasy football for over ten years. Check back for more great articles from him weekly. Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Football Advice, Fantasy Football Blog, Fantasy Sports Blog, Waiver Wire Pickups, Week 9, Week Nine, Matt Cassel, LeGarrette Blount, Keiland Williams, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Jacob Tamme, Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Oakland Raiders, Washington Redskins, Indianapolis Colts I was away from the mix for a few weeks, and I apologize. But the call of the wild is simply irresistible. I return victorious over the most dangerous game – rabbit and quail – and bear gifts of waiver wire gold.  Ryan Fitzpatrick – QB, BUF (Owned in 18% of leagues) Remember a few weeks back when Trent Edwards was demoted – then cut – and Fitzpatrick took over the reins in Buffalo? The most complimentary thing anyone could say about his promotion was, “the offense can’t get any worse.” Now it’s looking like Fitzpatrick was the spark the Bills’ offense needed to get moving. In the four games since he took over, the offensive output has increased to 26 points per game (up from 8.5 over the first two games). Impressively, they are doing it on the strength of Fitzpatrick’s arm, as he has thrown two or more touchdowns in every game, capped off by a four touchdown performance this weekend in a near loss to Baltimore. Despite only having played in four games, he is currently the 14th ranked QB, ahead of widely-rostered stalwarts like Tom Brady and Jay Cutler.  LeGarrette Blount – RB, TAM (Owned in 5% of leagues) I threw Blount’s name out here a few weeks ago based on promises of more touches from coach Raheem Morris. It took a few weeks to materialize, but it looks like Blount is finally seeing more playing time. While the Bucs didn’t run the ball often – instead opting for sophomore QB Josh Freeman to heave 40 passes in a relatively close game – Blount accounted for 11 of the team’s 16 carries by a RB, putting up 72 yards (6.5 yds/carry). That should earn him more playing time for a team in desperate need of an effective RB. Owners looking to the playoffs should note that the Bucs have a favorable schedule Weeks 14-16 (@ Washington, vs. Detroit, vs. Seattle).  Brandon Jacobs – RB, NYG (Owned in 66% of leagues) Jacobs has taken a back seat to Ahmad Bradshaw in the Giants pecking order, but he is still putting up numbers that warrant near-universal ownership. Despite getting only about 35% of the team’s carries, he has amassed almost 300 yards and scored five touchdowns, all of which have come in the past four games. If an owner with an itchy trigger finger dropped him in your league after his cold start, grab him as a weekly flex.  Steve Johnson – WR, BUF (Owned in 40% of leagues) Johnson has been on fire since Fitzpatrick took over in Buffalo with the two having hooked up for over 300 yards and five touchdowns in just four games. Johnson has been a consistent threat, with at least three catches and a score in each game and with the Bills’ atrocious defense, they should continue to throw all year. While teams will likely begin to pay closer attention to Johnson if he continues on this tear, with Lee Evans across the field he will see his share of single coverage. He is currently scoring as a top 20 WR ahead of Andre Johnson and Brandon Marshall.  David Gettis – WR, CAR (Owned in 2% of leagues) Having not recorded more than 37 yards in a game coming into Sunday, Gettis broke out with 125 yards and two scores against San Francisco. Whether this was a sign of the Panthers’ offense getting back on track with Matt Moore back under center or an anomalous blip is yet to be seen. But with St. Louis and New Orleans on deck for the Panthers, Gettis is worth a speculative waiver pickup in all leagues.  Vincent Jackson – WR, SDG (Owned in 41% of leagues) He’s back! Reports indicate that Jackson will sign his tender and report to the Chargers on this Friday, Oct. 29. OK - he’ll be inactive for the next four weeks (three game team suspension plus the bye), but keep an eye on him. He’ll be available for the last two games of the fantasy season and through the playoffs. Owners who are starting to plan for the playoffs should take advantage and stash VJax on the bench. *All percentages taken from Yahoo! Got any other Waiver Wire Gems? Leave a comment and let us know, or reply to us on Twitter@TheFantasyFix Written by Chris Sheehan exclusively for the www.thefantasyfix.com. Chris is an avid football fan and has been playing fantasy football for over ten years. Check back for more great articles from him weekly. Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Football Advice, Fantasy Football Blog, Fantasy Sports Blog, Waiver Wire Pickups, Week 8, Week Eight, Ryan Fitzpatrick, LeGarrette Blount, Brandon Jacobs, Steve Johnson, David Gettis, Vincent Jackson, Buffalo Bills, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Giants, Carolina Panthers, San Diego Padres  LeGarrette Blount, RB – TB (Owned in 2% of leagues)
We all knew the wheels were going to come off the Cadillac (Williams) at some point this season, but we all figured the wrong back to be the prime beneficiary. With undersized Kareem Huggins unable to even get on the field, Blount made the most of his opportunity against a tough Steelers defense. Totaling 27 yards on six touches (4.5 yards per carry) is mighty impressive against a defense giving up only 2.6 per carry, including a Week Two beatdown of all-world RB, Chris Johnson. Coach Raheem Morris has indicated that the Bucs will use the bye week to get Blount more involved in the offense. With an improved Josh Freeman under center, Blount should find some room to run if he gets the touches Morris is saying. He's an immediate add despite his team entering the bye week. Mark Sanchez, QB – NYJ (Owned in 43% of leagues) At worst, Sanchez will have some room to throw as opposing teams stay preoccupied with the run game. At best, the Sanchize may have figured things out in the NFL. His next seven games are against relatively soft defenses and include a three week stretch of Detroit, Cleveland, and Houston that should have owners licking their chops. Week Five brings Santonio Holmes back from suspension, which can only improve the deep play-action game. The Jets visit Buffalo this weekend, so rewards should be immediate whether you're looking for a new starter or just a bye week replacement. Peyton Hillis, RB – CLE (Owned in 50% of leagues) I'm going to keep this short; after all, Hillis was included in our waiver pickups after Week One. Yet, somehow, this primary back in a run-heavy offense is still owned in only half of leagues. That needs to change immediately. The Browns schedule isn’t the easiest against the run, but he’ll get the bulk of the carries and all the goal line work. Dexter McCluster, RB/WR – KC (Owned in 37% of leagues) McCluster’s speed against the San Francisco secondary was a mismatch made in heaven – or hell, if you’re wearing Red and Gold. Fortunately for Kansas City, the good times should continue to roll. After this week’s bye, the Chiefs play four consecutive games against teams in the bottom ten in yards (@ Indy, @ Houston, vs. Jacksonville, vs. Buffalo), none of whom boast even a capable pass defense. McCluster should continue to have the opportunity to make plays in the passing game, while continuing to contribute on special teams. Aaron Hernandez, TE – NE (Owned in 34% of leagues) TE is deep, but if you need a bye week replacement look no further. This week will see Visanthe Shiancoe, Kellen Winslow and Jason Witten out of action. Meanwhile, the Patriots go down to Miami where the Dolphins just gave up two scores and nearly 100 yards to Jets TE, Dustin Keller. *Disclaimer* Lance Moore, WR – NO (Owned in 15% of leagues) He'll no doubt be a hot waiver add this week after his incredible performance, but tread lightly. The Saints offense is predicated on a varied attack and Drew Brees won't lock on to any one WR. Moore may have some big games left in him this year, but guessing on which weeks they'll come will drive owners crazy. *All percentages taken from Yahoo! Got any other Waiver Wire Gems? Leave a comment and let us know, or reply to us on Twitter@TheFantasyFix Written by Chris Sheehan exclusively for the www.thefantasyfix.com. Chris is an avid football fan and has been playing fantasy football for over ten years. Check back for more great articles from him weekly. Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Football Advice, Fantasy Football Blog, Fantasy Sports Blog, Waiver Wire Pickups, Week 4, LeGarrette Blount, Cadillac Williams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Mark Sanchez, New York Jets, Peyton Hillis, Cleveland Browns, Dexter McCluster, Kansas City Chiefs, Aaron Hernandez, New England Patriots, Lance Moore, New Orleans Saints  Demaryius Thomas, WR – Denver Broncos (Owned in 34 percent of leagues) Plagued by foot injuries that kept him off the field during the preseason, the first receiver taken in the 2010 draft had an impressive pro debut pulling in eight catches for 97 yards and a touchdown. Last season, Orton found a similarly built receiver (Brandon Marshall) over 100 times for ten scores. With a WR corps primarily of role players, the Broncos will give Thomas every opportunity to get on the field and establish himself as Orton’s new go-to receiver. If his foot problems are behind him, and they appear to be, Thomas should be a solid WR3 with tremendous upside as he develops a rapport with Orton.  Jason Snelling, RB – Atlanta Falcons (Owned in 27 percent of leagues) Snelling will no doubt be the hot waiver pickup this week after ably filling in for Michael Turner. But all reports indicate that the Burner will be back next week so don’t expect to get immediate production with this add. However, he is a crucial handcuff for all Turner owners and could be a great stash if you have the bench space to hold onto him in case Turner’s injury turns out to be less “mild” than reported.  Marshawn Lynch, RB – Buffalo Bills (Owned in 20 percent of leagues) After spending all offseason as the forgotten man in Buffalo, Marshawn Lynch got the start against Green Bay and tallied 17 carries (compared to just one for CJ Spiller and nine for Fred Jackson). Is Marshawn now the clear starting back for the Bills? Absolutely not. This backfield is as much as a mess as it has been all summer, a problem amplified by the train wreck at QB. This pickup is more a speculative add based on the possibility that Lynch’s time in Buffalo is limited. While the front office has been reluctant to move him, injuries throughout the league (most notably to Ryan Grant in Green Bay and, to a lesser extent, Reggie Bush in New Orleans) could provide the team with options. While not impressive so far, Lynch could absolutely return to form on a team with a semi-competent offense.  Louis Murphy, WR – Oakland Raiders (Owned in 10 percent of leagues) Murphy, the most consistent WR on the Raiders the past 16 games, may be on the verge of becoming a consistent fantasy threat as well. Bruce Gradkowski replaced Jason Campbell at halftime and immediately got Murphy involved in the game. If coach Tom Cable can convince Al Davis to let him keep Gradkowski under center, Murphy needs to be on your team. He is a physical player who has earned Gradkowski’s trust, and the Raiders next two games are against secondaries that have been violated recently in Arizona and Houston.  Kevin Walter, WR – Houston Texans (Owned in 41 percent of leagues) With all the offseason hype about Jacoby Jones being the breakout playmaker alongside Andre Johnson in Houston, Walter was largely forgotten this offseason. After his 11 catch, 144 yard performance against Washington, he is back on the fantasy radar. The Texans rode their running game in Week One, but took to the air in Week Two; the latter will be a much more common occurrence throughout the season. With Owen Daniels still recovering from a torn ACL in 2009, there are plenty of balls to feed the rest of the Texans offense. Still owned in less than half of all leagues, Walter is a solid WR3 who will explode a few times when the Texans go aerial, and a terrific bye week replacement. Note: Ownership percentages are from Yahoo! Got any other Waiver Wire Gems? Leave a comment and let us know, or reply to us on Twitter@TheFantasyFix Written by Chris Sheehan exclusively for the www.thefantasyfix.com. Chris is an avid football fan and has been playing fantasy football for over ten years. Check back for more great articles from him weekly. Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Football Advice, Fantasy Football Blog, Fantasy Sports Blog, Waiver Wire Pickups, Week 3, Demaryius Thomas, Jason Snelling, Marshawn Lynch, Louis Murphy, Kevin Walter, Denver Broncos, Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Oakland Raiders, Houston Texans Week One was full of upsets and surprises. Did it make for an interesting weekend? Definitely. Did it knock out half the field in my survival pool? Absolutely. Are Seattle and Kansas City going to the face off in the Super Bowl down in Dallas? Not a chance. I never want to put too much stock in Week One, but there were a few things of which you should definitely take note. Injured players and surprise performances are just a few of the factors to consider when scouring the waiver wires. Here are the most crucial waiver pickups of this young 2010 season:  Brandon Jackson, RB – GB (Owned in 22 percent of leagues) Our first fantasy stud injury of the 2010 season is in the books with Ryan Grant suffering severe ligament damage in his ankle that may require surgery. As of today Grant has officially been declared lost for the season, so Brandon Jackson, the only other RB on the Packers’ roster, is going to have to pick up nearly the entire workload. Coach Mike McCarthy has given Jackson plenty of praise this preseason and that should continue as Green Bay has a soft schedule over the next three weeks (Buffalo, @ Chicago, Detroit). He is the top RB and player to target this week, so go get him!  Michael Vick, QB – PHI (Owned in 19 percent of leagues) Andy Reid has proven time and time again a loyal coach to his starting QB, but he’s never been in his current position. He just dumped his previous QB (Donovan McNabb) to division rival Washington, who then led his new team to a victory over offseason favorite Dallas. Meanwhile, his new man, Kevin Kolb, looked ineffective before being crushed and concussed by Packers linebacker Clay Matthews. Nothing is official as of now, but given the hailstorm of media coverage that accompanied the Eagles’ decision to let two concussed players return to the field on Sunday, I would be surprised to see Kolb back under center for Week Two. With the Eagles visiting Detroit this weekend, Michael Vick is suddenly a legitimate QB1, at least for one game. If Kolb misses any more time, Vick has shown flashes that he can still be a dynamic dual threat both between the lines and in fantasy.  Peyton Hillis, RB – CLE (Owned in seven percent of leagues) With Montario Hardesty out for the season, it looked like Hillis was in line for an increased workload in Cleveland, but I don’t think anyone expected a 50-50 split of carries between him and Jerome Harrison. As a bonus, Hillis got to put it in for the points after a long run by Harrison. Hillis has carried the load before when the Denver backfield imploded in 2008, so it isn’t a stretch to imagine him playing the bruiser to Harrison’s speed back. He’s available in almost all leagues and could be a nice consolation prize if you miss out on the aforementioned Mr. Jackson.  Legedu Naane, WR – SD (Owned in 18 percent of leagues) The Chargers offense is not as damaged as it appears since conditions in Kansas City were not conducive to their typical aerial assault. In the first quarter, before the rains set in, Rivers led a brilliant march down the field culminating in a Rivers-Gates TD. All the offseason hype, both out of Chargers camp and fantasy circles, surrounded Malcom Floyd but at first glance, Naane appears to be the better fantasy weapon. He was targeted “only” eight times (to Floyd’s 12), but reined in five passes (to Floyd’s three) and seemed to be the mark on most of the deep routes. Naane won’t post 100+ yards and a score every week, but looks to have found a solid role with Jackson on the sidelines.  Mark Clayton, WR – STL (Owned in 17 percent of leagues) That didn’t take long at all. Less than a week after the Rams signed Clayton he was targeted 16 times, pulling in 10 balls to lead the team with 119 yards. With Donnie Avery sidelined for the year, it appears that the Bradford has found his go-to receiver. The Rams are not a good team, and teams with semi-competent quarterbacks (read: not Derek Anderson) should put up points, so there’s a decent chance Bradford could best his 55 pass attempts from this weekend by season’s end. If Sunday was any indication, a significant number of those looks will be in Clayton’s direction. A Blip on the Radar: Tony Moeaki, TE – KC (Owned in one percent of leagues) Tight End is a rich position this year, so unless the Kansas City Patriots 2.0 start putting up Patriots 1.0 numbers, Moeaki is nothing more than a bye week replacement. But he’s a name to remember as the season goes on, so keep an eye on him to see how offensive coordinator Charlie Weis uses him in the red zone (that play action at the goal line embarrassed the Chargers). He’s a nice bye week replacement right now but his week to week value is tied to the Chiefs offensive production. Note: Ownership percentages are from Yahoo! Got any other Waiver Wire Gems? Leave a comment and let us know, or reply to us on Twitter@TheFantasyFix Written by Chris Sheehan exclusively for the www.thefantasyfix.com. Chris is an avid football fan and has been playing fantasy football for over ten years. Check back for more great articles from him weekly. Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Football Advice, Fantasy Football Blog, Fantasy Sports Blog, Waiver Wire Pickups, Week 2, Michael Vick, Brandon Jackson, Peyton Hillis, Legedu Naane, Mark Clayton, Tony Moeaki, Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, San Diego Chargers, St. Louis Rams, Kansas City Chiefs Fantasy Football Update: Late Round Fliers 09/02/2010
On the eve of the preseason, we took a look at some potential late round gems that could help fantasy owners get over the hump this season. With the starters’ dress rehearsals over – the final preseason game is typically a battle of the backups with players vying to make the regular season roster – it’s time to update our list and see who is still relevant, who has dropped off the radar and which new faces have come into play.  Alex Smith (Average Draft Pick then: 203, now: 219) It’s been tough to gauge the development of Smith this preseason since most of his offensive weapons have seen limited or no action – RB Frank Gore, WR Michael Crabtree and TE Vernon Davis have been largely absent this preseason and his ADP has dropped, accordingly. But Smith’s performance this preseason, given the situation, is impressive. Continue to draft him late with confidence; Smith could finally emerge as the player we thought he would be in 2005.  Kyle Orton (ADP 267) Drafted in less then 25% of leagues, you should be able to grab Orton towards the end of your draft. With contract extension in hand, he’ll no longer be hearing about Tim Tebow’s impending takeover. Orton is reportedly having a tremendous camp and should excel in his second year in Denver. He is well suited for Josh McDaniels dink-and-dunk offense, and has developed a strong rapport with fellow journeyman Jabar Gaffney. He’s a late round pickup as a strong QB2 with potential to sneak into the top-12 at his position.  Leon Washington (ADP 161) While the fantasy community – myself included – has been ready to give presumed superstar-in-development Justin Forsett the starting role in Seattle, he never stood up and took the job during the preseason. This has opened the door for Seahawks coach, Pete Carroll, to open the year with a committee backfield. Washington should split carries and could potentially post stats similar to his 2008 campaign with the New York Jets in which he averaged nearly six yards per carry, and was an integral part of the passing game. While the messy Seattle backfield is starting to resemble the Shanahan-era Broncos, someone will eventually step forward and claim the starting role once the season gets going. With the bulk of the fantasy community paying a speculative premium on Forsett, Washington comes with a little less upside, but a much smaller price tag. He’s a great value as a flex player with a boost in points-per-reception leagues.  Toby Gerhart (ADP then: 175, now: 215) As much as I love the hard-nosed, Stanford product, his stock has plummeted after a poor training camp which landed him as the third running back on the Vikings depth chart. To boot, he got a little dinged up in the latest game with Seattle. While it doesn’t look serious, he’s just waiver fodder for now. Ignore him in drafts, but keep an eye on his status mid-season since a promotion would make him Adrian Peterson’s primary backup.  Kareem Huggins (ADP 293) It doesn’t get me the street cred it would’ve had if I brought him up back in July, but I am definitely aboard the Huggins bandwagon. Word from Bucs camp is that Huggins has surpassed Derrick Ward on the depth chart and will go into Week One as the primary backup to Carnell Williams (I think we can stop calling him Cadillac now). Even if Williams can stay healthy all year – something he’s accomplished only once in five seasons – Huggins should at least see Ward’s 130-touch workload from 2009. And given his breakaway speed, he should do a lot more with those touches than Ward. Huggins is being drafted in only 6% of leagues, so you can grab him with one of your final picks, a great value for a 100+ touch back just an injury away from a featured back role.  Mike Williams (ADP then: 208, now: 178) Williams has officially been named the top WR for the Bucs and, if the third preseason game was any indication, he won’t miss a step with backup QB Josh Johnson in the lineup. Tampa’s offense isn’t as explosive as New Orleans or Indianapolis, but the opportunity to grab a team’s number one WR after the tenth round is almost always a worthwhile gamble, especially when he’s as talented as Williams. While I’m not typically one to gameplan for fantasy playoffs during my draft, it should be noted that Tampa has, on paper, one of the softest schedules Weeks 14-16 (@ Washington, Detroit, Seattle).  Dexter McCluster (ADP then: 193, now: 261) His draft numbers are misleading. While his ADP has plummeted, it’s more a product of his going undrafted in over 70% of leagues. In reality, his stock is rising and he is being taken as early as 127th overall. McCluster has averaged over nine yards per touch this preseason and is getting action in the return game, as well. The Chiefs have shown they’re willing to deploy him in whatever way they can. This season’s Percy Harvin – New and Improved, No Migraines! – is a bargain in the tenth round of 12-team leagues.  Anthony Gonzalez (ADP 254) Gonzalez burned a number of owners as a mid-round pick in 2009 that went on to miss the entire season, and the emergence of Indy’s new WR corps has apparently wiped the Ohio State product from the fantasy community’s collective memory. It’s unclear whether he’ll be moving to the slot or sharing time with Pierre Garcon as the WR2, but it is clear that Gonzalez is healthy once again. As a cog in the well-oiled machine that is the Colts’ offense, Gonzalez should have no problem posting numbers similar to his pre-injury level. Fifty catches and 4-6 TDs are a good bet, making him a tremendous value at the bottom drafts in all formats.  Brian Hartline (Undrafted) I read something this offseason showing that wide receivers playing opposite Brandon Marshall tend to post strong numbers. That sounds logical enough; defenses tend to pay extra attention to a guy who annually catches 100 balls for 1,100 yards. The argument, though, was meant to bolster the case for Davone Bess. Except, Bess won’t be starting across from Marshall – Brian Hartline will. The fourth round pick led the team with 16.3 yards-per-catch in 2009 and looks to take on a bigger role this season as he steps into a starting role. Whether or not the aforementioned theory holds any water, Hartline stands to experience a jump in output. Last year he caught 31 balls for 26 first downs; the team trusts him to make plays. With the dynamic duo in the backfield and coverage rolled to stop Baby T.O. (are we still calling him that?), Hartline will have plenty of opportunities to shine. Got any other Late Round Fliers? Leave a comment and let us know, or reply to us on Twitter@TheFantasyFix Written by Chris Sheehan exclusively for the www.thefantasyfix.com. Chris is an avid football fan and has been playing fantasy football for over ten years. Check back for more great articles from him weekly. Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Football Advice, Fantasy Football Blog, Fantasy Sports Blog, Ranks, Late Round Picks, Average Draft Pick, Alex Smith, Michael Crabtree, Frank Gore, Vernon Davis, Kyle Orton, Tim Tebow, Jabar Gaffney, Leon Washington, Justin Forsett, Toby Gerhart, Adrian Peterson, Kareem Huggins, Carnell Williams, Mike Williams, Dexter McCluster, Anthony Gonzalez, Brian Hartline, Brandon Marshall, San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks, Minnesota Vikings, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins | CategoriesAll  |
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