| NFL Waiver Wire Wonders: Week Eight |
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I’m convinced there is one threat that could rip our country to shreds. It’s not the stock market. It’s not countless hours lost to the American work force due to time spent on your fantasy football team. It’s not global warming. It has nothing to do with credit problems or home foreclosures. This is a much bigger issue that no politician is talking about: password protection. Say what you will about the economy, new taxes, educational support, the national debt, and any other issue. I want to see one of the candidates address the ridiculous measures we take to remember our passwords. It’s getting to be unbearable. Every site has different restrictions. Some sites don’t allow you to start your password with a number. Some make you capitalize one letter. Some sites force you to have a number in your password. Some sites set a limit of six letters or numbers for your password, while others have a minimum of six letters or numbers. The end result is that we have 15 different passwords, and only six attempts at guessing which one to use before our account is locked out and we have to play the e-mail verification game. It only gets worse from here. Now you have to answer security questions. It would be simple if they stuck to the basics like “What is your mother’s maiden name”. The problem is that they ask questions that could be answered many different ways. What is your favorite sports team? If I’m registering during football season, it’s going to be the Steelers. If I’m registering during baseball season, it will be the Pirates. Also, did I put “Pittsburgh Steelers” or did I put “Steelers”? What city were you born in? Is this the city I first lived in, or the city that contained the hospital that I was born in, where I never lived a day in my life after I was first released from the hospital? Also, did I put the city, or did I put the city and state? You think you’re home free when you have these questions answered, but that’s not the end. Now you’re being sent a temporary password that looks like someone had a heart attack on the keyboard. You have to enter that password in, and then you get a prompt to set a new password. So you go to set your new password, only to get an error message saying that you have previously used this password, and need to set a different password. And now because you aren’t using one of your regular passwords, the next time you go to log in to this site, you will forget what password you used, and go through the same process all over again. With that rant out of the way, here are some Waiver Wire Wonders to help fill the gaps in your fantasy football team, assuming you remember which password you used for your team. Quarterbacks Matt Cassel – Cassel finally came alive against the Broncos defense on Monday night. Granted this was against the Broncos, and his passes to Randy Moss only came after Champ Bailey went down, but Cassel has another strong matchup this weekend against the Rams, making him a good start this week. AccuScore simulations have him ranked as a top 12 quarterback, throwing for 223 yards and a touchdown. Trent Edwards – With the exception of the Arizona game where he got hurt and was replaced by J.P. Losman, Trent Edwards has put up double digit points each week, and has thrown for five touchdowns, two interceptions, and has averaged 238 yards per game. Here’s another bonus: he plays the Jets and Broncos during the fantasy playoffs, making him a sleeper quarterback if your team has a shot at contending. Ryan Fitzpatrick – He’s a decent one week option against the Texans. So far this season every quarterback has put up double digit points, with the last four averaging 18 points per game. That list includes Dan Orlovsky and Chad Pennington, which gives me faith in Ryan Fitzpatrick. Running Backs Sammy Morris – With Laurence Maroney out for the season, Morris becomes the top waiver wire option this week after his 138 yard, one touchdown performance against Denver. While that was against the Broncos, Morris has a great matchup against the Rams this weekend, with only one tough running defense on the schedule, and that is Pittsburgh in week 14. He’s got immediate injury issues, but that doesn’t stop me from adding him for the long run. BenJarvus Green-Ellis – If Morris can’t go this weekend, Green-Ellis is a solid start. BGE ran for 65 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries, and looked like a powerful runner. Dominic Rhodes – In the last two weeks, Rhodes has run for 146 yards and three touchdowns while replacing Joseph Addai. He could replace Addai again this weekend, although he might not be the best matchup against a very strong Tennessee defense, but is worth a start if you’re desperate for running backs. Mewelde Moore – Moore put up his second solid running performance in place of the injured Willie Parker, rushing for 120 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries, and adding a receiving touchdown. Moore may be a guy worth picking up and stashing, even if Parker returns this weekend, as his recent production may give him more playing time when Parker returns. He also becomes a great starting option if Parker goes down with another injury. Kevin Smith – After losing playing time to Rudi Johnson in week three, Kevin Smith has performed well in a split role the past three weeks. He hasn’t seen more than ten carries in a game, but has combined for 154 yards and two touchdowns in those three games. He’s a risky play, as his value lies on his ability to break off a long play. That may be tough the next two weeks against the Redskins and Bears. Justin Fargas – Fargas carried the ball 28 times for 74 yards against the Jets on Sunday. With Darren McFadden banged up, Fargas should continue to get a large portion of the work load. Even when McFadden is 100 percent, Fargas will get his fair share of carries, making him a solid flex option. Cedric Benson – In his first start with the Bengals, Benson carried the ball 14 times for 52 yards. That’s not overly impressive, but considering it came against the Steelers, it looks pretty good. He should do very well this weekend against the Houston Texans, and is my waiver wire sleeper of the week. Wide Receivers Malcom Floyd – There were a lot of break out players on the waiver wire this past week, and Floyd is one of the few that I trust. With Chris Chambers hurt, and Philip Rivers doing well, Floyd becomes a decent wide receiver option. In the last two weeks he has caught seven passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns. His value is highest when Chambers is out, but the recent performance could give him more opportunities when Chambers returns. Donnie Avery – In his last four games he has caught 15 passes for 184 yards and a touchdown, with this past weekend being his breakout performance. Torry Holt will get most of the coverage, which will leave Avery open for a lot of receptions. Expect more performances like this past weekend. Mike Furrey – Could the departure of Roy Williams mean the return of Mike Furrey to fantasy relevance? Furrey caught six passes for 89 yards this past weekend, and although it was against the Texans defense, I expect the opportunities to be there for Furrey. Kevin Walter – He didn’t have the big weekend I thought he would have last week, but he’s got another shot this weekend against the Bengals. Walter is the number 28 fantasy receiver so far this season, but is only owned in half of leagues. AccuScore simulations have him with five points this week, but I think he gets enough to be a low end number two option. Tight Ends John Carlson – It seems like every sleeper tight end option is on a bye this week, which leaves us with Carlson. Carlson did well the first three weeks of the season, then Bobby Engram and Deion Branch returned and Matt Hasselbeck forgot about him. However, in the last two weeks with Hasselbeck out, Carlson has caught seven passes for 33 yards and two touchdowns. While his value lies in his ability to get in the end zone, I like him this week against the 49ers. Zach Miller – He’s got a tough matchup this week against Baltimore, but Miller has been one of JaMarcus Russel’s favorite targets the past few weeks. In the last three weeks, Miller has caught 12 passes for 198 yards and a touchdown. He’s worth a start if you’re desperate for a tight end this week. Defense/Special Teams Seattle – AccuScore simulations have the Seahawks ranked as the number four defense this week, allowing 21 points to the 49ers. The key will be the points for turnovers and sacks. Seattle is projected to get at least three sacks, and three turnovers in the majority of simulations. Seeing how San Francisco and J.T. Sullivan have been turning the ball over lately, that seems very likely to happen. Oakland – The Raiders take on the Ravens this week, who sport a weak offense. Oakland is allowing 20 points to Baltimore, with three sacks and two turnovers in AccuScore simulations. Trackback(0)
Comments (5)
pujols
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Thanks Tim! best fantasy anaylist in America! |
twilliams
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Hey, I saw your message on "The Truth" and on here, figured I'd answer here. Sorry I missed the previous message. We used to have the "Community" page, which showed recent comments. I'm lost without that page now. Congrats on the fantasy baseball league. Now for the football title... You have a lot of depth at both positions. I'm assuming you start 3 RBs through the use of a flex spot. The trade really depends on where your team stands right now. If you're a contender, then you can get by for a few weeks without Addai. Grant plays a brutal playoff schedule, with Jacksonville in week 15 and Chicago in week 16. Addai, on the other hand, plays Detroit in week 15, and Jacksonville in week 16, so at least you have the week 15 advantage. If you're getting Addai for Grant, I'd take it. Grant's value only goes down from here, as his remaining schedule is: BYE, @TEN, @MIN, CHI, @NO, CAR, HOU, @JAC, @CHI. AccuScore projections have him putting up double digit points in just three of those matchups, with Houston and New Orleans being two of them. Check out the new trade market article for some more potential targets. |
PITT.
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Hi tim i wanted to thank your for helping me win my fantasy baseball league...you guided me through trades and pick ups and just wanted to say thanks a lot! im having a problem on my fanatasy football team, its head to head non keeper...should i trade super underachieving ryan grant for injured joseph addai? or should i trade tj whosyourmomma and ryan grant for willie parker...my other recievers are anquan boldin, lee evens and dwane bowe, my other running backs are a.p. and steve slaton...THANKS! |
twilliams
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I think a Graham and Johnson offer would be a good place to start. You're definitely covered at WR without Johnson, especially if you pick up Avery. Getting Jackson this week may be tough, however. He doesn't seem to have a need at QB, and trading Jackson would leave him with Maurice Jones-Drew, who has struggled this year, and two backups. He's also got decent receivers with a struggling Houshmandzadeh, and Hines Ward. If the guy isn't looking to upgrade at WR, then the price to upgrade to Calvin Johnson from Hines Ward isn't worth the downgrade from Jackson to Graham. The best thing you have going for you is the big week Calvin Johnson just put up. I don't trust him as a consistent performer now that Roy Williams is gone, and Dan Orlovsky is the QB, and you have a lot of good WR options. Graham/Johnson for Jackson is worth a shot, but if you're looking for running back help, you might be better off dealing a wide receiver for a buy low running back option like Jamal Lewis. You're 2-5 right now and you have nothing left to lose by taking that type of risk. Check what teams have an excess at running back, then see who they are starting at wide receiver. The team with the weakest wide receiver group and the best running back group is your best option for upgrading your running back situation. |
JWo
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I'm trying to get Steven Jackson and I want to see what you think would be a fair offer for him. I'm currently 2-5 so I'm trying to a few extra pieces to help get me back in the hunt for the playoffs. My lineup: QB: Rivers, Garcia RB: Portis, Graham, Sproles, Rhodes, Taylor WR: Colston, DeSean Jackson, Calvin Johnson, D. Mason, Santonio Holmes His lineup: QB: Campbell, McNabb RB: Jackson, Jones-Drew, Chester Taylor, Ahmad Bradshaw WR: Houshmandzadeh, Meachem, Hines Ward, Joey Galloway I'm thinking he could use some WR help but I know he'll want to replace Jackson. Maybe a 2-for-1? I could pick up Avery or Camarillo to fill the loss of a WR. Graham and Mason? Graham and Johnson? |
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