There are some decent waiver wire dudes out there this week. I think I’ll be putting in quite a few claims so I can wake up to my, sorry but you got shizz emails on Wednesday morning. It always warms my cockles.
UPDATE of the UPDATE: Ronnie Brown has NOT been traded to the Lions for Jerome Harrison and some Cornflakes because the Cornflakes couldn’t pass the soggy cereal test. Maurice Morris will be the lead back while Best recovers from his concussion.
UPDATE: Jay Glazer is now reporting that it is likely that Carson Palmer is going to the Oakland Raiders. Palmer is not as good as he once was and he won’t be up to NFL speed, but he has a ton of weapons to use in the Raider offense. He is a for sure back up in 12 team leagues and his ceiling is as a QB1 in fantasy.
Demarco Murray: Felix Jones has a high ankle sprain and will be out 2-4 weeks. The Cowboys get a good rush defense schedule with STL, @PHI, SEA, and BUFÂ in the next 4 weeks. Seattle is the only defense there with a strong rush defense and then you are scraping the bottom of the barrel with the rest of those scrub Ds. Murray looked quicker and more decisive than Tashard Choice and also didn’t fumble. Murray will split time with Choice but should see the majority of the carries while Jones is out and his matchups make him a premium add.
Montario Hardesty: Peyton Hillis is hurting with a hamstring injury and Hardesty will take over as the main guy if he is out for any time. So far Hardesty hasn’t really flashed any play making ability, but a starting running back is a starting running back is a starting running back. He wouldn’t have anyone really cutting into his looks which is good but the next two opponents he faces are Seattle and San Francisco. Those are both stout run defenses. He’s a for sure add in most leagues, but keep expectations lowered.
Maurice Morris:Â (UPDATE: The Lions traded for Ronnie Brown.) Jahvid Best has had concussion problems in the past and had his second of the season on Sunday. This is not the best news you’ll ever hear if you are a Best owner, but them’s the breaks I suppose. After Best left the game Morris received the lion’s share of the carries and was on the field for 22 plays compared to 2 for Keiland Williams. He’ll most likely be more helpful in PPR leagues than non but he should be the main guy with Atlanta on the horizon. They have been weak against pass catching running backs.
Michael Crabtree: If he’s out there he is a must add at this point. He’s the #1 receiver and got half a billion targets against the Lions on Sunday. As long as the 49ers are moving the ball he’ll have value.
Eric Decker: He should be the receiver that benefits the most from Brandon Lloyd’s departure. He’s shown more ability than just being a possession receiver and has the height and hands to help Tim Tebow out. He should be the most targeted receiver by far until Thomas or Royal step up, if they do.
Jake Ballard: He’s not getting a ton of receptions, but he continues to do good things with them. He’ll be on a bye this week, but if you need a TE and have the room you should be able to get him fairly easily. And they get Miami and New England off the bye. I like those matchups.
Roy Helu: Yes, the Redskins backfield is a crap festival of gargantuan proportions, but last week they sure weren’t helped by Rex Grossman giving the ball away over and over. Helu is still my favorite running back and could easily emerge from the cluster-eff, but I do hate that I have to pay to watch my stories now.
Greg Little: The Browns wide receiving corps isn’t really one that I like to mine for fantasy purposes, but the Brownies have been throwing more and Little has gotten 8 and 11 targets in his last 2 games. He gets Seattle next week which will be a nice matchup for him and help us gauge how well he can exploit good matchups.
James Jones: He only had one catch, but it was for a touchdown and the Packers had the game in hand before it started. He’s not going to be consistent, but he keeps on getting fantasy points so maybe he will be. But probably not. But maybe.
Steve Breaston: Dwayne Bowe is playing some outstanding football right now and will continue to get more coverage pushed his way and as that is happening Breaston is building a rapport with Matt Cassel.
Doug Baldwin: He is looking like a solid player for the Seahawks and should continue to see targets, but will be inconsistent just like the Seattle offense. I’m liking his overall ability and he has ability to fight for the ball and eat up some yards after the catch.
Damian Williams: He’s scored in his last two games and in the right matchup should have value with Hasselbeck throwing to him.
Torrey Smith: His upside is worth a bye week play for sure. He will get his deep targets and has looked light years better than Lee Evans. He’s a home run hitter, but sometimes we need to swing for the fences.
Greg Salas: He had 10 targets and 8 receptions and redeemed himself after a horrid debut a few weeks back. In full PPR leagues he’s worth a look for sure. He’s young and will have some down games, but I like his situation with Lloyd coming in to help open up the underneath routes for Salas even more.
Demaryius Thomas: With Brandon Lloyd getting shipped off to St. Louis and Thomas expected to be back in week 7 it might be time to do a preemptive strike and add him. We have absolutely no clue how he is health wise and if he has the upside he had before his injury, but he did have upside. The main problem of course is Tim Tebow’s lack of accuracy, but if Thomas can be the deep threat like Lloyd was he could have value.
C.J. Spiller: Against the Giants C.J. Spiller was on the field for more snaps (35) than his previous 3 weeks combined. He is being used as a receiver and needs to be on PPR radars, but don’t add him on name alone. We really need to see if this will keep up before going all nutso crazy.
Donald Brown: Well, Donald Brown may not be the worst running back on the Colts. At this point I’m not sure that means much at this point, but he looked quicker than Delone Carter and ran for a touchdown. He’s starting to look like the better backup to Addai. Joe may be back next week so don’t lose your mind trying to pick up Brown, but in deeper leagues he might be a good add.
John Beck: The Redskins aren’t as horrid as Rex Grossman makes them look. If Beck can keep from throwing 4 interceptions he will be an upgrade and worth an add in 2 QB leagues.
Christian Ponder: Ponder didn’t look like total crap during garbage time on Sunday night and is worth a preemptive add in 2QB leagues. He hasn’t been named the starter but he will eventually.
Adds if they happen to be out there: Earnest Graham, Jackie Battle, Marshawn Lynch, Jay Cutler, Tim Tebow, Matt Cassel
Drops: Lance Moore, Denarius Moore, Jason Avant, Rex Grossman, Cadillac Williams, Plaxico Burress, Davone Bess, Robert Meachem, Antonio Brown, Lee Evans, Pierre Thomas
