Month: December 2007 (Page 7 of 20)

Every week, I highlight a few players that you should target in waivers. I’ll use the ESPN league data when filtering players, so the only players eligible for discussion here are those that are available on the waiver wire of at least 40% of ESPN’s leagues. I’ll list each player’s percentage-owned after their name so you have an idea of how available they are in leagues around the country. I’ll always try to talk about a player or two that are available in 90% of leagues for those of you in 12-team leagues or leagues with big rosters.

QUARTERBACKS

Kurt Warner (58.0) has been hot lately and a week 16 matchup with Atlanta doesn’t hurt…David Garrard (56.4) doesn’t have a great matchup (OAK), but he turned a bad matchup against the Steelers into a 197-yard, three-TD day, so he’s definitely a solid start…Sage Rosenfels (8.9) had a pretty good game against Denver. This week, he faces a tough Colts pass defense, but he has played well in place of Matt Schaub…Brodie Croyle (4.2) is a deep sleeper at QB this week as he faces the Lions…At least you know what you get with Chad Pennington (31.2) who will start again against the Titans if Kellen Clemens isn’t able to go…Chris Redman (2.6) was awful against the Bucs, but should fare better against the Cardinals this week…Trent Edwards (10.2) didn’t do much in the Cleveland snowstorm, but in week 16 he has the Giants at home. Barring another blizzard, he should post decent numbers…Cleo Lemon (3.0) guided the Dolphins to their first win of the season, and has the Patriots this week, which could mean garbage time yards…Todd Collins (1.6) has a nice matchup against a Vikings defense that is vulnerable against the pass…Not counting the Monday night game, Tarvaris Jackson (11.1) has played pretty well over the last month and a home matchup against the Redskins makes for a decent start in deeper leagues.

RUNNING BACKS

Kolby Smith (59.8) still lingers on almost 40% of ESPN leagues, but should be in most starting lineups this week against the Lions…Aaron Stecker (28.1) has been great over the last two weeks, racking up 243 total yards from scrimmage along with two scores. The Eagles aren’t a great matchup, but Stecker is a solid start nonetheless…Chicago’s Adrian Peterson (56.9) faces the Packers, who haven’t been great against opposing running backs this season…Ron Dayne (43.3) played on Thursday, dashing the hopes of those that picked up Darius Walker. This week, he has the Colts, who aren’t great against the rush…Dominic Rhodes (16.9) would fill in for Justin Fargas this week assuming Fargas is out and LaMont Jordan is still inactive. He doesn’t have a great matchup (JAX), but a starting RB still has fantasy value for those in need…Samkon Gado (10.6) filled in for Jesse Chatman on Sunday and scored his third TD in two weeks. He has an awful matchup (NE), but is a decent spot starter nonetheless.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Shaun McDonald (54.5) is thriving now that Roy Williams is out of the picture. He doesn’t have a great matchup this week (KC), but he should still be able to catch several balls and has a chance to score. Mike Furrey (50.1) isn’t quite as hot, but he’s stepped up his game as well…Anthony Gonzalez (31.5) caught his third TD in two weeks and proved that his nice outing against the Ravens was no fluke…Reggie Brown (57.7) has posted pretty good numbers since Donovan McNabb’s return and he has a great matchup against New Orleans this week…Jerry Porter (48.9) had a quiet game against a good Colts pass defense, but has the Jags this week, which isn’t as bad of a matchup as it looks on paper…David Patten (18.5) has been undependable this season, but has posted two really good games the last week totaling 13 catches for 193 yards and two scores…Kevin Walter (22.7) had a big week 14 and a so-so week 15, and has the Colts this week, who are pretty tough against the pass. He could post a nice line in PPR leagues if the Texans have to play from behind…Reggie Williams (39.8) has caught four TD in the last five games. He has a tough matchup this week as he goes up against a pretty tough Raiders secondary, but he’s probably WR3 material in most leagues…Chris Henry (31.4) has only caught seven passes over the last four games, but he had a long TD against the 49ers and has a nice matchup with Cleveland this week…Roydell Williams (4.7) had a huge game (four catches, 94 yards, two scores) on Sunday, which was his second big week in the last three. The matchup (NYJ) isn’t great, but he could be serviceable now that he seems to be Vince Young’s favorite target again…With Sidney Rice out, Bobby Wade (1.1) has caught 13 passes over the last three weeks for 149 yards and a score, so he could be used in a pinch as a WR3 this week.

TIGHT ENDS

Tony Scheffler (27.7) still lingers on almost a quarter of ESPN waiver wires, and other than a bad game against the Raiders in week 13, he has played very well of late. He’s a solid starter in week 16 against the Chargers…Chris Baker (7.1) is a good option for those looking for help at TE. With Laveranues Coles out, he became a safety valve over the middle for the Jets…Kevin Boss (0.0) takes over as the Giants’ pass-catching TE now that Jeremy Shockey is out for the season…Brent Celek (0.1) figures to build on Sunday’s three-catch, 50-yard day if L.J. Smith continues to miss time…Ben Utecht (2.2) has caught at least two passes in each of the last six games, so he’s a bottom of the barrel option owners in need of a fill in at TE…Robert Royal (1.8) has played well of late (not counting the blizzard game in Cleveland) and should provide serviceable stats against the Giants this week.

Truth be told, I’m in nine fantasy leagues this season, and I have Brian Westbrook in five of them. They are all PPR leagues, and as long as he can stay healthy, he’s a gold mine. In this format, he has become the clear RB2 behind Ladainian Tomlinson. (Even though he leads most PPR leagues in scoring, I’d still take LT first since he’s more durable.)

I said all of that to say this: Westy pissed me off yesterday. For those that missed it, with the Eagles leading 10-6 with just 2:19 remaining in the fourth quarter, Westbrook broke free inside the five-yard line and, instead of scoring, he took a knee at the one.

My immediate reaction?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?

For fantasy purposes, I really could have used those six points. They would have given me some more breathing room in case Adrian Peterson decides to go off tonight. From a pure football standpoint, the score would have put the Eagles up 17-6 and the Cowboys would have had to score twice in order to tie the game.

But Westy knew that the Cowboys didn’t have any timeouts remaining, and all the Eagles had to do was take a knee on a couple of snaps in order to run out the clock. Scoring the TD would have actually given the Cowboys a shot to win the game (with a score and a successful onside kick followed by another score), but by taking a knee, Westbrook closed out the game for the Eagles.

In hindsight, it’s a genius move, but it’s definitely going to affect the outcomes of thousands of fantasy playoff games around the country. And not just the Westbrook owners. Guys who had any of the Dallas offensive players missed out on a garbage time two-minute drive that could have netted their teams a few more points.

Westy, you are one brilliant bastard.