Every week, I highlight a few players that you should target in waivers. I 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 in at least 50% 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 mention a few players that are available in 90% of leagues for those of you in 12-team leagues or leagues with big rosters. I’ll rank them in the order I’d pick them up in a league with a high-performance, PPR scoring system.

Please note that these rankings are for total value through the end of the year. Players with particularly good matchups this week are in bold.

This week, I am going to spend extra time on the TE position to try to help those Owen Daniels owners pick up the pieces.

Alex Smith (9.7)
After a better-than-expected showing against a good Colts pass defense, Smith has TEN, CHI, GB, JAX, SEA and DET over the next seven weeks. If you have two good QBs and can trade one of them away, Smith should be a solid backup.
Mark Sanchez (45.6)
He’s on bye this week, but has a tasty matchup against the Jags in Week 10.
Jason Campbell (22.0)
Despite his team’s struggles, Campbell has been pretty solid, posting 12+ fp in all but one game.
Matthew Stafford (6.0)
Vince Young (3.9)
Trent Edwards (31.1)
Chad Henne (4.9)

Laurence Maroney (65.0), Beanie Wells (71.7) and Shonn Greene (62.9) are worth owning if you have a spot.

Jamaal Charles (14.3)
He’s likely to come out of the bye week as the Chiefs’ new starter. KC’s running game is pretty anemic, but maybe he can give it some life.
Ryan Moats (0.2)
Tore it up (23 carries, 126 yards, 3 TD) after Steve Slaton was benched due to an early fumble. The coaching staff has been noncommittal about who will be the starter in Week 9. One thing’s for sure — HOU has some nice rushing matchups down the stretch.
Justin Fargas (9.4)
He’s averaging 71 rushing yards over the last three weeks. Depending on the status of Darren McFadden, this could continue after the Raiders’ bye.
Sammy Morris (39.6)
No one outside the Patriots organization really knows how bad his knee is, but if he can play, there’s a good chance he’ll be the lead back in the New England backfield.
Maurice Morris (1.0)
Keep an eye on the status of Kevin Smith this week. Morris had 14 carries when Smith was sidelined with an ankle injury on Sunday.

Hakeem Nicks (69.5), Kevin Walter (69.0), Antonio Bryant (59.9), Austin Collie (55.1) are all worthy of roster spots. Walter could really benefit with Owen Daniels absence for the rest of the season. Eddie Royal (57.9) and Patrick Crayton (57.2) have more value in leagues that reward individual return TDs.

Jeremy Maclin (36.5)
9-100-1 over the last two weeks along with a 6-142-2 day in Week 5. Donovan McNabb likes to spread the ball around, so Maclin will have his ups and downs.
Michael Crabtree (39.2)
He’s developing quickly. 11-137 over the last two weeks makes him fairly startable in PPR leagues.
Lance Moore (48.3)
He’s having a tough time getting consistent targets given the Saints’ crowded WR corps.
Devery Henderson (44.5)
Inconsistent, but he’ll go off every once in a while.
Donnie Avery (48.6)
He was dreadful (1-15) in a great matchup, and just can’t be trusted on a regular basis.
Anthony Gonzalez (50.0)
Worth stashing if you have a spot for him.
Nate Washington (13.6)
Pierre Garcon (38.2)
After a hot start, he’s tailing off. But if anything were to happen to Reggie Wayne, Garcon might benefit the most.
Malcom Floyd (1.3)
Surpassed the ever-disappointing Chris Chambers as the Chargers’ WR2, which means he’s the team’s third option in the passing game. He could have some nice days with the extra snaps.
Mike Wallace (15.2)
Inconsistent, but he’ll have some big days when the Steelers’ running game isn’t going.
Mark Clayton (14.8)
He has at least three catches in five straight games.
Andre Caldwell (7.4)
Davone Bess (1.9)
Bobby Wade (2.2)
Not a bad guy to have in PPR leagues.
Keenan Burton (0.8)
18 catches in the last four weeks. PPR guy.

If you haven’t heard, Owen Daniels is out for the year with for a torn ACL, so I’m sure there are more than a few owners scrambling for a Plan B (myself included). To that end, I’m going to rank all TEs that are available in at least 20% of fantasy leagues:

Heath Miller (78.5)
Far and away the most valuable player on this list. He’s averaging 5.7-50-0.6 through seven games.
John Carlson (72.4)
He’s getting steady targets, and has a favorable schedule down the stretch. With Matt Hasselbeck back and looking pretty good, Carlson should start posting some nice fantasy lines.
Todd Heap (39.8)
He’s averaging 3.9-40-0.3 this season and is a small but consistent part of the Ravens’ offensive attack.
Visanthe Shiancoe (49.2)
Shiancoe doesn’t catch a lot of passes, but he makes them count. He already has six TD on the season and five in the last five games.
Zach Miller (60.1)
Suffers due to JaMarcus Russell’s inconsistency, but he has 17 catches over the last four weeks and the Raiders are bound to be playing from behind for most of the seasons.
Dustin Keller (55.8)
Keller has 27 targets in the last three games, but he has struggled with his consistency this season. He does seem to be gaining the trust of Mark Sanchez.
Chris Cooley (62.4)
Cooley was cut in 28% of ESPN’s leagues, so there’s a decent chance that he’s out there on your waiver wire. If you had Daniels and your team is in pretty good shape, one option would be to pick up Cooley with the idea that he’ll be there for your stretch run. He should be out for three more weeks.
Kevin Boss (38.4)
Benjamin Watson (23.4)
Not consistent week to week, but the Pats score a lot of TD and Watson usually gets a few.
Tony Scheffler (24.9)
After a huge Week 6 (6-101-1), Scheffler was only targeted twice against the Ravens.
Fred Davis (1.7)
Chris Cooley is out for at least three more weeks, so Davis should see plenty of action during that span.
Donald Lee (5.1)
He’s getting consistent targets with or without Jermichael Finley in the lineup. Not a big threat to score, but he should give you something.
Bo Scaife (4.9)
Marcedes Lewis (21.7)
Jeff King (0.6)
Dante Rosario is out for a while, so King could see some extra work.
Sean Ryan (0.5)
Anthony Fasano (2.2)
Daniel Fells (0.4)
Spencer Havner (0.3)
He has caught three TD in the last two games, but did nothing early in the season. He’s getting on the field now that Finley is out.