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.

I’d grab Matt Hasselbeck (73.2) and Matt Cassel (68.0) before moving onto this list. I’d take Smith over David Garrard (78.2) right now.

Alex Smith (16.5)
Since taking over in Week 7, Smith is averaging 230 yards and 2.0 TD per game, and has a pretty nice schedule going forward.
Mark Sanchez (44.3)
He’s not going to put up consistently good numbers, but nice matchups in Week 10 (JAX) and Week 14 (TB) make him worth rostering in deep leagues.
Vince Young (6.0)
Young has been solid if unspectacular. He’s not going to rack up a ton of passing yards, but he’s a threat to score on the ground.
Jason Campbell (20.6)
Trent Edwards (29.4)
Matthew Stafford (5.9)
Josh Freeman (0.7)
Chad Henne (4.2)

Ryan Moats (51.9), Beanie Wells (64.9), Darren McFadden (54.4) and Derrick Ward (53.1) are worth consideration. Moats seems to be the new lead back in Houston, Wells is getting consistent carries in Arizona and McFadden is on his way back in Oakland. Ward is splitting time with Carnell Williams, but is getting some work.

Jamaal Charles (37.0)
He only got nine touches, but was productive. With four nice matchups in the next six games, Charles has the potential to break out if the Chiefs give him 15-20 carries per game.
Shonn Greene (40.0)
His Week 8 touches were disappointing, but Greene is a guy who could explode if Thomas Jones were to go down.
Sammy Morris (36.2)
Reportedly slated to return in Week 11, Morris is a good bet to eat into Laurence Maroney’s workload and maybe even take over as the lead back down the stretch.
Tashard Choice (35.0)
Justin Forsett (1.5)
Looks great in limited action. When are the Seahawks going to give this kid more work?
Justin Fargas (9.3)
His upside is limited and Darren McFadden is on the way back.
Kevin Faulk (5.9)
Leonard Weaver (1.3)
Rashad Jennings (0.4)
MJD owners might want to use that free roster spot for his handcuff. Jennings had a nice TD run on Sunday.

Kevin Walter (67.0), Michael Crabtree (59.9) and Austin Collie (55.3) are all worth a pickup before moving onto this list.

Donnie Avery (45.3)
Granted, Avery has struggled this season, but he’s been fighting injuries and has had a bye week to recover. He has a great upcoming schedule (NO, ARI, SEA, CHI, TEN, ARI) so there’s a chance he can turn things around.
Jeremy Maclin (42.2)
Mike Wallace (19.2)
The rookie speedster has caught three TDs in the last four games and has at least 47 yards in the last six games.
Devery Henderson (40.8)
Lance Moore is out indefinitely with an ankle injury, so Henderson and Meachem will see increased snaps.
Pierre Garcon (33.5)
Andre Caldwell (6.0)
Caldwell could benefit from the extra snaps leftover now that Chris Henry is out for the year. In PPR leagues, he has scored in double figures five times in eight weeks.
Malcom Floyd (5.7)
Floyd is startable in Weeks 12 (KC), 13 (CLE) and 16 (TEN).
Earl Bennett (9.4)
James Jones (0.7)
Three TD in the last four weeks, but last week was the first time all season that he caught more than two passes.
Robert Meachem (5.3)
He will have his ups and downs, which makes it tough to know when to start him.
Chris Chambers (26.9)
I’m not high on Chambers, but KC is in desperate need of a threat in the passing game opposite Dwayne Bowe.
Justin Gage (16.9)
Gage seems to be Vince Young’s favorite target in the passing game.

Visanthe Shiancoe (64.4), Zach Miller (55.8), Dustin Keller (52.2) and Chris Cooley (55.0) are all decent options at TE. Cooley should be back in a few weeks and should be able to help a team during the fantasy playoffs.

Kevin Boss (41.6)
Boss has been more involved lately. He has caught eight passes over the last three weeks.
Todd Heap (45.9)
Benjamin Watson (37.1)
Tony Scheffler (24.3)
Brandon Pettigrew (5.3)
Pettigrew has caught at least three passes in four of his eight games this season. His 7-70-1 outburst in Week 9 was by far his best game of the year.
Bo Scaife (11.6)
Fred Davis (5.3)
Marcedes Lewis (14.5)


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