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.

Alex Smith (12.8)
Why Smith is still available in 87% of leagues is beyond me. Since taking over as the starter, he is averaging 207 pass yards and 1.8 pass TD. Moreover, he has three good matchups coming up — JAX, SEA, ARI — and another good matchup in Week 16 (DET).
Mark Sanchez (43.5)
He had a rough go of it against New England, but with a pair of nice matchups in Week 14 (TB) and Week 15 (ATL), he wouldn’t be a bad backup for the home stretch.
Vince Young (9.4)
Jason Campbell (19.5)
Jake Delhomme (11.8)
Matthew Stafford (6.8)
He’d be higher on this list if not for the injury to his left shoulder that he suffered at the end of Sunday’s game.
Josh Freeman (3.1)
Ryan Fitzpatrick (0.6)

If Fred Jackson (60.4) or Jason Snelling (54.1) are out there, they should both be worth a pickup given the injuries to Marshawn Lynch and Michael Turner. At this point, both players are expected to be back soon, but as long as they are out, Jackson and Snelling are worthwhile pickups.

Jamaal Charles (41.3)
There was some talk that KC was going with a RBBC, but it has been Charles’ show so far. With three tasty matchups in the next three weeks, he should be owned in virtually all leagues.
Justin Forsett (37.0)
Julius Jones might be back this week, but if he’s not, Forsett looks like a great start against the Rams. He scored a TD, but otherwise didn’t do much in the running game. He did catch eight passes for 80 yards, however.
Bernard Scott (15.2)
Like Forsett, Scott’s value is dependent on the health of the guy ahead of him. If Benson sits, Scott has a pair of great matchups over the next two weeks (CLE and DET). He rushed for 119 yards against the Raiders.
Rock Cartwright (0.1)
I thought about naming this post: “The NFL: Where Rock Cartwright Happens.” With Clinton Portis’ concussion struggles and Ladell Betts’ knee injury, Cartwright is suddenly starter-caliber. He rushed for 67 yards and caught seven passes for 73 yards against the Cowboys on Sunday. He doesn’t have the greatest schedule, but has a nice matchup in Week 14 (OAK) if he can stay healthy that long.
Shonn Greene (28.7)
He has big upside if Thomas Jones were to get injured.
Justin Fargas (12.6)
Lex Hilliard (1.1)
Hilliard looks to be the next in line to be the lead back if something happens to Ricky Williams. The Dolphins have a potent rushing attack, so Hilliard is worth consideration in big leagues.

Donnie Avery (47.1)
He has caught eight passes in the last two weeks and has a nice schedule down the stretch.
Jeremy Maclin (44.1)
Maclin has caught 12 passes in the last two weeks.
Anthony Gonzalez (43.9)
Rumor has it Gonzalez may finally make his return in Week 12. He could potentially help in a playoff run in a PPR league.
Chris Chambers (44.4)
Without Dwayne Bowe, Matt Cassel doesn’t have a lot of options in the passing game. Chambers is averaging 3.3-83-0.7 over the last three weeks since joining the Chiefs.
Pierre Garcon (31.8)
Robert Meachem (13.1)
Austin Collie (42.9)
Brandon Gibson (0.3)
He’s averaging 6.0-77 over the last two weeks. There is a lot of opportunity in St. Louis.
Jason Avant (1.3)
He posted 8-156 in Week 10 and 4-26-1 in Week 11.
Davone Bess (3.9)
Earl Bennett (8.9)
Mohamed Massaquoi (6.5)
Too bad he can’t play the Lions every week.
Mike Wallace (32.8)
Nate Washington (15.2)

Dustin Keller (54.8) and Zach Miller (57.9) look like decent pickups. Keller has been solid in recent weeks and Miller seems to be better with Bruce Gradkowski under center. I’d pick them up after the first guy on this list:

Kevin Boss (41.2)
8-163-4 over the last three weeks.
Jermichael Finley (8.9)
Finley returned with a 7-54 day. Not bad.
Todd Heap (41.4)
Brandon Pettigrew (6.1)
15-165-2 over the last three weeks.
David Thomas (0.2)
He has 9-111-1 over the last two weeks and is stealing targets from Jeremy Shockey.
Benjamin Watson (36.4)
Fred Davis (5.5)
Bo Scaife (7.4)
Fall back in PPR leagues. That’s it.


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