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 guys 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.
Kyle Orton (45.9)
The competition (JAX & SEA) wasn’t the greatest, but Orton absolutely shredded those defenses to the tune of 602 yards and 3 TDs, while throwing just one pick. His upcoming schedule isn’t the greatest, but he has several nice matchups in the second half.
David Garrard (36.0)
His outing against San Diego was rough, but three of his next four games are at home (where he plays well) and the only road game is in Buffalo.
Josh Freeman (5.2)
Freeman has averaged 180 yards and 2.0 TDs in his first two games. There are a few tough matchups coming up (PIT, CIN, NO), but after that, things get a lot easier, and he has two great matchups in Week 15 and Week 16 (DET & SEA).
Alex Smith (9.3)
After a dreadful Week 1, Smith bounced back with a 275 yards and a TD against (with two INTs) against the Saints.
Shaun Hill (0.4)
He threw for 335 yards and 2 TDs against a pretty good Eagles defense. With plenty of weapons to throw to coupled with the Lions’ propensity to play from behind, Hill is a good bet to post solid numbers week in and week out.
Mark Sanchez (22.7)
Which Sanchize is going to show up? The one that threw for a measly 74 yards in Week 1 or the one that tossed 3 TD against the Patriots. Only use Sanchez in good matchups.
Matt Hasselbeck (21.5)
Hass has (try saying that five times fast) always been a decent fantasy player when healthy. This week’s matchup with the Chargers isn’t favorable, but it is at home where the Seahawks seem to thrive.
Sam Bradford (15.0)
A favorable upcoming schedule (WAS, SEA, DET) makes Bradford an interesting play in two-QB leagues.
Bruce Gradkowski (0.0)
It looks like he’ll be starting as news broke last night that Jason Campbell has been demoted to QB3.
Derek Anderson (11.1)
Matt Cassel (11.0)
Jimmy Clausen (0.5)
Ryan Fitzpatrick (0.2)
Trent Edwards is out, Fitzy is in. God help us.
Mike Tolbert (0.5)
If Ryan Mathews misses any time with his ankle injury, Tolbert figures to get almost all of his work. He carried the ball 16 times for 82 yards and two TDs against the Jags and was even getting some goal line work when Mathews was healthy.
Jason Snelling (4.3)
The Falcons are saying that Michael Turner could have returned to action and is ‘ready to go,’ so they were probably just playing it safe. Snelling’s outstanding performance is a reminder that Turner owners should definitely handcuff the two going forward.
Kevin Faulk (8.0)
In PPR leagues, Faulk is probably the most valuable NE RB. Update: The Boston Globe is reporting that Kevin Faulk has a torn ACL. Sammy Morris will be used more in the passing game.
Fred Taylor (48.7)
The presumed ‘starter’ in New England, Taylor only got five ineffective carries against the Jets, though I suspect he’s the Pats’ goal line back.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis (0.4)
The Law Firm carried the ball 10 times for 19 yards, the most of any of the NE RBs.
Larry Johnson (6.2)
Keiland Williams (1.5)
Clinton Portis is dealing with a wrist injury, but LJ was benched against HOU after an ugly -10 yard run and has subsequently been cut. Williams caught four passes in his place and would presumably take over if Portis misses any time. He’s worth a stash if you have an open roster spot.
Earnest Graham (0.3)
He appears to be Carnell Williams’ backup and has some upside if the Caddy breaks down.
Bernard Scott (46.5)
Brian Westbrook (26.3)
Rashad Jennings (25.5)
Kareem Huggins (47.3)
The much-hyped rookie is on the shelf with a groin injury.
John Kuhn (2.5)
Kuhn turned nine carries into 36 yards and played more than people thought he might.
DeShawn Wynn (0.0)
Wynn is next on the depth chart if Reggie Bush misses any time with a leg injury. He’s a Pierre Thomas-type back.
Mike Williams, TB (34.4)
The rookie has gone 7-84-2 in his first two games after being touted all summer and he’s still available in 65% of ESPN fantasy leagues. This is mind-boggling.
Eddie Royal (45.3)
Remember the ’08 version who went 91-980-5 in his rookie season and was dripping with potential? Yeah, well, he’s back. Royal is on pace for a 100+ catch season.
Mark Clayton (37.5)
The Raiders have a tough pass defense and Clayton still found a way go go 2-24-2. I’m not sold, but I’m getting there.
Demaryius Thomas (2.0)
8-97-1 has to be up there in terms of a rookie debut. He was targeted nine times and caught eight passes. Josh McDaniels doesn’t like to force feed the ball to any of his wideouts, so Thomas is unlikely to post consistent numbers this season. Still, he’s worth a pickup as a WR4/WR5.
Nate Washington (37.5)
He doesn’t catch a lot of passes but 7-122-2 over the first two weeks is nothing to sneeze at.
Kevin Walter (10.7)
He followed up his 2-29-1 performance in Week 1 with 11-144-1 against the Redskins in Week 2. He’s definitely worth owning in PPR leagues.
Devin Hester (8.9)
He’s aliiiiiiiiive! After just one target in Week 1, Hester turned six targets into 4-77-1 against the Cowboys. Devin Aromashodu was demoted and it looks like Hester is the immediate beneficiary.
Louis Murphy (30.5)
Five of Murphy’s six catches (for 91 yards and a TD) came from Bruce Gradkowski, so if Gradkowski gets the starting nod in Week 3, Murphy’s stock is probably on the rise.
Mike Thomas (4.3)
Jordan Shipley (3.5)
Jerricho Cotchery (16.6)
Danny Amendola (1.8)
Davone Bess (1.9)
Welcome to the land of possession receivers, where only PPR owners dare enter. Mike Thomas has 31 targets over the last four games going back to last season. Jordan Shipley has caught 5+ passes in his first two games with Cincy. Jerricho Cotchery needs the Sanchize to play well in order to post decent numbers. Danny Amendola is probably good for 8-10 points every week. Davone Bess has some upside, though it was Brian Hartline who caught a TD pass this week. Bess was limited to just one target to Hartline’s three (after Bess led, 7-3, after the first week).
Jabar Gaffney (39.6)
I don’t have a good feeling about Gaffney, who is going to lose targets to Demaryius Thomas and isn’t as talented as Eddie Royal.
James Jones (1.1)
Upside. If Greg Jennings, Donald Driver or even Jermichael Finley were to go down, Jones would immediately become WR2/WR3-worthy. He was actually the most targeted (7) Packer receiver this week.
Mohammed Massaquoi (32.4)
After 2-42-1 on six targets in Week 1, Massaquoi was held to just 1-9 on four targets against the Chiefs. It’s probably going to be boom or bust with Massaquoi until the Browns can find some consistent play at QB.
Josh Morgan (3.5)
Morgan posted 6-70 against the Saints and showed a nice rapport with Alex Smith early on.
Deon Butler (1.0)
Mike Williams (SEA) was limited by an injury, so Butler turned eight targets into 5-50.
Kenny Britt (47.1)
There were signs of life from Britt, who posted 5-41 against the Steelers in Week 2. Keep in mind that all but one of his targets came after Kerry Collins took over at QB.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh (35.7)
Housh was shut out on six targets. The bottom line is that the Baltimore passing game needs to be firing on all cylinders to support three fantasy WRs, and with Flacco posting a QB rating of 23.8 on Sunday, it’s clearly not.
Brandon Lloyd (16.4)
Earl Bennett (0.1)
Josh Cribbs (9.3)
Roy Williams (6.6)
Darrius Heyward-Bey (1.8)
Deion Branch (1.1)
Justin Gage (0.5)
Brian Hartline (0.4)
Dustin Keller (16.4)
His fortunes rely heavily on which way the wind is blowing with Mark Sanchez, but the two proved against the Pats that they have good chemistry. Keller had a 33-yard catch called back in Week 1, so instead of 2-13, he was thisclose to having a 3-46 day. He posted 7-115-1 and dominated the New England secondary in Week 2.
Marcedes Lewis (45.4)
Is the light going on? After 2-31-2 in Week 1, Lewis posted 5-70 in Week 2 on nine targets, second only to Mike Sims-Walker’s 12.
Todd Heap (22.5)
Joe Flacco looked dreadful and Heap still posted 4-35 on six targets. Flacco isn’t that bad, so Heap should post better numbers going forward.
John Carlson (26.6)
5-48 on 10 targets against the Broncos to follow up a 3-36, five target day against the 49ers in Week 1. On a team lacking a legitimate WR1, Carlson will be involved in the passing game and is a TE2 in PPR leagues.
Aaron Hernandez (4.0)
Hernandez made the most of his six targets (6-101) after getting just two passes thrown his way (1-45) in Week 1. With this kind of efficiency, Tom Brady will look his way more often. His competition (Rob Gronkowski) has just three targets all season.
Tony Moeaki (1.4)
3-21-1 in Week 1 (on four targets) and 5-58 (on 10 targets) in Week 2. That’s a nice trend.
Jeremy Shockey (37.8)
Jermaine Gresham (15.5)
After being targeted 10 times in Week 1, Gresham saw five passes thrown his way in Week 2 and finished with a modest 3-15 line.
Tony Scheffler (3.3)
He was outplayed by Brandon Pettigrew in Week 2.
Bo Scaife (7.1)
Brandon Pettigrew (1.2)
7-108 in Week 2. Maybe Shaun Hill likes him?
Benjamin Watson (4.5)
Martellus Bennett (0.7)
Jason Witten owners worried about his concussed head should take note. Bennett would be an adequate fill in.
