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.
This week, I’m going to start ranking the players in order of what I believe their overall value to be over the rest of the season. Remember, there are Thursday games this week, so get your roster in early.
QUARTERBACKS
Matt Schaub (52.0) still lingers on almost half of ESPN’s waiver wires. He has tough matchups in three of the next four games, but has a tasty week 15 matchup against the Broncos, so he’d be a good pickup for those with David Garrard or Vince Young starting at QB. Both players have tough matchups that week…Kurt Warner (45.1) threw for 484 yards and two scores against the 49ers and has two good matchups over the next three games. He is very injury-prone, so be sure to have another good option at QB on your roster…Jason Campbell (47.3) has a nice matchup in week 16 (@ MIN), so if you’re starting Jon Kitna, Matt Schaub, David Garrard or Marc Bulger, Campbell would be a fine fill in that week. His schedule isn’t that bad over the short term, either…David Garrard (36.1) is back to his quiet, effective ways, but he has three tough matchups (@ IND, @ PIT, vs. OAK) over the next four weeks…Daunte Culpepper (14.6) is a sleeper pickup for the stretch run. He has solid matchups in three of his final four games…Kellen Clemens (10.2) had a bad week against a suspect Dallas secondary, but he has a couple of nice matchups (@ MIA, vs. CLE) over the next two weeks…Brodie Croyle (5.5) is an option for those desperate for help at QB. He has nice matchups in weeks 14 and 16 against Denver and Detroit, respectively…Tarvaris Jackson (4.2) is another sleeper for the stretch run. He has Detroit and San Francisco over the next two weeks, which could mean decent numbers from the young QB… Trent Edwards (2.8) is the starter again in Buffalo, and with games against the Redskins, Dolphins, Browns and Giants, he’s a sneaky good pickup in deeper leagues…Kyle Boller (4.2) has to play the Patriots and Colts, but both games are at home and after that he has the Dolphins and Seahawks on the road. He’s not a great option, but he’s a starting QB, and he’s played OK the last two weeks…Trent Dilfer (0.9) proved he had a little something in the tank with 256 yards and two TD against the Cardinals. He has two very nice matchups over the next three gams, making him a decent option for desperate owners in deep leagues…Keep an eye on Marc Bulger this week. If he can’t recover from the concussion he suffered on Sunday, then Gus Frerotte (0.9) would be a decent option this week…A.J. Feeley (0.8) played well against the Pats and would be an OK start if Donovan McNabb misses more time.
RUNNING BACKS
Kolby Smith (23.5) was my Sleeper of the Week last week and he didn’t disappoint, posting 150 rushing yards and two scores. With Larry Johnson’s uncertain future, Smith holds a ton of value right now…Adrian Peterson (15.9) will start in place of the injured Cedric Benson, who is out for the year. He doesn’t have a great upcoming schedule, but he should be an adequate RB2 for those in need of help at the position…Andre Hall (8.8) blew up against the Bears, posting 167 total yards and a score. As long as Selvin Young and Travis Henry are out, it’s Hall’s job to lose. Cecil Sapp (0.5) is his backup…Maurice Morris (56.6) had a quiet game on Sunday, but will continue to fill in for Shaun Alexander as long as he’s out…Reuben Droughns (50.5) got the starting nod with Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward sidelined and posted 46 rushing yards and a score against a pretty good Vikings rush defense…Patrick Cobbs (0.6) would likely start if Jesse Chatman and Ricky Williams (23.4) both miss Sunday’s game…It looks like Ahman Green may return this week, but if he misses, Ron Dayne (37.0) will continue to get the bulk of the Texans’ workload…Anthony Thomas (25.9) played pretty well in place of the injured Marshawn Lynch, but the A-Train strained his calf, which means that either Fred Jackson (0.0) or Dwayne Wright (1.4) could get the starting nod. Jackson got a lot more work than Wright did on Sunday, so he may have moved past Wright on the depth chart.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Chris Henry (37.4) had a quiet game against the Titans and faces a tough Pittsburgh defense this week. Still, he’s a viable WR3 in most leagues, especially considering his late-season schedule (vs. STL, @ SF, vs. CLE)…Shaun McDonald (53.7) had a quiet game this week, but he’s been money this season, especially in PPR leagues. He has a nice upcoming schedule, which makes him a good WR3 in most leagues…Roddy White (53.1) blew up (again), catching six passes for 104 yards and a score. His numbers have been up and down this season due to the erratic play of his QBs…Kevin Walter (23.3) caught six passes for 65 yards and a score against the Browns. His upcoming schedule isn’t favorable, but he would benefit if defenses focus on stopping Andre Johnson…Justin Gage (3.0) seems to be emerging as Vince Young’s favorite target in the passing game. He has 17 catches for 254 yards and a TD over the last three weeks…It’s tough to argue with Arnaz Battle’s (8.8) performance over the past few weeks. In PPR leagues, he has gone for double-digits in the last three games…Sidney Rice (2.2) has had an up and down rookie season, but he has Detroit and San Francisco over the next two weeks, so he’s a sneaky good pickup for those in need of help at WR…Darrell Jackson (52.6) posted a season-high five catches on Sunday, and with Carolina, Minnesota and Cincinnati over the next three weeks, he might be in line for a late-season resurgence…Anthony Gonzalez (9.6) finally had a breakout game, catching six passes for 105 yards. He should be the WR2 in Indy as long as Marvin Harrison is out…Reggie Williams (29.5) has caught a TD in three of the last four games. He only has four catches over the last three games, but he makes them count…Jerry Porter (49.5) has been decent over the past few weeks, breaking into the double-digits in PPR leagues in three of the last four weeks.
TIGHT ENDS
Owen Daniels (56.0) has caught 12 passes for 156 yards and a score over the last two games and has established himself as a solid starting fantasy TE…Tony Scheffler (16.4) caught five passes for 82 yards and a score against the Bears, and has now caught 18 passes in the last four games…After three consecutive good performances, Donald Lee (59.9) had a very quiet game against the Lions. Expect him to return to form against the Cowboys…L.J. Smith (53.4) has caught 11 passes over the last three games, making him a borderline starter in deeper leagues…Kellen Clemens seems to like Chris Baker (7.2), who has caught 11 passes for 112 yards and a score over the last three games.
Check back tomorrow for my Sleeper of the Week and Thinking Defensively, where I suggest a few defenses to pick up for week 13.
