Category: NFL (Page 1101 of 1282)

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.

QUARTERBACKS

David Garrard (44.0) continues to play great ball and should be owned in all leagues. At the very least, he’s a good backup though he’s been starter-caliber lately…Jason Campbell (39.8) has thrown at least one score in each of the last four games. He throws a nice ball and has a decent set of weapons to utilize…Brian Griese (16.6) has averaged 294 yards and 2.3 TD in his first three starts of the season. He has also thrown an average of two picks, but his yardage and TD offset that liability…Damon Huard (9.3) continues to play well. Over the last three games, he’s averaging 248 yards and 1.3 TD per game…Cleo Lemon (3.4) had a great first start, throwing for 256 yards and two scores, while running for two more. He has a tough matchup against the Pats next week, but after that he has some nice matchups…Kyle Boller (1.1) should start next week against the Bills, so if you’re desperate for QB help, he’s worth a look.

RUNNING BACKS

Tatum Bell (58.2) has requested a trade, so if you have a roster spot, it might be worthwhile to pick him up and hope he gets traded to a team in need of RB help…Selvin Young (50.3) is waiting in the wings in Denver, and will be the starter once Travis Henry’s appeal runs its course. He could very well be a RB1 for the stretch run…Brian Leonard (44.5) had an awful game against the Ravens, and it looks like Steven Jackson may be back next week, but if he’s not, Leonard would get the bulk of the work against the Seahawks…DeShawn Wynn (35.8) has scored four TD in six games and appears to be RB1 in Green Bay for the moment. He showed some nice agility on a couple of runs against Washington…Kenny Watson (21.8) continues to fill in for Rudi Johnson, who is still limited with hamstring injury. Those injuries sometimes linger, so Watson is worth the pickup…The Bucs are reportedly trying to work out a trade for Michael Bennett (10.4). It’s doubtful that Bennett would usurp Earnest Graham for the starting job, however…Jason Wright (8.3) gained 98 total yards and scored in place of Jamal Lewis. If Lewis misses more time, Wright would be an adequate RB2…Kevin Faulk (4.0) played well in place of Sammy Morris, who left the Dallas game with an injury. If Morris and Laurence Maroney both miss time, Faulk will be a nice pickup, especially in PPR leagues…Leonard Weaver (0.0) got most of the work for Seattle down the stretch, gaining 93 yards on seven touches. He looked more explosive than Shaun Alexander, so there’s a possibility that the team will use him more in the weeks ahead. He’s worth a handcuff for Alexander owners.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Shaun McDonald (58.3) has played well for most of the season, but may have an off week here or there since he’s the third or fourth option in the Detroit passing game…Bobby Engram (48.5) is getting lots of looks with Deion Branch and D.J. Hackett out…Andre Davis (38.1) was a hot pickup last week, but is still available in some leagues. He played second fiddle to Kevin Walter (1.5) who had a monster day on Sunday. Both guys look like decent plays going forward…Roddy White (36.5) continues to see consistent looks in the Falcons passing game, though the team’s inability to score will limit White’s big games…Reggie Williams (28.1) has caught three TD in five games, but has caught only 11 passes all season…Amani Toomer (22.4) has caught at least four passes in three of the last four games. He did have a goose egg against the Jets, but otherwise he’s been pretty consistent…James Jones (20.7) didn’t catch a pass on Sunday, but he had a long TD catch called back on a bogus holding call. He should be a decent play, especially in PPR leagues…Nate Burleson (18.7) has caught three TD this season, and should continue to see lots of targets as long as Branch and Hackett are out…Dennis Northcutt (13.2) has caught at least four passes in four of his team’s five games. He’s a possession receiver who has good value in PPR leagues…Roydell Williams (2.2) should see more looks now that Brandon Jones is out. If Vince Young misses time, Williams may benefit from the more accurate Kerry Collins throwing to him…Lance Moore (0.6) has passed Devery Henderson as WR2 for the Saints and could see more targets going forward… The truly desperate might want to grab the Seahawks’ Ben Obomanu (0.5) who had a nice game as the team’s WR3…It’s hard to get excited about David Patten (0.3) but he did have eight catches for 113 yards against the Seahawks.

TIGHT ENDS

Greg Olsen (46.1) is emerging as one of Brian Griese’s favorite targets. He has 11 catches for 110 yards and a score over the last two weeks…Donald Lee (18.4) continues to be a consistent part of the Packer passing game. He has caught at least three passes in the team’s six games…Eric Johnson (13.6) caught a TD on Sunday night and has caught at least three passes or a TD in every game this season…Bo Scaife (9.8) caught three passes on Sunday and might get more targets with Kerry Collins at QB…David Martin (3.1) caught two TD on Sunday and seems to be one of Cleo Lemon’s favorite targets, especially around the goal line…Quinn Sypniewski (1.3) might have a decent week 7 with Todd Heap out.

Check back later this week for a few defenses and kickers to pick up this week.

You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers.

(Disclaimer: They don’t always turn out to be right.)

Every week, I highlight a few players to start and a few players to sit at each position. I’m a firm believer in starting your studs, so I won’t tell you about how Carson Palmer or LaDainian Tomlinson has a tough matchup – just go ahead and start them. I’ll focus on the borderline guys – players you’ll only start under the right circumstances. It’s important to note that depending on your roster and situation, you may not be able to follow these recommendations. For example, if I suggest you bench a solid starter like Ben Roethlisberger, only do so if you have a clearly better option on your bench.

START ‘EM

QB: For those in need of a bye week fill in, Damon Huard has a terrific matchup at home against the Bengals, who have been brutal against he pass. There was some talk about Brodie Croyle starting, but Huard is practicing and is off the injury report…Cleo Lemon also has a great matchup against a suspect Browns pass defense that has allowed 267 yards and 3 TD per game through the air…Brian Griese (vs. MIN), Phillip Rivers (vs. OAK), Kurt Warner (vs. CAR) and Gus Frerotte (@ BAL) also have good matchups and can be used if you’re in a pinch.

RB: It’s tough to know who to start, but LenDale White and Chris Brown have a very good matchup this week against a Bucs defense that is surprisingly bad against the run (124 ypg)…Willis McGahee has a great matchup against the Rams, who have allowed 146 yards and 1.6 rush TD per game this season…Adrian Peterson is a decent start against the Bears, who haven’t been themselves against the run this season.

WR: Dwayne Bowe should have a nice game against the Bengals, who have given up the most fantasy points to WRs thus far…Bobby Engram and Nate Burleson are compelling starts for owners in need of help at WR. They face a bad Saints defense that has yielded 218 passing yards and 2.0 TD pass TD per game…Chris Chambers faces a porous Browns defense that has given up a ton of points to opposing WRs…Wes Welker (@ DAL) and Vincent Jackson (vs. OAK) are also good starts.

SIT ‘EM

QB: Jeff Garcia should be avoided. The Titans have allowed only two pass TD all year…It might be time for owners with Drew Brees on their roster to start looking somewhere else. He’s really struggling and he has a tough test this week in Seattle. The Seahawks have allowed just three pass TD in five games…Vince Young has a bad matchup against a Bucs defense that has been pretty stingy (189 yards, 1 TD per game) against the pass…Matt Schaub (@ JAX) and David Garrard (vs. HOU) have tough matchups as well.

RB: It’s tough to bench Clinton Portis, but RBs have struggled to score against Green Bay this season. The Packers have allowed just one rush TD thus far…Brian Leonard should be avoided against the perennially stout Ravens rush defense…Cedric Benson is in for a tough day against the Vikings, who have allowed just 62 yards per game and zero scores on the ground…Marion Barber and Julius Jones may find the going tough against the Pats, who are 5th in the league against the run…LaMont Jordan and Dominic Rhodes face a Chargers team that is difficult to run against. San Diego has allowed just 93 yards and 0.4 TD per game on the ground this season.

WR: The Redskins have been particularly tough against wideouts, so if you have a good alternative, it might be wise to sit Greg Jennings and James Jones…Joey Galloway has been spotty, so it’s a good idea to bench him against a solid Titans pass defense…The Giants’ DT is (surprisingly) playing well, so Roddy White should be avoided if possible.

THINKING DEFENSIVELY

If your defense is on bye or has a bad matchup, you may want to look to the waiver wire and try to find a mediocre or good defense with a good matchup. The following teams are available in 50% or more of ESPN leagues and have a nice matchup this week in the order that I’d pick them up: ARI. NYG, ARI, TB, KC and NYJ.

SLEEPER OF THE WEEK

Bobby Engram (vs. NO)
The 34 year-old wideout just won’t quit. Thus far, he’s averaging 3.8 catches for 55 yards and 0.4 TD, which isn’t bad for a third or fourth option in the passing game. He should see his targets increase, however, now that Deion Branch is out for two games. Plus, he’s got a great matchup against the Saints, who are pretty awful against the pass and the run.

TOUGH SLEDDING

Carson Palmer (@ KC) and Brett Favre (vs. WAS)
I don’t advocate benching these hot QBs, but they have difficult matchups this week against two of the better pass defenses in the league. They are still worth a start, but don’t expect their normal output this week.