Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups: 2009 Week 12

November 23rd, 2009 kNuke

The trade deadline has passed so the Waiver Wire is the lone way to upgrade your team. Also, remember there are three Thursday games; Packers/Lions, Cowboys/Raiders, and Giants/Broncos. Set your lineups early to avoid any mishaps!

Injuries to monitor: Marc Bulger (3-6 weeks), Clinton Portis (out), Brian Westbrook (out), Ladell Betts (season), Matthew Stafford, Kyle Orton, Kurt Warner, Ben Roethlisberger, Reggie Bush, Michael Turner, Julius Jones, Cedric Benson, Ronnie Brown (season), Donald Brown, Calvin Johnson, Sammy Morris, Lance Moore, Antonio Bryant, Marshawn Lynch, and Dwayne Bowe (3 weeks).

QB: For backup purposes only; Matt Cassel, Alex Smith, and Matthew Stafford, in that order.

RB: This list looks eerily similar to last week. Jamaal Charles, Jason Snelling, Justin Forsett, Rock Cartwright, Bernard Scott, and Jamal Lewis. All of these RBs should be well above 50% ownership after this week.

WR: Chris Chambers is going to get looks down the stretch, he’s a solid 2WR. Donnie Avery and Mohamed Massaquoi are worth looks; once again, Robert Meachem is an option if Lance Moore is sidelined.

TE: Kevin Boss, Brandon Pettigrew, and Dustin Keller, in that order. Boss has been getting it done big time the last few weeks.

DEF: Atlanta is your best bet if you’re looking for a matchup play; they got Tampa Bay. If they’re not available, Seattle is up against a Kyle Boller led Rams squad.

As always, feel free to hit me up on Twitter.

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Hawaii Warriors vs San Jose State Spartans

November 23rd, 2009 kNuke

The Hawaii Warriors escaped with a win, defeating the San Jose State Spartans 17-10 in OT. It was an ugly game with six total turnovers, two for Hawaii and four for San Jose State. Both teams had a chance to win the game in regulation, but failed. Leon Wright-Jackson’s 5-yard TD run in OT proved to be the difference.

Offense: Shane Austin was 28-46 for a career-high 299 yards. Austin made some poor decisions and extremely questionable throws, but he did show the ability to squeeze the ball into tough spots and make plays. I’d say that Moniz and Austin are about equal; I’m still holding out hope that the coaches truly re-evaluate the QB situation next year.

Jon Medeiros is clearly the most reliable Hawaii WR. Alex Green averages a fumble per 10-15 carries. Aaron Kia will end his career as the mostly penalized Warrior, ever. Kealoha Pilares needs to ride pine. I’m back on the LWJ bandwagon, but he needs to learn how to catch a pass. At the end of the day, 17 points is not going to get it done.

Defense: The defense played well, but let’s call a spade a spade. San Jose State is not good, not even close to good; maybe the worst team in the nation. There is almost no excuse losing to a backup Senior QB. Still, the defense came up huge causing a fumble at the end of regulation.

Special Teams: Scott Enos needs to be better; his kicks are too low. I feel like Jovonte Taylor could break one at any moment. That running into the kicker penalty could have been huge, but I liked the fact that at least they’re trying to block the kick.

Coaching: Kudos to Coach Mack for going for it on 4th and 5, but 4th and 16 is a little crazy. I’d like to have seen the offense on the field for 4th and 2. Penalties were an issue again, but coaching Aaron Kia at this point is useless. The defense was solid, 10 points is a great game. Loved the shovel passes when they were called, but the offense still needs more imagination; fade, stop-fade, menehune formation, WR-lateral pass… something exciting?

Final Word: Ugly wins are becoming Hawaii’s trademark, but the dream is still alive.

Helmet Stickers:
Jon Meideros – 10 catches for 149 yards
Lametrius Davis – 2 INTs

Side note: I missed the last two games so there are no recaps.

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups: 2009 Week 11

November 17th, 2009 kNuke

Bye Bye Bye Weeks… Hello Trade Deadline (Friday for most leagues). A strategy that most experts suggest is trading away flexibility to get one player who will put you over the top. I’m all for that, but I like to have one backup at QB, RB, and WR, because injuries happen; handcuffs work well once the Bye weeks are done.

Injuries to monitor: Michael Turner, Julius Jones, Cedric Benson, Ronnie Brown, Clinton Portis, Brian Westbrook, Donald Brown, Calvin Johnson, Darren McFadden, Sammy Morris, Lance Moore, Antonio Bryant, Jermichael Finley, Josh Cribbs, and Dwayne Bowe (out).

QB: Hopefully you have a starting QB at this point, but if you’re looking for a backup, I’m going to have to push for Matt Cassel for a third week in a row. I’m not a big fan of the guy, but he’s decent as your backup.

RB: Lots of immediate adds this week; I’m going to list them in order. Jamaal Charles, Justin Forsett, Jason Snelling, Darren McFadden, Ladell Betts, Beanie Wells, and Bernard Scott. I really believe Charles will win a lot of leagues before it’s all said and done.

WR: Donnie Avery finally showed up and he’s probably available. Chris Chambers and Justin Gage (injury) are out there as well; Robert Meachem is an option if Lance Moore is sidelined again.

TE: Remember Dustin Keller? It seems like such a long time ago he was on the cusp of stardom. If you really need a TE, he’s worth the gamble. Brandon Pettigrew, Fred Davis, and Kevin Boss are probably out there as well.

As always, feel free to hit me up on Twitter.

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups: 2009 Week 10

November 9th, 2009 kNuke

Before we check the wounded and hit the Wire, remember that the trade deadline is quickly approaching.

Injuries to monitor: Clinton Portis, Kevin Smith, Anquan Boldin, Donald Brown, Calvin Johnson, Darren McFadden, Jermichael Finley, Brian Westbrook, Sammy Morris, Lance Moore, Antonio Bryant, and Trent Edwards.

QB: Matt Cassel made me look good last week; I’d double down this week if you need a starter. Josh Freeman will get a lot of adds this week, but I just can’t trust a rookie. I know the Buccaneers will be throwing the ball alot playing catchup, but I just can’t do it. For those that care, Alex Smith is putting up decent numbers; any takers?

RB: Ladell Betts is the instant add as Clinton Portis is probably out next week with a concussion. Jamaal Charles disappointed in his first week as a starter, but with LJ gone, he’s another immediate add. Darren McFadden should be back in action, add him as well. The shelf life of Laurence Maroney is limited, but he’s worth an add even if it’s just for one week. If you have an extra roster spot you won’t need for the next few weeks, feel free to add the previously mentioned LJ and wait to see where he lands.

WR: Chris Chambers and his 2 TDs will attraction alot of attention, but don’t forget about everyone else; Robert Meachem, Devery Henderson, Justin Gage, Mike Wallace, and Donnie Avery are options as well.

TE: After the draft, I thought Brandon Pettigrew would be one of the most relevant fantasy players… I was right for one week. If you need TE help, he’s worth a gamble, but I’d also take a look at Fred Davis and Kevin Boss.

As always, feel free to hit me up on Twitter.

Bye Weeks: Giants, Texans.

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups: 2009 Week 9

November 2nd, 2009 kNuke

Injuries to monitor: Kevin Smith, Anquan Boldin, Jake Delhomme, Andre Johnson, Donald Brown, Bernard Berrian, Anthony Gonzalez, Calvin Johnson, Eli Manning, Darren McFadden, Jermichael Finley, Brian Westbrook, and Owen Daniels (out).

QB: The rookies, Mark Sanchez and Matthew Stafford are available along with the returns, Alex Smith and Vince Young, but the guy I’d actually use this week would be Matt Cassel.

RB: Ryan Moats is the obvious pickup, but don’t forget about Justin Fargas, Jamaal Charles, LeSean McCoy, and Jerome Harrison. If Kevin Smith is injured, Maurice Morris would be the fillin.

WR: Jeremy Maclin and Malcolm Floyd are about it, but don’t forget about Anthony Gonzalez. Just don’t expect much right off the bat. I’m still holding out hope for Donnie Avery if he gets healthy.

TE: Fred Davis and Bo Scaife are worth looks; I’m really starting to think Davis will deliver.

As always, feel free to post a comment/question below or hit me up on Twitter.

Bye Weeks: Bills, Browns, Jets, Raiders, Rams, and Vikings.

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Hawaii Warriors vs Nevada Wolf Pack

November 1st, 2009 kNuke

The Nevada Wolf Pack defeated the Hawaii Warriors 31-21 behind the nation’s best rushing attack, which ended the game with 312 yards. Nevada quickly fell behind 14-0, but scored 28 unanswered points. Colin Kaepernick threw two TD passes and rushed for two more while Vai Taua added 127 rushing yards and a TD.

Offense: Bryant Moniz was 29-49 for 374 yards with 3 TDs and 2 INTs. Moniz played okay; he goes through his reads well, but he’s not accurate enough on most throws. Most importantly, unlike Alexander, he just doesn’t make enough plays. I’m willing to concede that Moniz is probably the best QB right now, but I really hope the coaches truly re-evaluate the QB situation next year.

Jovonte Taylor was explosive on his 71-yard TD catch, but he drops too many passes; regarless, he needs to move to slot. Kealoha Pilares needs to move back to RB. It’s sad to say, but Jon Medeiros is the most reliable WR. Greg Salas had a good game, no fumbles. The LWJ project didn’t pay off, it’s time to give Alex Green the RB job full-time to see if he can handle the duties without fumbling. The offensive line didn’t play very well and I’m tired of hearing Aaron Kia’s name.

The offense was able to move the ball and put up some yardage, but weren’t able to score points; 21 points is not going to get it done.

Defense: It’s the same story each week. This week was no different, but at least all Hawaii fans can take solace in the fact that Nevada leads the nation in rushing. Coach Mack has some heavy recruiting ahead of him to help this unit, which needs help at every spot.

Special Teams: Jovonte Taylor looked good again at KR. The punting turnover was great, but the rest of the punts were not very good; it’s a recurring theme. Scott Enos deserves a poor grade as well with a missed FG and an OB kickoff. Those directional kicks need to go.

Coaching: I really really really didn’t like kicking the FG or punting on 4th and 1. I still don’t understand why the defense didn’t force Nevada to throw the ball more. I understand that Hawaii doesn’t have a player capable of spying Kaepernick, but he should have been forced to throw more often. Again I have to ask, where is the creativity of offense/defense? Coach Mack will definitely have to make some changes to his staff at year’s end.

Final Word: Hawaii played better, but it wasn’t good enough. The effort looked good, but the talent of the coaching and players are just not enough.

Helmet Stickers:
Halloween Costumes – There weren’t too many sexy angels or devils, but the sexy bunnies, police, pirates, and Dorothy’s made up the slack. The Ghostbusters car was sweet and the Duck Tours pirate boat was ingenious, but the Best Costume goes to Cloud. I was surprised that there were no Coach Mack costumes; maybe next year?

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups: 2009 Week 8

October 27th, 2009 kNuke

Injuries to monitor: Andre Johnson, Donald Brown, Bernard Berrian, Donnie Avery, Anthony Gonzalez, Calvin Johnson, Eli Manning, Matthew Stafford, Darren McFadden, Kevin Boss, Jermichael Finley, Brian Westbrook, Leon Washington (out), and Chris Cooley (out).

QB: Alex Smith is the flavor of the week, but don’t get too excited. Managing a game and chucking it up from behind are two different things. If you really need a QB, your best bet is a trade at this point.

RB: Beanie Wells, Shonn Greene, and LeSean McCoy are the instant adds, but don’t forget about Justin Fargas, Jamaal Charles, and Jamal Lewis.

WR: If you missed out on Miles Austin, make up for it by grabbing Anthony Gonzalez before he gets back. Mike Wallace, Donnie Avery, and Josh Morgan provide depth.

TE: Fred Davis will be taking over for Chris Cooley and is worth a flyer. I’d go with Zach Miller, but its the Raiders.

As always, feel free to post a comment/question below or hit me up on Twitter.

Bye Weeks: Bengals, Chiefs, Patriots, Steelers, Bucaneers, and Redskins.

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Boise State Broncos vs Hawaii Warriors

October 26th, 2009 kNuke

The Boise State Broncos dominated the Hawaii Warriors 54-9, scoring the first 44 points of the game while forcing six turnovers. Kellen Moore threw for a career high five TD passes and freshman Matt Kaiserman rushed for 122 yards in his first college game due to a concussion.

Offense: There’s not much to say, the six turnovers pretty much sum it up. The offensive line played pretty well giving up only one sack. I thought Shane Austin was decisive in his throws and showed decent arm strength despite the three INTs. Kealoha Pilares needs to be moved back to RB next year, because he drops too many passes and isn’t elusive enough in the slot. Greg Salas needs to work on ball security; he fumbles way too much.

Defense: They put up a fight, but the turnovers and inferior talent were just too much to overcome. The tackling looked better, but it’s the same old story; no DL pressure or push, RB always falls forward for another 3 yards, and the secondary is too slow. I know a lot of people are saying the defense did a great job, but remember that Boise State had at least six poor snaps.

Special Teams: Jovonte Taylor looks like the best bet for kickoff returns. The kicking game was average and the punting was atrocious, again.

Coaching: Can’t blame the coaches for six turnovers… but the Hawaii coaching staff was definitely out of their league against Chris Peterson. I’m starting to think that Coach Mack may be one of those guys that can’t handle being Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator.

Final Word: The game went as expected. After all, Boise State is the #4 BCS team in the nation for a reason.

Helmet Stickers:
Fans – Attendance was 37928; not a sellout, but a nice showing considering Hawaii is terrible.

Side note: I missed the Idaho game last week so there is no recap.

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups: 2009 Week 7

October 20th, 2009 kNuke

Injuries to monitor: Anquan Boldin, Donnie Avery, Adrian Peterson, Calvin Johnson, Eli Manning, Matthew Stafford, Darren McFadden, Sammy Morris, Mario Manningham, Frank Gore, Kevin Smith, Percy Harvin, Felix Jones, and Bengals and Jets Defense.

QB: Now that Kyle Orton is above 50% ownership, the QB pickups are pretty slim.  Shaun Hill has a great matchup this week against Houston and could be worth a Bye-week play.  Josh Johnson and Chad Henne are also options; Henne has a better matchup this week.

RB: Laurence Maroney and Justin Fargas are the immediate adds, but don’t forget about Correll Buckhalter, Mike Bell, and Jamal Lewis.

WR: Lance Moore and Hakeem Nicks will generate the most buzz, but don’t sleep on Ted Ginn Jr or Donnie Avery.

TE: Zach Miller and Jermichael Finley are your best bets; I’d go with Miller.

As always, feel free to post a comment/question below or hit me up on Twitter.

Bye Weeks: Broncos, Lions, Titans, Seahawks, Jaguars,and Ravens.

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Stickman Health Care

October 14th, 2009 kNuke

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