Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 11

November 14th, 2011 kNuke

Tom Brady, Michael Bush, Arian Foster, Larry Fitzgerald, and Rob Gronkowski posted terrific fantasy numbers for most owners while Denarius Moore and John Skelton posted solid numbers for the Waiver Wire. Welcome back Chris Johnson (seems like we’re going down with the ship). Tim Tebow is somehow still useful with a 2-8 passing line. And the crown jewel of Week 11… Da Bearss.

“The Bears’ defense is like a wall. You can’t go t’rough it.” And they return everything for a touchdown. Da Bearss.

Bye: Indianapolis, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Houston

Carson Palmer: He looks like he’s starting to get comfortable and the Raiders will continue to stretch the field. The match up is solid and Palmer should land in the Top 10 this week.

Alex Smith: He normally doesn’t throw the ball enough to put up starter fantasy points, but maybe with Frank Gore dinged up the 49ers will allow Smith to throw a little more.

Kendall Hunter: It sounds like Frank Gore will play, but with the 49ers pretty much in the playoffs I could see Hunter seeing more work in the future. He’s a speculative Flex play.

Maurice Morris: If Jahvid Best is out I’d plug in Morris as a low end RB2. Great match up and the Lions will need more balance.

Lance Ball: Knowshon Moreno is done for the year and Willis McGahee warrants monitoring. If McGahee is out for more than a week Ball vaults to the top pick up this week. If the McGahee injury is just a one week thing then the pick up isn’t as valuable, but still worthy. Ball is a Flex play at best this week, but becomes a low end RB2 down the road if McGahee is out.

Dexter McCluster: Gut call here. The Chiefs need to find ways to get McCluster the ball in space a la Darren Sproles or Reggie Bush. A Flex play this week with hopes of busting a big one.

Chris Ogbonnaya: High volume, tough match up. He played better, but is still a Flex play.

Denarius Moore or DHB: Jacoby Ford is probably out for a few weeks, which gives these two guys starting spots. Your guess is as good as mine as far as who’ll post the better numbers this week. Both look like high end WR3 gambles this week.

Earl Bennett: It’s time to start believing. Don’t envision him becoming a WR2 for your fantasy team, but you could do a lot worse at the WR3 spot.

Damian Williams: I’m not sold on him yet, but the production has been there.

Laurent Robinson: He’s not as strong a play this week; WR3 sounds about right. It’s concerning that he’s not getting a lot of targets, but if he keeps hitting on long touchdown passes it’ll be all good.

Browns DEF/ST or Jaguars DEF/ST: This is a toss up. The Jaguars did not disappoint last week, but that was last week. Regardless of the DEF/ST you pick expect a modest payoff; low score with a few turnovers.

Send me stuff on Twitter @kNuke. I’ll be posting updates and answering questions throughout the week.

While you clean the slobber off your screen go vote for Punaohou alum Aja Dang as Maxim’s next Hometown Hottie.

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 10

November 7th, 2011 kNuke

Week 10 marks the beginning of the Thursday games (I know there was one to start the season, but we’re not counting it). As a best practice tentatively set your rosters by Wednesday. Thanks to funny NFL scheduling there are no Bye teams this week, which means higher scoring in all formats. Better bring yo A game!

Hat tips: Aaron Rodgers, Philip Rivers, Matt Moore, Willis McGahee, Marshawn Lynch, Reggie Bush, Vincent Jackson, Julio Jones, and Rob Gronkowski. Special shoutout to Patrick Peterson.

Matt Cassel: I know he burned you last week, but if you need a quarterback Cassel is your best bet. The Chiefs won’t be shut out again and if he had one touchdown pass last week he would have finished just outside the Top 12.

Andy Dalton: Dalton’s upcoming schedule is deadly so he won’t be useful in the short term, but his fantasy playoff potential is quite interesting. He’s got the Rams and Cardinals in Week 15 and 16. If your quarterback situation is dicey and the rest of your team is solid he’s a name to remember.

Chris Ogbonnaya: If Peyton Hillis is out again, which is likely, Ogbonnaya is a solid Flex play based on workload. He’ll have a better game, but don’t expect massive production.

Roy Helu: You want a Redskins running back like you want a hole in the head. Helu is legit, but I’m not fully trusting the situation yet. He’s low end RB2 with massive potential.

Javon Ringer: See last week’s post. It still applies for Ringer.

Earl Bennett: It looks Cutler trusts Bennett and looks for him on 3rd down. I wouldn’t bet the farm every week on the guy, but I like the gamble at WR3.

Laurent Robinson: Two straight weeks with a touchdown and Miles Austin looks to be out. Should be a solid gamble at WR3 if you need it.

Jonathan Baldwin: Disappeared after his breakout game. Rookies do that. The next two match ups could vault Baldwin into solid WR3 status.

Michael Crabtree: The upside is not that of Baldwin or Robinson (with Austin hurt), but Crabtree is a lot more consistent. If the 49ers start throwing more he could easily turn into a solid WR2. Currently a WR3.

Jake Ballard: The dude keeps catching passes and scoring. It’s time to start seriously considering him as a TE1.

Send me stuff on Twitter @kNuke. I’ll be posting updates and answering questions throughout the week.

I feel you Johnny boy…

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 9

October 31st, 2011 kNuke

Welcome to the Halloween edition of Waiver Wire Pickups. Hope your team was more treat and less trick this week. In case you were out grabbing costume related merchandise here’s a Sunday recap: Running backs and Defenses dominated the scoring, the Rams got off the mat recording their first win, Tim Tebow might be getting worse (but still #fantasygold) while Cam Newton somehow is getting better, Chris Johnson should no longer be called CJ2K entering a split backfield, and it looks like we all made it out of this week without any major injuries.

Bye: Detroit, Minnesota, Carolina, Jacksonville

We’re rolling out a new format in case you’re wondering why things looks a little different.

Matt Cassel: If you need a quarterback you’re loving the match up against Miami. Assuming Cassel doesn’t throw up on himself against the Chargers tonight I’d put him inside the Top 12 for the upcoming week.

Carson Palmer: Coming off the Bye Palmer should be a lot more comfortable with the offense and extremely eager to impress Raider Nation. Expect a few deep hookups with DHB and a Top 15 showing. Note: If Run DMC is out sit Palmer as well.

Javon Ringer: Most people will have Ringer as their #1 Waiver add this week. I’m recommending the add, but don’t expect to put Ringer in your lineup right away. This split backfield is a tricky situation (most are). Best case scenario is Ringer sharing carries with Chris Johnson and taking over goal line duties, but I could easily see Johnson taking back the starter role as well.

Michael Bush: The status on Run DMC is still shady. If he misses time Bush has shown the ability to carry a full workload and becomes a RB2 option.

Maurice Morris: Detroit is on Bye this week, but he’s worth a pick up. Jahvid Best and concussions don’t go well together and the timetable on his return is sketchy. Morris is a possible Flex option each week that Best is out.

Chris Ogbonnaya: Mainly an injury add. We know that Montario Hardesty is out a few weeks, but the information on Peyton Hillis is up in the air. If Hillis misses any time Ogbonnaya will get a full workload. Becomes a solid flex play with a full workload.

Kregg Lumpkin: Another injury add. Tampa Bay is pretty thin at running back so Lumpkin should see an increase in playing time regardless of what happens to LeGarrette Blount, but only becomes fantasy relevant if Blount misses the game. Right now all signs point to Blount playing this week.

Alfonso Smith: Amazed to see that Beanie Wells actually played and posted solid numbers. If you have a roster spot I’d still stash Smith who is a Beanie stumble away from a full workload.

Michael Crabtree: He’s gaining confidence each week. Solid WR3 moving forward.

Darrius Heyward-Bey: There’s a lot of risk involved when breaking in a new quarterback, but I’m rolling the dice with DHB at the WR3 spot. I’m expecting a deep touchdown pass from Palmer at some point in the game.

Early Doucet: Purely a match up play. Hoping for 70+ yards and a touchdown, which would be solid out of your WR3 spot.

Brent Celek: Big game for Celek against the Cowboys. Don’t expect those numbers again this week, but still a Top 10 tight end.

Kansas City Defense: Loving the Miami match up.

Oakland Defense: Tim Tebow looks terrible. Basically he’s a sack fumble and/or pick six waiting to happen.

Send me stuff on Twitter @kNuke. I’ll be posting updates and answering questions throughout the week.

Happy Halloween!

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 8

October 24th, 2011 kNuke

Here’s a tornado style recap: Tim Tebow is some fugly fantasy gold and we all love it, somebody on your squad probably got injured (Beanie, Run DMC, Hightower, whatchatalkinboutwillis, Graham, Lynch, Stafford, Santana Moss, etc), DeMarco Murray was running by himself for most of the day confirming that the Rams defense sucks, and if you played against Arian Foster or the KC defense there’s no need to check the score. Just move on, forget it ever happened…

Bye: Atlanta, Chicago, Green Bay, Oakland, NY Jets, Tampa Bay

QB: Now that Tim Tebow mania is in full effect he should be at 100% ownership. If not you know what to do. Since we’re guessing Tebow is gone you’re looking at Andy Dalton, Sam Bradford (if healthy), or Christian Ponder. I’m not a big Ponder fan and I don’t like gambling on injured guys so that leaves us with Dalton.

RB: Lots of pickups this week. DeMarco Murray tops the list for obvious reasons. Still a low end RB2 despite the huge game; it was against the Rams. The PT Cruiser is worth an add if Mark Ingram misses time, because guess who they got next? Yup, those same Rams. Bernard Scott will get the start against Seattle with Big House Benson suspended, but Seattle’s defense is better than you think so don’t expect monster numbers; low end RB2 at best. Knowshon Moreno is an interesting add with Willis McGahee out. Becomes a flex play with RB2 upside.

Jackie Battle is still under 50% ownership and worth a pickup despite the tough match up this week. Delone Carter looked better this week and could become a touchdown play when the match up is favorable. The information on Beanie is 1-2 weeks out so a claim on Alfonso Smith is worthwhile just based on volume. Michael Bush is a capable runner, but with the Bye he’s merely a speculative add. Maurice Morris will still get some run with Jahvid Best out so he’s flex worthy.

Montario Hardesty had a solid game, but I’d expect Peyton Hillis back in some form next week. Keep Hardesty around if you have him, but I’d look elsewhere. Kregg Lumpkin is an add only in deep leagues with Tampa Bay on a Bye. Ryan Torain and Roy Helu are worth adds, but that carousel is madness. I’d bank on Helu, but that’s a gut call.

WR: Another week another bunch of no-names topping the wide receiver leaderboard. Still sticking with Greg Little and Michael Crabtree from last week. Adding Demaryius Thomas, DHB (Bye week), and Antonio Brown to the list. I’d gamble with Brown this week at the WR3 spot.

TE: Heath Miller had a decent day. I’m betting on another one next week. Jermaine Gresham is another option especially if you’re going with Andy Dalton.

DEF: All in with the Bengals defense this week.

Send me stuff on Twitter @kNuke. I’ll be posting updates and answering questions throughout the week.

Here’s to our green and white…

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 7

October 16th, 2011 kNuke

Looks like there were a lot of low scoring fantasy affairs this week. Here’s the weekly rundown. Ahmad Bradshaw and Michael Turner were beastly, Devin Hester is still fast, this may be the first time Stephania Bell covers a coaching injury, and Jim Harbaugh is definitely more dude than Jim Schwartz.

Bye: Buffalo, Cincinnati, New England, NY Giants, Philadelphia, San Francisco

QB: A lot of you will be looking for a starter this week. If Tim Tebow is still available he’s your guy. Tebow comes with some risk as he’s a newly minted starter, but I’m guessing he’s a Top 10 quarterback this week. Matt Cassel and Curtis Painter are the next two options. I actually really like Cassel this week if you don’t have the stomach for Tebow just yet.

RB: There are two main additions to focus on this week; Montario Hardesty and DeMarco Murray. The information on Peyton Hillis is foggy at best, but if he misses time Hardesty will take over the feature back role. Felix Jones missing time sounds a little more concrete, but we’ll see what happens as the week progresses. Both are shaping up to be low end RB2 starters this upcoming week if they’re the feature back. One more running back to add for the short term would be Maurice Morris. Jahvid Best suffered another concussion and there’s a good chance he won’t play this week.

Bernard Scott (Bye week), Delone Carter, Donald Brown, Jackie Battle, Roy Helu, Stevan Ridley, and Earnest Graham are other names of note. It was interesting to see Scott get 11 carries, which could be a signal that the Bengals are expecting a Big House Benson decision soon.

WR: A ton of new names topped the wide receiver leaderboard, but none will stick. Instead we’ll look a little further down the charts at Greg Little, Michael Crabtree (Bye week), and Dexter McCluster. I’m liking Crabtree as a solid WR3 moving forward with Little being my spot starter at WR3 this week. I had my boy Danario Alexander on this list, but I took him off once Brandon Lloyd was traded to the Rams.

TE: Fred Davis is the guy you want. With Chris Cooley out he’ll get all the targets (note: not sure how John Beck will affect the offense just yet). Ed Dickson is another option for deep leagues.

DEF: All in with the Cowboys defense this week.

Send me stuff on Twitter @kNuke. I’ll be posting updates and answering questions throughout the week.

Seriously, the one day I don’t go surfing…

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