The Wire: Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 11, 2008
Here's a look at the players to target on your league's waiver wire this week. This list is ordered by the percentage of ESPN leagues in which the player is available; even if you're not a ESPN user, it's a decent indication of how likely you are to find the player on waivers in your league. We also note here how strongly we feel about this pickup with three categories: Instant Starter, Grab 'n' Stash, or Desperation Pickup.
Mark Bradley, WR, Chiefs (2.4% owned, Desperation Pickup) - Over the past three games Bradley has really developed some good chemistry with quarterback Tyler Thigpen (see below) to the tune of 18 receptions for nearly 190 yards and two scores. While you probably don't want him starting for your team come playoffs time, he makes a decent injury fill-in until that point.
Tatum Bell, RB, Broncos (7.0% owned, Desperation Pickup) - With the team running out of options at tailback, the Broncos have signed Bell and with the injury to Selvin Young, he could see touches immediately. I still don't like the Broncos running game though and wouldn't recommend you use anyone wearing orange/blue/white in your RB1 or RB2 position at this point, but if you're REALLY desperate...
Michael Jenkins, WR, Falcons (14.5% owned, Desperation Pickup) - After a solid effort in week one, Jenkins has been pretty quiet since until his big, two touchdown performance in week nine. This past Sunday he tacked on six catches for 72 yards and it is becoming apparent that quarterback Matt Ryan is starting to take a liking to the veteran. Just like Bradley, he makes a decent injury replacement for the next few weeks.
Tyler Thigpen, QB, Chiefs (16.0% owned, Grab 'n' Stash) - After several botched experiments, it appears that Kansas City has finally found a quarterback that can lead the team to victory (or at least pretty damn close!) You probably don't want to start Thigpen going into the playoffs, but he makes a great keeper candidate going ahead. If you desperately need a warm body to fill the QB position on your team, you could do worse than starting Tyler the next few weeks I guess.
Dustin Keller, TE, Jets (18.4% owned, Instant Starter) - While he still hasn't become all that consistent of a target for Brett Favre, he did have the best game of his career the past weekend, going for 100+ yards and a score. He's been a decent red zone target for Favre so far this year, so if you're not starting anyone that spectacular at the position, it might be worth plugging in Keller and hoping for a touchdown.
Sage Rosenfels, QB, Texans (30.0% owned, Desperation Pickup) - If you started Rosenfels last week, you've probably decided that you will never start him again after his terrible performance against the Ravens. However, he did throw for nearly 300 yards and found the end zone once against a pretty solid defense. It's a fact: Sage Rosenfels will turn the ball over...but that doesn't mean he can't help your fantasy team over the next few weeks if you're in a bind.
Joe Flacco, QB, Ravens (34.5% owned, Instant Starter) - Since starting off the season poorly and throwing seven interceptions in his first five games, Flacco has seemingly transformed into a great quarterback over the past four. Joe has thrown six touchdowns and is averaging somewhere around the 200 yard mark over those past four contests and is someone you should start to feel comfortable using as your backup quarterback heading into the playoffs.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB, Patriots (39.0% owned, Desperation Pickup) - With the Patriots having a short week (they play on Thursday), it's not yet determined if LaMont Jordan or Sammy Morris will be able to play yet. If they don't, look for Green-Ellis, who has a touchdown now in four straight games, to get the start and to put up some decent stats against the Jets.
Selvin Young, RB, Broncos (39.5% owned, Desperation Pickup) - What the Seattle Seahawks receiving corps was at the beginning of the season, the Broncos running back corps is now....broken. Since the beginning of the season, Andre Hall, Michael Pittman, and Ryan Torain have all found their way on to the IR list. While fullback Peyton Hillis could get carries, it'll be Young who gets the bulk of them if his injury troubles have healed. I don't expect a whole lot out of the Broncos running game though anyways with Cutler throwing the ball all over the place.
Brady Quinn, QB, Browns (41.4% owned, Grab 'n' Stash) - Although they lost, the Browns management could not have been disappointed with what they saw out of their young quarterback in his debut. Quinn has a decent schedule coming up if you're in need of a QB to help you reach the playoffs, but this was his first start and it may have been beginner's luck. I'd give him another game or two to prove that he really has what it takes to help your fantasy squad.
Kevin Boss, TE, Giants (42.0% owned, Grab 'n' Stash) - Over the past three games, Boss is finally starting to put up some of the stats that I expected from him much earlier in the season, following Shockey's departure from the team. He has a touchdown in each of his last three games to go along with 13 receptions in that same time frame. It's good to see that Eli is looking his way in the red zone and if you need a tight end, Boss makes about as good a play as Keller...so which New York team do you prefer?
Cedric Benson, RB, Bengals (45.1% owned, Grab 'n' Stash) - His team is coming off a bye, so maybe some of the novelty of Benson has worn off, but before the break he was putting up some decent fantasy numbers. If you're looking for an injury fill-in to limp your team into the playoffs, Benson could be your man.
Ricky Williams, RB, Dolphins (47.5% owned, Desperation Pickup) - Don't expect what you saw this Sunday out of Williams on a week-to-week basis. While it appears that the Dolphins want to get him more involved in the offense over the second half of the season, it's still going to be hit or miss on whether he can help your fantasy team out.
Ted Ginn, Jr., WR, Dolphins (56.0% owned, Instant Starter) - Ginn is the home run hitter out of the receivers on this team and is a great keeper league prospect. He's becoming more and more involved in the offense and makes a decent WR3 play at this point, but he's a bit too inconsistent still to rely on all that much.
Steve Breaston, WR, Cardinals (59.6% owned, Instant Starter) - Breaston should be universally owned at this point, with Kurt Warner throwing the ball like it's going out of style these days. He makes a solid WR3 play in almost all formats.
Jerious Norwood, RB, Falcons (60.2% owned, Grab 'n' Stash) - While I don't see why the team would change their approach to the running game dramatically at this point in the season (i.e. giving Norwood more carries and Turner less), they still like to get Jerious involved in the passing game some what. If you're looking for someone that can add SOME form of production out of the RB slot, you might consider picking up Norwood and hoping that he hits a home run with one of his touches.
Waiver wire DEFENSES of the week: Miami (vs OAK), San Francisco (vs STL), Carolina (vs DET)
Waiver wire KICKERS of the week: Shaun Suisham (vs DAL), Joe Nedney (vs STL), Neil Rackers (@ SEA), or Adam Vinatieri (vs HOU)
« Previous post: Guest Post: Week 11 QB Fantasy Rankings | Next post: Sell High, Buy Low: Trade ideas for Week 11, 2008 »




2 comments
#1. JQ, 1 month ago
I must be in a pretty deep league. 13 of these players are already picked from the waiver. 4 of them were even drafted.
#2. Shirley, 1 month ago
I picked up Mark Bradley but am wondering whether I should start him over Lance Moore? I'm starting Tyler Thigpen so I'm already going to get some points any Thigpen-Bradley connection.
Write a comment
If you want to add your comment on this post, simply fill out the next form:
You can use these geek-friendly XHTML tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>.
No trackbacks
To notify a mention on this post in your blog, enable automated notification (Options > Discussion in WordPress) or specify this trackback url: http://www.ffgeekblog.com/advice/the-wire-waiver-wire-pickups-for-week-11-2008/trackback/