Waiver Wednesday: The Hot 8
We have officially hit crunch time in fantasy football 2009. For many leagues this week is the final regular season week before the playoffs start. If you are reading this you obviously still have a shot at capturing your leagues title this year and I plan on helping you until the end. This week will be the final week of free agents who are about to make an impact. After this week, I will focus strictly on the matchups in selecting players who will help you on a week to week basis. The moves you make at this point in the season would have been ludicrous if done earlier on but it is now all about survival and moving on. If you have to dump a superstar player to grab someone off of the scrap heap then so be it. We haven't put in all this work to not win the title, right?
THE BEST OF WHAT'S LEFT
1) Chris Jennings -- RB -- Browns -- With Jamal Lewis going on injured reserve and ending his season, the Browns appear ready to see what they have in rookie RB Chris Jennings as well as possibly Jerome Harrison and newly acquired DeDe Dorsey. My bet is on Jennings holding the job for the rest of the year and thus worthy of a pickup right now. The Browns offense has been better of late with Brady Quinn at QB. The Browns have some great matchups in the coming weeks as well going against weak defenses such as San Diego, Kansas City and Oakland. As much as none of us want to own let alone count on any Cleveland players you must go to where the points are and I am telling you now that Jennings will be valuable come playoff time.
2) Jason Avant -- WR -- Eagles -- I am impressed with Avant's play in recent weeks. He is making some downright phenomenal catches as well as blocking well downfield for his teammates. With DeSean Jackson set to miss at least 1 game due to a severe concussion, Avant is set for an increased role in the Eagles pass heavy offense. In fact, I guarantee that Avant is the WR1 for the Eagles at least until Jackson comes back and possibly for the rest of the way. Not only is he roster worthy right now, I wouldn't hesitate starting him in either of the next two weeks against Atlanta or the Giants.
3) Kenny Britt -- WR -- Titans -- Britt has been one of my favorites since the moment he was drafted by the Titans in April. He is exactly what the team needed at WR in a big, physical specimen who can be counted on to make big time catches even when coverage is tight. After last weeks monster performance there is no doubt his name is high on everyone's waiver priority list this week and rightfully so. However, I must stress to not get over excited about Britt just yet as the Titans are a run first team and as good as Vince Young looked last week he is not a drop back and fling it around type QB. Start Britt at your own risk and only if you don't have any better options.
WORTH A LOOK
4) Chris Redman -- QB -- Falcons -- Redman played well last week as he came off the bench early on when Matt Ryan left with a foot injury. Ryan won't be back for awhile leaving Redman as the Falcons starting QB in the interim. Redman already has a nice chemistry with Roddy White and the other Falcons receivers so the transition shouldn't be too bad. Plus, the Falcons need to win all they can down the stretch to get back into the playoffs and so there will be no letup in this offense whatsoever. Redman can be used in 2 QB leagues and is worthy of a bench spot in leagues of at least 12 teams.
5) Matt Leinart -- QB -- Cardinals -- If you get the time, go back and read my preseason predictions especially those concerning Kurt Warner and the Arizona Cardinals. Spooky isn't it? Warner is a constant headache for fantasy owners as he always comes up with reasons to either leave games or as was the case last weekend miss them entirely. Leinart has already appeared in 6 games this season for the Cardinals and despite what you may hear from uninformed fantasy experts, played pretty well. He threw his only interception of the season against the Bears causing him to be pulled and Warner re-inserted in order to close out the ballgame but other than that he's been OK. I would bet the farm that given a full week of practice reps with the first team offense, something Leinart hasn't had since training camp, he would be able to put up very similar numbers to Warner in this offense. With Warner never a lock to play it would be a wise move to swoop up Leinart right now and even if you don't use him yourself, keep him away from whoever owns Kurt Warner and who would likely beat you with him given the Cardinals easy end of season schedule.
6) Fred Jackson -- RB -- Bills -- Jackson is no more than a very good third down RB and a dangerous receiver out of the backfield. But with Marshawn Lynch struggling and a patchwork coaching staff the Bills seem inclined giving Jackson more touches the rest of the way. He could be a sneaky play in a couple nice matchups against Kansas City and Atlanta down the line.
UPSIDE ALERT
7) Quinton Ganther -- RB -- Redskins -- Last week I mentioned my love for Marcus Mason and this week I want to spotlight Quinton Ganther. Either one of these RB's are capable of performing at a high level and producing quality fantasy numbers the rest of the way. It comes down to who is getting the ball and last week Ganther got it more and did more with it. Clinton Portis told a local radio station today that he isn't sure if he is going to play again this season making both Ganther and Mason worhty of roster spots right now. While Mason is more of a homerun threat, I like Ganther's ability around the goal line and his ability to break to the outside for bigger chunks of yards.
8) Matt Bryant -- K -- Falcons -- Jason Elam got the boot and has been replaced by Matt Bryant for the rest of the season. Bryant is a solid kicker who will not be kicking for a higher profile offense who will have to put mega points on the board to win the games left on their schedule. What makes Bryant even more attractive is that he plays all but 1 of his remaining games indoors and away from the bad weather.
That is The Hot 8 for this week. What do you guys think? Agree? Disagree?
Email me at thefantasyscout@gmail.com or leave your comments below, thanks!
Follow me on Twitter: Jeff_Mans
THE BEST OF WHAT'S LEFT
1) Chris Jennings -- RB -- Browns -- With Jamal Lewis going on injured reserve and ending his season, the Browns appear ready to see what they have in rookie RB Chris Jennings as well as possibly Jerome Harrison and newly acquired DeDe Dorsey. My bet is on Jennings holding the job for the rest of the year and thus worthy of a pickup right now. The Browns offense has been better of late with Brady Quinn at QB. The Browns have some great matchups in the coming weeks as well going against weak defenses such as San Diego, Kansas City and Oakland. As much as none of us want to own let alone count on any Cleveland players you must go to where the points are and I am telling you now that Jennings will be valuable come playoff time.
2) Jason Avant -- WR -- Eagles -- I am impressed with Avant's play in recent weeks. He is making some downright phenomenal catches as well as blocking well downfield for his teammates. With DeSean Jackson set to miss at least 1 game due to a severe concussion, Avant is set for an increased role in the Eagles pass heavy offense. In fact, I guarantee that Avant is the WR1 for the Eagles at least until Jackson comes back and possibly for the rest of the way. Not only is he roster worthy right now, I wouldn't hesitate starting him in either of the next two weeks against Atlanta or the Giants.
3) Kenny Britt -- WR -- Titans -- Britt has been one of my favorites since the moment he was drafted by the Titans in April. He is exactly what the team needed at WR in a big, physical specimen who can be counted on to make big time catches even when coverage is tight. After last weeks monster performance there is no doubt his name is high on everyone's waiver priority list this week and rightfully so. However, I must stress to not get over excited about Britt just yet as the Titans are a run first team and as good as Vince Young looked last week he is not a drop back and fling it around type QB. Start Britt at your own risk and only if you don't have any better options.
WORTH A LOOK
4) Chris Redman -- QB -- Falcons -- Redman played well last week as he came off the bench early on when Matt Ryan left with a foot injury. Ryan won't be back for awhile leaving Redman as the Falcons starting QB in the interim. Redman already has a nice chemistry with Roddy White and the other Falcons receivers so the transition shouldn't be too bad. Plus, the Falcons need to win all they can down the stretch to get back into the playoffs and so there will be no letup in this offense whatsoever. Redman can be used in 2 QB leagues and is worthy of a bench spot in leagues of at least 12 teams.
5) Matt Leinart -- QB -- Cardinals -- If you get the time, go back and read my preseason predictions especially those concerning Kurt Warner and the Arizona Cardinals. Spooky isn't it? Warner is a constant headache for fantasy owners as he always comes up with reasons to either leave games or as was the case last weekend miss them entirely. Leinart has already appeared in 6 games this season for the Cardinals and despite what you may hear from uninformed fantasy experts, played pretty well. He threw his only interception of the season against the Bears causing him to be pulled and Warner re-inserted in order to close out the ballgame but other than that he's been OK. I would bet the farm that given a full week of practice reps with the first team offense, something Leinart hasn't had since training camp, he would be able to put up very similar numbers to Warner in this offense. With Warner never a lock to play it would be a wise move to swoop up Leinart right now and even if you don't use him yourself, keep him away from whoever owns Kurt Warner and who would likely beat you with him given the Cardinals easy end of season schedule.
6) Fred Jackson -- RB -- Bills -- Jackson is no more than a very good third down RB and a dangerous receiver out of the backfield. But with Marshawn Lynch struggling and a patchwork coaching staff the Bills seem inclined giving Jackson more touches the rest of the way. He could be a sneaky play in a couple nice matchups against Kansas City and Atlanta down the line.
UPSIDE ALERT
7) Quinton Ganther -- RB -- Redskins -- Last week I mentioned my love for Marcus Mason and this week I want to spotlight Quinton Ganther. Either one of these RB's are capable of performing at a high level and producing quality fantasy numbers the rest of the way. It comes down to who is getting the ball and last week Ganther got it more and did more with it. Clinton Portis told a local radio station today that he isn't sure if he is going to play again this season making both Ganther and Mason worhty of roster spots right now. While Mason is more of a homerun threat, I like Ganther's ability around the goal line and his ability to break to the outside for bigger chunks of yards.
8) Matt Bryant -- K -- Falcons -- Jason Elam got the boot and has been replaced by Matt Bryant for the rest of the season. Bryant is a solid kicker who will not be kicking for a higher profile offense who will have to put mega points on the board to win the games left on their schedule. What makes Bryant even more attractive is that he plays all but 1 of his remaining games indoors and away from the bad weather.
That is The Hot 8 for this week. What do you guys think? Agree? Disagree?
Email me at thefantasyscout@gmail.com or leave your comments below, thanks!
Follow me on Twitter: Jeff_Mans
posted by Jeff Mans at
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