Waiver Wednesday: The Hot 8

The playoffs are in full effect and the name of the game is survival. It's like playing slots online, which to is about survival and overall victory.  Here are some lesser known players who you can start this week if you are in a pinch:


1) Arian Foster -- RB -- Texans -- Texans RB's have a serious case of fumblitis and head coach Gary Kubiak is not happy about it. He has named Foster the Texans RB1 for now and wants to see what he can do with a full complement of carries. Foster is a big hulking back who fits the cut back running style the Texans employ. He is not very fast but has good lateral quickness for a bigger RB and is extremely hard to tackle. Foster has good hands too and should be a threat to catch the ball out of the backfield for the Texans. Playing against the lowly Rams this week should result in a pretty big game for Foster, the kind of week that could lead your fantasy team into the championship round of your leagues playoffs.

2) Brian Westbrook -- RB -- Eagles -- Don't forget players who are coming back from injuries and/or suspensions late in the season. It appears that Westbrook will be back as soon as this week. My sources close to the Eagles strongly believe that Westbrook will jump right back into his primary RB role right away. I am a bit more hesitant, but to gain this kind of player at this point in the season on the waiver wire would be an outright steal. Westbrook is available in only 25% of leagues right now but if there is any way of grabbing him stop reading this right now and go do the move.

3) Dwayne Bowe -- WR -- Chiefs -- Crazy? Like a fox. How can Bowe be available? He is only owned in 60% of fantasy leagues right now despite his suspension being over with. It appears many fantasy teams didn't want to wait on him and ditched him while they made their run at the playoffs. Well, now Bowe sits on the waiver wire and could be a big help for any teams WR corps at this point in the season. I believe Bowe comes back strong and has a monster game to prove himself once and for all to the Chiefs coaching staff, his teammates and himself. Check the waiver wire and get him immediately if he's still available.

4) Jason Avant -- WR -- Eagles -- How many times can I possibly put Avant in the Hot 8? Well this is your last warning people. It will be Avant and not Reggie Brown or Kevin Curtis that benefits most from Jeremy Maclin going down. Forget his zero catch performance last week. Avant will line up in the slot with Reggie Brown starting this week against the 49ers. McNabb is very comfortable with Avant in this role and look for him to be a security target for McNabb and a frequent red zone target.

5) Brady Quinn -- QB -- Browns -- Looking over the QB landscape at this point in the season, the only player I see worth a damn is Brady Quinn. There are many QB options out there right now but only Quinn has proven to be and effective passer in the league and he plays a very soft schedule for the rest of the year. Quinn has played good football of late and I look for him to continue to progress even in these meaningless games. If you need an emergency QB from here on out, Quinn is your man.

6) Maurice Morris -- RB -- Lions -- I like rookie RB Aaron Brown much more than I like Morris but unfortunately I am not the head coach of the Detroit Lions. Jim Schwartz hates Aaron Brown right now having pulled him off of the kickoff team due to his carelessness and miscues. Morris seems like the Lions primary ball carrier from here on out this year and it is safe to pick him up to at least add some depth to your roster.

7) Davin Aromashodu -- WR -- Bears -- If you had listened to the Sunday Morning Kickoff Show on Fighting Chance Radio this week, you would have heard me call out Aromashodu as one of my deep sleepers of the week. Jay Cutler has been raving about Aromashodu in practice lately and has personally requested that the Bears coaching staff use him more in the offense. That wish was granted this past week and Aromashodu went out and grabbed 8-76 yards and 1 TD. Cutler loves the kid and all of a sudden the Bears have a legitimate WR worth owning in fantasy leagues. Forget about Devin Hester, Aromashodu is the best fantasy WR on the Bears right now period.

8) Deon Butler -- WR -- Seahawks -- With the Seahawks out of all contention, look for them to use rookie WR Deon Butler more and more. This kid showed some great flash in training camp and the preseason. With Nate Burleson suffering a high ankle sprain last week and everybody going out to grab Deion Branch do the smart thing and not follow the crowd. Pickup Butler and get yourself a WR with high upside and a soft playoff schedule.