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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.

The Monday After

Some thoughts about all we saw in Week 14:


Weather is now a major factor and the sooner you realize this the better off you'll be advancing through your fantasy playoffs. Last Thursday's game between the Steelers and Browns showed us that there doesn't have to be a thunderstorm or blizzard to affect a game. In fact, the single most important aspect is wind. Gusty winds can thwart even the most dynamic of passing games as well as severely limit extra points and field goals. Kickers, quarterbacks and wide receivers are all now at the mercy of weather so make sure your roster is deep enough with players who will be playing indoors or in warm weather climates. Some examples of players who weren't valuable before but could be now are Brandon Gibson (Rams), Kevin Walter (Texans), Antonio Bryant (Bucs), Malcolm Floyd (Chargers), Chad Henne (Dolphins), Josh Freeman (Bucs), and Garrett Hartley (Saints).


Kevin Smith is out for the season with a torn ACL suffered in yesterday's game against Baltimore. While Maurice Morris has been named the starter, expect to see a lot of rookie RB Aaron Brown. Brown was impressive early on in the season as a ball carrier but fell out of favor when his pass blocking was exposed. Brown is a very good runner and has great size and speed for a RB and best of all he'll be facing lesser competition in the remaining 3 games. He could be of use to a team in need of RB help late in the season.


With Jeremy Maclin out for at least 2 weeks, I expect Jason Avant to become a solid fantasy option for Eagles. Don't be fooled by his zero catch performance against the Giants. Donovan McNabb trusts Avant an awful lot and they have good chemistry with one another after years of practice time and games. I wouldn't be surprised if Avant led the team in receptions the next couple of weeks either. DeSean Jackson is a wonderful big play WR, but he is never going to get a ton or receptions or work near the middle of the field. Avant is that guy and he'll do quite well for the pass happy Eagles.


The Colts are not going to rest players at least until week 16 against the Jets. For all the commotion about the Colts resting players, I seriously doubt they jeopardize a perfect season or take their main guys out of rhythm just to get a rest. They will already be getting a bye in the first round of the playoffs and it has been proven over and over and over again that teams who rest their guys for longer than the 2 weeks between games don't fare very well in the playoffs. The Colts will take it week to week and rest anybody with an injury but no way do they sit Manning, Addai, Wayne, Clark or Garcon simply to 'take a break'.



Need some advice? I'd be happy to help. Send me an email at thefantasyscout@gmail.com and I'll answer all your nagging fantasy football questions in 12 hours or less.

Listen to Me on Fighting Chance Radio Tuesday at 10 PM EST, Friday at Midnight EST or Sunday Mornings at 11:30 AM EST.

Friday Night Injury Report

Here is a list of all the significant injuries and official status for week 14.



OUT

Darrius Heyward Bey -- Foot
Donald Brown -- Chest Contusion
Mark Clayton -- Hamstring
Mike Sims-Walker -- Knee
Brian Westbrook -- Concussions
Jake Delhomme -- Finger



QUESTIONABLE

Devin Hester -- Calf
Fred Taylor -- Ankle
Michael Jenkins -- Ankle
Roddy White -- Knee
Sam Aiken -- Shoulder
Vince Young -- Knee
Michael Turner -- Ankle
Tom Brady -- Ribs/Shoulder/Finger
Matt Ryan -- Toe
Lance Moore -- Ankle
Mike Bell -- Knee
Jeremy Maclin -- Foot
Percy Harvin -- Migrane Headaches



PROBABLE

Kyle Boller -- Thigh
Brandon Gibson -- Ankle
Matt Schaub -- Shoulder
Donnie Avery -- Shoulder
Steven Jackson -- Back
Pierre Thomas -- Quad
Chris Johnson -- Ankle
JerMichael Finley -- Knee
DeSean Jackson -- Concussion
Brent Celek -- Hand
DeAngelo Williams -- Ankle

Waiver Wednesday: The Hot 8

It's playoff time in most fantasy leagues and that means the season has become all about one thing and one thing only: SURVIVAL.

It doesn't have to be pretty and it isn't going to happen by all of your regular starters all doing well for 3-4 weeks in a row. To win a championship you are going to have to think outside of the box. Take calculated risks with both your roster moves and your starting lineups. There are many factors at this point in the season that aren't a concern in October or November. Weather, injuries, fatigue, rest for playoffs, perfect seasons, personal records and future considerations all play a part in what the remaining weeks will shape up like.

But don't worry. If you are reading this article chances are you also follow my daily blog on Fantasy Football Search I'll be here every step of the way to give you all the information you need to make the right decisions and secure your championship. Together we'll finish off this season in style and bring home the bling.



1) Jason Avant -- WR -- Eagles -- Yeah, I like him this much. Avant is without question Donovan McNabb's most trusted target especially anywhere near the endzone. I understand DeSean Jackson is coming back from his concussion this week and Jeremy Maclin is doing well also but to me Avant is very close to being an automatic starter. I'd easily start him over Maclin the rest of the way and for those of us needing help at the WR spot this is a huge value. Avant will score in at least 2 of the remaining weeks of this season and accumulate a decent amount of catches and yards in the process.

2) Jerome Harrison -- RB -- Browns -- I have been recommending both Chris Jennings and Harrison for a couple of weeks now and a couple of things surprise me. First is how many fantasy teams still owned Harrison (25%) despite him not being anywhere close to a factor of late and being deactivated for a game just 2 weeks ago. I am also surprised by Mangini's use of Harrison and not Jennings in the red zone last week against the Chargers. Now, I must tell you that Jennings is suffering from a shoulder injury and that I do not expect Harrison to be in at the goal line on a regular basis either. But, in PPR leagues Harrison is a very solid player providing Mangini keeps using him as the primary RB for the Browns. If so, Harrison will touch the ball 20+ times a game and with his elusiveness and breakaway speed this could give any fantasy team that push it needs to get over the championship hump.

3) Brady Quinn -- QB -- Browns -- Before you start ripping me for all of these Browns players let me say that championships are rarely won with studs anymore. NFL teams rest many of their key players down the stretch and even the most minor of injuries become reason for less touches in any given game. You must be prepared to go to war with players you wouldn't have touched a few weeks ago. That is the fantasy football world we live in today. Therefore, a hot hand like that of Brady Quinn could be of real service to someone in need of a QB or in leagues where you start 2 QB's per week. Kurt Warner, Matt Ryan, Jake Delhomme, Matt Stafford, Matt Schaub, Tom Brady, Mark Sanchez and Matt Hasselbeck are all dealing with injuries that will or could result in missing one start or more. Combine that with teams resting QB's such as Brett Favre, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees and the changing weather patterns in certain cities and finding a starting QB could be real difficult all of a sudden. Quinn is playing real well right now and with purpose. It also doesn't hurt that he plays some of the worse defenses in the league in the final weeks of the regular season too.

4) Quinton Ganther -- RB -- Redskins -- Forget about Rock Cartwright. Cartwright is a fullback who is good in short yardage situations but isn't the answer as far as a feature RB solution for the Redskins. Ganther has been getting a good amount of carries and based on his performance is in line to receive plenty more going forward. What impresses me most about Ganther is his first step or cut after getting the ball. He seems to have great vision in how his blockers are setting up and makes a quick move toward where the room will be and hits the hold hard. I think Ganther may have a great game in week 14 against the Raiders and will rack up a ton of fantasy points. Don't get cute and start him ahead of Ray Rice or something like that but if you don't have a solid option and need some big points consider playing Ganther this week and shooting for the stars.

5) Chaz Schilens -- RB -- Raiders -- Louis Murphy had an amazing week last week for the Raiders but what got lost in the shuffle is the solid performance of Schilens. He is finally running with some burst and is confident enough in his leg to make aggressive breaks and go up for balls the way only a select few NFL WR's can. Now that the Raiders have a mediocre passing game it opens up the offense for much more fantasy opportunities than at any other point in the past 2 seasons. Schilens has incredible skills and he'll give some fantasy team a boost down the stretch.

6) Garrett Hartley -- K -- Saints -- An under the radar move that was made last Sunday was the Saints awarding Hartley the placekicking duties over John Carney. Carney had been the Saints kicker all season since Hartley had been suspended for the first four games due to the NFL's drug policy. Hartley is an above average kicker who kicks for the NFL's best offense. Fantasy points will follow and based on New Orleans schedule the rest of the way he could honestly kick 12-15 field goals and a ton of extra points. This is an instant upgrade for your kicker spot no matter who else you had before.

7) Devin Thomas -- WR -- Redskins -- I am not ready to say that I trust Thomas entirely yet but I have long been a believe of his talent. Thomas has elite WR skills but unfortunately also carries with him an elite WR's brashness and sense of entitlement. The Redskins need some playmakers on offense and Jason Campbell is finally airing it out and trusting his young WR's to make the plays they are capable of making. Campbell has been playing good ball lately and if last week was any indication it could finally payoff for Devin Thomas.

8) Ryan Moats -- RB -- Texans -- Like Jerome Harrison, Moats was one of the hottest waiver pickups this season after his 23-126 yards and 3 TD performance against the Bills. Steve Slaton won the job back just 2 weeks later and then even Chris Brown was seeing more carries than Moats. But with Slaton now out for the season with a neck injury, there is no doubt in my mind that Moats becomes the lead ball carrier for the Texans the rest of the way. He is a perfect fit for the one-cut zone blocking system that the Texans employ and has good speed as well as hands. Remember, Moats was originally drafted to be Brian Westbrook's replacement in Philadelphia but never got much of a chance to prove himself. I think Moats racks up at least 1 big game probably either this week against the Seahawks or next week against the lowly Rams. He is very startable in either matchup as either a low RB2 or flex player.



That is The Hot 8 for week 14. What do you guys think? Agree? Disagree?

Leave your comments below or email me at thefantasyscout@gmail.com

Friday Night Injury Report

OUT

Donald Brown -- Chest
Clinton Portis -- Concussion
Fred Taylor -- Ankle
Brian Westbrook -- Concussion
DeSean Jackson -- Concussion
Jake Delhomme -- Finger
Bernard Scott -- Turf Toe
Jamal Lewis -- Concussion (Out For Season)
Matt Ryan -- Turf Toe



QUESTIONABLE

Justin Forsett -- Quad
Roddy White -- Ankle
Michael Jenkins -- Ankle
Michael Turner -- Ankle
Visanthe Shiancoe -- Ribs
Steven Jackson -- Back
Kurt Warner -- Concussion
Reggie Bush -- Knee
Steve Slaton -- Neck (Highly Doubtful)
DeAngelo Williams -- Ankle
Ahmad Bradshaw -- Ankle/Foot



PROBABLE

Chris Jennings -- Shoulder
Ben Roethlisberger -- Concussion
Calvin Johnson -- Knee
Julius Jones -- Chest/Lung Bruise
Maurice Jones-Drew -- Knee
Cedric Benson -- Hip
Brent Celek -- Thumb/Hand
Eli Manning -- Foot

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!


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