Waiver Wednesday: The Hot 8
For the second week in a row a New England RB tops The Hot 8. This time it is Laurence Maroney who is all of a sudden a viable option again after Sammy Morris' knee injury last week. This weeks list includes a couple of my favorite off the radar selections that I can guarantee nobody in your league is looking at....YET!
BUY THEM NOW
1) Laurence Maroney -- RB -- Patriots -- I have never doubted Maroney's talent despite all of his struggles since his explosive rookie season. The problem with Maroney has always been injuries and the fact that Bill Bellichick just doesn't like and/or trust him very much. Maroney is the best RB on the New England roster and has been for years. He will now get a chance to prove himself as the Patriots are left with very few options now that both Fred Taylor and Sammy Morris are banged up.
2) Chaz Schilens -- WR -- Raiders -- If you didn't go out and pick up Schilens last week when I told you, you had better go and do it now because pretty soon everybody is going to sniffing around him. Schilens is a tremendous talent that will come in handy to a terrible QB like JaMarcus Russell because he can make plays even on poorly executed throws. On most other teams Schilens is a fantasy WR2, but on the Raiders right now he barely qualifies as a flex option. Still, the potential is there and if you are like me and like to play this game aggressively, Schilens has got to be on your radar and hopefully your roster in the near future.
3) Matt Stover -- K -- Colts -- The first kicker of the season and it only took 7 weeks to get to one. I know many of you don't take kickers seriously but let me assure you that is a mistake. A good kicker on your fantasy team brings you consistent points and every now and then a big game that can push your team over a hump. Stover will be the Colts kicker for at least the next 6 weeks and most likely the rest of the season. He is a veteran kicker and will benefit greatly from playing in a dome and finally having a great offense that will get him plenty of work. He's an every week starter in my opinion.
BID STRONGLY
4) Vince Young -- QB -- Titans -- You don't have to wait for Jeff Fisher to tell you, I am telling you that Vince Young is now the starting QB for the Titans when play resumes for them in week 8. Young is older, more mature and hopefully in a much better place mentally then when he was pulled from the starting job last September. What he has done for Steve McNair's family and specifically his children, shows me that this is not the same man who was on the brink of a total breakdown last year. His skills have never been in question as he will add another dimension to the Titan offense with his running ability. The Titans have plenty of weapons for Young to utilize unlike back when he was the starter and they will be facing much easier competition in the coming weeks as well. It's time to give Vinny another shot. Not as your full time starter but as a #2-3 QB with tons of upside that you could wind up trading away for something good down the road.
5a) Sam Aiken -- WR -- Patriots -- Joey Galloway has been released and Julien Edelman has broken his arm. Wes Welker has some nagging knee issues and Randy Moss has back issues and is always a candidate to quit on his team when the going gets tough. Aiken is a guy who is in his second season with the Patriots and has good size and hands that can be very useful to a good QB like Tom Brady. Aiken has been around the league for awhile and never made much of an impact but has also never been in as good of a situation as this. I have two Patriots WR's on my radar and believe very strongly that one of them will make a fantasy impact this season.
5b) Brandon Tate -- WR -- Patriots -- Tate was once thought of as the top collegiate WR in early 2008. After a major knee injury ended his Senior season, Tate was an absolute steal in the third round in my opinion. He is just coming off the PUP list and has resumed practice this week. Tate is expected to be used right away on kickoff returns and could make an impact as a WR too. Tate is a playmaker and can catch anything thrown his way. If his knee is truly 100%, he has the potential to be a big performer in the second half of this season.
BID CAUTIOUSLY
6) Justin Forsett -- RB -- Seahawks -- I like what Forsett has been bringing to the table lately. He has proved himself as an important piece of the Seahawks passing game and it seems as though he is getting the ball in key third down situations and delivering. He just looks like a fluid runner when he has the ball, much like a LaDanian Tomlinson minus some of the power. I can see the team relying more and more on Forsett as the season goes on and although he won't be a viable candidate for many TD's, he'll rack up receptions and yardage totals that will make him a pretty solid third RB.
7) Devin Thomas -- WR -- Redskins -- Oh my, how I don't like recommending Washington WR's but I must admit I have a special place in my heart for Devin Thomas. He is a truly exciting WR who routinely makes sensational grabs in practices and preseason games. Or in other words, when he actually gets on the field. Thomas has been promoted to a starting role for the Redskins, probably because head coach (for now) Jim Zorn knows every week is a must win in order for him to keep his job. The time for sending messages to diva's like Devin Thomas is over and it is now time to put the best players on the field. Keep an eye on Thomas and his output in these next few weeks. When Zorn is fired, it is likely the team keeps putting both Thomas and Malcolm Kelly out there to see what they have in these young WR's.
DESPERATE BID
8) Brandon Gibson -- WR -- Rams -- Probably the biggest trade deadline move was the one that sent MLB Will Witherspoon from the Rams to the Eagles. In that deal was a little known WR named Brandon Gibson. But Gibson is not little known to this self proclaimed "fantasy scout" no siree. I was impressed with Gibson while he was playing at Washington State back in 2007 when he posted 67-1180 yards and 9 TD's. He has ideal size and strength for an NFL WR and also possesses deceptive downfield speed. He is fluent at using his body to shield defenders and making plays in big situations especially around the goal line. Gibson should have come out of school after his Junior year at Washington State but decided to stick around one more year and it cost him dearly. He never caught on to the spread offense and fell all the way to the Eagles in the 6th round of the draft. The Rams are getting themselves a good ball player here and I like his chances of making a decent impact this season.
That is The Hot 8 for this week. What do you guys think?
Agree? Disagree? Got some names to add? Go ahead and post your comments below or email me at thefantasyscout@gmail.com
BUY THEM NOW
1) Laurence Maroney -- RB -- Patriots -- I have never doubted Maroney's talent despite all of his struggles since his explosive rookie season. The problem with Maroney has always been injuries and the fact that Bill Bellichick just doesn't like and/or trust him very much. Maroney is the best RB on the New England roster and has been for years. He will now get a chance to prove himself as the Patriots are left with very few options now that both Fred Taylor and Sammy Morris are banged up.
2) Chaz Schilens -- WR -- Raiders -- If you didn't go out and pick up Schilens last week when I told you, you had better go and do it now because pretty soon everybody is going to sniffing around him. Schilens is a tremendous talent that will come in handy to a terrible QB like JaMarcus Russell because he can make plays even on poorly executed throws. On most other teams Schilens is a fantasy WR2, but on the Raiders right now he barely qualifies as a flex option. Still, the potential is there and if you are like me and like to play this game aggressively, Schilens has got to be on your radar and hopefully your roster in the near future.
3) Matt Stover -- K -- Colts -- The first kicker of the season and it only took 7 weeks to get to one. I know many of you don't take kickers seriously but let me assure you that is a mistake. A good kicker on your fantasy team brings you consistent points and every now and then a big game that can push your team over a hump. Stover will be the Colts kicker for at least the next 6 weeks and most likely the rest of the season. He is a veteran kicker and will benefit greatly from playing in a dome and finally having a great offense that will get him plenty of work. He's an every week starter in my opinion.
BID STRONGLY
4) Vince Young -- QB -- Titans -- You don't have to wait for Jeff Fisher to tell you, I am telling you that Vince Young is now the starting QB for the Titans when play resumes for them in week 8. Young is older, more mature and hopefully in a much better place mentally then when he was pulled from the starting job last September. What he has done for Steve McNair's family and specifically his children, shows me that this is not the same man who was on the brink of a total breakdown last year. His skills have never been in question as he will add another dimension to the Titan offense with his running ability. The Titans have plenty of weapons for Young to utilize unlike back when he was the starter and they will be facing much easier competition in the coming weeks as well. It's time to give Vinny another shot. Not as your full time starter but as a #2-3 QB with tons of upside that you could wind up trading away for something good down the road.
5a) Sam Aiken -- WR -- Patriots -- Joey Galloway has been released and Julien Edelman has broken his arm. Wes Welker has some nagging knee issues and Randy Moss has back issues and is always a candidate to quit on his team when the going gets tough. Aiken is a guy who is in his second season with the Patriots and has good size and hands that can be very useful to a good QB like Tom Brady. Aiken has been around the league for awhile and never made much of an impact but has also never been in as good of a situation as this. I have two Patriots WR's on my radar and believe very strongly that one of them will make a fantasy impact this season.
5b) Brandon Tate -- WR -- Patriots -- Tate was once thought of as the top collegiate WR in early 2008. After a major knee injury ended his Senior season, Tate was an absolute steal in the third round in my opinion. He is just coming off the PUP list and has resumed practice this week. Tate is expected to be used right away on kickoff returns and could make an impact as a WR too. Tate is a playmaker and can catch anything thrown his way. If his knee is truly 100%, he has the potential to be a big performer in the second half of this season.
BID CAUTIOUSLY
6) Justin Forsett -- RB -- Seahawks -- I like what Forsett has been bringing to the table lately. He has proved himself as an important piece of the Seahawks passing game and it seems as though he is getting the ball in key third down situations and delivering. He just looks like a fluid runner when he has the ball, much like a LaDanian Tomlinson minus some of the power. I can see the team relying more and more on Forsett as the season goes on and although he won't be a viable candidate for many TD's, he'll rack up receptions and yardage totals that will make him a pretty solid third RB.
7) Devin Thomas -- WR -- Redskins -- Oh my, how I don't like recommending Washington WR's but I must admit I have a special place in my heart for Devin Thomas. He is a truly exciting WR who routinely makes sensational grabs in practices and preseason games. Or in other words, when he actually gets on the field. Thomas has been promoted to a starting role for the Redskins, probably because head coach (for now) Jim Zorn knows every week is a must win in order for him to keep his job. The time for sending messages to diva's like Devin Thomas is over and it is now time to put the best players on the field. Keep an eye on Thomas and his output in these next few weeks. When Zorn is fired, it is likely the team keeps putting both Thomas and Malcolm Kelly out there to see what they have in these young WR's.
DESPERATE BID
8) Brandon Gibson -- WR -- Rams -- Probably the biggest trade deadline move was the one that sent MLB Will Witherspoon from the Rams to the Eagles. In that deal was a little known WR named Brandon Gibson. But Gibson is not little known to this self proclaimed "fantasy scout" no siree. I was impressed with Gibson while he was playing at Washington State back in 2007 when he posted 67-1180 yards and 9 TD's. He has ideal size and strength for an NFL WR and also possesses deceptive downfield speed. He is fluent at using his body to shield defenders and making plays in big situations especially around the goal line. Gibson should have come out of school after his Junior year at Washington State but decided to stick around one more year and it cost him dearly. He never caught on to the spread offense and fell all the way to the Eagles in the 6th round of the draft. The Rams are getting themselves a good ball player here and I like his chances of making a decent impact this season.
That is The Hot 8 for this week. What do you guys think?
Agree? Disagree? Got some names to add? Go ahead and post your comments below or email me at thefantasyscout@gmail.com
posted by Jeff Mans at
5:25 PM
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