Waiver Wednesday: The Hot 8

So many changes on teams depth charts this week leaves us with plenty of names to choose from on the waiver wire this week. Here are my top 8 picks for this week and beyond:


GOLDEN

1) Shonn Greene -- RB -- Jets -- Since the Jets drafted him back in April, I have known that at some point this season Shonn Greene was going to be a good fantasy player. Leon Washington and Thomas Jones are far too injury prone to hold up an entire season and just like clockwork Washington is now out for the season. Greene's running style is something the Jets have lacked in that he is a strong, powerful back who has pickup yards after contact unlike either Jones or Washington. I believe Greene will step in right away around the goal line and in short yardage situations and running behind the Jets offensive line I just don't seem him coming up short very often. This is one of the absolute must have waiver pickups of this season so far. Greene will put up LenDale White 2008 type numbers with more yardage the rest of the way.

2) Alex Smith -- QB -- 49ers -- I never would have thought I'd be writing Smith's name down here in The Hot 8 especially this high upon the list. But, after watching his performance against the Texans last weekend, I have to admit that I was very impressed with the former #1 picks performance. For the first time all season the 49ers were moving the ball well through the air with WR's being hit in stride and everything. Smith was poised, took command of his team and led them on a furious comeback that came up just shy but impressed anybody who watched it. Sometimes it takes players, especially QB's awhile before they truly understand the speed and tempo of the NFL. It seems as Smith's 2 year stint on the sidelines has not only given him time to study and learn how to read NFL defenses but also brought back his hunger to succeed. I believe that Smith will prove to be a solid backup fantasy QB the rest of the way.

3) Vince Young -- QB -- Titans -- Whether the announcement comes this week or next week make no mistakes, Vince Young is the starting QB of the Titans. When the owner even starts demanding changes be made Jeff Fisher only has so long before he makes the switch. I feel that Young has changed his life around since he was demoted early last season. His special skills along with a more mature attitude, better talent around him and an easier schedule coming up has be thinking Young could be quite usable down the stretch this season. The rushing yards and rushing TD's will provide much better fantasy numbers than his modest yardage totals probably would.


STERLING SILVER

4) Brian Hartline -- WR -- Dolphins -- Of all the waiver picks this week this is the one I am least pumped up about. Something tells me that Ted Ginn is still going to be a factor in Miami but for now it appears that Hartline has earned himself a starting role and for that he needs to be accounted for. What I like about Hartline is that he has good size and very good hands. Chad Henne is very comfortable with him as well because of all their work together over the summer with the #2 offense. A sure handed WR like Hartline can certainly be a young QB's best friend and that appears to be true here in Miami. He is worth a shot in what is getting to be a thin crop of available WR's lately but please don't cut anybody useful when adding Mr. Hartline.

5) Jamaal Charles -- RB -- Chiefs -- Already the third appearance on The Hot 8 for Charles and this one will almost certainly be his last. With Larry Johnson self destructing last week it opens the door for Charles to become the feature RB of the Chiefs. I like Charles' value quite a bit in PPR leagues as he's an exceptional pass catcher and runner after the catch. He's got top end speed and is always a threat to take it to the house. The one issue with Charles has always been his fumbling issues. If he can stop putting the ball on the ground, Charles will be a nice RB3 for whoever can get him off waivers this week.


SHINY COPPER

6) Brandon Tate -- WR -- Patriots -- Last week I had both Sam Aiken and Tate in The Hot 8 and said that Aiken was a better immediate play and Tate was a long term hold. Well, Aiken indeed scored and put together a pretty good game last week but it was Tate who really caught my eye. What I like about Tate was basically that he was on the field, running quite well after having major knee surgery and was involved in the offense. Brady went deep for him twice but couldn't quite connect both times. Still, I like seeing that and I strongly believe in the next few weeks we'll see more and more out of Tate in the Patriots offense. He is going to give them that strong third option that really helps that offense out so much. Keep a close eye on Tate, I know I will and this probably won't be his last time in The Hot 8 this season.

7) Fred Davis -- TE -- Redskins -- Chris Cooley is set to miss at least 4 weeks and could possibly be shut down for the season in the very near future. I think of all the available TE's out there, Davis matches up very well. The Redskins offense is being called now by Sherman Smith who is very conservative but likes to use his TE's a lot. I think that Davis can produce at about 80% of what Chris Cooley would in this same offense and that is good enough to be a backup TE in most fantasy leagues.


REFLECTIVE TIN

8) Josh Freeman -- QB -- Buccaneers -- The Bucs are going to let Josh Freeman learn on the job when the team comes back after this weeks bye. It is a risky move as Freeman is more of a project QB but he is the future or at least they hope so. He is a fast kid who will definitely be able to make plays with his feet. Freeman is basically a more skilled version of Josh Johnson and that could go either way. Freeman will have some bigger games this season and there will be some struggles. For fantasy purposes, I wouldn't go out and claim him just yet unless you are desperate at QB. There is quality upside potential here so it is important to keep your eyes and ears tuned in to see how Freeman is coming along during practices and in the first couple games he starts.




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

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