Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 14

Weeding through those unwieldy waiver wires requires a keen eye and a quick trigger. Thus, Waiver Wire Wonders provides a weekly snapshot of players worthy of consideration who should be available on a good portion of league waiver wires. Enjoy those pickups...

With the holiday season and the first big week of the fantasy playoffs in full effect, let's kick things off with a little scene from 'A Christmas Story'.

Mr. Parker: It's a Major Award!
Swede: Shucks I wouldn't know that. It looks like a lamp.
Mr. Parker: What is a lamp, you nincompoop? It's a Major Award. I won it!
Swede: Damn, hell, you say won it?
Mr. Parker: Yeah, mind power, Swede; mind power.

As we learned from Ralphie's old man, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. When it comes to waiver wire decisions in the fantasy playoffs, most rosters are pretty stable by now, but there are always a few holes to fill. This week, for those of you looking to fill specific needs, there are a few major prizes out there.

Derrick Ward (RB, Giants) - Derrick Ward looked like a decent add coming into this week's game against the Eagles, but with Brandon Jacobs leaving the game with an injured knee, he is officially this week's leg lamp -- a major award. Coach Tom Coughlin says he is hopeful that the injury is nothing big, but Jacobs did not return to action after injuring the knee early, so snag Ward now in case Jacobs misses some time. Jacobs has struggled this season with injuries, so it is very conceivable that this might be more problematic than the coaches are leading on at this point. In Jacobs' absence, Ward carried the ball eight times for just 39 yards. Hence, this payoff only comes to fruition if Jacobs misses action, but I think it is worth the add if you can spare a roster spot.

Shaun Hill (QB, 49ers) - I have to throw out the caveat here, because Shaun Hill led my team to victory against our very own Matt Snyder in our FanHouse vs. SB Nation league. I might be officially biased in favor of Shaun Hill, but he looked genuinely very impressive against the Jets, both in throwing the ball and maneuvering in and out of the pocket. In Sunday's victory, Hill posted nice numbers including 285 yards and two touchdowns, as well as keeping the San Francisco offense on the field for almost 40 minutes.

Deion Branch (WR, Seahawks) - Is Deion Branch ever going to return to his old self after being saddled with injuries for the better part of the season? He finally answered the questioning doubters when he nabbed four passes for 88 yards and two scores. Surprisingly, the Seahawks' best passing game of the season came via strikes from Seneca Wallace, not Matt Hasselbeck. Wallace got the start as Hasselbeck's back was bothering him again, so keep an eye on the quarterback situation, but it appears the connection between Wallace and Branch might be the ticket for Branch going forward. He looks like a great add at this point.

Pierre Thomas (RB, Saints) - Pierre Thomas seems to have a regular stool and an open tab at the Waiver Wire Wonders Bar, but he answered key questions against the Falcons: How will he fit in when Reggie Bush returns, and is there room for the both of them? It should come as no surprise considering Reggie and Deuce shared the backfield for years and now Pierre forms the second half of the equation. Thomas posted 102 yards and a touchdown on the ground and added a seven-yard touchdown on a screen pass, making him one of the day's biggest performers. Thomas is still only owned in about 45 percent of leagues.

Matt Schaub (QB, Texans) - Matt Schaub's return to action provided a welcome boost for the Texans. In his first game back after missing four weeks with a knee injury, Schaub led all quarterbacks with a monster 414 yards and two touchdowns. He did throw one interception, but with those yards, one pick is certainly no deal killer. While the Texans get Tennessee next week, which is probably a bad start for Schaub, they have Oakland in Week 16, so he could be a great spot start there.

Tashard Choice (RB, Cowboys) - With Marion Barber and Felix Jones both laid up, Tashard Choice is next in line to run the ball for Dallas. Against a Pittsburgh defense that shuts down everybody on the ground, Choice racked up 88 yards rushing and added five catches for 78 yards. Unfortunately, while it's impressive that he could pull those numbers off against the Steelers, it doesn't get any easier with the Giants and Ravens in Weeks 15 and 16. Still, if Marion Barber remains out of commission with his dislocated pinky toe, Choice looks like a solid No. 3 RB start given his high touches.

Kevin Walter (WR, Texans) - Alright, this time I think it's safe to finally pull the trigger on Walter. In conjunction with Schaub's big game, Walter was the primary beneficiary, catching six passes for 146 yards and one 58-yard touchdown. Walter keeps showing up and with Schaub back, he is a decent start for Week 16.