Fantasy FanHouse

Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 14

Ryan Dembinsky — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 20:55:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire, Fantasy Football

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.

Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 14 originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Sun, 07 Dec 2008 20:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 13

Ryan Dembinsky — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 21:55:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire, Fantasy Football, NFL New Studs

Brandon Jackson (RB, Packers) -- All you fantasy owners out there who have been asking "Who's the next Ryan Grant?" on repeat for the past 12 months may have your answer -- his replacement, Brandon Jackson. Ryan Grant suffered a bruised hand in the first half and did not return. In his absence, Brandon Jackson ran the ball 11 times for a hefty 80 yards and added one reception. Reportedly, Grant could have returned, but the Packers opted to stick with the more effective replacement. Thus, Brandon Jackson looks like this week's most compelling add.

Isaac Bruce (WR, 49ers) -- Isaac Bruce is definitely a contender for Waiver Wire Wonder of the year. Bruce has not exhibited the consistency to remain a keeper on the roster, he has certainly broke out on a number of occasions this season and showed up on this list a handful of times. So what's the difference today? Well, this is his second straight big game, last week catching 8 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown and this week adding another five balls for 67 yards and a touchdown. The real key here is that Bruce and fill-in quarterback, Shaun Hill, seem to have a solid chemistry, so this could be legit from here on out.

Justin Fargas (RB, Raiders) -- Is this list looking awfully familiar? Fargas is back again after another big game this week, which helps solidify his role as the key man in the Raiders' backfield. Fargas carried the ball 18 times to McFadden's seven. Fargas also racked up 88 yards and scored a touchdown compared to McFadden's 13 yards and 1.3 yards per carry average. The Raiders continued to try to work McFadden into the offense, attempting to line him up at receiver, taking direct snaps from the wildcat, and even running a hook and ladder, but Fargas continues to be the more effective option (still available in 63% of 10-team leagues). On the other hand, the Raiders also just lost to the Chiefs today, so whether or not it is advisable to mess with either option at this point is entirely arguable.

Davone Bess (WR, Dolphins) -- With Greg Camarillo's season ending injury opening up a monster opportunity, Davone Bess looks ready to capitalize. Today, Bess snagged six balls for 84 yards in his debut as a starter and should continue to see an increasing workload. Both Davone Bess and Ted Ginn Jr. see big value upticks with Camarillo's injury, but Bess is the more likely of the two to be available at this point.

Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 13 originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Sun, 30 Nov 2008 21:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 12

Ryan Dembinsky — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 21:42:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire, Fantasy Football, NFL New Studs

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...

It looks like a pretty slow week for the waiver wires, but depending on needs, there are definitely some promising propositions out there. Since most leagues have passed the dreaded trade deadline, these guys are about the only options at this point to fill any unproductive holes. Thus, from here on out, playing the waiver wires wisely is of the utmost importance.

J.J. Arrington (RB, Cardinals) - While Arrington's numbers were pretty much sub par, his workload is steadily increasing and he looked very good against the Giants this afternoon, particularly on screen passes (5 catches for 38 yards). At this point, he is not startable, but he might be a valuable pickup down the stretch, so keep an eye on Arrington for a potential fantasy playoff pickup.

Maurice Morris (RB, Seahawks) - Earlier in the season, the bulk of the workload looked to be going to Julius Jones, but after a steady descent since his hot start to the season, Jones may have lost the privilege. After Jones went down with an early calf injury, a healthy Maurice Morris carried the ball 14 times for 103 yards and caught three passes for 10 yards and a touchdown. With this performance, Morris looks to see an expanded workload and makes for a compelling add.

Justin Fargas (RB, Raiders) - Who knows where this came from, but Fargas led the Raiders in a 31-10 romp of arch-nemesis, the Denver Broncos. While Darren McFadden scored the two rushing touchdowns, Fargas carried the ball 24 times for 107 yards and caught one short pass. Since this is about the first thing that has worked for Oakland all season, expect more of the same. Fargas is actually owned in just 33% of leagues.

Greg Camarillo (WR, Dolphins) - It's tough to choose which Dolphins wide receiver to choose to take advantage of the surprisingly decent passing game, Ted Ginn or Greg Camarillo, but Camarillo seems to be getting the most looks and today snagged six catches for 75 yards and a touchdown. On the season, Camarillo has a respectable 55 catches and continues to improve. Although consistency is an issue here, Camarillo is a decent safety valve should somebody get injured in the last weeks of the season. (UPDATE: Waiver Wire Wonders was published before the Dolphins Monday announcement that Camarillo is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury).

LeRon McClain (RB, Ravens) - McClain is back and this time, he is die harder. Whoops, sorry. Today, LeRon earned his way back into fantasy discussions as McGahee ran the ball seven times for just eight yards. In his absence, McClain racked up 88 yards and a touchdown. Presumably, McGahee is still nursing his ankle injury, so McClain is only worth adding if it appears that Willis will miss more time, but we'll probably have to wait until later in the week to know for sure.

David Garrard (QB, Jaguars) - One of this season's bigger disappointments from a fantasy perspective, David Garrard, finally put up some decent stats, throwing for 317 yards and a touchdown. While he did manage to toss two interceptions as well, the key factor here is that Garrard threw the ball 45 times. Since Jacksonville typically favors the running game, if this continues, David Garrard might become a valuable contributor. Most likely, the big passing numbers resulted from Jacksonville trying to dig out of a big hole as Minnesota creamed them today, so wait another week before seriously considering Garrard.

Domenik Hixon (WR, Giants) - For most leagues, Domenik Hixon probably does not look all that appealing as he caught six balls for 57 yards. What you don't see is how much of an impact Hixon made throughout the game, compiling 269 all-purpose yards and breaking two huge kick returns. Clearly, this is great for leagues where kick return yards score points, but regardless, Hixon looks like a big part of the offense and will see more targets late in the season. You probably don't need to race out to add him just yet, but keep him on your radar screen for sure as he might be a late season star.

Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 12 originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Sun, 23 Nov 2008 21:42:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 11

Ryan Dembinsky — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 21:40:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire, Fantasy Football

Warrick Dunn (RB, Bucs) - Also known as the Nintendo Wii. This is another move you better bust ass over to the wires to capitalize on, because Earnest Graham left the game with an ankle injury -- and has already been struggling with a knee injury -- after just one carry for three yards. Warrick Dunn did not post earthshaking numbers in Graham's absence, but he did get 20 carries, which translated into 53 yards, and he caught four passes for another 65 yards. If Graham's injuries keep him out of action, which they likely will, Dunn should get a hefty workload and post solid digits down the stretch. On the downside, Cadillac Williams is back on the scene and could eventually see some time, but for now, it looks like Warrick's show.

Matt Cassel (QB, Patriots) - After a big primetime effort on Thursday night where Cassel put up 400 yards and three touchdowns through the air and added a team-high 62 rushing yards, he looks like a decent add for the end of the season. Currently in third place behind Miami and New York, the Patriots are in a battle in the AFC East. The Patriots face Seattle, Oakland, and Arizona during Weeks 14 through 16, so Cassel has some valuable spot matchups if your starter plays against some dominating defenses during your fantasy playoff run.

Pierre Thomas (RB, Saints) - Pierre Thomas made good on his opportunity with Reggie Bush still on the pine, rushing for 88 yards and a touchdown and catching four passes for another 56 yards. In terms of Pierre's value through the next six weeks of the regular season, he might have another week or two depending on Reggie Bush's recovery time, but Bush was actually expected to return on Sunday, so he'll likely be back next week. Hence, Thomas will likely not see any more weeks like this one.

J.J. Arrington (RB, Cardinals) - It is a bit tough to rationalize betting on the Arizona ground game considering they are clearly a pass-oriented offense. Just three weeks after Edgerrin James lost the starting job to Tim Hightower, J.J. Arrington now appears to be next in line, splitting the load with Hightower vs. Seattle and outperforming his teammate. Arrington put up great numbers, scoring touchdowns both on the ground and through the air and amassing over 60 total yards. I think there are better guys out there on the waiver wires this week, but if you are shallow at running back, Arrington is a decent add.

Justin Gage (WR, Titans) - This week, the star of this season's storied team best known for its defense and ground game came from the receiving corps. Fantasy owners have wondered all season if the Titans' top receiving threat would ever become a reliable option, having battled injuries and posted volatile performances. But this week he had a career day, catching two long touchdowns and hauling in 147 yards. While he is not necessarily a weekly starter, Gage is a decent pickup to play matchups, particularly in games like Sunday's where the Titans might be playing from behind. Gage is owned in just 15 percent of leagues, so he should be available if you are short in the receiver department.

Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 11 originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Sun, 16 Nov 2008 21:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Waiver Wire Wonders, Week 10: Get Your Gamble On, Boss

Will Brinson — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 01:00:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire, Fantasy Football

Waiver Wire Wonders is your weekly guide on how to use/abuse those pesky waiver claims that come with every fantasy football league.

The beauty of fantasy football is that this late in the season, there are always people of relative importance popping up. Sometimes it's because they took a while to develop, and sometimes they emerge because of early season injuries that turned them into cast offs and pariahs. Yet, here you are, still desperate after all these weeks. Go ahead, don't be shy. You can admit you're at least intrigued by Cadillac.

Cadillac Williams, RB, TB
Yes, that's right. The old car that your grandmother drives is suddenly relevant again. Why? Because he's coming off the PUP soon and Jon Gruden has shown little to absolute zero care about how he manages his roster in the name of winning. (What? Don't believe me? How about starting Brian Griese and putting Earnest Graham in at fullback?) And yeah, Caddy has talent. He's hurt, sure, but, hey, so is Ryan Torian. Sigh. Not your top priority, but certainly worth a claim.

Deion Branch, WR, SEA
Just like this guy. Branch hasn't garnered much attention this year because he hasn't done anything other than pretend he might come back. But he will be back in Week 11, presumably, and that's why you want to grab him now -- if you're hurting at WR and Matt Hasselbeck happens to make it back about the same time, suddenly you're staring at a poor man's Billy Volek - Drew Bennett combo.

Kevin Boss, TE, NYG
The column was originally named after him, but that Caddy is just too darn appealing to avoid. Boss is actually emerging quickly, and now would be a good time -- if he's not already gone -- to make sure and grab him. It's getting so obvious that he's good that Troy Aikman is actually pointing out. Oh crap. Does that mean I'm four weeks too late on this?

Peyton Hills, RB, DEN
I suppose you kind of have to use your first waiver claim on this guy. It'll stink to waste it when he goes down for the season next week, but such are the breaks of trying to grab the next great Broncos running back. (No, seriously, I would grab him -- Mike Shanahan apparently hates Selvin Young as much as he hates you and me. 2,000 yards? Really?)

Tony Romo, QB, DAL
No, seriously, man/lady -- find a bigger league.

Matt Hasselbeck, QB, SEA
See above re: Deion Branch; Hassybeck is expected to get back on the field in Week 11, and while it's "too little-too late" for owners that actually bothered to draft him, if you've been riding out a shoddy quarterback situation and couldn't manage to trade for anyone, you have to take a stab. He's semi-elitely consistent when he's healthy and it's worth a chance. Bonus: You're still not as desperate as the Seahawks.

Waiver Wire Wonders, Week 10: Get Your Gamble On, Boss originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 01:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 9

Ryan Dembinsky — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 20:15:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire, Fantasy Football, NFL New Studs

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...

Every week, the waiver wires continue to give us hyperactive fantasy football owners something to do besides work. And Week 9 provides a particularly compelling source of procrastination. Some of the biggest performances came from players simply in fill-in roles for the key starters. Thus, owners cannot just seek out the big stat guys and jump on them, because several of these players require an evaluation of the former starter's worth as well as the severity of the injury to make an informed decision. Still, there is a lot of quality talent available after Sunday's games, so don't get caught sleeping or you will likely be sorry come playoff time.

Dan Orlovsky (QB, Lions) - With the news of the Daunte Culpepper signing, Orlovsky's respectable 292-yard, two-touchdown performance in the Lions' closest near-win to date gets diminished a bit. But he is improving and it is not likely that Culpepper will step right in as he needs to learn the offense and presumably get in shape. Thus, keep an eye on Orlovsky since he might be serviceable as -- dare I say it -- the Lions are improving. Orlovsky also threw the ball 47 times, which leads me to believe that Rod Marinelli finally might have realized that you can't just "pound the rock" when you suck. He did ding a finger on his throwing hand early in the game and is going in for an X-ray, so keep this in mind as well.

Ray Rice (RB, Ravens) - Ray Rice posted huge numbers Sunday against the Browns, racking up 154 yards on the ground and another 22 yards on three receptions. Unfortunately for Rice, the 21 carries were the result of Willis McGahee's nagging ankle injury keeping him on the sidelines for the entire duration. Thus, while Rice looks like a good snag this week, his value will probably go right back down unless McGahee's injury keeps him out another week or beyond. McGahee played through this injury for weeks, so he should be back soon.

Cedric Benson (RB, Bengals) - Benson officially earned himself a starting job in Cincinnati and he is making the most of it. The Bengals gave Benson the ball 24 times versus the Jaguars and he moved the ball 104 yards, hitting pay dirt on one occasion. If Benson is still around in your league, sign the paperwork. He makes a great pickup to play matchups or even as your No. 3 RB down the stretch.

Jamaal Charles (RB, Chiefs) - Most people jumped all over Kolby Smith when the future began looking bleak for Larry Johnson after his latest meltdown , but savvy football folks know that Jamaal Charles is a far more explosive runner with more upside in Kansas City. Against the Bucs, Charles got 18 carries to Smith's 10 and Charles notched 106 yards on a 5.9 yards per carry average. He did lose a fumble, but he should continue to get the bulk of the load going forward after this quality performance. In other words, pull the trigger.

Matt Ryan (QB, Falcons) - With big name quarterbacks like Drew Brees, Jake Delhomme, and Phillip Rivers on their bye weeks, Matt Ryan made a lot of fantasy friends today who were forced to insert him in their patchwork lineups. Ryan played a very solid, serviceable game and continues to improve each week. He posted 220 yards and a pair of touchdowns with no interceptions. He looks like a great backup going forward.

Brent Celek (TE, Eagles) - This week's "performance of the day by a guy I have never even heard of" goes to Brent Celek. Celek actually broke the Eagles' all-time single-game record for receiving yards by a tight end with 131 on six catches. And anybody who has ever played Tecmo Bowl with the Randall Cunningham to Keith Jackson connection knows that this is no easy feat. Still, Celek was filling in for L.J. Smith who was out with a concussion, so it's probably best to wait to see how the Eagles respond to the big day in terms of who gets the targets going forward.

Koren Robinson (WR, Seahawks) - If only this was 2002 and Hasselhoff was in his prime, we'd be wound up about Koren Robinson's 105 yards on four catches with a touchdown, but 2008 with Seneca Wallace? Not so much. Still, the options at receiver are still few and far between, so keep watch, because Robinson might prove valuable down the stretch.

Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 9 originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Sun, 02 Nov 2008 20:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tim Hightower Close to Taking Arizona Starting RB Job From Edgerrin James

Matt Snyder — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:53:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Sleepers, NFL Waiver Wire, Fantasy Football

Tim Hightower has been an impressive runner in his rookie season for the Arizona Cardinals. Edgerrin James, in what seems like his hundredth NFL season, has not.

Hightower's average yards per carry is low, but that's due to his usage as the goal-line back. He has scored six touchdowns already this season, the majority of which have been from inside the five yard line.

Edgerrin James is averaging only 3.5 yards per carry, and that's mostly without short-yardage touches. He's also got a ton of tread on those aging tires, as he nears 3000 carries in his illustrious career.

Common sense would dictate a change in the backfield is near ... and those thoughts are emanating from Cardinals camp this week:

(L)istening to the goings-on around the Cardinals on Monday, you got the feeling that a move from Edgerrin James to rookie Tim Hightower as the starting running back in the coming days or weeks is a distinct possibility.

The rest of the story has a few quotes from Hightower, Edge, and Coach Ken Whisenhunt ... where they basically didn't tell us anything. It was all politcal speak.

There was one thing that was never said, though ... no one ever said that Edgerrin James is definitely the feature back. I found that telling. To me, it sounds like the job is shifting from one man to the other. When asked if this was true, here's how Edge responded ...

"That's the way it was heading anyway, so it's cool."

Wow. It almost sounds like he doesn't even care.

Fantasy Spin:
You must add Hightower immediately in all formats. If he takes the starting job this week, he'll have a great opportunity to make a huge impact against the Rams sub-par run defense. Edgerrin James is relatively worthless in most formats even when he's starting at this point. He had one good week, and one decent one ... other than that he's been a waste this season. Let's hope, for our purposes, that the Cards move on.

Tim Hightower Close to Taking Arizona Starting RB Job From Edgerrin James originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:53:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 8

Ryan Dembinsky — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 23:49:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire, Fantasy Football, NFL New Studs

Kevin Faulk (RB, Patriots) - The trusty old utility guy in the New England offense looks -- for the time being at least -- to be the primary ball carrier in Belichick's crumbling offense. With LaMont Jordan, Laurence Maroney, and Sammy Morris all sidelined, Faulk is basically all that they have left. Should any of these guys return, Faulk's value immediately drops to his normal nil status, but if not, he is a decent fill-in if you are desperate at running back.

Leonard Weaver (RB, Seahawks) - While it is a little hard to feel confident in anyone on the Seahawks offense putting up consistent numbers with all of the injuries at the skill positions, Weaver puled off an amazing statistical day with four receptions for 116 yards and two touchdowns as well as another 13 yards on the ground. My gut says fluke on this one as Weaver did not even have 100 all-purpose yards to his name coming into Sunday's game. Still, he is certainly worth watching.

Cedric Benson (RB, Bengals) - This is the same story as last week, but I thought it was worth mentioning again. Benson got 13 carries for the Bengals, the most on the team, and turned them into 49 yards. In addition, he caught two passes for 20 yards. Benson looks like he will be getting a decent workload, so he is definitely worth a closer look if you need RBs.

Matt Jones (WR, Jaguars) - Upon first seeing Jones' big numbers of eight catches for 117 yards and a touchdown, I assumed he would be owned in a pretty high percentage of leagues. In actuality, he is only owned in about 20 percent of leagues (based on 10-team leagues). If Garrard improves down the stretch and finishes anything like he did last season, Jones should continue to benefit.

Chad Pennington (QB, Dolphins) - As I mentioned in the Ted Ginn Jr. segment, Chad Pennington continues to improve in Miami and makes for a very serviceable backup QB in deep leagues at this point. Currently, Pennington is only owned in about 40 percent of leagues -- a number that should double after this week. He posted 314 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. That makes three games in a row with over 280 yards through the air.

Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 8 originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Sun, 26 Oct 2008 23:49:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 7

Ryan Dembinsky — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 20:58:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire, Fantasy Football, NFL New Studs

Visanthe Shiancoe (TE, Minnesota Vikings) - The newest member to the T.J. Houshmandzadeh club for players whose names take forever to remember how to spell, Shiancoe is maturing into a valid fantasy tight end option. Gus Frerotte is playing surprisingly well in Minnesota and Shiancoe seems to be one of his favorite targets. Shiancoe saw a little flurry of pickup activity two weeks ago when a number of key tight ends had their bye weeks, but he remains available in about 75 percent of leagues. He is definitely worth a spot at least for your backup.

Greg Olsen (TE, Chicago Bears) - Everything we said previously about Orton benefits Greg Olsen. Olsen is a key part of Orton's passing attack and posted his best day to date on Sunday with six receptions, 74 yards and one touchdown. He could be a real gem down the stretch.

Cedric Benson (RB, Cincinnati Bengals) - I know, I know; Benson only ran for 52 yards and no scores. The key thing to watch here is that he carried the ball 14 times for an offense that is struggling to find its stride. With Carson Palmer still dealing with the shoulder injury, Benson might become a go-to No. 1 running back in Cincinnati. Keep an eye on him or even take a gamble if you have the roster space. He might be worth taking the long shot.

Josh Morgan (WR, San Francisco) - Morgan put up nice numbers for the one percent of fantasy teams who owned him, catching five passes for 86 yards and a score. At this point, the 49ers passing offense is too sporadic to bother with someone like this. Even on good days, O'Sullivan spreads the ball around a lot, so you can not really rely on any one receiver here for consistency.

Ahman Green (RB, Houston Texans) - As a proud Slaton owner in my league of utmost importance, this makes my stomach cramp up as I run for the bathroom. The most injury-prone player in the history of the world stole away 14 carries and picked up 62 yards, a touchdown and one reception. Let's hope this is a byproduct of getting him some playing time against the lowly Lions, but it appears he may be a bigger factor if he stays healthy. Green is currently owned in roughly 16 percent of leagues.

Javon Walker (WR, Oakland Raiders) - JaMarcus Russell and Javon Walker looked like their connection was finally developing against the Jets - in the most boring game in years. Walker caught five passes for 75 yards and a touchdown. Walker is owned in about 25 percent of leagues, so he should be around if you need a fill in receiver for bye weeks.

Donnie Avery (WR, St. Louis Rams) - Not only did Donnie Avery put up stellar numbers in Sunday's rout of the Cowboys with 5 catches for 65 yards and a touchdown, but he has become a very legitimate deep threat. With targets on two additional deep balls, Avery's day could have wound up looking more like 140 yards and a score. Plus the Rams are facing the bizarrely terrible Patriots followed by the Cardinals. Consider us curious.

Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 7 originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Sun, 19 Oct 2008 20:58:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Attention Fantasy Morons, Shaun Alexander Is Now Available

Ryan Dembinsky — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 23:50:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire, Fantasy Football

The waiting is finally over for all you nostalgia victims with your Torry Holt, Marvin Harrison, and Edgerrin James laden rosters. You can finally round out that cutting edge 2005 roster with your favorite upstanding ~~citizen~~ running back, Shaun Alexander. In late breaking trade deadline news, the AP reported that the Washington Redskins agreed to terms with Shaun of the Dead to spell the league's leading rusher, Clinton Portis, after backup Ladell Betts went down on Sunday with a sprained knee.

"Alexander, unemployed since being cut by the Seahawks in April, signed a one-year deal to back up NFL leading rusher Clinton Portis. Portis' usual backup, Ladell Betts, sprained his knee in Sunday's 19-17 loss to the St. Louis Rams and is expected to be sidelined two to four weeks."

While it is always a bit tempting to roll the dice on a former superstar, particularly one who earned league MVP honors just four short seasons ago, keep in mind that Ladell Betts is only expected to miss one month at the most and Alexander has been trying to land a job since the off-season. In eight seasons with the Seahawks, Alexander carried the ball 2,176 times, so it's really not surprising to see his body wear down.

Fantasy Spin: Look, we know that Priest Holmes pickup played out really well for you last season as did your sixth round draft pick of Ricky Williams in each of the past three seasons, but let's take a pass this time. Clinton Portis is the leading scorer in most fantasy leagues and the Redskins will likely use Alexander simply to let Portis catch a breather from time to time. Also, Ladell Betts will very likely re-assume his spot at number two on the depth chart as soon as he is healthy. In more important fantasy football news, the Redskins got a new punter.

Attention Fantasy Morons, Shaun Alexander Is Now Available originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Tue, 14 Oct 2008 23:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 6

Ryan Dembinsky — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 21:20:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire, Fantasy Football

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...

For all you people out there in fantasy land who insist on perpetually asking "Who is this year's Ryan Grant?" -- week six might have provided your answer. While the waiver wires will likely be relatively quiet this week, there was one Big Montana that will have owners racing to login to those league waivers.

Dominic Rhodes (Indianapolis Colts, RB) - No sense teasing you all any longer, Dominic Rhodes is the gorilla I alluded to in the introduction. Joseph Addai left the game with an "undisclosed" hamstring injury. While it's uncertain at this point how serious this injury is, the "undisclosed" tag is never a good sign. In his place, Rhodes handled 25 carries and gained 73 yards and a touchdown. Get him ASAP if you still can.

Matt Schaub (Houston Texans, QB) - Just days after it looked like Matt Schaub may have lost his job to Sage Rosenfels, Schaub rekindled a magic connection with Andre Johnson and posted giant numbers. He threw for 379 yards and one touchdown and ran for the game winning touchdown on a crafty QB draw. While the two interceptions raise red flags, this offense looked pretty potent. Schaub might not be a bad idea to add for a backup down the stretch.

Deuce McAllister (New Orleans, RB) - We've mentioned the Deuce around here several times lately, but if he is still available, Deuce is definitely getting his fair share of carries for the Bayou. Don't expect him to shoot the moon, but today he ran 13 times for 65 yards. He's a decent add for a backup running back on bye week.

Devin Hester (Chicago Bears, WR) - We all know about Hester's return numbers and obviously he is not available in leagues that score kick/punt returns, but today I am referring to the actual wide receiver. Hester is becoming a more integral part of the offense, catching six balls for 87 yards on Sunday. He is becoming a big threat in this improving passing game.

Patrick Cobbs (Miami Dolphins, RB) - You probably saw Cobbs on TV twenty five times already, because he caught the wide-open bomb that developed from a single wing, reverse, flea-flicker that was straight out of Super Tecmo. In what will certainly go down as Patrick Cobbs' best day of his life, he hauled in three catches totaling 138 yards and two touchdowns. Don't bother picking him up, though. Until week six, he had a total of 19 all-purpose yards.

Warrick Dunn (Tampa Bay Bucs, RB) - Warrick Dunn is another repeat on the Waiver Wire Wonder list, but at the time of this writing, he is owned in only around 40% of leagues. After posting 63, 74 and 115-yard efforts in his past three games, Dunn looks like a very serviceable running back, while Earnest Graham is starting to look significantly less so.

Steve Breaston (Arizona Cardinals, WR) - Alright, this is the third straight week I'll try to tell you. Steve Breaston keeps getting better and playing a bigger role in the Cardinal's offense. Yet again, Breaston posted great numbers with eight catches for 102 yards and a touchdown. In his past three outings, Breaston caught seven, nine, and eight passes respectively. While Boldin should return in Week 8, Breaston is not a bad play anyway at this point.

Michael Pittman (Denver Broncos, RB) - While I would never advocate messing with the Denver backfield, Selvin Young's injured groin provided a window for Michael Pittman to step up as the clear #1. Today, he raked in 109 yards on the ground and caught three passes, so logic would assume he will be the go-to guy. But enter at you own risk as we all know how Shanahan operates, which is to say we have no idea what he will do.

Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 6 originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Sun, 12 Oct 2008 21:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FanHouse's Quasi-Weekly LIVE Fantasy Football Chat: Thursday, 1:00 PM Eastern

Matt Snyder — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:45:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Position Rankings, NFL Sleepers, NFL Waiver Wire, Fantasy Football, NFL Fantasy Felony, Expert Chats

Sure, you can wait to set your lineup until Sunday morning -- when we tailgate -- but there are other things to be done in the middle of the fantasy week.

Need advice on any trades in the works?

Are bye weeks killing your roster, meaning you're in need of a desperation sleeper option?

We will also accept lineup questions, but there is so much more going on in the world of fantasy. You can even come check in if you just want to argue with us. You'll be wrong, but it's cool to try and stuff. We've got no problem with that.

No matter the reason, stop on in and check us out.

By the way, Larry (above right) wants me to tell you he's a must-start every week. Please don't ask about him.

FanHouse's Quasi-Weekly LIVE Fantasy Football Chat: Thursday, 1:00 PM Eastern originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 5

Ryan Dembinsky — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 20:52:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire, Fantasy Football, NFL New Studs

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...

Week 5 looks sleepy on the waiver wires relative to the past few weeks. There are definitely some decent options to fill holes for a week or two here and there as well as one solid receiver option coming off an injury, but generally speaking it is more like a group of names to get to know, so watch how they follow up on today's big performances in the coming weeks.

Kyle Orton - (Chicago Bears, QB) Don't be fooled by Orton's 334-yard and two-touchdown outing; the Lions are officially malfunctioning. If the Lions were a car, they would be Layne Meyer's Camaro . They need to bring somebody in to fix that lemon and get it running. Anyway, the Bears passing game is inconsistent, so this type of performance is not likely to repeat itself regularly.

Bo Scaife - (Tennessee Titans, TE) While Scaife has risen eyebrows on a number of occasions already this season and may not be available, he is officially a reliable tight end, at least as a bye week substitute. This week he snagged seven passes for 72 yards.

Le'Ron McClain (Baltimore Ravens, RB) - Baltimore appears to have officially joined the dreaded masses of the running back committee. While Willis McGahee is still the clear go-to No. 1, Le'Ron McClain gets the touchdowns. The carries appear to be going about two-thirds to McGahee and one-third to McClain. Thus, McClain is a good add at this point for a bye week running back. Other than that though, he is not a weekly start.

Domenik Hixon (New York Giants, WR) - Hixon posted huge numbers -- four catches for 102 yards and a TD -- in an effort to pick up the slack during Plaxico Burress' one game suspension. While Burress returns next week, reducing Hixon back to a reserve role, he tends to get a decent amount of playing time and numbers simply due to the Giants winning so many games by a wide margin. I would not pull the trigger, but keep an eye on him.

Bobby Engram (Seattle Seahawks, WR) - We mentioned it on the injury report, but Engram and Branch both came back this week. Engram emerged as the preferred target in the first game back with eight catches for 61 yards. Engram looks like he could become a top-flight receiver, so jump on him if it's not too late.

Tim Hightower (Arizona Cardinals, RB) - Hightower is definitely stealing the goal line carries from Edgerrin James in Arizona. This guy is not a great option since he only gets around a quarter of the carries, but if you are desperate to fill a hole on a bye week, he is not a disastrous option. He scored a pair of touchdowns on Sunday versus Buffalo.

Steve Breaston (Arizona Cardinals, WR) - We said it last week and it still holds: as long as Boldin is out, Breaston is a great choice, especially if you score return stats. Today, Breaston hauled in seven catches for 77 yards. Boldin underwent a surgical procedure on his sinus fracture last Thursday that was estimated to have about a 10-day recovery period. If he sits next week, Breaston is a decent option to start.

Isaac Bruce (San Francisco 49ers, WR) - Presumably, Isaac Bruce is off the board in most leagues, but it might be worth double checking. The 49ers' passing offense is streaky, and this week it only produced 130 yards and three interceptions, but J.T. O'Sullivan still managed to throw three TDs and two went right to Isaac Bruce. That brings his TD tally to four in the past three games. And the game before that, he racked up 153 yards. Reuniting with old chum Mike Martz is clearly benefiting Isaac Bruce's stat sheet.

Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 5 originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Sun, 05 Oct 2008 20:52:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Young Gets the Backup Job, Simms Waived

JJ Cooper — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 17:08:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire

Vince Young's recovery from his knee injury apparently has gone pretty well. Just a couple of days after he returned to practice, Young will be the Titans backup quarterback this week when they face the Jaguars. And he better he ready, because Chris Simms, the only other quarterback on the roster, was waived today so that the team could pick up an insurance policy at punter.

Josh Miller was added to the roster because Craig Hentrich has had back spasms. Simms will likely return to the team next week, unless another team snaps him up because of their own quarterback issues. Because the Titans waited until Saturday to cut him, that's pretty unlikely.

Now that Young has the No. 2 QB job, it's hard to imagine that Simms will be anything better than third string the rest of the year. While Young has handled the demotion pretty well, it's hard to see how the Titans could drop him to third-string unless they pretty much announced that he would be cut in the offseason.

But while Young's now the backup, with starter Kerry Collins leading the Titans to a 4-0 start and Young's bad deicsion to threaten to quit on his team, it's hard to see him returning to starting this year unless Collins gets hurt.

Young Gets the Backup Job, Simms Waived originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Sat, 04 Oct 2008 17:08:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 4

Ryan Dembinsky — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 20:40:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire, Fantasy Football, NFL New Studs

Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 4 originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Sun, 28 Sep 2008 20:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 3

Ryan Dembinsky — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 19:06:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire, Fantasy Football, NFL Injury Report, NFL New Studs

Antonio Chatman (Cinncinati Bengals) - Although 70 yards on six catches is not exactly eye-popping, Chatman gets a lot of looks from Palmer (more than Ocho Sinko apparently) and seems on track to become a integral part of the offense. Keep an eye on this guy as he played a great game against a ridiculously good Giants defense.

Steve Slaton (Houston Texas) - Looks like the debate about who will take over as the go to running back in the Texans' offense can finally be put to bed. Slaton busted out a 116 yards with a touchdown and four receptions (albeit for 8 yards). More importantly, he averaged 6.4 yards per carry and took one 50 for yards. Unfortunately, he probably is not available on all that many waiver wires.

Robert Meachem (New Orleans Saints) - Meachem caught a 73 yard bomb and is getting a lot more looks from Brees. The risk with Meachem is that his numbers will take a hit when Colston returns, but he is still slated to become a big part of the offense, so he's a decent gamble.

Antonio Bryant (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) - Perhaps one of the most promising waiver wire guys this week is Antonio Bryant having secured ten catches for 138 yards. Ten catches is usually no fluke and with Joey Galloway nursing a sprained foot, he should have increased value.

Le'Ron McClain (Baltimore Ravens) - Back for his second appearance on the list in three weeks, this time McClain added two touchdowns and 66 yards on 17 carries. He might be worth grabbing if you are shallow at RB, but both touhdowns were one-yarders, so don't count on this type of output on a regular basis.

Hank Baskett (Philadelphia Eagles) - Baskett's consistency is an issue, but so far he posted a big game in week 1 (from one big play) and now eight catches for 85 yards in week three. I'm not sold personally, but with receivers at a premium this year, he's a decent guy to have for the bye weeks.

Brandon Lloyd (Chicago Bears) - I can't say the idea of relying on a receiver catching passes from Kyle Orton every week is entirely appealing, but Lloyd's 6 catches for 126 yards and a touchdown are mighty tempting. Lloyd might just be a hidden gem.

Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 3 originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Sun, 21 Sep 2008 19:06:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Slinging the Rock: The Old, Annual San Diego Handcuff Stab

Will Brinson — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:10:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Sleepers, NFL Waiver Wire, Fantasy Football, NFL Fantasy Felony

Having a short term memory is pretty awesome sometimes. (Other stories, other times.) Not as much in fantasy football. Why? Because last year, we draft LaDanian Tomlinson with our top picks and, as I recall, well, we kind of freaked out about how he performed during the first few weeks.

It took him to the fourth game of the season to crack 150 yards ... on the season. He averaged well under three yards per carry and only scored once in three games. Seriously, we completely freaked out. Remember?

Well, look at this year. Two games, 130 some yards, no touchdowns. Tomlinson's case of turf toe, with which he's not practicing, isn't exactly helping things either. And so we are in the middle of another fantasy meltdown. "What do I do with LT? Do I trade him? I need to add Darren Sproles, right? Should I drop Tomlinson for Eddie Royal?"

And the answers would be: "Simma. No. Perhaps. Yeah, sure." See, Tomlinson is dealing with some offensive line issues, he has a backup performing well, he's injured and his team is losing, so he's essentially caught in a perfect storm of fantasy devaluing.

This is why you need to involve him in a trade in some way. And there are two easy ones. First, to lay out the obvious, trade for him. Stop. Just stop. I don't want to hear the excuses. He's LaDanian Tomlinson. He was a consensus top two pick this year. You go get him if you can do it for a RB2/WR2 combo that are overperforming.

Or, alternately, you grab Sproles off the wire and you trade him to Tomlinson's owner. This has worked for Michael Turner owners for years; Tomlinson owners in semi-panic have overpaid for someone that they could never actually use. That's because the idea of losing the Chargers valuable fantasy points is a terrifying proposition. And whoever has been running for the Chargers has always excelled.

So, to sum up, go get LaDanian. Don't freak out. This is two weeks into the season. He's underperforming. It's gonna be cool. You'll enjoy his stats. And more importantly, you'll win.

Slinging the Rock: The Old, Annual San Diego Handcuff Stab originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lions Reportedly Ready to Ink Benson

Matt Snyder — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 10:20:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire, Fantasy Football

According to the Detroit Free Press, the Lions brought in a trio of running backs to meet with their staff on Tuesday. Of Shaun Alexander, Vernand Morency, and Cedric Benson ... it would appear the Lions have made their choice:

In a report by News 8 Austin, a 24-hour news channel in Texas, (city council member Mike) Martinez and Benson, a former Texas Longhorns back, were supposed to announce a program by Benson's charity to help children get winter coats, but Benson was not in Austin for the announcement.

"Unfortunately, but fortunately, Cedric Benson is not here today," he said. "He is actually signing a contract today to get back in the game with the Detroit Lions ... "

Also contained in the article was information that the Lions were not in a huge hurry to sign the back, because they are happy with their current backfield situation and this is merely injury insurance. If that is really true, the Lions front office is even dumber than we have thought all along.

Let's go at it logically ...

1. Benson was available for all of training camp.
2. Tatum Bell was Kevin Smith's backup during camp.
3. When Rudi Johnson became available, the Lions immediately jumped at the opportunity to sign Rudi and cut Bell.
4. Now, all of a sudden, after two weeks, the Lions wish to add Benson.

If you add those four facts together, it's common sense to at least consider that the Lions are, in fact, unhappy with the current backfield situation after two embarrassing weeks.

Benson's not the answer ... considering he's abrasive, lazy, has a sense of entitlement, a bad arrest record, and is not a good ball-carrier. Other than that, I'm sure he'll fit in just fine to the losing philosophy of the Matt Millen administration.

Fantasy Spin:
This is not a sign to add Benson to your roster. He was a colossal bust last year as a starter for the Bears, and it appears that he'll begin either week three or four as a third-string runner on a terrible team.

The main fallout from this is that your confidence in Kevin Smith should be shaken. The Lions have added two veteran backs behind the rookie in less than a month. It's possible the Lions are telling the truth and they really are just hedging their bets. Even if that is true, however, I'd be throwing the rook on the trading block. The Lions are going to be playing from behind an awful lot, and that means throwing it downfield.

Lions Reportedly Ready to Ink Benson originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Wed, 17 Sep 2008 10:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 2

Ryan Dembinsky — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 21:10:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire, Fantasy Football, NFL New Studs

Michael Bush, Radiers - Bush might not be available on your wire, but if he is, his stock went up this week with a 90-yard and one touchdown performance. The Raiders running game dominated as McFadden also dropped 164 and a touchdown (and two fumbles). Bush's carries are due in large part to Justin Fargas' groin injury though, so his output will not always be this lucrative.

Brandon Jackson, Packers - Considering Ryan Grant put up a whopping 20 yards on 15 carries against the putrid Lions defense, Jackson's 61 yards and a touchdown gives reason to both question Grant's value and consider Jackson as a decent bench add.

Ahmad Bradshaw, Giants - While Bradshaw's numbers came mostly in garbage time, he still posted some darn good ones. On the ground he dominated the Rams with 52 yards, a touchdown, and an average of over 10 yards per carry. Furthermore, he scored another on a screen pass with an additional 18 yards.

Darren Sproles, Chargers - With LdT running under 100 percent, Sproles came up big scoring both a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown. Overall, he amassed 125 yards. If LaDainian continues to feel the wear and tear piling up from his brutal workload over the last several years, Sproles is in good shape to see continued looks. Oh and by the way, if you score kick returns, Sproles added another 103 and a touchdown.

Isaac Bruce - I almost forgot old Isaac and his 153 yard effort on four catches. Reliable like the falling of the leaves, Bruce shows up as a waiver wire guy every single year. He might be old, but he's working with his old coach, Mike Martz, and it's no coincidence they are together in San Francisco. Martz loves Bruce. Still, he is old and playing with a pretty inconsistent group.

Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 2 originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Sun, 14 Sep 2008 21:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stars to Sit: Just So You Know, Romo's Splits Against Philly at Home Are Horrible

Will Brinson — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire, Fantasy Football, NFL New Studs

Yeah. So last week's Stars to Sit? A casual six for six. No big deal. In other words, you might not want to start some of the following people that are generally considered "must starts".

Quarterback
Tony Romo, DAL -- You'll never do it, and I won't blame you. But let's take a quick look at Romo's previous stints against Philly in Dallas shall we? December 12, 2006: 14/29, 142 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT; December 16, 2007: 13/36, 214 yards, 0 TD, 3 INT. To recap: not good. I expect the Eagles to be pumped to stop Terrell Owens, and I also expect it to happen.

Carson Palmer, CIN -- What's actually to like about Palmer? Anything? After all, the Tennessee defense is a lot better than anyone really thought. Sure they were good last year, but a step back seemed like a reasonable turn of events. Well, they looked pretty good against Jacksonville, and I expect that to continue this week.

Running Back
Joseph Addai, IND -- Yeah, this article's gonna be really easy if the Vikings get first round running backs every week. Peyton will be passing the entire time.

Frank Gore, SF -- Fun fact: Gore has never scored against Seattle. Like in all six games/three years. He did have two absolute monster games in 2006, running for 356 yards. (Even though it was on an relatively obscene 53 carries.) But still, never scored. And last year, when Seattle's defense was closer to what it is now, he did almost nothing. I don't expect J.T. O'Sullivan to open up the run via the pass either.

Wide Receiver
Chris Chambers, SD -- You do know who Champ Bailey is, right? And you do know he may have some hands in the face of Mr. Chambers on Sunday, right? Yeah.

Brandon Marshall, DEN -- Marshall makes his 2008 debut on Sunday against the Chargers and people are very, very high on him, because Jay Cuter is not human. Also, Eddie Royal went nuts ... so imagine what Marshall will do! Or not, because the Chargers are not the Raiders. Also, Marshall has never cracked 75 yards or scored against San Diego. So there.

Stars to Sit: Just So You Know, Romo's Splits Against Philly at Home Are Horrible originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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