Fantasy Football Fanhouse

Fantasy Football Cut-N-Go: Injured QBs Cause Fantasy Owners to Scramble

Knox Bardeen — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:31:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire, NFL Injury Report

Cut-N-Go is Fantasy Football FanHouse's weekday roundup of the NFL news with fantasy football impact.

Sunday was a tough day for quarterbacks, but it wasn't until Monday afternoon that the fallout from the Week 11 injuries started coming to light. Kurt Warner and Ben Roethlisberger received good news and may be able to play in Week 12. The same can't be said for Marc Bulger and Matthew Stafford.

If I gave out a tough-man award each week, I would have no trouble handing the hardware to Stafford for his heroics on Detroit's final game-winning drive. Stafford sprained his shoulder on the next-to-final play on Sunday and John Niyo of The Detroit News says he will likely miss the Lions' Week 12 game on Thanksgiving day.

"He's sore, and I would say if that continues, he'd be unlikely to play," said [Jim] Schwartz, adding that Daunte Culpepper will start if Stafford can't play. "I mean, there's a chance that goes away in the next couple days. Structurally, everything is good. I don't think there's any lasting damage. But he's extremely sore, as you'd expect. We'll see. You don't want to close the door on anybody."

Stafford didn't want to, either.

"I don't know, we'll see," he said during his weekly sponsored radio appearance on WJR, when asked if he'd be able to play. "I'm in a pretty good amount of pain right now. But hopefully it'll start getting better. We'll see."

More bad injury news came from St. Louis on Monday where Marc Bulger will miss the next three to six weeks with a knee injury, according to Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

The St. Louis Rams will be without quarterback Marc Bulger for three to six weeks because of fracture in his knee, at the upper part of the shinbone. An MRI exam Monday disclosed the damage -- technically called a tibial plateau fracture. It occurred Sunday in the 21-13 loss to the Arizona Cardinals at the Edward Jones Dome.

Coach Steve Spagnuolo said the injury does not require surgery. "It's just crutches. He'll have to say off it for a while," he explained.

Neither of these guys should have been occupying your QB1 spot on your fantasy football roster. And Stafford's backup, Daunte Culpepper, isn't rosterable even if he's called upon to play. But, Kyle Boller could actually make sense in the short-term for fantasy owners who play in very deep leagues, leagues with two quarterback slots or that allow quarterbacks to be used at FLEX positions. Especially since the Rams play Seattle in Week 12 and Chicago the following week.

Other Fantasy Football Notes

o. If the 49ers were to switch to the shotgun-spread offense, the scheme they showed in the second half of Sunday's game that worked so well, not only would the team benefit, but Michael Crabtree could become a fantasy star. Unfortunately, according to John Crumpacker of The San Francisco Chronicle, Alex Smith isn't thrilled with moving to the new scheme full-time.

o. Kellen Clemens isn't going to get his chance to jump into the starting role for the New York. Jets. Head coach Rex Ryan is still going to stick with Mark Sanchez, says Gary Myers of the New York Daily News.

o. Jason La Canfora of the NFL Network says that Ben Roethlisberger should be able to play this weekend. That's great news, not only for fantasy owners of Roethlisberger, but all of the Steelers receivers as well since Charlie Batch will miss the rest of the regular season after having surgery on his wrist.

o. Ray Rice averaged under four yards per carry on Sunday and hasn't rushed for over 100 yards since Week 4. Mike Preston of The Baltimore Sun blames that on poor run blocking by the interior offensive linemen.

o. Bruce Gradkowski may not be able to bring home a Raiders victory every week, but Steve Corkran of the Oakland Tribune says that the new quarterback is gelling with his receivers after just one game better than JaMarcus Russell was able to connect during the first 10 weeks of the season.

Fantasy Football Cut-N-Go: Injured QBs Cause Fantasy Owners to Scramble originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:31:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Waiver Wire Wonders: Big Passing Days Equal Big Receiving Days

Ryan Dembinsky — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:30:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Sleepers, NFL Waiver Wire

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.

Just because those trade deadlines passed doesn't mean it is time to rest on your laurels and ride out the rest of the season with the team you currently hold. On the contrary, the unavailability of the trade option makes the waiver wire all that much more important. And while we likely will not see another week with the potential fantasy impact of last week yet again this season, there is still plenty to do before playoff time.

This week, the biggest waiver wire benefactors came as a result of some huge passing efforts. Among others, we witnessed two scoops for scores from a tight end, a two-catch, two-touchdown effort by a repeat waiver wire wonder, and a rookie play-maker with a solid performance.

More Coverage: Week 11 Top Performers | Latest Player News

Kevin Boss (TE, Giants) - In the Giants' high falootin' shootout against the Falcons, Boss stepped up with the big-time game the Giants needed offensively. Boss scored on separate occasions during Eli Manning's career best 384-yard passing day, catching five passes for 76 yards. Who knows what happened to the Giants defense, but at least Boss and the offense showed up to secure a win.

Robert Meachem (WR, Saints) - In recent weeks, Meachem already graced the most-added list as he filled in for an injured Lance Moore, scoring touchdowns in both Weeks 9 and 10, but Sunday he solidified a fantasy roster spot with two red-zone TD strikes from Drew Brees. What Meachem did not provide was a hefty dose of targets or catches, but it's hard to argue with three weeks straight of touchdown production.

Percy Harvin (WR, Vikings) - Particularly in leagues that score return yards, Harvin officially looks like he deserves a roster spot. Not only has Harvin caught two touchdowns in four weeks, but Sunday he caught a respectable five passes for 79 yards. Harvin looks quick and fearless over the middle, providing a nice option for Favre, who continues to surprise as one of the league's most productive passers.

Chris Chambers (WR, Chiefs) - Hate to beat a dead horse here, but with Dwayne Bowe's absence and Matt Cassel starting to look decent, Chambers becomes the clear choice to take advantage of the Chiefs' situation. Chambers caught four balls for 119 yards against Pittsburgh and these numbers should only continue to improve. On the flip side, if you have the depth and a safe playoff berth, work the opposite angle and grab Bowe if somebody drops him in your league.

Pierre Garcon (WR, Colts) - Haven't heard enough stupid waiter jokes this year? Well, Garcon reemerged in the Colts' offense with six catches for 108 yards. At this point, you can probably find a better "sleep well at night" receiver and Anthony Gonzalez might be back as soon as Week 12, but in deep leagues, anyone catching balls from Peyton Manning makes a good pickup.

Brandon Pettigrew (TE, Lions) - Nothing makes me happier than getting to recommend a Lion for a pickup, and this week we finally got one. Pettigrew not only caught six passes for 72 yards and a touchdown, but it was the game-winner that led the Lions to their second win of the season. It's sad to be excited about two wins, but at this point, us Lions fans will take anything. Look out Green Bay, here we come.

Mohamed Massaquoi (WR, Browns) - Another repeat offender, Massaquoi made good on the Lions' soft secondary with five catches, 115 yards and a touchdown. It's tough to feel confident starting this youngster on a weekly basis, but he continues to show up and more importantly, the Browns face two more cupcake matchups in Weeks 15 and 16 (Chiefs and Raiders), so he could repeat with this type of performance in the fantasy playoffs.

Matt Stafford (QB, Lions) - Stafford gets the mention based on his five touchdown passes and 422 yards, but this comes courtesy of the Browns. Nothing to see here.

Brady Quinn (QB, Browns) - See above. Quinn pulled off a similar feat, tallying four touchdown passes and 304 yards, but this is simply the flip side of the Stafford story. Both quarterbacks posted massive numbers thanks to the terrible defenses and general badness involved in this football game. Move right along.

Rock Cartwright (RB, Redskins) - With both Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts out due to injury, some guy named Rock Cartwright toted the "rock" 13 times for 67 yards in one of the most boring games ever. I think they might have found this guy on the set of Police Academy 8. In all seriousness, Cartwright looks like a decent add if Betts and Portis continue to miss time, but he does not have the value of a Jason Snelling or Justin Forsett.

Laurence Maroney (RB, Patriots) - In a nice rebound after losing a clutch red-zone fumble in the loss to the Colts last week, Maroney helped lead the Pats to a 31-14 rout of the Jets, scoring twice and covering 77 yards on the ground. Most importantly, the Patriots backfield finally seems to have a consistent fantasy producer.

Waiver Wire Wonders: Big Passing Days Equal Big Receiving Days originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Cram Session: Run, Ricky, Run

Matt Snyder — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:20:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire, NFL Injury Report, Podcasts, NFL Start 'Em Sit 'Em

We're back. It's "Run, Ricky, Run!" Week here at Fantasy FanHouse, as we witnessed Ricky Williams thrust himself into the ranks of other must-start running backs. First, Ronnie Brown went down for the season, next Ricky provided fantasy owners with a three-touchdown monster performance. Tom Herrera and Matt Snyder discuss much more, though. We talk about possible gifts for those who have been underachieving in fantasy (akin to the positive pregnancy test that seemed to have jump-started LaDainian Tomlinson), major injury fallout and, of course, our Starting Six Pack for the week. Take a listen after the jump.

Listen to the podcast above or click here to download mp3.

Never miss a fantasy football cram session by subscribing on iTunes.

Fantasy Cram Session: Run, Ricky, Run originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Cut-N-Go: Fitzpatrick Named Starting Quarterback in Buffalo

Knox Bardeen — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:00:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Sleepers, NFL Waiver Wire, NFL Injury Report, NFL Stash or Trash

Cut-N-Go is Fantasy Football FanHouse's weekday roundup of the NFL news with fantasy football impact.

To say this week in Buffalo has been tumultuous would be an understatement. Trent Edwards was told that he had lost his starting job to Ryan Fitzpatrick right before head coach Dick Jauron was fired. The next bit of information gave Edwards new hope as interim head coach Perry Fewell wanted to wait until Wednesday to make a decision. Brian Galliford of Buffalo Rumblings wrote on Wednesday that Fewell had made the decision to go with Fitzpatrick.

Ryan Fitzpatrick is taking first-team reps at quarterback in Perry Fewell's first practice as interim head coach of the Buffalo Bills. Fewell confirmed this fact after practice. That bit of news confirms an NFL.com report from Wednesday - prior to the firing of Dick Jauron - that Fitzpatrick would be the club's starter.

Mark Gaughan of The Buffalo News says that many of the receivers are very happy about this decision, including Terrell Owens, who gave Fitzpatrick a ringing endorsement.

"I think Ryan, No. 1, is a veteran," Owens said. "He has a lot more experience. There are some situations where he'll be able to buy time with that experience. There will be some times where he can assess the defense and really take some shots down the field. We're looking forward to the opportunity with Ryan. Obviously he was 2-1 before the bye week when he was in there. Personally I felt like it was his job to lose. But again, there are things that are out of our control."

Lee Evans was also supportive of Fitzpatrick. "I think some of the things that Fitz does are really good," Evans said. "When he played before, he stepped up and made some big plays. So I think it'll help. We have a lot of confidence in him. I'm excited to see him play."

This could give a small bump in value to Evans and Owens but not enough to make them anything other than a FLEX option for Week 11. If Fitzpatrick does start working some magic in Buffalo that Edwards was unable to perform, well, then we can take a look at sliding the receiver tandem up into WR2 territory. But, that's not a given by any stretch of the imagination.

Other Fantasy Football Notes

o. Greg Cote of The Miami Herald confirms the news that Ronnie Brown has been placed on the injured list and will miss the rest of the season. This is a huge blow to the Dolphins and to a great number of fantasy football teams. However, it makes Ricky Williams uber-valuable now.

o. JaMarcus Russell is out as the Oakland Raiders starting quarterback says David White of the San Francisco Chronicle. Bruce Gradkowski takes over and forces me to ask, "What took the Raiders so long?"

o. Michael Turner missed practice on Wednesday, but hasn't ruled himself out for Sunday. Jerious Norwood didn't practice either, but worked out on one of the side-fields at Flowery Branch. I feel that both are long-shots to play against the Giants, who give up a ton of rushing touchdowns. That could make Jason Snelling, the de facto starter at running back, a good Week 11 play.

o. According to Charles Chandler and David Scott, who cover the Carolina Panthers for the Charlotte Observer, DeAngelo Williams did not practice on Wednesday. They also say that head coach John Fox claims Williams was just resting, even though he is listed as questionable for Thursday night's game.

o. Inactive for seven of the Giants' first nine games, Ramses Barden might not seem like a fantasy football play you should know about. But Mike Garafolo of The Star-Ledger says head coach Tom Coughlin thinks that Barden could become a red-zone target for Eli Manning very soon.

Fantasy Football Cut-N-Go: Fitzpatrick Named Starting Quarterback in Buffalo originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bust a Move: Six-Pack of Running Backs

Ryan Dembinsky — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire, NFL Bust a Move

More Coverage: Latest Fleaflicker Adds/Drops | Browse Player Notes

Cincinnati (D/ST, Bengals, 2,516 adds) - Giving up just 12 points to the Steelers and staring down a triforce of crap in Oakland, Cleveland and Detroit in the next three weeks, the Bengals defense spells "savior." Just typing this now, I'm thinking about trading a skill player for them. Actually, wait right here; I'll be right back.

Jason Snelling (RB, Falcons, 1,686 adds) - Amongst the hurt running backs to make an opportunistic play on, Michael Turner's high ankle sprain gives the most potential mileage to the backup. Something tells me Snelling will help owners make fantasy playoff runs in the next four weeks. Reportedly, Jerious Norwood will get the start, but throughout the season Snelling played a far bigger role in the offense with Norwood more involved in the passing game, so I'm still sold on Snelling.

Beanie Wells (RB, Cardinals, 1,025 adds) - Despite coach Ken Whisenhunt's insistence that Beanie Wells will not start any time soon, coupled with the Cards' general inability to run the ball consistently, folks are still clamoring after a two-touchdown effort last week. I think Whisenhunt may be bluffing frankly, but regardless Wells' touches should increase and so should his effectiveness the rest of the way.

Bernard Scott (RB, Bengals, 866 adds) - Sorry to the folks who wasted a waiver claim on Bernard Scott instead of Snelling or Forsett, because the Bengals in turn wasted no time in securing Larry Johnson. Scott might still see some action and he adds the kick return potential, but this looks like a case of the burn.

Larry Johnson (RB, Bengals, 751 adds) - If Cedric Benson can transform into a fast machine like Lane Meyer's Camaro in going from the Bears to the Bengals, who is to say that Larry Johnson can't do the same? Look out for a big turnaround for LJ starting this weekend if Big Ced cannot go.

Ladell Betts (RB, Redskins, 858 adds) - Did you get the memo? This was supposed to happen last week, folks. Upgrade your league next year if you can still pick up Betts. You're embarrassing us.

Donnie Avery (WR, Rams, 478 adds) - Donnie Avery might actually break his own record set last year for most waiver wire moves in a single season. Between quarterback changes, injuries and matchups, the guy changes fantasy teams on a near-weekly basis. With Mark Bulger's solid game last week and Avery's four catches with two touchdowns, he's seducing us with upside once again. Avery makes a good pickup if you need WR depth and can get still him.

Lawrence Tynes (K, Giants, 419 adds) - Tynes returns from a bye week to face the Falcons. Neat.

Cardinals (D/ST, Arizona, 407 adds) - Despite a relatively mediocre effort against Seattle where Julius Jones' replacement Justin Forsett ran wild, the forthcoming matchup against the Rams looks much more favorable. If you haven't noticed, folks are making a living this year off the Rams, Raiders, Lions, Chiefs and Browns. Get with the program if you haven't yet.

The Drops

Dwayne Bowe (WR, Chiefs, 738 drops) - Put the Chiefs in the same camp as the Michigan football program for teams that cannot buy a break. Just a week after sending their starting running back packing, the Chiefs' top receiver tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug. If it was even possible, one of the worst teams in the league just got worse. Remember how Chris Chambers got all that fantasy buzz last week? Well, now he deserves it.

Atlanta (D/ST, Falcons, 635 drops) - With the Giants, Eagles and Saints in the next five games, Atlanta's value does indeed look questionable. Still, they do have Tampa Bay next week and the Bills in Week 16, so do not completely write this unit off if you need a spot start coming up.

Brian Westbrook (RB, Eagles, 623 drops) - I know it's tough to part with this guy, but the specialists are not talking about when Brian Westbrook will play football again. They are talking about if he'll play football again. Thanks for all the wins over the years, Brian. We love ya.

Julius Jones (RB, Seahawks, 536 drops) - Juice will most likely miss the Seahawks' Week 11 game against the Vikings, but more importantly, if Forsett continues to do what he did last week, Jones may also find himself out of a starting job.

Steven Hauschka (K, Ravens, 385 drops) - The Ravens dropped the struggling youngster this week and plan to have a new kicker on board by Wednesday night.

Most Traded

Steven Jackson, Ryan Grant, Brandon Jacobs, Andre Johnson, Darren Sproles

Bust a Move: Six-Pack of Running Backs originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Passed Out at Your Desk: Buy One, Get The Next One Free

R.J. White — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Sleepers, NFL Waiver Wire

Everyone loves fantasy football sleepers, but they change depending on league size and availability. We're here each and every week to give you a look at good plays for all types of leagues.

We're shortening up the sleeper column a bit this week. Fear not, because the benefit to the shorter column is ... more sleepers! First we'll take a look at players available in most shallow leagues and some normal-sized leagues. Next, we'll move on to players available in many normal-sized leagues and a few deep leagues. Lastly, we'll throw out some sleepers for your deep league owners.

Power Naps

Featured Sleeper: Beanie Wells, RB, ARI at STL

It's past time to pick this guy up. I've been praising him all season, and he's started to receive the heavier workload that we came to expect. Week 10 brought a season-high 18 touches, and Wells responded with 117 yards and two TDs. Tim Hightower may remain the starter, but Beanie has arrived and is on the fantasy landscape to stay. He has a great matchup this week, one he reprises in Week 16, which is likely your fantasy championship. With a game against Detroit in Week 15, Wells could get you to that championship game, and eventually help you win. He should be owned in 100% of your leagues, and he should be started as a flex or RB2 this week.

Others:

Kevin Walter, WR, HOU vs. TEN. Tennessee defense better, or just a spike?
Jamal Lewis, RB, CLE at DET. If you ever plan on using him, this is the week.
Mike Wallace, WR, PIT at KC. Ignore off day against Cincinnati -- this is a legit WR3.
Jason Campbell, QB, WAS at DAL. Dallas is below average against QBs.
Marcedes Lewis, TE, JAC vs. BUF. Buffalo is a mess -- a safety started at LB!

A Good Night's Sleep

Featured Sleeper: Cincinnati Defense, TM, CIN at OAK

What on Earth could be easier than facing a JaMarcus Russell-led offense? How about one led by Bruce Gradkowski? Or Charlie Frye? Russell was benched in favor of Gradkowski in Week 10 (surprising only to Russell), but the former Buc might miss next week's game with an injury. It says a lot about Russell that the Raiders are considering starting Frye in that game. Enter the Bengals, who are fresh off a huge win against the Steelers, keeping the defending champions out of the end zone for the entire game. Against this sad Oakland franchise, this matchup doesn't even seem fair.

Others:

Justin Forsett, RB, SEA at MIN. Hate the matchup, love the opportunity.
Bernard Scott, RB, CIN at OAK. Love the matchup, but splitting time with Leonard.
Devery Henderson, WR, NO at TB. Will they score 50 at Tampa Bay? Sixty?
Jerious Norwood, RB, ATL at NYG. If he can play, Norwood's the starter.
Robert Meachem, WR, NO at TB. Seventy?
Jake Delhomme, QB, CAR vs. MIA. Clicking a bit better with Steve Smith lately.
Jeff Reed, K, PIT at KC. Coming off huge game, and you can score on KC.

Lights Out

Featured Sleeper: Brandon Gibson, WR, STL vs. ARI

We discussed the universally-unowned Gibson in last week's 4th and 26 column (you'll find Forsett featured in the column as well). "Better to be too early than too late," I said. Keenan Burton quickly suffered what turned out to be a season-ending knee injury, and Gibson was thrust onto center stage. He responded to his first chunk of playing time by catching seven balls for 93 yards. St. Louis is rife with favorable WR matchups for the rest of the season, starting with the Cardinals this week. He could very well be the Drew Bennett of your fantasy playoffs this year. (Don't recognize that name? Ask your older brother.) Start Gibson this week, and if he can put together back-to-back good games, I love his prospects moving forward.

Others:

Sammie Stroughter, WR, TB vs. NO. Decimated Saints D could mean long TDs.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, BUF at JAC. He has weapons and is facing the Jags.
Fred Davis, TE, WAS at DAL. I think he sees several goal-line looks.
Detroit Defense, TM, DET vs. CLE. Brady Quinn on the road? Yes we can!
Chaz Schilens, WR, OAK vs. CIN. Don't forget how quietly good he was last year.

Passed Out at Your Desk: Buy One, Get The Next One Free originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'House Check: Divisonal Showdown

R.J. White — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:15:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire

Every Tuesday night, we'll give you an update on our FanHouse fantasy football league. Who hit on their sleepers? Who made the shrewd pickups? Who's practicing what they preach? In 'House Check, you'll find out.

Only one team is better than 6-4. Only one team is eliminated from the playoffs (and one other is darn close). No one has clinched a playoff spot, and now we enter the best part of the season: divisional play.

Matt Snyder has ridden a three-game winning streak into first place in Division 1, but with a 1-2 division record, the three teams sitting a game back from him all would win the division if they could win out.

More Coverage: Check FanHouse League Standings

In Division 2, Ryan Dembinsky and myself are still locked in a tie. Ryan opened up the season with a win against me, which looks phenomenally important right now. We have a rematch in Week 13, the last week of the season. It's possible that only one of us will make the six-team playoff, so that final game will be huge.

Division 3 features the strongest teams top to bottom. Tom Mantzouranis is still kickin' it in first place, holding a league-best 7-3 record. Right behind him at 6-4 is Will Brinson with the league's highest scoring team and Shane Bacon with a modest two-game winning streak. Chris Burke, last in the division with a 5-5 record, has actually outscored the 7-3 first-place team. I expect a ton of points scored in this division over the next three weeks.

Waiver Wire Work

Injuries struck in Week 10, and there's plenty of talent on the wire.

At running back, Justin Forsett is the crown jewel of the free-agent class and is likely to be scooped up by the first or second team in the waiver order. Other claims will likely be Bernard Scott, Kevin Faulk, Jerious Norwood and possibly Larry Johnson. Jason Snelling is already on a roster.

Tom Herrera finally gave up on Terrell Owens just before last week's game, and a PO'ed T.O. had his best game of the season. Someone will likely pick him up as a result. Other options include Laveranues Coles, Brandon Gibson, and the emerging Jason Avant.

Matt Cassel or Jason Campbell could be team-bound this week, but I wouldn't count on it. What I would count on is someone snatching up the Bengals defense. With three cake matchups on the schedule in the next three weeks, that D could play a big role in winning a division.

'House Check: Divisonal Showdown originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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So Long, Suckers: Hurt and Out of Work

R.J. White — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:30:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire, NFL Stash or Trash

Fed up with one of your players? Eyeballing a player on the wire, but don't know who to drop? So Long, Suckers examines a few widely-owned players that probably shouldn't be.

Last week we suggested owners in shallow leagues dump Brian Westbrook. This week, after suffering another concussion, it's safe for teams in all but the deepest of leagues (i.e., leagues where this week's waiver wire darlings Justin Forsett and Jason Snelling were owned heading into Week 10) to cut the Philly back.

Absolutely best case for Westbrook in my mind is to miss two weeks, play sparingly in Week 13, and start against the Giants, 49ers and Broncos during your fantasy playoffs. Would you really rely on him at that point? I know I wouldn't.

Who else deserves a pink slip this week? All the following players are owned in 60 percent of Fleaflicker leagues.

Torry Holt, WR, Jaguars. Jacksonville has morphed into the Mike Sims-Walker show. After the Jets stupidly left Darrelle Revis off MSW in the first half, resulting in 40 yards and a TD for our favorite acronym, Revis shifted over to cover the breakout star and stifle him for the rest of the game. That means things should have opened up for Torry Holt, right? Wrong! Holt finished with just two catches and 24 yards, his third consecutive game under the 40-yard mark. Scoreless after nine games, Holt isn't worth a roster spot at this point.

Willis McGahee, RB, Ravens. Some of you are probably wondering what McGahee is doing back in this column -- not because he's been playing well, rather because he hasn't been playing at all. Maybe we'll wake up on Tuesday and see McGahee with two TDs and double-digit carries (I am of course assuming no one is watching the Baltimore-Cleveland game), but considering he had zero yards rushing in four games prior to Monday night's game (on a total of 11 carries), color me pessimistic. Yet he's oddly owned in 65 percent of Fleaflicker leagues.
[Editor's Note: McGahee finished with 13 carries for 35 yards and no scores Monday night. Dump him already.]

Kyle Orton, QB, Broncos. He was in the middle of a pretty good game on Sunday, but an ankle injury put him on the sidelines for the rest of the game, and possibly next week's game as well. I think we can throw Orton's good half in the trash bin, as the Redskins didn't even bother covering Brandon Marshall for an entire half. Who wouldn't throw TD passes with receivers that open? You likely don't need to hang on to Orton as a QB2, especially with how well the top QBs have been playing all season. When setting your waiver claims, don't be afraid to let go of your backup QB, Kyle Orton.

Willie Parker, RB, Steelers. Like seeing your players play just one series per game? Then I've got a back for you! It seems silly to comprehend, but Parker is still owned in six out of ten leagues. Rashard Mendenhall is clearly the workhorse back, and you Parker owners should FWP -- Free Willie Parker.

New York Jets, TM, Jets. A popular sleeper heading into the season, the Jets are in the bottom six of the league's fantasy defenses. It's even worse than it seems -- their ranking is only that high thanks to a major beatdown of the Raiders a few weeks ago. Against the rest of the league, they're one of the worst fantasy defenses around. I hope you're only carrying one defense on your roster at this point after the bye, and with a game against the Patriots up next for this team, your defense had better not be the Jets.

So Long, Suckers: Hurt and Out of Work originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Waiver Wire Wonders: Superstar Wheels Come Off

Ryan Dembinsky — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Sleepers, NFL Waiver Wire

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.

Week 10 dealt some potentially critical blows in the form of injuries, as two of the game's elite running backs -- as well as another solid weekly starter -- left their respective games due to injury. For waiver wire cherry-pickers, this spells opportunity as the backups here all provide potential additions. Beyond that, there is not too much else for this week on the wires, but we saw a big game from a quarterback on one of the league's worst teams putting up a fight against one of the best, a sage old receiver return to form, and a couple potential up-and-comers.

Jason Snelling (RB, Falcons) - After Michael Turner came out with guns blazing, racking up 111 yards on just nine carries, he suffered a devastating ankle sprain and left the game. The severity of the injury remains uncertain, but in his absence backup Snelling filled in admirably with 18 carries for 61 yards and a touchdown. The touchdown was just a one-yarder, but, given the Falcons' emphasis on the running game, Snelling makes a strong buy candidate.

Bernard Scott (RB, Bengals) - Along the same lines, another big injury came Sunday as the obvious choice for comeback player of the year, Cedric Benson, left the game due to a hip flexor. Benson's fantasy owners must be writhing in agony after the tremendous surprise he's been for them thus far. In his absence, it may seem silly to race out and grab Scott, given that he filed only 33 yards on 13 carries, but let's keep this in perspective. There must be some "system" to Benson's success. The guy was useless for years in Chicago, so it's safe to expect some level -- albeit with a lower ceiling -- of success to translate across to Scott should Benson miss any time. And Scott did have enough talent to return a kickoff for the game's lone touchdown. I would aim to get Snelling first and then go for Scott as your second priority.

Justin Forsett (RB, Seahawks) - The pain keeps coming this week for fantasy owners as Julius Jones also left the game early with a chest injury. Forsett cleaned house in his absence, posting one of the finest performances of the day with 123 rushing yards and a touchdown. As with all of these running backs, everything hinges on the severity and duration of the injury to the starter (Update: Jones was reportedly hospitalized with bleeding in his lung), but in Forsett's case, he might just win the job since he showed better play than any we've seen from Jones all season. Forsett looks like a grab.

Muhsin Muhammad (WR, Panthers) - Even though it seems like Muhammad joined the league before they wore face masks, he still tends to show up with a decent game every now and then. Coming off an injury that kept him out two games and benefiting from a surprisingly good performance from Jake Delhomme (including two TD passes to Steve Smith), Muhammad caught six passes for 91 yards. The Panthers seem to be clicking on both sides of the ball presently, so while adding this geezer may seem harebrained, keep an eye on him, as he might provide a nice stretch surprise.

Marc Bulger (WR, Rams) - In the surprise performance of the day, the St. Louis Rams played a great game and hung right in there until the end with the NFC-best New Orleans Saints. The Rams posted 434 yards of total offense, thanks in large part to Mark Bulger's 26-for-40 passing assault -- totaling 298 yards with two touchdowns. The Rams need to gain some consistency, but an effort like this against a great opportunistic defense like the Saints (albeit a banged up one) provides a nice boost for the rest of the season for Bulger and the Rams.

Maurice Stovall (WR, Buccaneers) - With clear indications that the Tampa Bay passing game is on an upswing with Josh Freeman under center, Stovall looks to be an immediate benefactor. Inserted into the starting lineup as a replacement for the injured Antonio Bryant, Stovall caught four passes for 47 yards and a touchdown. He only merits consideration in deep leagues or desperate situations at this point, but, should he continue to impress consistently and stay in the starting lineup, he could be a nice little addition to your sack of gems.

Jason Avant (WR, Eagles) - Another wide receiver posted a huge day for the Eagles, this time Avant with eight catches for 156 yards. It's a shame it's never the same guy twice in a row, because this offense produces serious stats. Interestingly, DeSean Jackson remains one of the most traded players in fantasy football for just this reason: the Eagles are stacked with explosive receivers, but they have too many weapons to post good stats consistently.

Jamaal Charles (RB, Chief) - Larry who? You're probably assuming it's already too late to move on this one. Charles looked like an obvious pickup immediately after the release of Larry Johnson, but he's currently only owned in 43 percent of Fleaflicker leagues. More importantly, with all of the talk last week about Kolby Smith also getting looks and potentially being the better pickup down the stretch, Charles' 103 yard and one touchdown game adds all the clarity we need on the matter.

Michael Bush (RB, Raiders) - If anyone is a glutton for punishment, it's the Raiders. They teased us with a bizarre 119-yard ground effort by Michael Bush. Don't be fooled though, as it's courtesy of the Chiefs. Plus, Darren McFadden should be assuming a larger share of the carries going forward.

Waiver Wire Wonders: Superstar Wheels Come Off originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Cut-N-Go: Stash Kolby Smith or Ryan Moats?

Knox Bardeen — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:58:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire, NFL Stash or Trash

Cut-N-Go is Fantasy Football FanHouse's weekday roundup of the NFL news with fantasy football impact.

I was asked a question the other day on Twitter (send any fantasy football question my way to @knoxbardeen), it went something like, "Who is the better stash running back, Kolby Smith or Ryan Moats?" What an interesting thought.

Smith is coming off of major surgery to join the running back mix in Kansas City and Moats has forced a running back by committee situation in Houston. My original thought, and the answer that I provided, was to say Smith. I'm just not sold that Moats is going to be able to keep Steve Slaton from taking the job of featured rusher back. I also wasn't sold that Jamaal Charles could hold of Smith in a competition in Kansas City.

I've seen two pieces of information in the last day to make me rethink my answer.

In a Q&A on KCChiefs.com, head coach Todd Haley answer the question about who will be his starting running back on Sunday in a way no fantasy owner wants to hear.

"Either Savage, Smith, or Charles. Depends what play we decide to open with probably."

This truly sounds as if none of the runners have distinguished themselves enough to become the featured back. That means neither Dantrell Savage, Charles, or Smith will likely be of much fantasy value in Week 10, despith the great matchup against Oakland.

Bob Gretz of CBS Sports says that there is also an issue involving Smith's injury -- he may not be fully recovered and able to play at the needed level of output, yet.

Kolby Smith isn't ready to be the Chiefs featured back. "It's unrealistic to expect him to be at the top of his game," coach Todd Haley said. "That would be asking too much; it was a major injury." Smith tore his patella tendon last November. Two years ago, Smith ran for 150 yards on 31 carries against the Raiders.

My answer to the question above is still probably Kolby Smith. As long as his injury doesn't slow him down I feel he'll be the starter in Kansas City before too long. On the flip side of that coin, I also feel Slaton regains his starting job soon too. That would lessen the fantasy value of Ryan Moats. Just be careful with either of these two runners. Both are long-term projects that will never rise above FLEX or at best RB2 levels of play.

Other Fantasy Football Notes

o. Terry McCormick of The City Paper says that wide receiver Justin gage is definitely out for Sunday's game against Buffalo, Kenny Britt will start instead. Before running out to sign Britt to play WR3 or FLEX on your fantasy team, remember what the Bills secondary is capable of. Britt isn't a very good option this week.

o. Isaac Bruce's demotion has been confirmed. John Crumpacker of the San Francisco Chronicle says that Mike Singletary told him that Bruce would play, but would not start for the rest of the season. It would have been nice to see Jason Hill take advantage of this news on Thursday night, but he did as close to nothing as possible to warrant a fantasy roster spot.

o. Allen Park of The Detroit News thinks that if Kevin Smith doesn't start breaking some big plays, or at least raise is yards per carry average a bit, he will be in danger of losing his job as the featured running back. Worse yet, the Lions may look to the draft for another "running back of the future".

o. Josh Looney on KCChiefs.com wrote about a quote from Matt Cassel. Apparently Cassel likes what he sees in slot receiver Lance Long and compared him favorably to Wes Welker. "There are definitely some resemblances between Welker and Lance."

o. The running back and special teams picture in Dallas is starting to become clear, but it's hasn't taken complete shape yet. Gerry Fraley of the Dallas Morning News says that Felix Jones is being phased out of the return game to likely see his touches on offense increase. Tashard Choice is being looked at to return kicks on special teams.

Fantasy Football Cut-N-Go: Stash Kolby Smith or Ryan Moats? originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:58:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Cut-N-Go: Davone Bess Is Chad Henne's Woobie

Knox Bardeen — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:55:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Sleepers, NFL Waiver Wire, NFL Stash or Trash

Cut-N-Go is Fantasy Football FanHouse's weekday roundup of the NFL news with fantasy football impact.

There are two receivers on the Miami Dolphins roster who are barely owned in fantasy football leagues -- I think that they should be shown more love. FanHouse fantasy football guru R.J. White wrote a little about Davone Bess and Greg Camarillo earlier on Wednesday, I wanted to add a few more numbers to the mix.

These two guys just combined for 127 yards on 11 catches against the Patriots. Take a second to soak that in. Following the demotion of Ted Ginn, Bess and Camarillo saw a quick bump in fantasy value. Bess finds his way onto a roster in many more leagues than Camarillo, but they hold similar value. The Buccaneers will spend a good portion of practice prepping for the wildcat look, and the two Miami wideouts should benefit.

I obviously couldn't agree more. After Miami faces Tampa Bay in Week 10, the Dolphins will play four of their remaining seven games against teams in the bottom half of the league in receiving yards allowed. This could be a great time to take a flier on Camarillo or Bess. If you're trying to decide between the two, Mike Berardino of the Sun-Sentinel explains that Bess is being targeted a whole lot more than Camarillo.

Even coming off knee surgery, Camarillo runs such precise routes he is frequently open. However, he was targeted just seven times on Sunday and made five of those grabs for 71 yards (14.2 average). Davone Bess, by comparison, was targeted officially a whopping 14 times (double anyone else on the team) and came down with six of those catches for 56 yards (9.3 average). Bess is clearly Henne's security blanket.

R.J.'s mention of these two receivers is a recommendation for waiver wire help for Week 10. I personally believe that signing one of these guys could help you out down the road as well.

Other Fantasy Football Notes
o. Did you notice that in Week 9 Mike Bell, who is supposed to be sharing the running back duties with Pierre Thomas only got eight touches? Jeff Duncan of The Times-Picayune in his film study shows that Thomas touched the ball 23 times.

o. We've been told throughout the Bills' bye week that Trent Edwards would start in Week 10. According to Chris Brown of BuffaloBills.com Edwards received news of just that. I supposed now the expected news is somewhat official.

o. This next bit of news could adversely effect every fantasy GM who owns Ahmad Bradshaw. Mike Garafolo of The Star-Ledger says that Danny Ware could become the Giants third down back and will become a much bigger part of the New York rushing attack in the second half of the season.

o. John Crumpacker, who is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer, says that head coach Mike Singletary believes that only one of Alex Smith's three interceptions were the fault of his new quarterback. It seems as if Singletary has complete confidence in Smith.

o. Who's going to be the Cleveland Browns starting quarterback when they appear on Monday Night Football in Week 10? Tony Grossi of the Cleveland Plain Dealer says that Brady Quinn has retaken the job from Derek Anderson.

o. None of the three running backs competing for carries in Houston have distinguished themselves enough to take over as the featured back. Drew Dougherty of HoustonTexans.com says that head coach Gary Kubiak says he still needs Ryan Moats, Steve Slaton and Chris Brown.

Fantasy Football Cut-N-Go: Davone Bess Is Chad Henne's Woobie originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bust a Move: Chambers, Meachem and Wallace Moving Fast

Ryan Dembinsky — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:40:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire, NFL Bust a Move

Fantasy FanHouse's "Bust a Move" segment provides quick-hitting insight on the most popular adds and drops across Fleaflicker fantasy leagues between Tuesday and Wednesday of each week. Knowing who is on the move during this 24-hour period often provides a valuable edge with regard to outperforming or underperforming players, injuries and depth chart shifts. So do as the man says, "Don't just stand there..."

The Adds

Ladell Betts (RB, Redskins, 1,896 adds) -- We told you to add him on Sunday and again on Monday, so it's great to know you were listening. You were listening, right? Well, either way Betts makes a solid pickup while Portis recovers from his concussion and ankle injury, especially since he's very doubtful for Sunday. It's not like he was ever that healthy to begin with, so Betts exhibits a lot of upside particularly considering he showed the most life of just about any Redskins player this season. The X-factor with this pickup is a rumor floating around that Washington is looking at Larry Johnson, but go ahead and cross that bridge if/when you come to it. Besides, Zorn already said no.

More Fantasy Football: Latest Fleaflicker Adds/Drops | Browse Player Updates

Chris Chambers (WR, Chiefs, 1,101 adds) -- Upon first glance over the Week 9 box scores, Chambers beckons with potential, scoring two touchdowns at his new home on only three days work with Kansas City. Upon further review, Chambers' performance came mainly late in the game after three quiet quarters. Still, if you want upside, give him a whirl (I did).

Jay Feely (K, Jets, 1,049 adds) -- Feely comes off a bye week with a nice matchup against Jacksonville.

Robert Meachem (WR, Saints, 1,010 adds) -- It's tough to call whether or not Meachem finally looks ready for prime time -- or for your fantasy team -- because while he receives an immediate upgrade due to an injured Lance Moore, he competes for looks with so many different great options. Deep leagues should add, but otherwise it's a bit of a toss-up.

Mike Wallace (WR, Steelers, 982 adds) -- The slowpokes always come around sooner or later. Wallace didn't post the greatest numbers in Week 9, but he did show that speed (along with a TD) on the Monday night big stage. Jon Gruden must have finally convinced some folks.

Ryan Longwell (K, Vikings, 977 adds) -- Need a kicker this week? Here he is. The Vikings play the Lions.

Miami Dolphins (D/ST, 784 adds) -- This doesn't make logical sense as Miami gives up an average of almost 26 points per game and they didn't play that great last week, losing 27-17 to the Patriots. They did tally an interception and two sacks, but the better defensive matchup this week for spot starts is the Bills against the Titans if you need to fill a bye week.

Tennessee Titans (D/ST, 602 adds) -- I guess people like the Titans at home? As I said above, I like the Bills in this one this weekend.

Brandon Pettigrew (TE, Lions, 589 adds) -- Pettigrew played his best game as a pro by far on Sunday, catching seven passes for 70 yards and touchdown against the Seahawks. As a fellow Chris Cooley refugee, consider me sold.

Josh Freeman (QB, Buccaneers, 440 adds) -- Freeman certainly made his statement loud and clear, helping the Bucs win their first (and only) game of the season with an impressive three-touchdown effort against a talented Packers secondary. Part of this performance is freakish as 14 completions will not translate to three touchdowns ~~ever again~~ often, but it's hard not to bite on this rookie feel-good story. Let's see how the Miami game goes this weekend before signing the papers.

The Drops

San Francisco (D/ST, 49ers, 753 drops) -- After getting torched by the Titans and losing five of their last six games, 76 percent of bettors think the 49ers buzz from earlier in the season is OVER.

Fred Davis (TE, Redskins, 569 drops) -- Chrs Cooley sufferers fell for Davis after he filled in nicely later in Week 8 after Cooley left the game, but the honeymoon ended quickly. Davis only caught two passes as a follow-up.

Chris Henry (WR, Bengals, 334 drops) -- Henry will undergo arm surgery for his broken forearm and miss the remainder of the season. Laveranues Coles gets an immediate upgrade.

Willis McGahee (RV, Ravens, 516 drops) -- No touches in Week 9 finally gave McGahee owners the picture. Ray Rice officially grew into a fantasy-elite option this season and it came at McGahee's expense.

Larry Johnson (RB, NOBODY!!! Haha, 210 drops) -- At long last, the Chiefs finally cut the umbilical cord. Keep an eye on this development though, because Johnson behind a halfway-decent offensive line could be dangerous. In fact, he might be worth adding now. The mill currently says Washington, Chicago, Buffalo and New England, but nobody put a waiver claim out, so as a free agent he can officially sign with any team.

Most Traded

Steven Jackson (10), Brandon Jacobs (10), Percy Harvin (9), DeSean Jackson (9), Joseph Addai (9)

Bust a Move: Chambers, Meachem and Wallace Moving Fast originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'House Check: Down to the Last Play

R.J. White — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:30:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire

Every Tuesday night, we'll give you an update on our FanHouse fantasy football league. Who hit on their sleepers? Who made the shrewd pickups? Who's practicing what they preach? In 'House Check, you'll find out.

In your league, you're probably used to seeing several blowouts each week, and maybe one or two tight contests. In our league this week, we had point spreads of 43, 8, 4.5, 2, 1.5, and 0.5. That's a remarkable three games out of six potentially decided by one lucky (or unlucky, depending on your perspective) break. Let's see if anyone could have done better:

Mantzouranis over Herrera by 0.5

Tom H. suffered from playing Carson Palmer over David Garrard, Correll Buckhalter over Maurice Morris, and Torry Holt over Nate Washington. Can't really fault him for any of these decisions, but I wasn't a fan of the Spencer Havner pickup at tight end. What really killed his chances was Brian Westbrook's surprise deactivation on Sunday; that guy is killing fantasy seasons all over the place.

Bacon over Bernstein by 1.5

While just about everyone on Bernstein's team had a solid game (seven of his nine players scored in double digits), he opted to play Kellen Winslow over Greg Olsen, missing out on the three TD day from the Bears TE. That one move was all it took, as Doug walks away with an "L" despite being the fourth-highest scoring team this week.

Snyder over Lalley by 2

Sean just can't catch a break. Despite making all the correct decisions and scoring 100 percent on the efficiency rating in Week 9, he suffers a close loss to Matt. Of course, Sean had nearly all his team on a bye this week, with just Tony Romo and the Ravens defense as possible replacements. Matt had to play without Steven Jackson, which led to a Clinton Portis start, and we know how that turned out. It's best if we just move on.

Bardeen over White by 4

And here's where I come in. I did a decent job, but the Broncos ended being a much better option against Pittsburgh, even though I started the Packers defense against Tampa Bay (yeah, what could I have been thinking there?). Playing Jeremy Maclin at the flex spot over LeSean McCoy was my second biggest mistake of the week, though I really blame Wes Welker and Chad Ochocinco for not giving me more. I'm still tied for first in the division, and there's always next week, but this was a tough loss to swallow.

Waiver Wire Work

There really isn't much out there. Someone may roll with a half-decent QB2 like Matt Cassel, Mark Sanchez, Vince Young, or Jason Campbell, but if you read my So Long, Suckers article yesterday, you'll know I advise against that move. Others will probably burn their waiver priority adding a good defensive play, as the Cowboys (at GB), Dolphins (vs. TB), Titans (vs. BUF), Bills (at TEN), and Chiefs (at OAK) all rest unowned in our league. I'm also betting someone wants TE Dustin Keller for the stretch run.

At the two main positions, the best pickup is definitely Ladell Betts, even though he may only hold value for a short period of time. Worth a waiver claim? Sure, but he's not saving your season.

Kevin Walter is on a bye this week, but he's probably earned a pickup from someone with bye-week replacements to cut. James Jones, Robert Meachem, Laveranues Coles, Pierre Garcon, and Justin Gage are also options, but I'm not cutting my Jeremy Maclin or Eddie Royal for any of them.

'House Check: Down to the Last Play originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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So Long, Suckers: Chambers the Chief

R.J. White — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:30:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire, NFL Stash or Trash

Fed up with one of your players? Eyeballing a player on the wire, but don't know who to drop? So Long, Suckers examines a few players widely-owned that probably shouldn't be.

We saw a remarkable week from Chris Chambers (who showed up on last week's list of cuts): first, he was cut by his NFL team (the pass-happy Chargers), earning incredulity from me that he was owned in so many leagues; next, he was picked up by the Chiefs, a team that's had offensive troubles all season; and finally, he caught two TDs and gained 70 yards just a few days after joining the team.

That's not something you see every day.

Still, don't go overboard projecting Chambers in the Kansas City offense. His big fantasy day was more than likely a result of facing the awful Jaguar secondary.

We also discussed cutting Larry Johnson last week, and the Chiefs must have been listening because he's now off the roster. I'm a little surprised at the decision, as I figured they just keep him on the inactive list in spite. Like Chambers, he might be a provocative pickup, especially if he lands somewhere like Houston or Washington.

Jason Campbell, QB, Redskins; Jake Delhomme, QB, Panthers; Matthew Stafford, QB, Lions; Chad Henne, QB, Dolphins and any other mediocre QB2 on your roster. We're through the byes (mostly), so there's no reason to hang on to these guys. If your No. 1 goes down, it's very unlikely any of these QBs will save your season. I'd use that extra roster spot on a pickup at RB/WR that could help your depth at this point. If anything, I'd likely roster your franchise QB's backup over that motley crew listed above. If the unfortunate happens and your guys goes down, his backup is probably more likely to produce in a good offense than these QB2 in bad offenses.

Brian Westbrook, RB, Eagles. After practicing throughout the week and looking ready to go for Sunday night's crucial game, Westbrook was a surprise inactive on Sunday. Coach Andy Reid doesn't sound too optimistic for Week 10, either, with Westbrook's headaches keeping him out for the immediate future. Also, despite not playing in Week 9, Westbrook picked up an ankle injury. Only Brian Westbrook. 10-team leagues should pack it in on Westbrook's season and find someone capable of getting them to the playoffs.

LenDale White, RB, Titans. Half of the universe's Fleaflicker leagues still have no room for White on the waiver wire. Folks, it's time to let go. He had just four carries for three yards this past week, and this offense is clearly in the hands of Chris Johnson. If you're rostering clear RB2, at least take one that might have an opportunity at stealing the starting job away.

Anthony Gonzalez, WR, Colts. Many of you (OK, half of you) are still hanging on to Gonzalez, figuring he'll have some value once he returns. I just don't see that happening. Austin Collie has been more than capable in Gonzalez's role, and Pierre Garcon has shown flashes of talent as well. It's time to chalk this up as a lost season for Gonzalez, especially if he's taking up an active roster spot on your team.

Domenik Hixon, WR, Giants. Still owned in over a quarter of your leagues, Hixon has been filling the kick return and No. 4 WR role for the Giants lately. He has no value in any league that doesn't award points for return yardage, and I get the feeling that far fewer than 27% of Fleaflicker leagues account for it. Hixon is on a bye in Week 10, and he needs to be on your wire as well.

So Long, Suckers: Chambers the Chief originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Waiver Wire Wonders: One Man Gathers What Another Man Spills

Ryan Dembinsky — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:15:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire, NFL Value Machine

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.

It looks like we have the makings for some steamy waiver wire action as Week 9 provided a host of interesting plays. In the "one man gathers what another man spills" department, we saw a perennial backup step in as a fantasy big shot suffered a concussion, a couple of forgotten old-timers break out for their new teams, a couple of deep-on-depth-chart overachievers make a name for themselves, and we even saw a Lion play a good game. With the trade deadline looming, waiver wire moves get even more important down the stretch, so stay on your toes. Let's go.

More Fantasy Football: Week 9 Top Performers | Sunday Wrap-Up

Ladell Betts (RB, Redskins) -- After starter Clinton Portis suffered a concussion, courtesy of Atlanta defensive backs Chevis Jackson and Thomas DeCoud, Betts stepped in and performed admirably, gaining 70 yards and a touchdown. Using fellow veteran Brian Westbrook -- who suffered the same fate two weeks ago -- as a benchmark, we can assume that Portis may miss a game or even two, so Betts makes a solid add for the short term. Plus, if Betts continues to play well as he did Sunday -- essentially outperforming anything Portis has done thus far in 2009 -- he could earn himself a bigger role upon Portis' return.

James Jones (WR, Packers) -- With a battered Aaron Rodgers under center, Jones posted far and away his best game of the season, including a 74-yard touchdown (the longest TD pass of Rodgers' career, by the way). In sum, Jones notched 103 yards and a touchdown on four catches. While Jones remains the No. 3 option for Green Bay, he looked great Sunday and makes a decent add to beef up your bench as an injury plug down the stretch.

Earl Bennett (WR, Chicago) -- The Chicago receiving corps has yet to produce a real reliable fantasy option, but in a desperation shootout with Arizona, Bennett became the main benefactor. As a result, Matt Forte got just five carries to Jay Cutler's 47 pass attempts. The Bears obviously never want to play this type of game and need to get back to the ground game, but, nevertheless, Bennett came up big with seven catches and 93 yards. He might make a decent spot start in games that look pass-happy, but it's difficult to forecast which team will come out for Chicago on a weekly basis. Basically, only the deepest leagues need apply here.

Laveranues Coles (WR, Bengals) -- Here's a name we haven't heard much this year. While Coles only had 16 catches for 155 yards and three touchdowns coming into this week, he caught six passes for 72 yards including a nice 32-yarder against Baltimore. Coles does not represent a screaming buy, but the chemistry with Carson Palmer seems to be finally brewing, so keep an eye on him. Coles is in his twilight years, but he is a great receiver who always seems to make his way into fantasy starting lineups one way or another. I think we will see more of Coles in the second half of this season.

Chris Chambers (WR, Chiefs) -- Here's another one from the halls of the fantasy annals. After packing up and heading east to Kansas City just last week, Chambers wasted no time finding his place in the offense -- providing an immediate two-touchdown spark. Maybe this is finally the right home for Chambers, but going all the way back to his Miami days, he has always been one of fantasy football's most unreliable receivers, right up there with Lee Evans. In total, Chambers caught three passes for 70 yards with the two scores in a nicely played game by Matt Cassel.

Josh Freeman (QB, Buccaneers) -- In the surprise of the day, the Bucs ousted the Packers 38-28 and rookie Josh Freeman broke out with three touchdown passes, despite throwing only 31 times. In his first NFL start, the rook out of Kansas State led the league's last remaining winless team to a victory against one of the NFL's better secondaries. This bodes well for Tampa Bay in general and keep an eye out for potentially better numbers from the team's backs and receivers.

Laurence Maroney (RB, Patriots) -- The twisty Patriots backfield looks a tad more stable as Maroney got 20 carries, the most by a single Patriots back this season, and picked up 82 yards and a touchdown. Take note though, the Pats still used Kevin Faulk for the passing game as Maroney caught zero passes to Faulk's four, which limits the upside for Maroney. Regardless, if you lack depth and can still get him, Maroney makes a good pickup.

Jason Hill (WR, 49ers) -- The 49ers are not making anyone's life easier as far as wideouts go. First, Josh Morgan was supposed to be the guy, then it looked like Michael Crabtree was finally panning out. Sunday, some random named Jason Hill goes out and catches two touchdown passes. He totaled four receptions and 50 yards on the game. This was the first Hill sighting on the season, so let's wait and see if he shows up again before getting too excited. Frankly, the 49ers have too many damn receivers (Crabtree, Bruce, Morgan, Battle, Hill, Spurlock, Jones), so its doubtful anyone will ever have that significant of an impact. I hear Charles Rogers is available, maybe they have room for one more?

Robert Meachem (WR, Saints) -- Here's another one in a similar situation: good receiver on a team with a lot of good receivers. Sunday, Meachem racked up 98 yards on five catches with a touchdown. The problem for Meachem is that, despite playing on one of the best passing offenses in the history of the world, he competes with Marques Colston, Devery Henderson, Lance Moore, Jeremy Shockey and Reggie Bush. There's such a thing as too much good company in this case. In deep leagues, he makes a decent bench add, particularly as a lot of people need to start transitioning away from the Indianapolis also-rans (i.e., Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie).

Brandon Pettigrew (TE, Lions) -- It really looked like the Lions were on the way to win No. 2 behind a breakout game for Pettigrew. The surprise first-round draft pick made the front office look good for once as he caught seven passes for 70 yards and a touchdown. Pettigrew looks like a good choice for players struggling to fill a void left by Chris Cooley or Owen Daniels. I'm going to try to add him right now.

Waiver Wire Wonders: One Man Gathers What Another Man Spills originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bust a Move: Moats Added Player of 2009

Ryan Dembinsky — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire, NFL Bust a Move

Fantasy FanHouse's "Bust a Move" segment provides quick-hitting insight on the most popular adds and drops across Fleaflicker fantasy leagues between Tuesday and Wednesday of each week. Knowing who is on the move during this 24-hour period often provides a valuable edge with regard to outperforming or underperforming players, injuries and depth chart shifts. So do as the man says, "Don't just stand there..."

The Adds

Ryan Moats (RB, Texans, 5,087 adds) - With over 5,000 adds in a single week, Moats becomes the most added player of the year (for one week). Three touchdowns and 126 yards will do the trick every single time. Frankly, I'd file this one under "big time fluke" and expect to see Steve Slaton back in the lead role by week's end. Coach Kubiak already gave Slaton the pep talk and said he expects him to remain a key part of the running game. So the bottom line here is as follows: go ahead and add Moats, but unless you are in dire need of a leak plug at running back, wait to see how this shakes out before making him your starter.

Atlanta (D/ST, Falcons, 1,122 adds) - Normally when a team gives up 35 points, it doesn't induce fantasy owners to race out in droves to add the defense, but in the effort against the Saints, the Falcons unit played well -- notching two sacks, an interception and a defensive touchdown. Furthermore, a bulk of the Saints' points came off turnovers, so the score does not provide a true reflection of the Falcons' defensive output. This looks like a good add going forward, particularly with the struggling Redskins up next.

Seattle (D/ST, Seahawks, 1,033 adds) - Alright kids, now you're getting the hang of this. The Seahawks face the Detroit "We can't even beat the Rams" Lions and look like a sneaky spot start this week. I'd recommend this pickup even if you have to sacrifice a costly waiver priority. With the stinky Lions traveling three times zones and playing on road, you won't be sorry.

Malcom Floyd (WR, Chargers, 1,002 adds) - Floyd represents a savvy add for players in deep leagues with wide receiver needs. The Chargers recently cut Chris Chambers, causing Floyd's value to ratchet up significantly. While Floyd has yet to post big enough numbers to merit jumping on him as an immediate fantasy starter, he showed his skills by converting on some key third downs and has earned the confidence of both Philip Rivers and the coaching staff. Look for Floyd to break out very soon.

Ben Watson (TE, Patriots, 954 adds) - Watson provides a nice little tight end steal with the Patriots coming off their bye week. With Tom Brady hitting his stride and the cold weather coming, look for Watson's numbers to gradually continue to improve.

Jonathan Stewart (RB, Panthers, 809 adds) - If Stewart still lingers out there on your waiver wire, by all means add him. Stewart played great last week -- 87 yards and two touchdowns -- and his role continues to grow. We show Stewart available in 35 percent of leagues, but I doubt if many people who actually do research and play in competitive leagues will have this luxury. His availability is probably more the result of a lot of small leagues out there.

Mike Wallace (WR, Steelers, 714 adds) - Wallace provides a spark and a deep threat in the flashy nouveau Steelers offense with his 17.5 average yards per reception. Unfortunately, just as Mike Wallace broke through in Week 7, the Steelers faced a bye in Week 8, so his consistency remains a question mark.

Spencer Havner (TE, Packers, 675 adds) - Havner might give the Fridge a run for his money in terms of versatility. Havner, a linebacker first, came in and caught two touchdown passes in Week 8. As if that is not enough, he also plays a little fullback. Still, while it's a fun story, he's probably not worth a roster spot in fantasy terms as Jermichael Finley should return in a couple weeks. Plus, those two scores were the only two passes Havner caught all game.

Fred Davis (TE, Redskins, 673 adds) - The Davis pick up looks to be popular this week as a delayed reaction to the Chris Cooley injury two weeks ago. The Redskins subsequently went on a bye week after Cooley got hurt in Week 7, so folks are just now getting around to either filling his void or capitalizing on his absence. Davis provides a great pass catcher (and awful blocker) as a replacement, so he makes a decent gamble.

Jamaal Charles (RB, Chiefs, 546 adds) - We all know about this story by now, as Larry Johnson wrote his own ticket to the doghouse with generally poor play and an unbelievably ill-timed off-color sexual orientation comment. In Week 9, Charles gets free reign of the running game and an open ticket to win the starting job. The Chiefs running game is never going to save anyone's fantasy season, but Jamaal Charles looks like a good bet for a flex start this week if you do not already have rock solid options.

The Drops

Owen Daniels (TE, Texans, 2,449 drops) - Daniels represents the second big name tight end to suffer a major injury in as many weeks, following Chris Cooley in Week 7. Unfortunately for Daniels owners, he is dunzo for the season -- a devastating loss.

Arizona (D/ST, Cardinals, 933 drops) - The hot defense to add last week let everybody down this week. Don't ask me how you beat the Giants in the Meadowlands one week and tank against the Panthers at home the next. The bottom line with Arizona is that they seem to be a tough team to predict, regardless of the matchup. This week against the Bears would seem like a good bet, but with Forte finally coming on strong last week, it's best to pick someone more consistent for now.

Jay Feely (K, Jets, 886 drops) - You know the drill. Bye week.

Shonn Greene (RB, Jets, 862 drops) - Such haste. We warned you you'll have to be patient with Greene as teams do not rush for 300 yards every week, so last week's three touchdown effort would not be an automatic repeat. Leon Washington still will not return this season, so Greene will work his way into the offense. Just chill folks, he'll come around. This week provides a second chance to add Greene if you missed him the first time as many owners are choosing to drop him going into the Jets' bye week.

David Garrard (QB, Jaguars, 323 drops) - Garrard looks to break the single season record for both most drops and most adds. He seems to be on one list or the other just about every week. Last week, he choked again, throwing for just 139 yards. Don't worry though, he'll probably be back up in the "adds," next week after his upcoming game against the Chiefs.

Bust a Move: Moats Added Player of 2009 originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Passed Out at Your Desk: Time for the Backups to Step Up

R.J. White — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Sleepers, NFL Waiver Wire

Everyone loves fantasy football sleepers, but they change depending on league size and availability. We're here each and every week to give you a look at good plays for all types of leagues.

Our two running back picks from last week, LeSean McCoy and Justin Fargas, ended up with great lines, and if you had either as your fill-in RB2 for the week, I'm sure you were pleased with their performances. Unfortunately, the rest of our sleepers didn't hit.

What does that matter for this week, you say? How about ... more running backs! That's right, call now and we'll double your RB sleepers at no additional cost!

Now that the spirit of Billy Mays has passed through the column, let's check out the POaYD crew this week.

Power Naps

Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, NYG vs. SD
Fantasy owners were loving Bradshaw for much of the season. Through six weeks, the shifty runner had one huge game, two other double-digit performances, and only one game under 50 yards (Week 2's air show in Dallas). He was averaging 6.22 yards per carry! After two terrible weeks, that average has dropped all the way down to 5.35 yards per carry. That's still pretty good. Both Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs should thrive this week against the Chargers, so don't give up on the pair of Giant backs just yet. I own Bradshaw in multiple leagues, and he's starting in
every one.

Matt Cassel, QB, KC at JAC

Yards have been hard to come by for the Kansas City quarterback. He's had two games this season where he's thrown for under 100 yards, a JaMarcusian feat. (If you were wondering, that word is pronounced with the accent on the "cus," which rhymes with "lose".) So why am I marking him a sleeper for the week? In four consecutive games against the entire slate of NFC East teams, Cassel threw six TDs and no interceptions while averaging 164 yards a game. Fantastic? No, but it's against some pretty good competition, something that Jacksonville is not.

Michael Crabtree, WR, SF vs TEN
Crabtree signs, and the Niners can't seen to buy a win! They played a heck of a game against what I think is the best team in football though. The rookie receiver built on his 56-yard debut by catching six balls for 81 yards in the tough loss. If the trend continues, he should have his first 100-yard game against the Titans, who did much better defending the pass last week against the Jaguars. With the defense focusing on stopping Vernon Davis and Frank Gore, look for Crabtree to see single coverage for most of the game and exploit it to his advantage.

A Good Night's Sleep

Mike Bell, RB, NO vs. CAR
Don't tell me you're ready to give up on him after one bad game. Pierre Thomas stole the show on Monday night, but Bell was actually given the bigger share of carries, despite not doing much with it. If you were disappointed in his yards-per-carry average, look back to the 12-carry, 80-yard performance from Week 7. Now he gets the Panthers, a team that's been very easy to run on this season (as long as your QB isn't throwing their defenders the ball). Chalk up big days for both Thomas and Bell, whom I'm playing as a RB2 or flex in many of my leagues (you know, the half of my teams that don't have Bradshaw).

Jamaal Charles, RB, KC at JAC
Sometimes it's not what you do, it's what the idiot ahead of you on the depth chart does. Many people have been clamoring for Charles to receive an expanded role in the offense, and that time has finally come. He can't be worse than the 2.7 yards-per-carry the Chiefs offense has been built around. While he might still have to share the ball to some extent, expect Charles to receive the bulk of the load, which will probably be 12 to 15 carries. If he maintains his 5.0 yards-per-carry average, that'll lead to a usable fantasy day for you.

Ben Watson, TE, NE vs. MIA
Looking to catch lightning in a bottle? Watson has four touchdowns on 15 catches this season, with the last being a 35-yard score in London before the New England bye. Miami has been giving up TE points all season, with the latest success story being the previously-slumping Dustin Keller. The Dolphins will be doing their best to keep up with New England's great receivers, and I expect Watson to sneak in a score or two along the way.

Alex Smith, QB, SF vs. TEN
Was the Tennessee rejuvenation in Week 8 a preview of the second half, or just a blip on the screen of a lousy season? We know which scenario Smith is hoping is true. A week after his huge comeback against Houston, Smith had a good-but-not-great day in Indianapolis, throwing for about 200 yards and a TD, with one interception against him. He should be able to get multiple TDs under his belt this week, as I'm not sure the Titans have an answer for Vernon Davis. Play him with confidence as your flex QB or QB2.

Falcons Defense, TM, ATL vs. WAS
Backup tackle, meet John Abraham. John Abraham, meet Jason Campbell. Abraham resurrected his career last year but has just three sacks so far in 2009. That total could double on Sunday. Other things that could double in Week 9: Atlanta's one defensive TD this season, Campbell's halftime benchings, and coaching duties Jim Zorn "willfully" surrenders to assistants. With the Redskins' O-Line hurting, the Falcons are your obvious defensive plug-and-play for the week.

Lights Out

Malcom Floyd, WR, SD at NYG
Say goodbye to Chris Chambers, Charger fans. Some of you looked shocked -- did you not know he was still a member of the team when you heard the news of his release? It wouldn't surprise me, as Chambers has done nothing to endear himself to fans and fantasy owners alike this season. Now the much more talented Floyd steps into the spotlight. He's a guy you can always rely on if you need a big catch in the red zone, and now it looks like the Chargers will be relying on him more often. The Giants couldn't stop the Eagles passing game last week, and if we see a reprise here we should see a big game from Floyd.

Bryant Johnson, WR, DET at SEA
No team is worse at defending No. 2 WRs than Seattle, something that I'm sure comes as no shock after the Dallas game, where they didn't defend any receivers, or so it seemed. The man with the next shot at glory is Johnson. He's been decidedly mediocre all season, but the matchup is great for anyone needing to gamble in Week 9. If Calvin Johnson can play, that just opens up much of the field for Bryant Johnson. He's not my favorite play, but he's a nice pickup for deep league guys needing a fill-in.

Fred Davis, TE, WAS at ATL
The Falcons have allowed the second-most yards to tight ends this season, behind only the resting Vikings. Davis stepped in for Chris Cooley by catching eight balls for 78 yards and a score. Put the two together and you have a very nice low-end TE1 for Week 9. There's a very good chance he's available in your league, so make the move before someone realizes how well he did in Week 7.

Justin Forsett, RB, SEA vs. DET
Much like Malcom Floyd is benefiting from the Chambers release, Forsett has also seen his stock go up with the release of Edgerrin James. Forsett now becomes the clear No. 2 back and the much preferred guy on the field in passing situations (of which there are many for Seattle). Act now, because he's bound to have a big game within the next few weeks and become a waiver wire darling (a la Ryan Moats and Shonn Greene). What better team to announce your fantasy worth against than the Lions?

Matt Stover, K, IND vs. HOU
Thanks for bearing with us this long. This is our last sleeper, I promise you. When the 49ers put up a fight in Indianapolis, the Colts turned to their kicker to keep the game close. Not Adam Vinatieri, who's been out with an injury, but veteran Matt Stover, who connected with four FGs on the way to a big game. The Texans-Colts game usually ends up being closer than people expect, and if that happens again, people should expect even more fantasy fireworks from Stover.

Passed Out at Your Desk: Time for the Backups to Step Up originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Cut-N-Go: Chris Chambers Resurfaces in Kansas City

Knox Bardeen — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:30:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Sleepers, NFL Waiver Wire, NFL Start 'Em Sit 'Em

Cut-N-Go is Fantasy Football FanHouse's weekday roundup of the NFL news with fantasy football impact.

Cinderella had her glass slipper and some enterprising restaurateur decided many years ago that chicken wings and beer went great together. It doesn't happen often -- when two things come together to create a perfect fit. When it does happen, you should thank your stars.

Chris Chambers is doing just that after he was claimed off waivers Tuesday by the Kansas City Chiefs. It may be a stretch to call this a perfect fit, but there aren't too many teams in the NFL where Chambers could have gone and actually produced. The receiver-needy Chiefs are one of those few places.

Chambers, who had nine receptions for 112 yards and a touchdown this season, was released Monday by the San Diego Chargers. In Kansas City, Chambers is going to get quite a few chances to earn playing time. Bobby Wade and Mark Bradley are stepping stones on the depth chart for Chambers. But, if he finds any gas left in the tank, he may find himself being relevant to the Chiefs.

Just make sure that he does start producing and grabs that No. 2 wide receiver spot on the depth chart before you go out and sign him off of your fantasy waiver wire. Because it's likely that even if he becomes relevant in Kansas City, he won't become fantasy relevant.

Other Fantasy Football Notes
o. It looks as if 49ers offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye trusts Alex Smith. According to Matthew Barrows of the Sacramento Bee, the usually run-heavy San Francisco offense threw the ball 36 times on Sunday against the Colts while only running it 18 times. With Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree emerging as reliable threats, Smith could gain fantasy value if the 49ers continue to pass more than they run.

o. Having a change-of-pace rusher is all the rave now in the NFL, but a change-of-pace punt return specialist? Rick Maese and Jason Reid of The Washington Post say that Santana Moss will sometimes join DeAngelo Hall to return punts. Moss has 453 yards receiving this year with two touchdowns. If you have him on your roster already and you play in a league that awards return points, you just received an early holiday gift.

o. The Buffalo Bills are enjoying their bye week and that extra time may be just what Trent Edwards needs. Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News cites a team source in Buffalo who says that when they do get back onto the field in Week 10, they'll have Edwards back at quarterback. This news carries the caveat that Edwards doesn't have any setbacks, but it's still good news for those of you with Edwards on your bench.

o. According to Robert Lee of The Providence Journal, Sam Aiken and Brandon Tate will share No. 3 wide receiver duties this week for New England as they play Miami. It's hard to imagine a Patriots receiver not being fantasy relevant, but as a tandem, neither of these two is worth owning.

o. We all know that Maurice Jones-Drew can get very vocal when he doesn't get the ball. To keep this from happening, Vito Stellino of The Florida Times-Union says that David Garrard has been told not to audible out of run plays designed for Jones-Drew -- at least not all of the time.

Fantasy Football Cut-N-Go: Chris Chambers Resurfaces in Kansas City originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'House Check: The Mantz Go Marching

R.J. White — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire

Every Tuesday night, we'll give you an update on our FanHouse fantasy football league. Who hit on their sleepers? Who made the shrewd pickups? Who's practicing what they preach? In 'House Check, you'll find out.

It sure is nice to be Tom Mantzouranis these days. The FanHouse editor and unabashed Saints fan is witnessing what is probably the best New Orleans Saints team in history. And even though he showed a lot of homerism at our fantasy draft, the picks of Drew Brees, Pierre Thomas and the Saints defense are sure working out, even if a few of them may have seemed overdrafted at the time.

Mantzouranis (owner of My Soul Belongs To Breesus) is currently the only 6-2 team in the FanHouse league, so this may be a magical season for Tom in more ways than one.

More: FanHouse League Standings | Latest Player Notes

Waiver Wire Work

Where does the Ryan Moats wheel stop this week? On Steve Slaton owner Sean Lalley. Funny how things work out sometimes, right? Lalley won Shonn Greene last week, and with his team just two games back in the division and a whole round of divisional games on the docket for Weeks 11-13, his season is far from over. With Aaron Rodgers and Tony Romo both on this team, I bet Lalley will be working the trade lines this week.

Next up is Tom Herrera. He could use WR help, and Ted Ginn, Laveranues Coles and Malcom Floyd are sitting on the wire. Also, the Jets fan could cut Garrard loose to add Mark Sanchez. Knowing Herrera is high on Floyd (as I am myself), I'm pretty sure he'll add the new No. 2 WR in San Diego.

Players leaving their bye week that could also be leaving our league's waiver wire for good include Matt Cassel, Stephen Gostkowski and the Bengals defense. The Panthers D may have also earned a pickup by someone losing a defense to a bye.

Playoff Update

As stated earlier, the 6-2 Tom Mantzouranis is in first place overall with a 6-2 record. Right behind him in Division 3 is Will Brinson, the league's top scorer and the owner of a 5-3 record. Fleaflicker boss Ori Schwartz has ridden a three-game winning streak to the top of Division 1, but the other three teams in the division are just a game back at 4-4.

Also at 4-4 are the two other teams in Division 3, as well as the top two teams in Division 2. Sitting at the top thanks to a very small margin in total points (less than one point per week) is none other than myself. Ryan Dembinsky and I will be fighting to the death to take the division crown, and if one of us can surpass Ori, an eventual playoff bye.

Just one more troublesome bye week to deal with, and then we get ready for the stretch run, folks!

'House Check: The Mantz Go Marching originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Waiver Wire Wonders: Whatever Floats Your Moats

Ryan Dembinsky — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:15:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Waiver Wire

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.

We're halfway home, folks, and if history has taught us anything, the second half of the season is when fantasy football requires the keenest attention. At this point, draft day means nothing. First-round draft picks mean nothing. It's the waiver wire that wins championships.

With that in mind, Week 8 leads us into the home stretch with a nice batch to consider. The key to note for this week's waiver wire action is that pickups will likely depend more on roster needs, as we did not see any glaring adds for those who are quick on the trigger. Still, consider a breakout running back performance by a backup including three touchdowns, the solidifying of a hot rookie prospect, and a good sign from one of the league's most popular rookie quarterbacks. Plenty to do, so don't get caught on your heels.

Ryan Moats (RB, Houston) - With Steve Slaton suffering from a bad case of plantar fumbliitis, Moats stepped in to carry the ground load. He managed to blow away any numbers Slaton posted thus far this season, so perhaps Moats will take on a bigger role in the offense. It's no secret that the Texans have wanted a second running back to split the load with Slaton -- given his size -- but nobody expected Moats to be that guy, considering that he has been in the league since 2005, started just one game, and never topped 300 yards in a single season. In fact, Sunday's game came just one touchdown shy of his career output thus far. I'd expect Moats to get the ball more often going forward, but a repeat performance of this magnitude -- or anything close to it -- will never happen.

Maurice Morris (RB, Lions) - Though most folks expected Kevin Smith to put up his first game-breaking performance fantasy-wise this week against the Rams, it was Morris who posted the best numbers -- carrying the ball 14 times for 63 yards and adding 19 yards on one reception. Frankly, if neither Smith nor Morris can post 100 yards rushing against the Rams, they don't deserve starts, though both make decent reserves at this point.

LeSean McCoy (RB, Eagles) - While anyone with half a brain already picked up McCoy going into this week, he still remains on far too many waiver wires, for some odd reason. In his first true start with Brian Westbrook recovering from a concussion, McCoy showed he can carry the load, gaining 82 yards on just 11 carries and adding 10 yards on two receptions. While the concussion should not keep Westbrook out too long, it looks like the old truck might finally be busted.

Michael Crabtree (WR, 49ers) - I think it's officially safe to say Crabtree has arrived. We're still waiting for the big breakout game and debutante touchdown dance, but he solidified his presence Sunday gaining 81 yards on six catches after five catches for 54 yards last week. These numbers should continue to grow.

Leonard Weaver (RB, Eagles) - "Hi, I'm Leonard Weaver and I'd like to tell you about an amazing opportunity in the nanotechnology sector." It's not exactly a running back name, but another Eagles running back posted big-time numbers, courtesy of the Giants' defensive meltdown. The Eagles third-stringer ran for 75 yards and scored a touchdown. Attribute this to the blowout, so don't bother with Weaver, particularly since Westbrook should be back soon.

Mark Sanchez (QB, Jets) - The return of Jerricho Cotchery and recent addition of Braylon Edwards gives Mark Sanchez some of the best weapons in the NFL. While he has sputtered in terms of producing numbers for the better part of the season, look for Sanchez to become a pretty good fantasy option for the remainder of the season. He certainly makes a decent add for your backup. Sunday, he went 20-for-35 for 265 yards and two touchdowns, while scoring another one on the ground. I like Sanchez a lot down the stretch.

Malcom Floyd - Floyd caught just two passes, but notched 53 yards and, most importantly, started in place of Chris Chambers for the Chargers. Coming off a touchdown last week, Floyd looks to become an impact player for the Chargers down the stretch, so he makes a decent add in deep leagues.

Carolina (D/ST, Panthers) - You gotta love the NFL. One week the Cardinals waltz into the Meadowlands and beat one of finest teams in the league and the next they get trounced by one of the worst. Or maybe not? After an abysmal 0-3 start, the Panthers seem to be finding their sea legs, winning three of their last four games, due in large part to the defense. The Panthers intercepted Kurt Warner five times and scored a defensive touchdown. They certainly do not make a weekly play, but keep an eye on this unit for quality spot starts.

Waiver Wire Wonders: Whatever Floats Your Moats originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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