Grab Bag: Week 16

If you made it this far, congrats!

Most fantasy football championships will be played during week 16, so this is the last installment of the Grab Bag for 2007. If you need some help for the championship game or just want to add some depth in case of injury, here are a few guys worth looking at this week:

• LaMont Jordan, RB, Raiders: If the Jordan owner tossed him back to the waiver wire after he was relinquished to the bench earlier this year, now is the time to add him. Justin Fargas will miss the rest of the season and someone needs to carry the ball for Oakland. Dominic Rhodes could see significant work, too.
• Tony Scheffler, TE, Broncos: With Daniel Graham sidelined, Scheffler has emerged as a force in the Broncos’ passing game. Watch for Jay Cutler’s status going into the game on Monday night if you want to use Scheffler.
• Samkon Gado, RB, Dolphins: Gado scored against the Ravens last weekend and should be in for a nice day against a porous Patriots’ run D.
• Roydell Williams, WR, Titans: Any Titans’ wide receiver is a risky play, but Vince Young seems to be throwing the ball a little better lately and Williams has been his favorite target.

Grab Bag: Week 15

The fantasy football playoffs either began for your league in week 14 or will begin for your league in week 15 (or maybe they started a long, long time ago). Regardless of when your playoffs started or will start, there are a few players on the waiver wire worth a look after week 14’s results.

• Anthony Gonzalez, WR, Colts: Gonzalez blew up against the Ravens on Sunday night football and could make for a nice fill-in for all those Marvin Harrison owners out there.
• Samkon Gado, RB, Dolphins: Slim pickin’s at runningback on the waiver wire. Gado could add some depth at runningback for a strapped playoff team.
• Darius Walker, RB, Texans: Walker might be the next in line for time at runningback in Houston after Ron Dayne injured his ankle.
• Reggie Williams, WR, Jaguars: Williams is playing well lately with Garrard back in the lineup. He could be worth a shot for a team in need of some help at wide receiver.
• Devin Hester, WR, Bears: With the playoffs nearly out of reach, the Bears likely will employ Hester more on the offensive side of the ball to see what his is capable of doing as a receiver. He looked mostly good against the Redskins last Thursday.

Grab Bag: Week 14

The fantasy football playoffs are here. If you have a game in week 14 and need some help, look no further than the waiver wire (after all, trading season is long gone):

• Ladell Betts, RB, Redskins: Savvy owners who drafted Betts sure are happy they held onto him this long. Or not. Betts may be on your wire and is worth an immediate pickup after Clinton Portis suffered an ankle injury in week 13.
• Mike Furrey, WR, Lions: Furrey is just the next in line to benefit from what has been an injury-riddled season for studs. Roy Williams sprained his PCL (the same injury Andre Johnson sustained earlier this year) and could be done for the year.
• Chris Brown, RB, Titans: LenDale White is a little banged up and Brown seems to be healthy at the right time. The Titans are in the thick of the playoff hunt and will need to rely on their running game if they want to make it to the dance.
• Bryant Johnson, WR, Cardinals: Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald are ailing, but Johnson is a talented replacement. The Cards offense might not miss a beat with him at wide receiver.
• Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers: If Brett Favre misses any time (doubtful), Rodgers showed that he can fill in nicely for the veteran. And on that Packers’ offense, Rodgers could be a nice sleeper during the fantasy playoffs for Favre owners.

Weekly Haze

Top links this week:

• Washington Redskins’ safety Sean Taylor passed away at the age of 24 after getting shot in his home. RIP.
• More week 13 waiver wire goodness from the Fantasy Football Librarian.
• Are Eli Manning’s days in New York numbered?
• More importantly, are Donovan McNabb’s days in Philadelphia numbered???
• After Monday night, we know that Ricky Williams’ days in Miami this season are numbered … to one.

For more great links, check out my Google shared items.

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Grab Bag: Week 13

Most fantasy leagues have one more regular season week before the playoffs begin. This could be the last chance for fantasy owners to secure a playoff spot. With the holiday shopping season in full swing, it is time for desperate fantasy owners to shop the waiver wire. Here are a few bargains who could vault fantasy teams into the playoffs:

• Andre Hall, RB, Broncos: Two weeks ago, Selvin Young was next-in-line for Travis Henry’s job. Then Hall busted a long touchdown run against the Titans on Monday Night Football and produced a solid effort yesterday against Chicago. He has been impressive and should be owned in all leagues.
• Adrian Peterson, RB, Bears: Peterson now is the starting runningback in Chicago for the rest of the season due to Cedric Benson’s lower-leg injury. He is a tough runner, but also good as a receiver out of the backfield. He could be a real boost to a fantasy team struggling at runningback.
• Kolby Smith, RB, Chiefs: Smith had the best game of any runningback in Kansas City this year, and that is saying something. With Priest Holmes done and Larry Johnson’s return in jeopardy, Smith could be in line for a few more nice performances.
• Ricky Williams, RB, Dolphins: OK, the ‘Phins have not played against the Steelers on Monday night as of the time of this article, but he has a chance to be the starter the rest of the way. Ronnie Brown was doing just fine in that role before succumbing to injury.
• AJ Feeley, QB, Eagles: If you own Donovan McNabb, it might be a good time to add Feeley as insurance. Feeley managed to look good in his first action this season … against the Patriots. He could be a good spot starter if McNabb misses more time.
• Kurt Warner, QB, Cardinals: Warner may not be able to lead the Cardinals to victory, but he sure can throw the $#!@ out of the ball. If you need depth at quarterback, Warner is a good choice down the stretch.

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Grab Bag: Week 12

With week 11 behind fantasy owners, the fantasy football playoffs are knocking at the door. Some guys stepped up in week 11 and fantasy owners may want to take a look at the waiver wire for some potential gems:

• Santana Moss, WR, Redskins: Moss finally exploded, coincidentally against the Redskins’ biggest rival — the Cowboys. While there is no guarantee for consistency, Moss is worth owning as a backup in most fantasy leagues.
• Ron Dayne, RB, Texans: Dayne ran hard against a stingy Saints’ run D and could continue to see time as the starting runningback in Houston with Ahman Green sidelined.
• Jason Campbell, QB, Redskins: I was wrong about benching Campbell against the Cowboys. He continues to improve as a starting quarterback and should be owned as a backup in all fantasy leagues.
• Chester Taylor, RB, Vikings: If you missed the memo, chances are the opportunity has passed to grab Taylor. But if he still is available, it would be best to grab him.
• Heath Evans, RB, Patriots: Laurence Maroney finally scored a touchdown, but left the game against the Bills with an injured foot. Kevin Faulk left the game with a head injury. That leaves Heath Evans as the healthiest of the backs, and capable too.
• Reuben Droughns/Derrick Ward, RB, Giants: With Brandon Jacobs banged up (again), Droughns and Ward might be good finds on the waiver wire. Both could see increased action in the Giants backfield while Jacobs recovers from a pulled hamstring.

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Grab Bag: Week 11

So WordPress decided to eat my Grab Bag for this week, but no love lost. However, I have run out of time to write a new one, so …

Want some great waiver wire advice this week?

Look no further than the Fantasy Football Librarian’s Waiver Wire Thoughts for Week 11. Enjoy the smorgasbord of information!

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Grab Bag: Week 10

Different week, same story: Injuries to big-name players in the NFL continue to haunt fantasy owners. Although there appear to be no serious, long-term injuries, several players figure to capitalize on any missed time or ineffective play by the incumbents. Here are a few gems that may be on your waiver wire:

• Maurice Morris, RB, Seahawks: With Shaun Alexander struggling, it might only be a matter of time before Morris starts getting more opportunities in the Seattle offense.
• Priest Holmes, RB, Chiefs: Larry Johnson might be out this week with an ankle injury, and Holmes figures to get most of the work at runningback in LJ’s absence. Kolby Smith likely will split time with Holmes, too.
• Chris Henry, WR, Bengals: Finally back from suspension, and in the nick of time. Chad Johnson may not play this weekend after suffering a neck injury against the Bills last weekend, so the Bengals need Henry’s big-play ability in the lineup.
• JP Losman, QB, Bills: Losman is turning it on at the right time while fighting for his job. It always seems he and Lee Evans wait until the second half of the season to get things going.
• Justin Fargas, RB, Raiders: Fargas got most of the work last weekend and should continue to see time as the starting runningback with LaMont Jordan ailing and Dominic Rhodes a non-factor.

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