Fantasy Sports Review

Here are some waiver wire and sleeper picks for you to check out. There are a ton of guys on my list because I play in some deeper leagues. I need to look a little deeper than most.

May be available now…
**UPDATE** Musa Smith RB (BAL) - Willis McGahee went down with a concussion last night late in the game. Those are ussually tricky so it is hard to say what his status might be for this week. You might want to grab Musa because if he does play, he should find lot of success against the Bungals D.

Detroit Defense - I should have said something about them last week but I almost didn’t believe it. They have been great the last two games; they have held two consecutive solid opponents to just 7 points, have forced 8 turnovers and recorded 7 sacks. Oh, and they play a struggling Arizona this week.

Maurice Morris RB (SEA) - Alexander wasn’t even on the field for most of the fourth quarter, instead Morris got the bulk of the work. Alexander just doesn’t look like he has anything when he runs the ball. Perhaps we are seeing a change of the guard. If you can, grab Morris and stash him on the bench.

D.J. Hackett WR (SEA) - Had a solid outing in his first game back. 6 catches 58 yards and a touchdown.

Priest Holmes RB (KC) - I can hardly believe I am saying this but the Priest is back. Johnson went down with a leg injury and if he misses any time the former fantasy stud will be back at the helm.

J. P. Losman QB (BUF) - Trent Edwards could miss more time and JP looked very good Sunday. This week he plays the Dolphins. If you need a QB this is your man.

Patrick Ramsey QB (DEN) - Not sure of Cutlers status at this time but if he misses any time Ramsey might be a decent roster addition. He threw for 262 and a TD in relief.

Quinn Gray QB (JAC) - Jaguars or not, when you throw for 354 and 2TD’s you belong on this list. If interceptions won’t kill you he could be an option unless Gerrard is all of the sudden feeling better.

Reggie Williams WR (JAC) - How consistent will he be? Not sure but he had a good day on Sunday. He posted 6 catches for 128 with a touchdown.

Warrick Dunn RB (ATL) - Just thought you’d like to know that he had 100 and a TD. Is it possible that he laying around on your wire? If he is make a note that this week he plays Carolina you is 20th against the run.

Vinnie Testeverde QB (CAR)/Matt Moore QB (CAR) - Nobody can stay healthy in Carolina. David Carr was injured and I’m not sure what his deal is but if you are desperate - and I mean desperate - keep tabs on one of these fella.

Vernon Davis TE (SF) - In case for some reason he is laying around on your waiver wire for some reason grab him. He’s had two solid weeks in a row and looks to be his teams only receiving threat.

Micheal Robinson RB (SF)/Maurice Hicks RB (SF) - Gore was inactivated right before the game. If he misses any more time you might see more of what you saw today out of these two. Robinson gets the carries and yards. Hicks gets the TD. If you are desperate or just want to keep them away from the Gore owner in your league grab one if you can.

Brooks Bollinger QB (MIN) - Tavaris Jackson is hurt again - shocker I know - and Brooks through a TD. Might be a bye week option in a deep leagues.

Keep an eye on…
Chris Henry WR (CIN) - If Chad Johnson misses any time I would think that Henry could hit the ground…receiving! He has been practicing and he is eligible to play this week after serving his suspension.

A few other resources you should check out are Fantasy Football Librarians waiver wire report and the Bruno Boys week nine waiver wire report.

We are past the midpoint of the season and before you know it your fantasy football play-offs will be in full swing. Every start becomes even more critical from this point forward if you expect to be in the playoffs. That is why my friend I took a little extra care in choosing my seven players for this weekends games.

Real quick, here’s a little reminder of how I have things set up. I list two players who I think deserve a start and two players that I think should ride the pine. Also, I have another section that will deal with some of the gray area associated with some players.

This section is called Sleepers: Don’t be surprised if. It will deal with players who, regardless of stature, will perform better or worse than expected. Rather than tell you that you should start or sit these players - since I do not know every circumstance surrounding your team in particular - I am just offering up a little food for thought for those of you who have tough decisions to make this weekend. So lets get to it.

Start’em if you got’em

Edgerrin James RB (ARI) - Don’t let the Bucs defense fool ya, they aren’t that great against the run. Even though they are 8th in total defense they are a below average 22nd against the run. They also allow one touchdown per game on average. With a healthy quarterback Edgerrin has been solid this year. He should be solid this weekend in Tampa with 90 plus and a touchdown.

Final stats: 9 carries for 14 yards and a TD.
Final thoughts: Wow, Tampa Bay controlled the clock in this one. Time of possession for Arizona was 16:53.

Shaun Alexander RB (SEA) - He is no longer a must start on a week to week basis but this week he should actually be worth something. With the exception of one, every running back that has faced the Browns this year has posted a 100 yard game. The only one that didn’t was Stephen Jackson but he was injured and had 8 for 41 with a touchdown in just under a quarters work. Look for 100 and a TD this week.

Final stats: 14 carries for 32 yards, 0 TD’s and 1 catch for 1 yard.
Final thoughts: Is it over for Alexander? If not it is getting damn close. I watched the game and he didn’t look good at all. In fact Maurice Morris looked much better with 9 carries for 55 yards and 2 catches for 43 so it wasn’t the D. I will be recommending Morris in this weeks waiver wire post.

Sit’em if you’ve got em

Steve McNair QB (BAL) - Not only does he struggle throwing the long ball but I am really not even sure he can make it through a whole game without pulling something. There are worries among NFL insiders that he will be rusty after not playing for 3 weeks. Then you couple all that with the fact that he is playing the Steelers fourth ranked defense on their turf; not good. Don’t put your playoff hopes in the hands of someone starring down a 175 yard and 0 touchdown performance.

Final stats: 63 yards, a pick and no touchdowns
Final thoughts: He did worse than I thought.

Ryan Grant RB (GB) - Boy, he sure looked pretty solid against Denver the other night in primetime. Hell he’s even a great pick-up this week. However, unless you need a third running back, or you are decimated by the bye week, stay away. Remember the Broncos have struggled mightily against the run this year and aren’t a good measuring stick in this case. Better yet, the Chiefs defense is always tough at home and since the return of Jared Allen they have turned it up even more. Don’t be hypnotized by the Monday night hype, he will struggle to get 75 and won’t sniff the endzone without divine intervention.

Final stats: 19 for 55, 0TD’s and 4 catches for 37.
Final thoughts: Heard a Packer commentator mention the fact that he looked better than his stats showed. Good to see him involved in the passing game too. Should be a decent low end RB2 option going forward.

Sleepers: don’t be surprised if…

…Vernon Davis TE (SF) has a solid outing against a poor Atlanta pass defense. I know this is the San Fransisco offense we are talking about but right now he is about all they have and Atlanta has been pretty shaky vs the pass as of late. 75 and a TD on a bad San Fran offense is worthy of the sleeper tag.

Final stats: 7 catches for 77 yards, 0 touchdowns.
Final thoughts: He is about the only thing that the Niners have going right now. Tough season for them.

…JP Losman QB (BUF) and Lee Evans WR (BUF) hook up over and over against the Bengals. I think it is a pretty safe bet considering Cinci has allowed 18 touchdowns through the air (which is tied for the most in the league). Thats 18 touchdowns in 7 games, you do the math. Also, Losman knows his opportunities are becoming more and more limited. He needs to make the best of every start. J.P. Should go over 250 with 2 TD’s and Lee “Late Season All-Star” Evans should get his 100 and at least one touchdown.

Final stats: Losman - 24/34 for 295, 1 TD and 1 int. Evans - 9 catches 165 yards and 1 TD.
Final thoughts: Leave it to the Cinci defense to breath life into any offense. What a day for the Bills who are now at 4 and 4.

As always, that is not all my friend. There are a few other stops you should make before finalizing your starting lineup.

First, make sure you stop by and see how the Fantasy Football Librarian can help you. Every week she posts all of the start’em sit’em articles, player ranking posts and waiver wire lists that she can find so that you don’t have to hunt for them yourself. Check her out and tell her the Goat says hi.

Second, you can get more in-depth NFL player projections throughout the week by checking out the Bruno Boys website over on MVN.com.

Third, be on the lookout for the weekly fantasy football start’em sit’em podcast I co-host with Marc Caviglia.

Here are some waiver wire and sleeper picks for you to check out. There are a ton of guys on my list because I play in some deeper leagues. I need to look a little deeper than most.

May be available now…
**UPDATE** Ryan Grant RB (GB) - After his showing in Denver he should get at least one more start. Pick him up and be glad you did.

Adimchinobe Echemandu RB (HOU) - Not sure how you say`his name but he looked pretty decent against San Diego until the game got out of hand. 10 carries for 62 yards along with 2 catches for 11. Ahman Green was a last second mystery scratch and they cut Gado which gave AE had an opportunity to show something; he did. If you have a deep bench check him out because ya never know.

Lee Evans WR (BUF) - I doubt he would still be available but it is possible in some leagues someone may have given up on him with his slow start. If he’s not available, maybe he would come cheap in a trade. He is heating up a little more each week and traditionally seems to have strong second halves.

D.J. Hackett WR (SEA) - I mentioned him before but wanted to remind you again. He is healthy, has great upside and will be playing against the Brown defense this week. If there was ever a late season sleeper it would be this guy. He should be the first option until Branch returns from his injury.

Jacoby Jones WR (HOU) - He disappeared after that injury early in the season but he popped his head up this week with 5 catches for 51 yards.

Vernon Davis TE (SF) - He was a hot prospect coming into the season but lost some steam after getting injured. This week he had 6 catches for 72 on Sunday had their only TD. He seems to be the best option in the passing game. Maybe he is laying around on your wire.

Jeff King TE (CAR) - He had 10 catches for 82 yards. May be alright for some bye week spot duty.

Reggie Brown WR (PHI) - 8 catches for 105 yards. He did get hurt in the game so keep an eye on his status if you want to use him.

Tennessee Defense - It may not be to late to pick these guys up. They are solid and have a few games in a row against less than stellar offenses; Carolina and then Jacksonville.

Chris Henry RB (TEN) - As long as Chris Brown misses time Henry is worth some spot duty in deeper leagues. He had 4 rushes for 48 yards and a TD against the Raiders.

J.P. Losman QB (BUF) - He came in for an injured Trent Edwards and posted 113 yards with an 85 yard TD to Lee Evans to seal the win.

David Carr QB (CAR) - If you are in a deep league starting two QB’s or just like quarterbacks that wear gloves, you might want to secure his services. He will more than likely take over this week now that he appears healthy. He had 103 yards and didn’t get sacked in mop-up duty against the Colts. Keep you expectation low in the short run though, he plays Tennessee next week.

Brooks Bollinger QB (MIN) - Desperate for a QB in a deep league? This guy is a loooong shot if both Holcomb and Jackson miss any time.

Sage Rosenfels QB (HOU) - Matt Schaub was injured again with an unknown head injury that was worrisome enough that he went to the hospital. Rosenfels didn’t exactly light it up but could be usable in spot situations in deeper leagues.

Keep an eye on…
Josh McCown QB (OAK) - This is just an observation but to me Culpepper doesn’t seem to be as effective as McCown was before getting injured. You would think that Lane might start thinking about giving Josh another chance at some point.

Kellen Clemens QB (NYJ) - The saga continues. Pennington was benched late in the game with a chance to still win the game. Is this the week they make the switch? We shall see. For now if you are in a deeper league you may want keep an eye on the situation.

A few other resources you should check out are Fantasy Football Librarians waiver wire report and the Bruno Boys week nine waiver wire report.