Tampa Bay RB Carnell "Cadillac" Williams is in the garage, teammate Michael Pittman is on pit row for repairs and will likely be there 6-8 weeks with an ankle injury, leaving the offense with Earnest Graham (above left) and rookie Kenneth Darby (above right) to handle the ground work.
Every week,
SportsGrumblings.com editors and staff coordinate to offer an
intriguing list of fantasy football players likely to be available on
the waiver wire.
Availability, of course, depends on the league. The SG staff uses 12 team, 15 player leagues as the median. Quarterback 1, Kurt Warner - Arizona - With starting QB Matt Leinart suffering a broken collarbone the starting job is Warner's for as long as he can stay healthy. Leinart is not expected to return until Week 12 at the earliest (6-8 weeks is best case scenario for the second-year quarterback) 2, David Garrard - Jacksonville - He continues to get more comfortable in the Jaguars vanilla offense. 3, Derek Anderson - Cleveland - As long as Anderson has the starting gig in Cleveland he will have fantasy value. Owners in shallow leagues continue to start Drew Brees and others over Anderson... an obvious mistake at this point in the season. 4. Brodie Croyle - Kansas City - The strong armed quarterback showed why the front office and coaching staff likes him so much. He stands tall in the pocket and has an accurate arm. He has a favorable start at home against the Bengals defense in Week 6. 5. Trent Edwards - Buffalo - Hasn't been fantasy friendly in his first two starts, but has led Buffalo to two straight victories (oops, make that one win/one freakish loss) and will only get better if he keeps the starting job over the injured J.P. Losman. 6. Daunte Culpepper - Oakland - He could still be available in shallow formats and figures to put the ball in the air Sunday against a suspect San Diego secondary. 7. Joey Harrington -Atlanta - The Week 5 loss in Tennessee had nothing to do with his performance and he will make leaps and bounds as long as he is allowed to play. 8. Jeff Garcia -Tampa Bay- After a disappointing Week 5 performance several owners will cut Garcia loose. If he becomes available make a FA move for his services. 9. Alex Smith - San Francisco - Will return in Week 8 and has been dropped in most traditional formats. Make your move now. 10. Cleo Lemon - Miami - Green's Week 5 concussion finishes his '07 season.. count on it.
Running Back 1, Derrick Ward - New York Giants - Ward was dropped in shallow leagues due to the retun of Brandon Jacobs but he will still see 6-10 touches per game and is a handcuff to bruising teams bruising starter. 2, Earnest Graham - Tampa Bay - With RB Michael Pittman out to a fibula injury Graham inherits the starting role by default. 3, Jason Wright - Cleveland - Make a move on Wright just in case injured starter Jamal Lewis can't dress against the soft Rams defense Sunday. 4, Dominic Rhodes - Oakland - LaMont Jordan missed practice on Monday and at this point isn't considered an option for the Week 6 contest in San Diego. Rhodes could play as soon as week six and he could receive the short-yardage work against a staunch run defense. 5, Kenton Keith - Indianapolis - He is now officially a handcuff to Joe Addai after his two touchdown performance in Week 5. 6, Brian Leonard - St. Louis - Rams starter Steven Jackson has been ruled out for the Week 6 game in Baltimore. We have touted the Rutgers rookie since training camp and won't stop now. 7, Aaron Stecker - New Orleans - Expect the team to continue to offer Stecker more touches moving forward and use him in the same role Deuce McAllister executed before suffering a season ending knee injury. Stecker had a touchdown called back in the Week 5 loss to the Panthers and is a flex option in deep formats. Do not discount his roster value. If an unexpected injury were to befall Reggie Bush Stecker would become a starting option in all formats. 8, Najeh Davenport - Pittsburgh - Vultured two scores from fast Willie on Sunday and is a must handcuff to the Steelers featured back Parker. 9, Ron Dayne - Houston - RB Ahman Green is close to returning but even when that day arrives there is no guarantee Green can stay healthy. 10, Mewelde Moore - Minnesota - There is a small chance he could become a second half option in the Tampa Bay offense. 11. Chris Brown - Tennessee - Deep leagues is where is value lies. Currently the Titans running back position is a hit miss proposition. 12. Vernand Morency -Green Bay - He will grow into the starting role in th next 2-3 weeks and the Packers have a few soft spots in their schedule during the fantasy playoff schedule. 13. Leon Washington -New York Jets - Not only is he a solid flex option in deep formats, he's a must handcuff to Thomas Jones. 14. LenDale White -Tennessee - He won't make too many defenders miss, but get him to the line of scrimmage untouched and he will do serious damage. After disappointing his fantasy faithful in Week 5 he will become available this week. Make a move for his services. 15. Correll Buckhalter -Philadelphia- He is getting work in place of the injured Brian Westbrook. Owners who roster Brian Westbrook should find a way to secure the services of Buckhalter and Tony Hunt -- either/or could be the featured back if the Eagles are not in the playoff hunt in December. 16. Kolby Smith/Michael Bennett - Kansas City- Call it a gut feeling -- but it can't hurt to have Michael Bennett or Kolby Smith behind Johnson, even if the Chiefs offensive line isn't currently opening up many holes Johnson is being called out for his reported "lack-of-effort". Owners who have not found a buyer for Larry Johnson should use the upcoming favorable matchup against the Bengals as a selling point and drop his ass on another owner faster than a counterfeit "Bengi". 17. Kenneth Darby - Tampa Bay - First Alstott, then Caddy, now Michael Pittman. If Earnest Graham were next (God forbid)... Darby would be the next in line to start.
Wide Receiver 1. Greg Jennings -Green Bay - Brett Favre and his receivers continue to get better with each "passing" week. Jennings won't be available in too many formats especially during the bye-weeks, but if he is.. find a spot for him on the roster. 2. Dwayne Bowe -Kansas City - It might be too late, but we have been touting this kid ever since Kennison went down in Week 1 and Kennison went down again in Week 5. 3. Antwan Randle El -Washington - He isn't available in many leagues, but due to the uncertainty of his current playing status he will be dropped by a few impatient owners. 4. Patrick Crayton -Dallas - If he is available it is a shallow league or one fast asleep. 5. Eric Parker -San Diego- Still a few weeks from returning, but find a spot for his future production. 6. Joe Jurevicius -Cleveland - Check the status of his Week 5 knee injury. 7. Shaun McDonald -Detroit- Disappointed in Week 5, which is good for waiver wire hounds. He will pop back up in some player pools 8. James Jones -Green Bay - Any starter in the Green Bay offense should be on a roster.. in any format. 9. Anthony Gonzalez -Indianapolis- Injuries to the Colts receiving corps gave him an opportunity to garner the trust of Peyton... and his seven catch performance in Week 5 did just that. 10. Ike Hilliard -Tampa Bay - Check the status of Hilliard's ankle injury but make a move on the new Buccaneers No. 1 receiver. 11. Mike Furrey -Detroit- Throw out the Jon Kitna Week 5 performance. 12. Muhsin Muhammad -Chicago - With Griese at the helm he has value. 13. Andre' Davis -Houston - Until Andre Johnson comes back.. Davis is Matt Schaub's top wide out option. 14. Michael Jenkins -Atlanta - The more familiar Joey Harrison becomes with the Bobby Petrino offense, the more opportunities his wide outs will receive. 15. Lance Moore -New Orleans - Devery Henderson has flopped, dropped passes and been just horrible in September. In October's first game Henderson led the team in receiving, but dropped the game winning ball, and three others during the contest. HC Payton will move Henderson out and give Moore a chance. 16. Derrick Mason -Baltimore - He won't score much -- but he will continue to see double digit targets on Sunday. 17. Roddy White -Atlanta - The more familiar Joey Harrison becomes with the Bobby Petrino offense, the more opportunities his wide outs will receive. 18. Jerry Porter -Oakland - A new starting quarterback in Oakland (Culpepper) makes Porter fantasy friendly. 19. Sidney Rice -Minnesota - He's likely to be the Vikings number one receiver by seasons end. 20. Kevin Walter -Houston- He continues to start and will eventually have his 15-minutes. 21. Jacoby Jones -Houston- Owners have dropped him since his injury. Owners with roster spots would be well served to make a move on the Texans second receiver. 22. Dennis Northcutt - Jacksonville - He is finally living up to his No. 1 receiver status in Jacksonville, which is nothing more than a No. 4 fantasy option or bye-week replacement. 23. Drew Bennett - St. Louis - He scored against the Cardinals and has handcuff value for Isaac Bruce owners. 24. Donte' Stallworth - New England - Could he finally become worthwhile as a bench option for owners in deeper formats? It was just one week (Week 5 - 4 catch - 65 yard - 1 TD), but all receivers in the Pats offense are worth following.
Tight End 1, Ben Watson - New England - He's was our preseason favorite to out produce his ADP and AAV.. His two touchdown performance in Week 5 is just a sample of things to come. 2, Heath Miller - Pittsburgh - He is finding his way around the redzone again. 3, Owen Daniels - Houston - Currently the target monster of Matt Schaub. 4, Alex Smith - Tampa Bay - Three catches a game and finally found the end zone Sunday. Expect more performances like Sunday's moving forward. 5. Bo Scaife -Tennessee - He was actually out produced by Troupe on Sunday -- but is still a bye-week replacement for those in need. 6. Visanthe Shiancoe -Minnesota - Brad Childress doesn't feature the tight end in his West Coast theme, but the Vikings don't have a wealth of talent at the wide out position. 7. Donald Lee -Green Bay - A bye week replacement in deep formats.
