Week 11: Free agents to pick up
There was a Thursday game, which means some owners missed their free-agent waiver wire period because the waiver period was earlier than normal. That’s what happens when there are Thursday games! Some leagues do offer first-come, first-served. Top players this week, such as running backs Justin Forsett (Seattle Seahawks), Jason Snelling (Atlanta Falcons), Jerious Norwood (hip, Falcons), Bernard Scott (Cincinnati Bengals) and Larry Johnson (Bengals), are gone. So who is there? I hope some of the wide receivers, place kickers and defenses I’m listing.
Kansas City WR Chris Chambers is listed because Dwayne Bowe is serving a four-game suspension for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. Chambers, in my eyes, only has two weeks of calculable data as his stint was with the San Diego Chargers before the Chiefs signed him. In those two games, he has gone 6-130-2 with nine targets. View him as a No. 3 or flex fantasy receiver. He’s not going to post numbers as good as Bowe simply because he doesn’t have the chemistry with quarterback Matt Cassel yet, nor, at 32 years old, does he have Bowe’s skills. Greater detail on Chambers and the Bowe suspension is provided at Keith Hernandez’s blog: “Four-game suspension for Kansas City Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe.”
St. Louis Rams WR Brandon Gibson will replace Keenan Burton (knee), whose season is over with a torn patella tendon. He went 7-93-0 with nine targets last week. Remember, he was part of the trade that sent linebacker Will Witherspoon to the Philadelphia Eagles. Many thought Gibson would eventually eat away at Burton’s playing time anyway. The kid has talent and at one time some saw him as a Day 1 draft prospect that fell to the sixth round. Some believe his poor senior season was because of bad quarterback play and double-teams. If you’re desperate, such as some owners in deep leagues or high-stakes leagues, give him a shot.
Gaining chemistry?
Tennessee Titans WR Nate Washington has come alive the last few weeks with touchdowns but that’s it. His only value is in leagues that don’t have point-per-reception scoring rules and touchdown only leagues. He’s only averaging 2-28-0.67 with an average of 3.3 targets per game. In total over three games, 10 targets, 7-85-2.
Oakland Raiders WR Chaz Schilens is available on some waiver wires, and for those that don’t know, he is arguably the team’s best receiver. While he only went 3-27-0 with four targets, the team has a new quarterback in Bruce Gradkowski after benching JaMarcus Russell, who I call, JaAwful Russell! In deep leagues he’s worth grabbing for a couple of weeks to see what happens. I’ll say this, I love tight end Zach Miller’s talent, but both he and Schilens fall under the “start at your own risk” philosophy.
New York Giants TE Kevin Boss is available in some leagues and over the last three weeks he’s seen 16 targets, an average of 5.33 per game. He has produced 8-122-2. Obviously the two touchdowns make him attractive, so riding the hot hand is what we’re looking at here. I also like his matchup this week against the Atlanta Falcons. They’ve allowed tight ends to gain either yardage or touchdowns the last few weeks, so the Giants can exploit that.
Tennessee Titans PK Rob Bironas is unlikely to be available in most leagues after the initial free-agent waiver wire period. I was able to grab him in one first-come, first-served league, and he may still be available in your league. He’s kicking at a 90.9 percent clip over the last five games. Over the last three games he has posted 12 XPs, 7 FGs, including a 51-yarder and a 48-yarder. Right now the Titans are playing with anyone, so pick him up while the team and Bironas are hot!
Cincinnati Bengals DT is for real, and though they’re probably gone with this week’s initial waiver wire period, they may still be available in a few leagues. They face the hapless Oakland Raiders this week. Over the last five games they have recorded nine interceptions, forced four fumbles and generated 13 sacks. Damn impressive numbers, breaking up to 2.6 turnovers and sacks per game. I like them long-term regardless of who they play after giving the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers a beat down!
Houston Texans DT is a good stretch-run D to grab. Sure, this week and next week (Weeks 11 and 12) they’re not recommended as they face the Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts not being great options but when you enter the fantasy playoffs in Week 13-16, they face the Jacksonville Jaguars, Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams and Miami Dolphins.
Just remember, it’s up to you to make sure the players listed are good fits with your league’s scoring rules. For other players and detailed breakdowns, check out KFFL.com’s Waiver Wire and other articles. You can also check out my videos at http://www.kffl.com/static/video-archive.php.
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