Author: Doug Moore

Waiver Wire Wizardry: Pickups for Week 16

| Doug Moore
Harry Douglas
Whenever Julio Jones or Roddy White can’t go, Harry Douglas becomes an attractive fantasy option

Quarterback:

Robert Griffin III (31% Y!): Despite not starting this week, Griffin had a solid game in relief of Colt McCoy, who re-injured his neck on Sunday. Going up against an average Giants defense, Griffin finished with 236 yards and a touchdown. He also scrambled for 46 yards as well and almost rushed for a score. Griffin is at his best when he uses his legs, which he did yesterday. Despite the pedestrian stat line otherwise, it was a productive day for Griffin compared to what he has done this season. McCoy should be highly questionable for week 16 and Griffin will probably start even if the former is cleared. He faces an Eagles defense that has given up some big plays. RG3 will be a high-end QB2 this week.

Eli Manning (61% Y!): Despite losing Victor Cruz earlier in the season, Manning was paired up with budding superstar Odell Beckham JR. The young wideout had a decent game yesterday (Editor’s note: decent?!). Manning had 250 yards passing with 3 touchdowns (all to Beckham) and put up top-five numbers. Going up against a St. Louis defense that didn’t record an interception against the likes of Drew Stanton and Ryan Lindley, Manning should be viewed as a high-end QB2 due to the Rashad Jennings injury, which will likely force the G-men into more passing situations.

Running Back:

Matt Asiata (38% Y!): Facing an extremely tough Lions front seven, Asiata managed 86 combined yards and a touchdown, hauling in 7 receptions. With Jerick McKinnon out for the season and no possible way of Adrian Peterson returning, Asiata has been the main guy for the Vikings the past few weeks and should continue to be moving forward. Asiata is not an efficient running back, but he is trusted by the Vikings coaching staff and has been getting the bulk of the work, making him an interesting add. Minnesota’s opponent, the Miami Dolphins gave up 79 yards rushing and a touchdown to the duo of LaGarrette Blount and Jonas Gray last week. View him as a mid-tier RB3 in standard leagues.

Andre Williams (59% Y!): Williams came on in relief of Rashad Jennings, who re-injured his ankle on Sunday. Williams finished with 44 yards  on 18 carries against an extremely tough Redskins run defense. With the Giants out of the playoff hunt, it would be wise to expect Williams to be the starter for the rest of the season. While not much can be expected out of him in the receiving game, he is a hard runner who should see the majority of work in week 16 against the Rams defense. As good as the Rams defense has been, they gave up 136 rushing yards between the committee of Kerwynn Williams and Stepfan Taylor last Thursday. Williams should be considered a low-end RB2 with upside heading into your league’s championship.

Latavius Murray (56% Y!): Murray had a somewhat disappointing but efficient day against a stout Chiefs’ run defense. He managed 4.9 yards per carry (12 carries for 59 yards) and had 6 targets in the passing game as well. Murray has taken over the Raiders’ run game almost completely and is one of the only offensive producers in Oakland right now. The Raiders have a tough matchup against a terrific Bills defense on Sunday, but Murray will be the focal point in the offensive plan again and should be a lock for 12-15 touches. With his explosiveness and athleticism, Murray should be seen as an RB3.

Wide Receiver:

Harry Douglas (25% Y!): Douglas had a terrific game starting in place of the injured Julio Jones. He was targeted 14 times, hauling in 10 catches for 131 yards. He even had more targets and receptions than Roddy White. Jones was a game time decision but never even got a chance to test out his hip before the contest. Jones is no guarantee to suit up this week, making Douglas an attractive waiver wire add. Even if Julio does play, there’s a chance he could be used simply as a decoy. Douglas could have another great game against a Saints defense that has struggled this season. Douglas is a high-upside WR3 that could evolve into a solid WR2 if Jones can’t go.

Jarvis Landry (45% Y!): In 3 of Miami’s last 4 games, Landry has seen 11 targets. On Sunday he was again targeted 11 times, catching 8 passes for 99 yards. Undoubtedly the most consistent receiver in Miami, Landry has put up solid numbers over the past 7 weeks, averaging 8.57 targets, 6.57 receptions, 59.57 yards and .57 touchdowns per contest. That is an average of 15.94 points in PPR leagues, making him a solid WR2.

Charles Johnson (32% Y!): Johnson had another solid game versus Detroit, finishing with 5 receptions for 72 yards on 7 targets. In a hard-fought matchup with the Lions, Johnson tied for the most targets with Matt Asiata and Kyle Rudolph. His five receptions were also the second highest on the team. Teddy Bridgewater continues to use Johnson as his favorite wide receiver and nothing shows that this will change moving forward. Johnson is a mid-tier WR3 with a lot of upside in a slightly easier matchup with the Dolphins in week 16.

Photo cred: http://goo.gl/cz64ZC

Check out FantasyRundown.com for all of our latest articles and other great fantasy content!

Doug Moore is a fantasy football contributor at The Sports Script. Follow him on Twitter @DMM0822!

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Waiver Wire Wizardry: Pickups for Week 15

| Doug Moore
Jonathan Stewart
Stewart had the best game of his career in week 14. If fellow tailback DeAngelo Williams misses more time, Stewart should carry the mail

It’s week 15 and fantasy football playoffs are underway! In a world where Peyton Manning only scores 2 points, anything is possible. Take a peak at your league’s waiver wire and see if any of these players are available. Good luck and hopefully I’ll see you back here next week for the championship edition of this column.

Quarterback:

Johnny Manziel (22% Y!): Unfortunately, Browns HC Mike Pettine doesn’t believe in winning. Otherwise, he would’ve named Manziel the starting quarterback for week 14 rather than sticking with Hoyer. After another putrid performance by Hoyer, Pettine has to make the change and insert Manziel into the offense. Manziel brings another dimension to the Browns offense with his ability to run, which compliments his strong arm. Manziel should be named the starter this week at some point and will immediately enter the low-end QB1 discussion. He could be the diamond in the rough for fantasy owners now that playoffs are underway.

Derek Carr (7% Y!): Carr has been arguably the most impressive rookie signal caller this season despite the lack of an offense around him. Against a very tough San Fransisco defense, Carr threw for 254 yards and 3 touchdowns. He does have another difficult matchup next week against the Chiefs, but Carr has proven that even in bad matchups he can put up solid stats. If you need a streamer for week 15, he could be your guy.

Running Back:

Jonathan Stewart (40% Y!): With the backfield all to himself, Stewart had a heck of a day against the Saints. He ran for 155 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries, giving him one of the best games in his career. DeAngelo Williams may be out for more than just this week with a serious finger injury, and with another juicy matchup for JStew (Tampa Bay) in week 15, he could be a low-end RB2. Even if Williams plays, Stewart would still command most of the touches and could have another great game against another weak division opponent.

Daniel Herron (59% Y!): Herron had a tough game on Sunday against the Browns. He was stifled on the ground, gaining only 26 yards on 8 rushes. ‘Boom’ had a relatively good day for owners in PPR leagues, though. He was targeted 7 targeted times, catching 4 balls for 45 yards. Herron has taken over Ahmad Bradshaw’s role in the offense as the primary pass-catching back. There’s real value in that. He’s clearly the most talented back on the team meaning his role should continue to grow. In fact, with the game on the line late in the 4th quarter, he was in the game and was even granted a goal-line draw. There’s RB2 upside here.

Kerwynn Williams (2% Y!): Williams is probably the shocker of the week. Just signed from the practice squad, Williams drew 19 carries for 100 yards despite Stepfan Taylor starting the game for Arizona on Sunday. Taylor only carried the ball 7 times. Further, Willians saw most of the snaps during the 2nd half of Sunday’s game. This is good news, as it looks as though Williams is going to be the man for the near future with Andre Ellington done for the remainder of the season. While it’s hard to trust him after just 1 game, he is an immediate add in all formats.

Wide Receiver:

Charles Johnson (19% Y!): The size and speed freak is at it again. He is the clear #1 receiver and target in the Vikings’ offense and he had another great game on Sunday, catching 4 balls for 103 yards and a score. He also drew 8 targets and nearly had another touchdown but fumbled at the goal line. Johnson is a definite mid-tier WR3 for week 15 despite the tougher matchup against the Lions. He keeps improving every week.

Jarvis Landry (47% Y!): Over the past 6 games, Landry has had at least 5 receptions. He does have a tough matchup against New England’s secondary next weekend, but with Darrelle Revis expected to cover Mike Wallace, we could be seeing a lot of Landry. He has proven to be extremely consistent and efficient for not only fantasy owners, but for Ryan Tannehill as well. Landry will be a mid-tier WR3 in standard leagues and a low-end WR2 in PPR formats, especially with him playing out of the slot.

Martavis Bryant (59% Y!): Bryant finished Sunday’s game with 6 targets and over 100 yards receiving. He flashed his gaudy speed on a 94-yard catch and run for a touchdown, showing us his big play ability. Bryant can’t be relied on to make a great play like that every week, but with how well the Steelers’ offense is clicking right now, Martavis could continue to have opportunities to rack up fantasy points, making him a low-end WR3 with a lot of upside. Owners feeling lucky should add Bryant, who is facing a very weak Falcons’ defense next in week 15.

Tight End:

Mychal Rivera (24% Y!): Rivera had a career day on Sunday, finishing with 7 receptions for 109 yards and a touchdown on 7 targets. He was clicking with Carr all day and was constantly making plays in the big upset victory over San Fransisco. He has been inconsistent this season, as he put up duds the past 2 weeks before this great performance. However, with how porous the tight end position is in fantasy, Rivera will be a startable option next week againat Kansas City. He has proven that he can go on multi-week runs, and he could be starting another one.

Jordan Cameron (56% Y!): Cameron finally returned on Sunday after missing over a month with a concussion. He did not have the best of days, but not bad considering the circumstances and also the lack of serviceable play from Brian Hoyer. He had 5 targets and 4 receptions for 41 yards, numbers that could certainly climb if Manziel is inserted as the starting quarterback. Cameron should still be considered a low-end TE1 moving forward and one of the more attractive options at the position facing a Bengals defense that gave up a score to Heath Miller this past weekend.

Photo cred: http://goo.gl/QlHga8

Check out FantasyRundown.com for all of our latest articles and other great fantasy content!

Doug Moore is a fantasy football contributor at The Sports Script. Follow him on Twitter @DMM0822!

Waiver Wire Wizardry: Pickups for Week 14

| Doug Moore
It's time!
It’s time!

The fantasy playoffs are here! Read this thoroughly to make sure you are making the right additions to help win your league! You can thank me later with a portion of your winnings, of course.

Quarterback:

Johnny Manziel (11% Y!): Ladies and gentlemen, it is time. As much as it pains me to say this because I am a fan of Brian Hoyer, Manziel was put in the game late on Sunday at Hoyer’s expense. Manziel threw for just 63 yards but rushed for a touchdown. Head coach Mike Pettine declined to comment on who would be starting next weekend, but it’s become evident that Manziel gives the Browns the best chance to win. If Manziel does indeed get the nod, everyone in this offense gets a boost, including Josh Gordon. Considering his ability to run the ball, Manziel could wind up as a borderline QB1 this week. Stay tuned.

Colt McCoy (5% Y!): In a much needed move, RG3 was benched in Washington. Next up? Colt McCoy. The Redskins didn’t win on Sunday, but McCoy had a great day fantasy wise (besides the 4 fumbles, but I digress). He threw for 392 yards and 3 scores in a loss to the Colts. He did lose DeSean Jackson to a leg injury, but it is believed to only be a fibula contusion. Jackson was in a lot of pain but this week in practice will show if he can play or not. Regardless, Andre Roberts would step up in his place, along with a now-healthy Jordan Reed and Pierre Garcon. McCoy is a QB2 play for week 14.

Running Back:

Daniel Herron (47% Y!): “Boom” had a day on Sunday, with 88 yards rushing and a touchdown. He also had 2 catches for 8 yards. Herron and Trent Richardson split the carries evenly but the former played a much better game. I expect Herron to take over lead duties as soon as this week, and should fill the role left by Ahmad Bradshaw. Boom did have another fumble on Sunday, and that’s something he needs to fix right away. If he does, look for him to get more work moving forward and find himself in the RB2 discussion.

LaGarrette Blount (63% Y!): Blount finished Sunday with 10 rushes for 58 yards against Green Bay. He did not have the game many expected against a weak Packers run defense, but still had an impressive 5.8 YPC and got the majority of New England’s backfield carries (Bolden 3, Gray 1, Vereen 3). Blount will probably get the majority of the reps in the power run game moving forward, but again, the Patriots are tough to figure out and it’s hard to rely on any of their backs from week to week. He needs to be owned, and warrants flex discussion in the immediate future.

Latavius Murray (49% Y!): Murray did not play on Sunday, and it’s probably good he didn’t. The Raiders were demolished 52-0 by the Rams. Murray is out with a concussion he suffered in his breakout game last Thursday night. He is progressing and has a good chance to be ready for Sunday. Murray will be worth a look this week, but be aware that Oakland will face a tough 49ers run defense. His ceiling is high, but his matchups over the remainder of the season are not favorable. He’ll be a low-end flex play upon his return.

Wide Receiver:

Donte Moncrief (4% Y!): Have a day, Mr. Moncrief! The talented rookie wideout is yet another example of how this year’s draft class was one of the best in recent memory. He had a 3/134/2 line against the Redskins on Sunday, scoring on 2 long plays. Moncrief is clearly entrenched as Andrew Luck’s number 3 receiver and weekly upside play, although consistent production may be hard to count on. If you’re looking for a weekly home run threat, he’s probably your man.

Kenny Stills (41% Y!): Since Brandon Cooks went down with an injury, Kenny Stills has been money and has more than picked up the slack. Stills dropped a 5/162/1 line on the Steelers Sunday as Drew Brees targeted him 6 times. Many in the industry thought that Marques Colston would be the one to benefit from the Cooks injury, but Stills has been the one to step up. The speedster is now a weekly WR2 and should be owned across the board.

Robert Woods (6% Y!): Woods is a bit of a wild card. Over the past two games, Woods has had a 13/189/1 line with 18 targets. With opposing teams being so concerned with stopping Sammy Watkins, Kyle Orton has had to resort to throwing the ball elsewhere. Woods is looking like that guy, ad he was targeted 7 times on Sunday. Since being taken by the Bills in the 2013 draft, Woods has had to deal with terrible quarterback play in Buffalo. Not void of talent, this could be the chance for him to show the league what he can do.

Tight End:

Jordan Reed (49% Y!): Reed finished week 13 with 9 receptions and 123 yards on 11 targets. Colt McCoy seems to like throwing to him and there has never been a question of ability here. If healthy, he’s a player you want to start, especially considering the dearth of talent at tight end. As long as he is on the field, he’s a TE1 and could continue to produce very good numbers for the remainder of the season.

Jordan Cameron (54% Y!): Cameron has sat the last 5 weeks with a concussion. But the good news is that he practiced all week and could practice again this week which should put him on track to return in week 14. With Johnny Manziel presumably taking over the offense, Cameron could put up great stats with a dynamic signal caller under center. As with Reed, Cameron is a TE1 when he is on the field and could be good to go for a fantasy playoff run.

Photo cred: http://goo.gl/cir1CA

Check out FantasyRundown.com for all of our latest articles and other great fantasy content!

Doug Moore is a fantasy football contributor at The Sports Script. Follow him on Twitter @DMM0822!

Waiver Wire Wizardry: Pickups for Week 13

| Doug Moore

The final week of the regular season for standard leaguers is upon us. Check your waiver wire to see if any of these players are available and good luck in week 13!

Quarterback:

Ryan Tannehill (66% Y!): After the Broncos lost in stunning fashion to St. Louis last weekend, Miami almost handed Denver a second straight defeat, as the Broncos narrowly won in an offensive showdown. The main reasons Miami nearly upset the Broncos was because of Ryan Tannehill’s play, as he produced 4 touchdowns; 3 through the air and 1 on the ground. Tannehill has been terrific over the past 4 games for the Dolphins, with 10 touchdowns to only 2 picks. He’s made a solid connection with rookie wide receiver Jarvis Landry (see below) and has a terrific matchup this week against the dreadful Jets’ secondary. He is a low-end QB1 that could really help you if you’re on the cusp of a fantasy playoff appearance.

Running Back:

Murray
Is there finally a member of the Raiders worth using in fantasy circles?

Latavius Murray (24% Y!): This man set the world on fire last Thursday, rushing 4 times for 112 yards and 2 scores in only one half of football. He went down with a concussion, but it was a Thursday night game and this is Murray’s first ever concussion. He should have no problem getting cleared by Friday and will likely be ready to go against a putrid Rams defense. Head coach Tony Sporano indicated that after this performance, Murray would be granted even more work. He’s got a very high ceiling and could even wind up in the low-end RB2 discussion.

LaGarrette Blount (30% Y!): What a turn of events for Blount over the last 10 days. He was released by the Steelers early last week, only to sign on with New England (the team he played for in 2013) to a 2-year deal. Blount was only expected to be a change of pace back, but with Jonas Gray foolishly oversleeping and missing practice, the keys to the run game were handed over to LaGarrette. He stepped into a familiar offense and showed the same tough running skills that made him so popular with the New England coaching staff a season ago. Gray did not even receive a carry and may be in the doghouse for good, leaving Blount as the primary rusher with Shane Vereen as the main pass catcher. Blount had 2 rushing scores on Sunday aganst a very tough Lions defense and should be considered a low-end RB2 this week.

Wide Receiver:

Jarvis Landry (21% Y!): The “other” LSU rookie wideout (opposite to Odell Beckham Jr.) makes his debut on this list after putting together a string of 4 solid performances. Quickly emerging as Ryan Tannehill’s favorite target, Landry has at least 5 catches in the past 4 games. Further, he’s scores 4 times and has at least 46 yards receiving in each game during that span. He’s putting up solid numbers and is coming off of a 2-touchdown game against Denver on Sunday. In leagues that award extra points for return yards, he’s even more valuable. Landry is a mid-tier WR3 and a low-end WR2 in PPR leagues, thanks to ability to play in the slot.

Kenny Stills (34% Y!): While every other fantasy football writer was predicting Marques Colston to see a big boost in production in the wake of Brandin Cooks’ season ending thumb/hand injury, this guy (points at self) predicted Kenny Stills to see an uptick in production. Stills set a career high in targets (9) and catches (8) in only the first game since Cooks went down. Stills’ uptick in targets along with a terrific rest-of-season schedule make him a receiver to snatch up now and utilize as a higher-end WR3.

Charles Johnson (2% Y!): Johnson began the season as somewhat of a sleeper. He was waived early on by the Browns and was subsequently picked up by the Vikings. Over the past 2 weeks, it seems as though Johnson has emerged as Teddy Bridgewater’s favorite target. During this span, he’s hauled in 9 (18 targets) passes for 139 yards while finding pay dirt once. With Minnesota’s other aerial threats being next to invisible (I’m looking at you, Cordarrelle), Johnson is in a great position to produce. Unfortunately, we have to temper our expectations for him right now and make him a high-end WR4. However, Johnson has a very high ceiling and another great performance could elevate him to WR3 status.

Tight End:

Tim Wright (15% Y!): The man that was supposed to take over for Aaron Hernandez in New England had not really been used much before Sunday. As Rotoworld points out, Wright had never played more than 21 snaps in a game and all of a sudden played 61 out of 81 snaps against the Lions. He had 5 catches for 36 yards and 2 touchdowns on 6 targets. Now this could be a game-specific explosion, or it could be the start of something and owners shouldn’t hesitate. He’s a high-risk start, but probably needs to be owned in more leagues. The tight end class is crap and we know that. Make it happen.

Kyle Rudolph (47% Y!): When it came to potential breakouts in 2014, Rudolph was one of the more talked about players at the tight end position. He’s disappointed so far, mainly due to a groin injury that kept him inactive for all but 4 games, but he is back on the field and should be ready to produce. He played 61 of 69 snaps on Sunday and had 5 targets as well. He should be seen as a low-end TE1 right now who could strike gold for owners who scoop him up for the fantasy playoffs.

Photo cred: http://goo.gl/pSHmt8

Check out FantasyRundown.com for all of our latest articles and other great fantasy content!

Doug Moore is a fantasy football contributor at The Sports Script. Follow him on Twitter @DMM0822!

Waiver Wire Wizardry: Pickups for Week 12

| Doug Moore

Quarterback:

Brian Hoyer (14% Y!): In terms of efficiency (20-50 on pass attempts), this was not a great game for Hoyer. However, he did have 330 yards passing, including a touchdown. Hoyer should be be added because Josh Gordon will be back in week 12! There’s also an outside chance that tight end Jordan Cameron gets back into the mix. Gordon has been practicing at the team’s facility and should be up to date on the playbook. Hoyer is a decent game manager and should be able to succeed with Gordon’s return. Andrew Hawkins sticks around as his possession receiver and we already know the Browns have three capable running backs. As we inch closer to the fantasy playoffs, Hoyer is a player I’m watching. His arrow is pointing up.

Mark Sanchez (53% Y!): I wouldn’t look too much into Sanchez’s performance on Sunday, as it was decent. The Eagles simply got outplayed by a red hot Green Bay team and could not keep Aaron Rodgers and company out of the end zone. Sanchez compiled most of his stats in garbage time (26-44, 346 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT) against one of the tougher defenses in the NFC. Simply based on the scheme Philly runs, Sanchez should still slot in as an attractive fantasy option. Sanchez and his buddies get a poor Titans offense in week 12, making him a solid waiver addition at quarterback.

Running Back:

Jonas Gray (19% Y!): Have a day Mr. Gray! New England did a brilliant job of controlling the game and Gray was a big part of that. He rumbled for 199 yards on 38 carries, while scoring four times on Sunday night against the Colts. Gray has obviously earned the trust of New England’s coaching staff and at the very least has molded himself a role moving forward. Gray and the Patriots face tough rush defenses in the coming weeks and the New England game-plan is tough to predict any given day so it’s tough to predict what he does from here on out. Those in need of running back help should still make the add to acquire Gray, as he figures to at the very least get goal-line carries in the immediate future.

Tre Mason (50% Y!): Well, no one saw this coming. The Rams came out and…beat the Broncos? Tre Mason was a big part of this upset. He tallied 113 yards on 29 carries and it was the first time all season the Broncos allowed an opposing running back to reach the century mark. Mason continues to distance himself from the pack (which is basically only Benny Cunningham at this point) and has two great matchups ahead (Chargers, Raiders). Mason should be owned and used in all formats. Start him as a borderline-RB2 in week 12.

C.J. Anderson (65% Y!): Anderson was the starter on Sunday and while he only rushed for 29 yards on 9 carries, he had a great day receiving with 8 receptions for 86 yards. With the sudden rash of injuries to the Broncos, it’s going to be hard for Manning and company not to rely on Anderson in the coming weeks. Montee Ball re-injured his groin this past weekend and may not return until the playoffs and Ronnie Hillman is out at least another week or two. Anderson will enter week 12 as a borderline-RB1 and should be started in every fantasy league.

Wide Receiver:

Josh Gordon (77% Y!): Did you just get the internet or something?

Jordan Matthews (62% Y!): Matthews has scored 3 times in 2 weeks and has over 100 yards receiving in both games. He and Mark Sanchez have a nice little connection and Matthews should be one of the Eagles’ most targeted pass-catchers moving forward. The man is in the WR2 discussion and Philly has a nice week 12 matchup against the Titans. Take full advantage and add the dude!

Malcom Floyd (37% Y!): So far this season, Floyd has 50 targets, 32 receptions, 577 yards and 4 touchdowns. That comes out to a weekly average of 5.0 targets, 3.2 receptions, 57.7 yards receiving and 0.4 TD. Breaking it down even further, that means an average score of 11.3 points in PPR leagues and 8.9 points in standard leagues. Not bad for a guy who has been under the radar most of the season. He’s done all this despite a week 2 output of only 1 target. Floyd is a player to own as a lower-end starting wideout option for the coming weeks.

Tight End:

Coby Fleener (38% Y!): Fleener has taken Allen’s spot on my weekly waiver wire piece, and for good reason. He had 7 catches on 7 targets for 144 yards Sunday night against New England. This was because Dwayne Allen left the game with an ankle injury and did not return. If Allen has a serious enough injury that keeps him from playing next week, Fleener needs to be picked up. Given the shallow nature of the tight end pool, Fleener could be a top-10 weekly option if Allen misses time. Grab him just in case.

Check out FantasyRundown.com for all of our latest articles and other great fantasy content!

Doug Moore is a fantasy football contributor at The Sports Script. Follow him on Twitter @DMM0822!

Waiver Wire Wizardry: Pickups for Week 11

| Doug Moore

Quarterback:

Drew Stanton (1% Y!): It’s Stanton time again as Carson Palmer went down in the 4th quarter on Sunday with what is being reported as a possible torn ACL in his left knee. If that is the case, Stanton would be the starting quarterback for the remainder of the season. He has led the Cardinals to 2 wins in 3 games so far this season without throwing a pick. He played well in relief of Palmer, including a 48-yard beauty of a pass to John Brown for the game-winning touchdown. Stanton has good working knowledge of the offense and isn’t afraid to throw the ball down the field. Given the weapons at Stanton’s disposal, he may be worth a look.

Eli Manning (57% Y!): We all thought Manning would be doomed after losing Rashad Jennings and Victor Cruz. Blasphemy! Even though the Giants are still losing, he’s still done pretty well for himself. Since week 4, Manning has thrown 8 touchdowns to just 1 interception. He played a decent game on Sunday against a tough Seattle defense, passing for 283 yards through the air with a touchdown. He has really connected with Odell Beckham, and the Giants are expected to get workhorse Rashad Jennings back soon. He should help to open up the passing game for New York when he returns. Manning is a decent option if you just lost Carson Palmer for the season.

Running Back:

Terrance West (55% Y!): West appears to have shaken control of the Cleveland’s committee backfield approach after rushing for 96 yards on 26 carries Thursday night, adding a touchdown. Head coach Mike Pettine insists that the Browns will ride the hot hand and the running back situation will remain fluid on a week-to-week basis though, limiting West’s immediate fantasy value. However, West has been really productive over the past couple of weeks and should continue to headline this running game in the weeks ahead. In such a run-heavy scheme, West needs to be owned in more than 55% of leagues. He makes for a solid weekly flex play.

Carlos Hyde (33% Y!): In limited action, Hyde did a hell of a job. He has only 4 carries for 36 yards, but found pay dirt. San Fransisco did a lot of good work on the ground and Hyde may be given more touches in the coming weeks. They have been conservative with aging tailback Frank Gore (he’s only had 20 carries twice all year) for most of the season and Carlos Hyde has shown that he can be trusted, making him valuable to owners even outside the obvious handcuff situation. Stay tuned.

Tre Mason (46% Y!): Mason gained 48 yards on 14 carries Sunday while adding 33 yards on 4 catches; a decent showing for the rookie tailback against a stout Niners defense. Labeled a “committee” by head coach Jeff Fisher, it’s clear that Mason is the lead runner. Not only is he their best option in the backfield, but may be their most talented weapon entirely on offense. Benjamin Cunningham did vulture a rushing score, but saw only 4 carries while Zac Stacy kept the bench warm. Mason should continue to get the bulk of the work for the Rams in the weeks to come, making him ownable in most leagues.

Wide Receiver:

Bryant
Bryant has the made the most of his opportunities since being inserted into Pittsburgh’s lineup

Martavis Bryant (62% Y!): Another week, another touchdown for Bryant. This is becoming a weekly occurrence for the 6 foot 5 Clemson standout. His touchdowns are usually the product of his ability to find open space in the red zone. However, his week 10 score came on an 80-yard catch-and-run play where Bryant showed off his wheels. Bryant was targeted 7 times and racked up 141 receiving yards Sunday against the Jets, signaling his WR3 upside. Antonio Brown of course dominates Roethlisberger’s looks, which leaves Bryant to fight Markus Wheaton for targets. Bryant played only 50% of Pittsburgh’s snaps on Sunday, but that was to be expected and it is clear that he makes the most of his opportunities. Go get’m.

Odell Beckham Jr. (68% Y!): Not only should this guy be owned, but he should be started in the vast majority of formats. He embarrassed Richard Sherman on a 44-yard pass and constantly won battles against all of Seattle’s corners on Sunday night. Beckham has evolved into the lesser Manning’s favorite target in recent weeks and is putting up big numbers. He’s got 264 yards receiving over the last two weeks to go along with 19 targets and 15 catches. Manning has been having trouble getting on the same page with Rueben Randle and teams are constantly focusing on Larry Donnell, leaving Beckham to reap the rewards. Put all the chips in the middle, this is probably your last call.

Tight End:

Mychal Rivera (33% Y!): Rivera has been a garbage time monster of late. It’s no news that the Raiders just aren’t very good, so it is likely that these scenarios will continue. Both Rivera and quarterback David Carr have been bright spots in in an offense that has otherwise been bad. Rivera has 26 targets, 21 catches and 3 touchdowns over his last 3 weeks, making him a valuable bye-week replacement for those in need. Rivera will likely be usable for the foreseeable future given the connection that he and Carr seem to have.

Charles Clay (57% Y!): Over the past two weeks, Clay has been targeted 17 times. During that span, he’s hauled in 12 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown. Still, Clay has yet to live up to the lofty expectations placed on him entering the season. However, considering how top-heavy the tight end position has been to date Clay is probably worth a look down the stretch.

Photo cred: http://goo.gl/aMGnFM

Doug Moore is a fantasy football contributor at The Sports Script. Follow him on Twitter @DMM0822!

Waiver Wire Wizardry: Pickups for Week 10

| Doug Moore

Quarterback:

Oh dear God, are we really recommending Mark Sanchez?
Oh dear God, are we really recommending Mark Sanchez?

Mark Sanchez (3% Y!): For Eagles owners, seeing Nick Foles go down with a cracked collarbone on Sunday probably made them worry about their chances the rest of the season. Luckily, Mr. Butt Fumble was ready to take over and actually did a good job leading the Eagles to a win over the Texans. Sanchez is most known for his time in New York with the Jets and we all know how horribly that went. But now, Sanchez is in a much better situation in Philadelphia. Even head coach Chip Kelly said that “the offense didn’t miss a beat” with Sanchez in there (202 yards, 2 touchdowns, 2 picks). The Eagles have a high-powered offense and run a lot of plays, which makes Sanchez an automatic low-end QB1 candidate moving forward after seeing what he did in relief on Sunday. Foles owners and other QB-needy gamers would do well to scoop Sanchez up quick.

Carson Palmer (61% Y!): Is this guy good or what? Since returning almost a month ago from injury, Palmer has thrown 9 touchdowns to only 2 interceptions and has led the Cardinals to best record in the NFL. Palmer has been playing at a near-elite level since returning and needs to be owned as a QB2 for the remainder of the season. Given the injury to Foles and byes to Luck, Brady, Bridgewater, Rivers and even RG3, Palmer is a great fill-in QB. He faces a Rams defense who has given up the 10th most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season this week.

Running Back:

Terrance West (22% Y!): Only a few weeks ago, he was a healthy scratch. But yesterday, he got more carries than any other Cleveland tailback. For the moment, West is at the head of a committee approach in Cleveland, getting 15 carries on Sunday. Hell, he even scored a receiving touchdown. While he didn’t have the most impressive of running games (15 for 48 yards), West seems to now be the guy to own in that backfield. He was clearly the best back in pass protection, too.

Ryan Mathews (66% Y!): Mathews is finally expected back in Week 11 (Chargers are on bye week 10). Waiver wire maven Branden Oliver busted out for 215 yards on 45 carries in the two games following Mathews’ injury, however he’s been quiet since. When Mathews is healthy enough to return, he should be thrust right back into meaningful duty. He will easily carry RB2 appeal every week and since he is still available in 1/3 of Yahoo! leagues, go get him if you still can.

Tre Mason (37% Y!): Mason didn’t have the most impressive of games on Sunday vs. San Fransisco, but he was used like a #1. He dominated the team in backfield carries with 19. Zac Stacy didn’t see a single touch and change-of-pace back Benny Cunningham received 4 totes. Against a tough run defense, Mason recorded a decent 3.42 YPC. He does have another tough matchup in week 10 against the Cardinals, however he will be worth using as a volume play. Mason is worth rostering in all leagues as an RB3 or FLEX play.

Wide Receiver:

Mike Evans (60% Y!): He finally had his long-awaited breakout on Sunday with a 7/124/2 line (11 targets) against Cleveland. The quarterback position has been a mess all year for Tampa, but now with Glennon firmly at the helm hopefully some chemistry will develop in the weeks ahead. Evans is a freak physically, and could take off if Glennon can play with some consistency. Outside of Evan’s week 5 DNP, he’s caught 4 balls and been targeted at least 7 times in every game this season. Tampa gets a tasty matchup against Atlanta this week, making Evans an intriguing play. Add him, quick.

Martavis Bryant (42% Y!): In the 3 games he has been active this season, Bryant has 5 touchdown receptions along with at least 40 yards receiving. The Steelers (Big Ben, mainly) are firing on all cylinders with no signs of slowing down. Bryant has back-to-back 2 touchdown games and looks to be a big red zone weapon for Roethlisberger. He and fellow rookie Markus Wheaton will always be competing for looks with target-hoarder Antonio Brown, but he and Bryant are both worth rostering and using as FLEX options as matchup plays. Bryant should be owned in more leagues.

Doug Baldwin (56% Y!): After the Percy Harvin trade, Baldwin has seen at least 6 targets per  game and continues to be Russell Wilson’s favorite option in the passing game. He has undoubtedly been much more of a PPR asset than a standard scoring one, but as Wilson’s go-to wideout Baldwin should be owned across the board as a WR3. He has also had at least 5 catches in each of the 3 games since the Harvin trade and should continue to be the main target in Seattle. There are few better waiver options than Baldwin at the moment.

Tight End:

Mychal Rivera (1% Y!): Besides Derek Carr and Khalil Mack, there isn’t a whole lot to be excited about in Oakland. But with his play in the past 2 weeks, Mychal Rivera may be a bright spot in the making. During that span, Rivera has been targeted 20 times, hauling in 15 passes. Rivera seems to be quickly evolving into one of Derek Carr’s go-to weapons. Always behind, the Raiders are usually in pass-mode, which bodes well for Rivera’s future prospects. The Raiders passing game has a great matchup this week against a Bronocos defense that was just torched by Rob Gronkowski. Before being spanked by New England, Denver was already giving up the 7th most fantasy points per gamer to opposing tight ends. Rivera should be priority for those who are streaming the position in week 10.

Photo cred: http://goo.gl/NLYTs5

Doug Moore is a fantasy football contributor at The Sports Script. Follow him on Twitter @DMM0822!

Waiver Wire Wizardry: Pickups for Week 9

| Doug Moore

Quarterback:

Here's Carson Palmer saying "start me."
Here’s Carson Palmer saying “start me.”

Carson Palmer (50% Y!): He has thrown for at least 250 yards and 2 touchdowns in each of the 3 games he has started since returning from injury. Palmer continues to find targets to throw to, even if it isn’t Michael Floyd (unfortunately). With a receiving core of Fitzgerald, Floyd, John Brown and pass-catching tailback Andre Ellington, Palmer needs to be owned. Palmer is playing at a high level and has only thrown 1 pick since returning. Owners should roster two quarterbacks and Palmer should definitely take up one of those slots. Grab him quick.

Andy Dalton (68% Y!): I have two bits of good news regarding Dalton. First, he ran for 2 rushing scores on Sunday. And two, there is a chance A.J. Green returns in week 9 as well. Now the bad news. He is simply playing nowhere near the elite level with which he played in 2013. He has thrown for over 1,600 yards, but only 6 touchdowns thus far. But as I pointed out, he may very well indeed get his All-Pro wideout back in this week. If that is indeed the case, look for Dalton to flourish in a juicy matchup against the Jaguars. Green’s presence changes the entire complexion of the Bengal offense. If you need a streaming option this week, Dalton is your man.

Running Back:

Denard Robinson (57% Y!): Who would’ve thunk it? “Shoelace” has back-to-back 100-yard rushing performances since being named starter. He has the starting job locked down as Storm Johnson was a healthy scratch on Sunday and Toby Gerhart played a minimal role. Considering the frequency with which Jacksonville has fed him the ball and the way he has turned those chances into yardage, he’s got to be owned in all formats. If he’s out there in your league, he needs to be restored. Start him with confidence this week against a weak Bengals run defense.

Lorenzo Taliaferro (8% Y!): He has surpassed Bernard Pierce as the #2 backfield option in Baltimore. Pierce was a healthy scratch on Sunday and Taliaferro didn’t disappoint, as he served as the short yardage back scoring twice. He also led the Ravens in receiving yards. He seemed to have sealed the deal on becoming the new goal line back for the Ravens, along with getting looks in the receiving game. He may be touchdown dependent, but the Ravens offense finds ways to score. Add him as an RB3 or FLEX play moving forward.

Jonas Gray (6% Y!): After only receiving 2 carries last week in his season debut, Gray got 17 carries for 86 yards on Sunday in the rout against Chicago. Gray has clearly taken over the Stevan Ridley role in this offense. Given the lack of proven depth behind Shane Vereen, Gray is going to be in line for carries going forward. He has the ability to put up some good numbers in an improving offense. Just be aware of the volatility of the New England backfield.

Wide Receiver:

Brandon LaFell (36% Y!): He caught all 11 of his targets (which led the team) on Sunday for 124 yards and a TD. In the 6 games that he has actually made a catch (weeks 3-8), he has 44 targets, 30 catches, 461 yards and 4 scores. That is a weekly average of 7.3 targets, 5 catches, 76.8 yards and .66 TDs. That is a weekly average of 16.7 points in PPR (11.7 points in standard). He has earned the trust of Tom Brady and should continue to garner looks in the passing game. New England’s offense has found it’s identity again and LaFell will certainly benefit from that.

Allen Robinson (23% Y!): This is Robinson’s fourth time on this list. How is he owned in under a quarter of Y! leagues? Now the proud owner of two straight games with a TD, Robinson will continue to be on this list until he is rostered in more than he is right now. He has 63 targets on the season, which is in the top 25 in the NFL. He has led all Jaguars’ wideouts in snaps for 3 straight weeks now and outside of week 1, he has been targeted at least 6 times per game. In 6 of the 8 games so far this season, Robinson has scored double-digit points in PPR leagues. Clearly the favorite WR for Blake Bortles and the Jaguars coaching staff, I cannot preach enough on how Robinson needs to be owned. Raise the totals folks, pick him up.

Davante Adams (14% Y!): Surpassing Jarrett Boykin is checked off of Davante Adams’ to-do list this season. Now the #3 pass-catcher in a high-powered Packer offense, Adams needs to be owned in all formats. Most gamers are pegging Adams as a WR3 moving forward, but I’d say he is a high-end WR4 with upside. With Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson receiving so much attention from the opposing defense, Adams is a guy that will be looked at a lot. I believe he will have more games like he did yesterday and should be picked up before he does and everyone else catches on. His role is expanding each week.

Tight End:

Heath Miller (61% Y!): While he hasn’t proven to be a consistent threat this season, Miller is a reliable target in an emerging offense. The Steelers now rank 3rd in the NFL in average yards per game with over 400 yards of offense. While Miller may not catch 10 balls for 100 yards and a score every week, he is still a nice bet to give you some points at the tight end position with a chance to have a big game like he did on Sunday.

Dwayne Allen (74% Y!): Again, this goes to show how shallow the tight end position in fantasy football is. Allen has now scored in 6 of 8 games this season and has at least 3 catches and 38 yards in all but 2 games in 2014. He is a weekly threat to score in a potent offense. Allen is arguably the top red zone target for the Colts. Because of his 6 scores, he is in the TE1 discussion and should continue to put up low-end TE1 numbers the rest of the way.

Photo cred: http://goo.gl/lwHzdU

Doug Moore is a fantasy football contributor at The Sports Script. Follow him on Twitter @DMM0822!

Waiver Wire Wizardry: Pickups for Week 8

| Doug Moore

Quarterback:

Joe Flacco (63% Y!): Over the last two weeks, Flacco has thrown for 7 touchdowns compared just 2 interceptions. Yes, they were against weak defensive units (Tampa and Atlanta), but Flacco is showing that he has strong connections with his bevy of hands in Baltimore. Involving Torrey Smith more, along with using Steve Smith and Owen Daniels, Flacco definitely has options to utilize in the passing game. He also has a strong run game with a 3-headed monster led by Justin Forsett. He has a 14:5 TD:INT ratio on the season and is an upper-tier QB2 with potential to be a low-end QB1 on a weekly basis. He gets the Bengals, Steelers and Titans over the next three weeks, all of which are beatable. He’s a great bye-week filler in the near future.

Carson Palmer (42% Y!): Palmer seems nearly recovered from a shoulder issue that plagued him for most of the season. Since his return, he’s thrown 4 touchdowns to just 1 interception. He has done a nice job of spreading the ball around to his plethora of weapons and has been complimented nicely by stud running back Andre Ellington. Palmer should be owned in more leagues due to his matchups to come (Eagles, Cowboys, Rams) and the ability of his weapons to make plays. Palmer throws the ball down-field quite a bit, and that’s what we fake gamers want to see!

Running Back:

Tre Mason (17% Y!): The Auburn rookie has been inactive more often than he has been in uniform this season. Yet he’s now one of the most intriguing running back adds of the year. He had a breakout game on Sunday (18/85/1) against Seattle and is now likely the top tailback for the Rams. Last season’s surprise star Zac Stacy has just not been able to get it going this season and saw no touches on Sunday. The only other back in the mix is Benjamin Cunningham, who looks to have established a role as the change-of-pace option. Easily the most talented runner in the St. Louis backfield, the job should be Mason’s so long as he produces in the weeks to come. While Mason is not likely to be a PPR-maven, the Rams like to run the ball enough for him to be a weekly FLEX option should he succeed with the gig. Pick him up in all formats.

Ronnie Hillman (58% Y!): Last call! Add in all leagues. Hillman had a big game on Sunday, tallying 103 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns against a stingy San Fransisco defense. Given the lack of burst with which Montee Ball played before his injury, Hillman is a candidate to keep this job for the remainder of the season. At the very least, he’s carved out a major role in this offense once the former returns. There is still no definitive timetable for Ball’s return, so continue to use Hillman with confidence in the weeks ahead.

With Fred Jackson and CJ Spiller out indefinitely, look for Bryce Brown to take over as Buffalo's lead back
With Fred Jackson and CJ Spiller out indefinitely, look for Bryce Brown to take over as Buffalo’s lead back

Bryce Brown (6% Y!): Both Fred Jackson and CJ Spiller are out indefinitely with injuries, leaving Anthony Dixon and Bryce Brown to handle the backfield touches in their absence. Dixon has been active all year due to his special teams appeal but Brown is the more talented back and should be given a larger share of the touches between the 20’s. Brown is also the superior pass protector and that should only help to keep him on the field. Dixon will likely sub in when Buffalo gets close to the goal line. Brown has great stats in his young career, with over 4.6 YPC and 6 touchdowns. The only downside to Brown’s immediate future prospects are the tough matchups which Buffalo faces. Let all the noobs put in claims on Dixon, my money is on Bryce Brown taking the job and running with it.

Wide Receiver:

Doug Baldwin (23% Y!): With Percy Harvin out of the picture, many are predicting the ball distribution won’t change much since the former Viking wasn’t seeing many looks to begin with. The most logical beneficiary of the Harvin trade to the Jets is obviously Doug Baldwin. He’s been Russel Wilson’s favorite target all year long and Sunday it showed, as Baldwin broke out for a 7/123/1 line. Baldwin is now a clear-cut WR3 option in the coming weeks as he should be getting plenty of looks for a Seattle team that will be looking to get out of their funk. Fantasy owners in need of wide receiver help should put a considerable FAAB bid in on Baldwin this week.

Odell Beckham Jr. (50% Y!): After the Victor Cruz injury last week, the biggest beneficiary had to be Beckham, who slid right into the starting lineup. He posted a 4/34/2 line in week 7. Beckham is quickly becoming a favorite of Eli Manning and is arguably the best receiver on the team. His athletic ability and red zone use should help continue to lift his stock in the weeks ahead. He’s probably more of a WR3 right now, but upside remains. If he has another big game in week 9 (Giants are on a bye coming up), this is probably the last call to hop on the bandwagon.

Allen Robinson (15% Y!): As I stated last week, Robinson is Blake Bortles’ favorite target and considering how much the Jaguars are forced to throw the ball, he’s worth an add. The biggest problem with Robinson was that before Sunday, he hadn’t found pay dirt yet this season. I said he would find the end zone soon and voila! He finished with a healthy 7 targets and a touchdown as well and will continue to rack up the looks each week and can be safely deployed as a mid-tier WR3. He needs to be owned more than 15% of leagues. Anyone with a free spot on their bench needs to put Robinson there.

Tight End:

Owen Daniels (49% Y!): Overall, Daniels has disappointed fantasy owners ever since becoming the starting tight end for the Ravens after Dennis Pitta’s season-ending hip injury. He scored his first touchdown since his 2-score performance in week 2 and was targeted 9 times as well. Joe Flacco has been above average this season and in such a tight end-friendly scheme, Daniels is going to be a threat to provide gamers a healthy dose of points weekly. Don’t mistake Daniels for a game-changer, but he is more than serviceable considering the current pool of available tight ends.

Charles Clay (40% Y!): Whether it was a struggling offense or being hurt, Clay has been an utter disappointment so far after his breakout 2013. He finally had a good game on Sunday (4/58/1) and given his talent, this could be all Clay needs to get back on track. The key to his success is the progression of Ryan Tannehill. After Mike Wallace, Clay could easily become Tannehill’s #2 target with Miami’s lack of depth at the running back position. The Dolphins are forced to rely on their passing attack a lot and that could help Clay get back to last season’s form. If you need a tight end this week, he is definitely worth a look.

Photo cred: http://goo.gl/blfmEi

Doug Moore is a fantasy football contributor at The Sports Script. Follow him on Twitter @DMM0822!