Josh Hill, 2015 Tight End Sleeper

Over the past few years the New Orleans Saints have been a prolific offense. Since coming to the Saints in 2006, Drew Brees has thrown for 43,685 yards and 316 touchdowns. Many people attribute a lot of his success to the addition of Jimmy Graham, but he was doing it before Graham, and he will be doing it after.

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Some have said that the Saints will probably be shifting to a more run heavy offense in the coming season. Some of their personnel moves are certainly signaling this. But that doesn’t mean that the Saints won’t be throwing the ball at all. Brees has become one of the best quarterbacks of all time. Not the top guy, but in the Top 15 conversation. So why would he stop throwing now? And in a division where there is only one team that actually plays defense? Come on. The Saints themselves can’t play much defense, so of course they will be throwing the ball.

This brings me to the point of the article. Acquiring a target likely to see some good field time, and targets from Brees. A big target. A red zone target. And a big red zone target that you can currently find in the round 10 or 11 areas of the Average Draft Position on fantasypros.com.

Once the Saints traded away Jimmy Graham there was a void left to be filled. Well let’s take a look at a 6’5” 229lb void filling, red zone target in Josh Hill. The trade of Graham instantly made the situation that Hill finds himself in much better for his prospects, and the prospects of Fantasy owners that take a chance on him this season. Hill does lack a bit in experience in his two seasons of NFL football, only having a total of 20 catches for 220 yards. The fantastic thing is that of his 20 catches, a whopping six of them are for touchdowns. That is a ridiculous rate. Yes unsustainable, but it shows that Hill at least has a chance to take some of the role that was Graham’s in New Orleans.

The Saints have a mixed bag at wide receiver this season. An aging Marques Colston has seen both his catches and yards decline over the past few years. The Saints drafted Brandin Cooks last season, but he is unproven, and ended up injured last year. Nick Toon has gotten some buzz as well this offseason, but has only been able to see the field for 16 games over his first three seasons with the saints. Ben Watson is hanging around, and is the biggest direct threat to Hill at the tight end spot, but he is 34 years old and two inches shorter.

In regards to the schedule of defenses against the tight end points allowed that Hill will face this season, it looks good. The schedule is the fifth best schedule for tight ends for the year, coming in at an average rank of 18.06. Only four Top 10 teams in fantasy points allowed to tight ends are on the slate.

If you don’t end up getting one of the elite guys early in your draft, Hill starts to look pretty juicy at an ADP of 115 on fantasypros.com in PPR formats. My suggestion is if you draft Hill, take another tight end with some upside potential later in the draft and see if you hit on one of them, maybe both. Keep an eye on the playing time and target distribution during the preseason, but for a fairly late pick, he’s worth the gamble in my opinion.

Jimmy Graham 2015 Outlook

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Jimmy Graham, TE, Seattle Seahawks has been one of the Top 2 tight ends in fantasy football over the last four seasons. The off season trade to the Seahawks has made some want to shy away from Graham, but I’m advocating that he should remain a high round draft pick for your teams. 

His rookie season he didn’t get much work, but since then he has averaged 88 catches per year, 1099 yards per season, and 11.5 touchdowns.

Graham has been the most consistent TE over the last three seasons 

according to Bob Lung’s consistency rankings. Find Bob's work at ffconsistency.com. Graham has had a total of 38 quality games over that span. Last season, Graham had 11 quality games of his 16 for a consistency percentage of 69. Along with his great quality games numbers, he is the only TE that has had double digit quality games in each of the past three seasons. In 2014 he had the second highest point total for tight ends at 223.9 points for a PPR league.

Graham has a great schedule ahead of him for the 2015 season.

Ranking the seventh easiest, he will only face off against three Top 10 defenses against the TE position. The average rank of the defense he will face is 17.93. The season begins with the only Top 5 defense in the St. Louis Rams that the Seahawks will face. After that game the Seahawks will not face off against another Top 10 team until week 15.

The playoff run for Graham does feature three of the most difficult match ups he will face in 2015. Week 14 has him facing off against the 14^th best defense in the Ravens. The week 15 match up gets a little harder when they face off against the 10^th ranked defense against TE in the Browns. Week 16 will have Graham meeting the Rams for the second time of the season. If your leagues play all 17 weeks of the season, a great finale awaits you in the 29^th ranked Arizona Cardinals.

The average draft position (ADP) for Graham seems a bit high,

but if you draft round one and two well, you can have a guy that is in the elite ranks of TE. According to the ADP on fantasypros.com, Graham can be had at the 26^th overall pick in a standard league, and 29^th overall pick in PPR leagues. Assuming you can draft one to two elite top tier players in the RB or WR categories, Graham allows you a clear advantage over all the other TE except Rob Gronkowski.

As we saw in the Super Bowl last year, the Seahawks need a big, physical player in the red zone. Graham at 6’7 and 260 pounds can definitely provide them this. His basketball background allows him to box out smaller players and dominate the red zone. Third down is another situation where it is likely that Graham will be used, and useful to the Hawks. Getting the tough yards to keep drives alive is another spot it is easy to imagine Graham seeing a lot of usage.

While it is fairly certain that the years of 125 to 145 targets are now behind him, I can see the efficiency of the targets he will get being great. The Seahawks have a three headed monster in the read option and play action plays that they will run. Defenses will have to respect Marshawn Lynch and his running ability. In addition, many defensive units will need to keep a spy on Russell Wilson. This will likely leave a lot of open space in the middle of the field for the third head of this monster to operate.

Trading for Graham in the off season and taking on his contract, which pays him $10 million dollars a year, is another sign to me that he will remain a key offensive weapon. That is a lot of money to pay a player and not make him a big part of your offensive and game plans. If you take a look at the games in which Percy Harvin actually saw the field for the Seahawks in his time in Seattle, they have been known to manufacture ways to get the ball to players that they feel can have big upside and be mismatches for the opposition.

So for these reasons I believe that the schedule outlook for Jimmy Graham in 2015 is in great shape. His usage, needs of the team, consistency, and ability to create mismatches with defenders should all set him up to keep scoring you copious amounts of points in your Fantasy Football games this year.

Waiver Wire Week 13

The last week before many of you will be entering the playoffs, if you have made it that far. Not a ton of activity for the waiver wire this week, but here is the list of players who may help you going forward.

Running Back 

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Latavius Murray (OAK) had only 4 touches last week before being sidelined with a concussion, but he had monster numbers with them. Rushing for 112 yards and 2 touchdowns, it seems that once healthy, Murray will see more touches for the Raiders and could likely help a running back poor team out.

Daniel Herron (IND) has taken the place of Ahmad Bradshaw in the Colts backfield, and actually had more touches than Trent Richardson last week. The Colts have a good schedule moving forward, and Herron is likely to continue with at least his current workload. Definitely worth an add if you need running back health.

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LeGarrett Blount (NE) came right in and scored twice for the Patriots last

week. I am always skeptical of the running back situation in New England, but with Jonas Gray putting himself in the dog house by being late to practice, Blount might be the ground guy moving forward. I think Blount is a risky player, but if you are desperate, you could do worse.

Wide Receiver 

Jarvis Landry (MIA) has 49 catches on the season for the Dolphins, and is averaging almost 50 yards per game over his last 4 games. In a PPR league, Landry is a solid play moving forward and has a decent schedule including games against the Jets in week 13, and Baltimore in week 14. Landry is a flex option for you the rest of the season.

Charles Johnson (MIN) has earned himself some consideration and more playing time in the

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Vikings offense. The next 2 weeks of the schedule are looking good for the Vikings passing game, facing Carolina and the Jets in week 13 and 14, and if your playoffs go through week 17, Chicago is a tasty match up. Johnson had 52 yards and a score last week, and 87 yards on 6 catches in his last two games. Johnson would make a decent flex play with his newly increased role.

Tight End 

Kyle Rudolph (MIN) is back, and actually caught some passes last week. With the previously mentioned good match ups for the Vikings, it seems likely that Rudolph will be a productive player in the black hole that has been much of the tight end position this season. If you have either an under performing or injured tight end, Rudolph should be a suitable replacement for you.

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Tim Wright (NE) has had sporadic production this season, but in a world where the tight end position has been hit and miss altogether this season, you could do worse than Wright. The red zone offense of the Patriots has featured Wright for multiple short yardage scores this season, and with some tough match ups ahead, Wright might find himself scoring again at an end zone near you. If I were in a desperate situation, Wright would be on my list of high risk players that may also have a high reward.

My final suggestion this week will be on the defensive front. For those who have been streaming defenses this season, I highly recommend carrying 2 defenses at this point in the year. Take a look at the defenses that are available in your leagues and find one or two that have decent match ups the rest of the season. I would cut a 5th receiver or non stud running back that you are never playing and line up your defensive needs for the rest of the year.

If you have clinched your playoff spot already, congrats. If not, good luck this week locking up that post season berth.

Waiver Wire Week 12

At this point in the season, teams that are pushing toward the fantasy playoffs should be fairly well set. As is such, the waiver wire pickups that are made from now moving forward will most likely be defensive ones, or to get players to fill in for guys who get injured. This week there were some important players going down with injuries. Let's take a look at the guys you might need to pick up this week.

TE

Julius Thomas and Dwayne Allen both went out with ankle injuries in week 11, and the entirety of the tight end position has been pretty scarce outside a few outliers this season. Here are a few guys you can look to use to replace these guys if they miss any real time.

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Jacob Tamme (DEN) is a solid addition if you have a tight end need if Julius Thomas is out. Tamme knows the offense, and he is familiar with Peyton. I can't tell you that he is going to be Julius, but he has shown the ability to catch passes and score in the past.

Coby Fleener (IND) had a monster game against the Patriots on Sunday night in a losing effort. Assuming that Dwayne Allen misses any time, look for Fleener to be able to see good production on what should be a pass heavy offense and a good schedule for the rest of the season.

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Niles Paul (WAS) could also see an increase in targets and production with the possibility of Jordan

Reed out for any significant time. Reed can't seem to stay healthy, and in his absence earlier this season, Paul was a good fantasy option.

Kyle Rudolph (MIN) was a disappointment in his first game back since his early season injury, but should hopefully see some targets and production in the coming weeks. One issue with the Minnesota offense is that it is a mess. Teddy Bridgewater is having a hard time getting positive results, and that may hamper the ability of Rudolph to score for you.

Garrett Graham (HOU) is a guy to think about. With a change in quarterback to Ryan Mallett in week 11, Graham found his way to the end zone and his highest fantasy score this season. While he only had 2 catches, if he proves to be a trusted asset for Mallett, he could see an uptick in production.

RB 

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CJ Anderson (DEN) is a player that gained huge relevance after Sundays games. With Ronnie Hillman now possibly out for up to 6 weeks, and Montee Ball re-injuring his groin in his first game back, it seems that Anderson might be the guy the rest of the season for the Broncos. CJ didn't do much on the ground in a game where the Broncos were trailing early, but he was big in the passing game with 8 catches for 86 yards. If the other players in your league didn't pick him up in week 11, punish them for this transgression in week 12.

Juwan Thompson (DEN) is now the likely handcuff for the Broncos assuming that they don't sign another back this week. Thompson has been getting some goal line work in recent weeks, and is a solid pass blocker. If you have CJ Anderson, Thompson is a must add this week.

Ryan Mathews (SD) was back this week, and had a healthy workload. Moving forward look for Mathews to be the feature back for the Chargers down the stretch. In the same situation last season, Mathews proved to be up to the challenge. If he is still floating on your wire, pick him up.

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Alfred Blue (HOU) had a huge game in week 11 with Arian Foster out. Carrying the ball 36 times

for 156 yards, Blue proved an adequate replacement in the Houston offense. If Foster misses more time, Blue is a viable option to help out a struggling running back situation for your fantasy team.

Trent Richardson (IND) might be a desperation add for a team who has lost a running back or just needs a guy that is likely to get work. Ahmad Bradshaw left the game on Sunday night for the Colts, and was in a boot and on crutches after the game. These are not good things for a guy with a history of foot issues. I can't tell you Richardson is too impressive as an NFL running back, but if the alternative is nothing, he's probably better than that.

WR 

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Josh Gordon (CLE) is back in week 12. And Brian Hoyer was chucking the ball all over the field in week 11. Throwing the ball 50 times in week 11, look for Gordon to see plenty of targets for a Cleveland team that will welcome him back and look to push toward the playoffs.

Andrew Hawkins (CLE) is a PPR machine. And with Josh Gordon returning, Hawkins will likely have some more space to work in. Hawkins is only owned in 45% of ESPN leagues, and can give you a PPR boost to get you to the mountain top that is your playoffs.

Kenny Britt (STL) is a name you might want to look at. I am not a fan of him, but he is the guy for the Rams, and I use this same logic with why to love Kelvin Benjamin. I would only suggest to add Britt if you have no other options, as the Rams will be playing some tough defenses in the remainder of the season. Proceed with caution and at your own risk.

QB 

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Ryan Mallett (HOU) had a decent debut for the Texans. Mallett had 211 yards and 2 touchdown passes for the Texans, and an interception that was on a tipped ball in the end zone. A fantastic remaining schedule remains for Houston, with match ups against the Bengals, Titans, Jaguars, Colts, Ravens, and Jaguars again to end the season. Not a whole lot to be scared of there, except the fact that Mallett has 1 start.

Brian Hoyer (CLE) is a guy to look at if you are stuck at

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quarterback. If we believe that Josh Gordon and Andrew Hawkins will both remain productive wide receivers for the rest of the season, it seems to make sense that the guy throwing them the ball will also be putting up some decent numbers. Good match ups remain for the Cleveland passing attack the rest of the season featuring: Atlanta, Buffalo, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Carolina, and Baltimore to close out the season. Hoyer is a good addition to a 2 quarterback league, or as slight gamble for a team with an under performing signal caller.

All the players on this list are either plug in now or handcuff options that can give you the stability and depth to help you surge the last few weeks to make a run for your championship. Make good choices and good luck this week!

Monster Match Ups And Misses Week 11

The week 11 match up monsters and misses features some surprising teams and position groups. Let's take a peek into the good and bad match ups for the 11th week of the NFL season.

The Good 

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The Carolina Panthers have a great match up this week for their wide receivers and tight ends against the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons pass defense has been pretty terrible this season allowing 280.8 yards per game to opposing receivers. Look for huge games out of Kelvin Benjamin and Greg Olson in week 11. Also Cam Newton will be a benefactor of the soft passing defense, and should be a good start if he is floating around on your waiver wire.

Houston Texans running back, whether it be Arian Foster, or Alfred Blue if Foster is out, should have a good game against the Cleveland Browns running defense. Cleveland has allowed 134.2 yards per game on the ground to opposing running backs on the season, and the Texans are a run first team. Keep an eye on the injury and practice reports this week to see if Foster plays if you are a Blue owner. Both guys might be a good play if both are healthy and play, but Blue moves way up the ranks if Foster is out.

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The Minnesota Vikings wide outs have a monster opportunity to take advantage of a reeling Chicago Bears defense that was throttled by the Green Bay Packers last week. Look for Teddy Bridgewater to have the best game of his young career in week 11. Greg Jennings and Cordarelle Patterson are good starts this week in my opinion, as the bears have allowed 268.6 yards per game and a whopping 23 receiving touchdowns so far this season. Look for Kyle Rudolph to get back into practice this week, and if he does, you may consider playing him as well this week.

San Francisco 49ers running backs are primed for success this week against a New York Giants defense that gave up 350 yards on the ground in week 10 to the Seattle Seahawks. The Giants are now the worst ranked run defense in the league allowing 144.7 yards per game on the ground, and 13 rushing touchdowns on the season. Look for Frank Gore and Carlos Hyde to feast upon the corpse of the Giants Defense. Gore is a must start, and Hyde has been getting goal line work as of late, and could be a flex start in a pinch.

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The Philadelphia Eagles running backs have a good match up against the 30th ranked run defense of

the Green Bay Packers in week 11. Green Bay has been allowing 142.6 yards per game on the ground this season, and 9 rushing scores on the year. It also figures that the Eagles may want to try to play a little ball control against the prolific offense of the Packers. Look for LeSean McCoy to provide you some fantasy performance in this week 11 match up.

The Bad

The Buffalo Bills wide outs have a monumental task ahead of them in week 11. Not only do they have a short week, playing on Thursday night, but they also face off against the 2nd ranked pass defense of the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins have only allowed 210.8 yards per game through the air on the season, and Thursday night games have historically proved to be a bad influence on the passing game of its participants. On top of all of this, Sammy Watkins has a groin injury that left him questionable and largely ineffective last week. If you have better options than the Bills wide receivers this week, sit your Bills.

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Miami Dolphins running backs have a similar plight to the Bills this week. Injury and bad match ups leave me not wanting anything to do with the Dolphins running game this week. Lamar Miller has a sprained AC joint which saw him limited to only 5 touches last week. On a short week it is unlikely that he will be in much better shape this week. The choices behind Miller are not particularly good either. A rookie in Damien Williams and Daniel Thomas would not make me feel very good about my squad if that is who I were running out there. Sit your Dolphins running backs this week.

Tre Mason and the St. Louis Rams running game have a tough draw this week against the top ranked run defense of the Denver Broncos. Denver is only allowing 67 yards per game and only 5 rushing scores on the season. Along with that bad stat for the Rams, it seems likely that the Rams will fall behind, and the running game will become a forgotten thing early in this game. I can't think of a reason I would want to start a Rams running back this week against the Broncos.

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The wide receivers of the Houston Texans have a touch draw this week against the 12th ranked pass defense of the Cleveland Browns. The Browns made Andy Dalton and the Bengals passing game look pedestrian last week. That and the fact that Cleveland has been bad against the run, and Houston runs a lot leave me wanting to sit my Houston wide outs this week against the Browns. The ascension of Ryan Mallett to starter also leaves us with a question as to how the Texans pass game will look. Mallett is unproven as a starter, and I am not willing to gamble on him if my team needs a win this week.

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The Chicago Bears dysfunctional passing game has another tough draw this week against the Minnesota Vikings and their 4th ranked pass defense. Allowing only 213.6 yards per game through the air, Minnesota has been stingy for opposing wide receivers. Brandon Marshall has an injury that at the time of this writing, looks like it may keep him out or limit him. That would leave the Bears with a one dimensional passing attack with Alshon Jeffery as the only down field threat for the corners of the Vikings to worry about. In addition, Jay Cutler has been playing a pretty terrible brand of football as of late, and seems to be severely lacking in confidence. I don't really want to run my Bears passing game out there this week if I have better match ups.

That brings us to the end of our monster match ups and misses for week 11. Some teams not often thought of in the good match ups this week, and a few teams that find themselves with some touch match ups for sure. Hopefully this will help you make educated decisions to get yourself a big late season fantasy win. Good luck this week!

Start/Sit: Week 11

Week 11 already. Fantasy playoffs on the horizon. Where did the season go? Hopefully it has gone well for you and you are making your preparations to dominate your playoffs. I'm here to try to help you to a win this week with some start/sit advice.

Start

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Kelvin Benjamin (CAR) has been about the only weapon through the air that the Panthers have been able to consistently count on. Lining up opposite the now worst ranked pass defense in the league in the Atlanta Falcons this week, Benjamin is set up to have a monster game. Atlanta is allowing 280.8 yards per game through the air and doesn't have anyone that can really match up against the size and speed of Benjamin. Look for him to have a big game this week.

Golden Tate (DET) is a player that loyal Fantasy Squads readers may recall I wrote about previously. Tate is a fantastically talented receiver, and the return of Calvin Johnson to the field did not slow him down. In week 10 Tate had 11 catches for 109 yards against a top tier defense of the Miami Dolphins. In week 11 the Lions face off against the 30th ranked passing defense of the Arizona Cardinals. The Cards have allowed 274.2 yards per game to opponents through the air. There should likely not be a week you take Tate out of your lineup the rest of the season, and certainly not this week.

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Martavis Bryant (PIT) has exploded on the scene in Pittsburgh. Scoring 6 touchdowns in his first 4 games, Bryant has shown a wide range of skills. From deep ball threat, to solid red zone target, what can't Bryant do? With a weakened and old defense in for the Steelers, most of their games are likely to feature lots of passing down the stretch. This week the Steelers take on the Titans in Tennessee. The Titans have the 11th ranked pass defense in the NFL going into this week, but this stat may be a function of their terrible run defense. If you don't have to pass against them, why do it? Well I think the Steelers will have to pass against them at least a bit, and Bryant is a versatile player that is in a good offense opposite Antonio Brown taking most of the extra attention. Get Bryant in your lineup this week.

DeSean Jackson (WAS) laces them up against the 31st ranked pass defense of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in week 11. Tampa bay has given up 277.1 yards per game on the season, and allowed 19 receiving touchdowns to only 6 interceptions. Jackson has proven to still be a big deep pass threat this season, and I would look for him to get loose for at least one big play this week.

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Cordarelle Patterson (MIN) has been a big disappointment this season. Being ranked in the top 24 of wide receivers in the preseason by many fantasy analysts, Patterson has not performed. In the Vikings last game, there were some signs of life, including added usage, and him breaking free on a busted coverage only to be overthrown by Teddy Bridgewater. Look for the Vikings to have used the bye week to work on some timing and chemistry to fully take advantage of their match up against the 28th ranked pass defense of the Chicago Bears. The Bears were just torched on Sunday Night Football for 6 first half touchdowns by the Packers. Yes, Teddy is not Aaron Rodgers, but the Bears passing defense is terrible, allowing the second most (23) receiving touchdowns on the season. Take a chance on Patterson this week, I think you might be rewarded.

Sit

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Sammy Watkins (BUF) tweaked his groin in practice last week, and was largely ineffective in week 10. The news doesn't get much better in week 11 when the Bills will face off against the number 2 pass defense of the  Miami Dolphins on Thursday Night football. The Dolphins are only allowing 210.8 yards per game to opposing teams via the pass, and have allowed 14 touchdowns through the air on the season. I say this speaking as a guy who just traded for Watkins last week, I'm likely sitting him this week in favor of another wide receiver or flex option.

Lamar Miller (MIA) continues our Thursday night flare on the sit column. Miller has a sprained AC joint in his shoulder, and was only able to manage 5 touches in week 10 against the Lions. This week the Dolphins face the 8th ranked run defense of the Bills on a short week. The short turn around for the Dolphins, coupled with the lack of touches in last weeks game don't bode well for Miller and his chances this week. If I were a miller owner, I would be looking for another option for this week.

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Bobby Rainey (TB) has been a sometimes bright spot this season for the Bucs. This has been due to the fact that there are not really any bright spots at all for them. Rainey will have his workload cut into by the recently activated Charles Sims, and didn't do much with his 6 carries last week, only gaining 14 yards. Rainey did slightly better in the passing game, 4 catches for 42 yards, but facing the 14th Washington run defense who has been somewhat stingy with the rushing touchdowns, and only allowing 110 yards per game on the ground, I am not a fan of starting Rainey this week.

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The next section will be dedicated to the three headed not so scary monster that is the Detroit Lions backfield. The first key issue is that they can't stay healthy. Reggie Bush has had a very hard time staying on the field, and it seems as if he is alternating missing time with Joique Bell this season. The guy who has been putting up the best fantasy numbers has been Theo Riddick, and he only played 7 snaps last week, he just happened to be the one to catch a touchdown pass on one of them. This week against the 3rd ranked pass defense of the Arizona Cardinals, who only allow 78.6 yards per game on the ground, I can see the reason to start any of the Lions running backs. I am not even sure at this point I would want to be taking up a roster spot with any of them.

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Tre Mason (STL) is the man out front, sometimes, for the Rams running game. The indecision by Jeff Fisher as to what he is doing with his running backs, along with the lack of overall production team up to make Mason a sit this week in my book. Facing the top ranked run defense of the Denver Broncos, who allow 67 yards per game on the ground, does not make me change that opinion in any way. It will likely be a long week for the Rams if, more like when, Denver gets out to a big lead on them. If the rams are getting blown out, the game will turn to more passing for the Rams, and Mason is not a good pass blocker as of yet, so may not even be on the field much. Sit Mason this week.

That is the finale of our look at starts and sits this week. I hope to have given you some helpful information to make good decisions for your fantasy rosters this week. Good luck!

Waiver Wire Week 11

Heading into the home stretch for the 2014 fantasy season. It seems like it has gone by so fast. Just the other day we were all cramming our heads with all the information we could to draft our teams as best we could. Now we are just weeks away from the fantasy playoffs. Lets take a look at the guys you might add to your roster this week to bolster your squad for upcoming battle.

RB 

CJ Anderson (DEN) got the bulk of the work in week 10 after Ronnie Hillman went down with a foot

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injury. The news on Monday morning is that Hillman will miss 2 weeks with a foot sprain. Bring on the cloudy situation in the Denver backfield. Anderson has been in and out of favor with the Broncos this season. With Montee Ball inactive in week 10, still out with the groin injury that has sidelined him the past few weeks, Anderson got 90 yards on 13 carries and caught 4 balls for 73 yards, including a 51 yard touchdown catch. The water is murky on the Denver running back situation with the impending return of Ball, and the hot and cold attitude of the Broncos on Anderson. I would add Anderson and hope some clarity comes during the week. Trying to add him and Montee Ball is the smart play if you want to own the Denver backfield.

Damien Williams (MIA) was the recipient of the most carries for the Dolphins on Sunday. Even with Lamar Miller active, he did not see much work after spraining his AC joint in his shoulder. The Dolphins had a tough run match up last week against the Lions, and it doesn't get a lot easier moving forward. Williams had the best average on his runs, going for 4.9 yards per carry. Confounding the situation is the fact that there were reports on Monday that the Dolphins were adding LaMichael James to their active roster. Given the unclear situation and the bad schedule coming up, I would avoid the Dolphins backfield altogether.

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Rashad Jennings (NYG) is a good addition if he was dropped in your leagues. The Giants run game has been terrible with Andre Williams. Since taking over for Jennings, Williams has a high water mark of 66 rushing yards. He has done nothing to keep the job when Jennings gets back. The schedule for the Giants breaks nicely as we head into the fantasy playoffs, and if Jennings is unowned, snatch him up.

QB 

Drew Stanton (ARI) is a decent addition for very deep leagues and 2 quarterback leagues. With Carson Palmer out for the season, this is now Stanton's job. A daunting task for the Cardinals quarterback awaits, facing the Seahawks twice, the Lions, and the Chiefs the rest of this season. Temper expectations, but if you are playing match ups, he will play Atlanta in week 13 if you need a quick boost to win a playoff spot. Week 15 will also provide a good match up against the Rams, albeit in St. Louis. 

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Michael Vick (NYJ) didn't wow you through the air, or on the ground, but if you are in trouble at the quarterback position, Vick likely has the higher upside of the available quarterbacks in your deep or 2 quarterback leagues. Vick has the chance of big rushing numbers every week for the Jets. His ceiling is very high, and conversely, his floor is very low. I would say that in case of emergency, break glass. The next two match ups for the Jets see them play good defenses in Buffalo and Miami. The next two games which start the fantasy playoffs see much easier tasks playing at Minnesota and at Tennessee. Vick may provide you a boost in the first weeks of your playoffs.

WR 

Odell Beckham Jr. (NYG) should be owned in every fantasy league in the galaxy. Beckham announced his presence with authority this week, beating Richard Sherman deep on more than one play. Beckham is a talented reciever and has a role carved out for him in the Giants offense for the rest of the season with the absence of Victor Cruz. Odell is only owned in 57.5% of ESPN fantasy leagues, snatch him up if he isn't in yours.

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Jarvis Landry (MIA) has been a decent PPR play in recent weeks averaging 5 catches a week over his last 5 games. Landry so far has not been a flashy play with huge upside, but he has been pretty consistent. If you are missing a usually solid player, or just want to add some consistent play to your bench just in case, Landry is a solid addition.

John Brown (ARI) is one of the best stories of the season. A small receiver who has had some big numbers in games this season. Brown, and now quarterback for the Cardinals, Drew Stanton have had chemistry so far when they have been on the field together. Brown has both caught long bombs for scores, and underneath passes a la Wes Welker. Brown has 5 scores on the season, and if you are picking up Stanton, you may consider adding brown to double up on the scoring.

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Martavis Bryant (PIT) is only owned in 60.4% of ESPN leagues. Martavis Bryant has only caught 6
touchdowns in his 4 games for the Steelers. Yes his touchdown rate may be unsustainable, but with Antonio Brown on the opposite side, he is unlikely to get double coverage. Bryant has both the ability to catch short passes, and the long ball, as evidenced by his 80 yard touchdown in week 10. A big receiver who has tons of speed and skill, Bryant may be the guy that wins you a championship. If he is unowned, go get him.

TE 

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Mychal Rivera (OAK) has averaged 7 catches over his last 3 games, and is averaging a score in each. Rivera is the Raiders best red zone target, and has found some good consistency in the last few weeks in some good match ups. Coming down the stretch games against Kansas City, St. Louis, and San Francisco provide some solid opportunities for Rivera to score for your fantasy team. If your tight end has been under performing, Rivera may be the shot in the arm you need to bring home the trophy.

Charles Clay (MIA) is a boom or bust guy for a PPR league. In his last 5 games he has 7, 5, 1, 4, 3 catches per week. Clay has scored in two of those games, but is mainly an emergency outlet for Ryan Tannehill. If you are desperate at the tight end spot, and there isn't much out there, Clay might be worth a look.

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Kyle Rudolph (MIN) should be making his return soon. Rudolph was highly touted this preseason with
Norv Turner taking over the offensive coordinator spot for the Vikings. The early season injury for Rudolph likely led to many of his owners dropping him. If you have a hole in your tight end spot in your weekly lineup, Rudolph should be returning to the field soon. I would consider him a speculative add at this point in the season, but one that could help a starved fantasy owner in the quagmire that has been tight end this season.

That brings us to the finish on this weeks waiver wire adds. One suggestion I would have this late in the year is to only fill glaring holes or add depth for injured guys if you are not cutting a better player or one with more upside to take a flyer on these players. Your roster should be fairly well set, barring injuries, at this late date in the season. Good luck this week!

Practice Report Round Up

I've combed through the Friday practice report to find the fantasy relevant players for you. Much shorter list this week with 6 teams on bye in week 9. Here we go.

Owen Daniels (BAL) was a full participant in practice on Friday. Listed as questionable after having his knee scoped last week, Daniels is a game time decision. Putting in a full practice bodes well for his chances to play this week.

Giovanni Bernard (CIN) has been ruled out for week 9. Bernard has been banged up the last few weeks and with a Thursday night game in week 10, the Bengals aren't taking any chances with their star running back. If you have Jeremy Hill on your roster plug him in this week at Jacksonville.

AJ Green (CIN) is listed as questionable after being limited in practice. You can be sure that if Green plays, he will be well enough to give a good effort. After being without him for a few weeks already, it wouldn't make much sense to let him play if he isn't ready to go. The match up with the Jags is just what the doctor ordered for the owner that has gotten little to no production out of him this season.

Jordan Cameron (CLE) has been ruled out with a concussion. If you still had him on your roster, get him out of your lineup this week.

Tony Romo (DAL) has not practiced this week. Romo has been called a game time decision for the Cowboys with a back contusion. If Romo does play, it is hard to say if he will be effective. A back injury is debilitating and if he takes another hit, he may not be able to finish. If you have another option you want to have it ready just in case, if not just start your other option.

Ronnie Hillman (DEN) is our first bit of good news. Hillman is probable this week for the Broncos match up against the Patriots. Hillman fell on his shoulder awkwardly in practice this week. In a game that is predicted to possibly have high winds, Hillman may end up with a hefty workload.

Alfred Blue (HOU) is listed as probable for Sunday. The Texans have a good match up against the Eagles this week. Unless something happens to Arian Foster between now and kickoff, Blue is unlikely to be in a lineup. Given the amount of players on bye this week, Blue may be a flex option for you. It seems like he will be playing, but proceed with caution.

Arian Foster (HOU) is probable for Sunday. He was limited in practice, but this is a common thing for Foster. Expect him to play and get fed the ball often against the Eagles.

Andre Johnson (HOU) is probable after being limited in practice. Johnson and Foster both were limited in an effort to rest them up for game day. Expect Johnson to play.

Reggie Wayne (IND) put in a full practice on Friday. At this point it seems likely that Wayne will be able to return from his elbow injury after missing only one week. I would be cautious with him this week as he may be susceptible to re injury. Wayne has been hit and miss this season, and mostly miss, so you likely have a better option. In a bye heavy week though, if he plays, you can start him.

Donnie Avery (KC) is out again this week for the Chiefs. Avery is a fringe player for most leagues, but if you had him, you shouldn't be starting him this week.

Rashad Jennings (NYG) is making good progress, but is out this week against the Colts. Jennings did not practice, but was doing conditioning and pulling a sled on the side. Next week is definitely a possibility, but you won't have him to start this week.

Darren Sproles (PHI) put in full practices all week. He will be back in the Eagles lineup this week. Sproles may be a good flex play this week against the Texans.

Donald Brown (SD) was a full participant in practice for the Chargers. Brown wasn't having much success before suffering a concussion that has kept him out multiple weeks, but beyond Darren Oliver, Brown is about it right now. Expect him to see some action, but only use in case of emergency.

Doug Martin (TB) is listed as doubtful for the Buccaneers in week 9. Martin has had a big fall from grace this season. The Bucs should be seeing the first action of Charles Sims this week, and if his audition goes well, this could be his job to lose. At this point you can all but cut Martin from your roster. The future is bleak.

Robert Griffin III (WAS) will be making his return to action this week after practicing in full for the first time since his ankle injury. The biggest question will be, what will RG3 look like? Will he be the dynamic player he was in college and his rookie year? Or will he be the complete mess he was last year and the beginning of this season. If he is medically sound, hope for the best.

And with that we reach the end of the list for this week. Some good news, some bad. As always remember to watch the inactive lists on Sunday to make sure your guys are in or out. Good luck this week!

Strategy Scoop: Flex Play

It may seem like common sense, but I have watched players in my leagues, and have myself this season made an easy mistake. The Thursday night games are an outlier on the week , and you must treat them accordingly.

When a team plays on Thursday night, the players from that game are locked down until the following week when waivers process. This leads to a few different situations in which care must be taken to make sure that you make moves with these players that are appropriate for your needs. The first thing to think about is if you want to roster a guy for the week. If you don't intend to play a guy from the Thursday night games, you should probably consider dropping fringe level players that you are not going to play on Thursday to open up more options for the Sunday games.

Now I'm not telling you to drop top level talent on Thursday before the game kicks off, but if you have a 5th running back or receiver that you aren't likely to play unless you will have a definite need for them in the near future. The guys I am talking about are the speculative players that have the Thursday night match up. If you weren't playing them anyways, you can take a chance on getting them back the next week, while opening up more options for this week on Sunday.

The other mistake I see made, and the one I have definitely made myself is leaving a player that has a Thursday night game in my flex spot. If you are playing a flex eligible player in a Thursday night game, DO NOT leave him in your flex spot. When you are playing the Thursday night guys, put them in their appropriate slot. Running backs in the running back spot, receivers in the wide receiver spot. This allows you the maximum flexibility on Sunday in case an unexpected injury pops up late in the week. This happened to me earlier this year when I forgot to move a wide receiver out of my flex spot and would have been able to make a decision between Darren Sproles and Reggie Wayne or Dwayne Allen in my flex spot later in the week. Instead I only had Sproles available to me.

It is a simple move to make, but allowing yourself the maximum flexibility is the best strategy to make your team a winner. A choice between multiple players is always going to be better than being tied down to only one player.

Waiver Wire Week 9

Week 9 is a week of some big named players on bye. This week we have Atlanta, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay, and Tennessee on bye. There are 9 wide receivers alone from those teams that will be big losses for your fantasy teams. Here is a short list of players to look at to fill in those gaps in your lineup in week 9.

QB 

Ryan Tannehill (MIA) didn't do a lot of passing in week 8, because he didn't really need to. The Dolphins defense handled the heavy lifting, returning 2 interceptions for touchdowns. He did continue his streak of over 40 yards rushing for the 4th consecutive game. Tannehill is unlikely to get you a ton of points against a good pass defense at home this week against the Chargers, but he is playing well, and if he continues to get some rushing, he can be a good bye week fill in this week.

Michael Vick (NYJ) relieved Geno Smith in week 8 against the Bills. Vick didn't do a lot passing in week 8, but did have 69 yards rushing. If Vick is going to start next week, he will have some time to get reps and have a game plan built for him. The rushing alone will make up for a lot, and if your QB is on bye, Vick could help you out for a week.

RB 

Lorenzo Taliaferro (BAL) was a lone bright spot for the running back position that is unlikely to be owned in all leagues. Owned in only 12% of ESPN leagues, Taliaferro was the goal line back for the Ravens in week 8. Only rushing for 27 yards, he did score 2 times. He is a gamble, but with running back injuries and byes, Taliaferro is one of few running backs worth a look for week 9. Baltimore plays Pittsburgh next week, the 12th ranked run defense.

Denard Robinson (JAX) got a lot of work, and was effective, for the second week in a row. Running the ball 18 times for 108 yards and catching 1 pass for 10 yards, Robinson played well. Jacksonville faces off against the 29th ranked run defense of the Bengals next week. If he gets the work, the yardage should be there.

Alfred Blue (HOU) is not only the backup for Arian Foster, but also finding himself getting some work at times this year. Getting 14 carries for 42 yards in week 8, and a catch for 22 yards, blue and the Texans have some good running match ups coming up. A week 10 bye is a negative, but facing off against the Eagles in week 9, the Browns in week 11, and the Bengals in week 12 make the next 3 games good ones for the Houston running game. The Texans face only 2 top 10 defenses rest of season, and the average run defense faced for the rest of the year is 20.3. Blue is a good addition to a roster given that the Texans tend to be run heavy and have an injury prone Foster playing in front of Blue.

Charles Sims (TB) is a rookie back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Sims has been on the IR designated to return so far this season, but began practicing last week. With the lack of production, and apparent desire for the Bucs to trade everyone on their team, Sims is likely to get a shot very soon. He is a must add to any team that is in a bad spot at running back. I wrote about Sims last week in an article about IR designated to return players available with this link.

WR 

Martavis Bryant (PIT) was a recipient of the monster day of Ben Roethlisberger in week 8. Making 5 catches on 7 targets for 83 yards and 2 touchdowns, Bryant has scored 3 times in his first 2 games. I thought about writing about him last week, but wanted to see one more week of good production before making a recommendation to pick him up. Now is that time. Pittsburgh plays at the 22nd ranked pass defense of  Baltimore next week. Not a lot of scoring allowed through the air by the Ravens so far this season, but if the Steelers can build on their momentum from this week, Bryant could turn into a monster.

Donte Moncrief (IND) showed up huge this week for the Colts. A benefactor of the game flow, being down big quick, Moncrief made 7 catches for 113 yards and a touchdown. In the first week without both Reggie Wayne and Trent Richardson, Moncrief fit seamlessly into the offense. You can read my article on Donte from last week here. Assuming Wayne is out again this week with his elbow injury, Moncrief is a good addition to replace some of the receivers on bye in week 9. The Giants are the opponent for Indy in week 9, and have the 25th ranked pass defense in the league. Look for good production for Moncrief and the Colts in week 9.

Allen Robinson (JAX) is averaging 5.4 receptions per week for 64.7 yards a game, scoring twice for the Jaguars since week 2. Robinson is a good play for any fantasy team in a PPR league. Only owned in 3% of ESPN leagues, he is likely sitting on the waiver wire for the taking. The Jags face the Bengals this week and their 23rd ranked pass defense. If nothing else, Robinson is a good replacement for the week 9 bye guys, and may find a permanent spot on your roster after that.

Brandon LaFell (NE) was a beast in week 8. The favorite target of Tom Brady on Sunday, LaFell caught 11 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown. In PPR formats, it was his 3rd game in his last 5 with at least 23.9 points. Facing off against Denver's 17th ranked pass defense in week 9, LaFell could well find himself having another week of productive work. The schedule for the Patriots gets a bit brutal for the rest of the season, but as we have learned this season, never count out Brady and the Pats offense.

Davante Adams (GB) has been a bit hit and miss so far this season, but has taken over the number 3 receiver spot for the Packers. The schedule gets nice in the coming weeks, after the week 9 bye for Adams. Facing an average pass defense of 21.5 in the rankings, Adams has some very soft match ups, and 3 top 6 pass defenses left on the schedule. He is not necessarily a must add this week as he is on bye, but don't let him sit on the wire for too long.

 Thus brings us to the end of the waiver wire article for week 9. There are definitely some possible stars emerging and some good replacements for your bye weeks and injured players. Go pick 'em up, and good luck this week!

Practice Report Round Up Week 8

Week 8 brings us some familiar names on the practice reports, some new additions, and a few guys getting back in action. Here is the list of guys you might care about for your fantasy games this week.

John Brown (ARI) is probable after being limited in practice this week. Brown may make a good fill in for injured wide receivers or bye week fill in. The Cardinals play against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. The Eagles have the 23rd ranked pass defense. This game may see the Cardinals put the ball in the air more as Carson Palmer has not appeared on the practice report himself this week.

Harry Douglas (ATL) is a welcome addition back to a struggling Falcons offense. The bad news is that he can't play offensive line. Douglas is a good third option for the Falcons, but Matt Ryan has had little time to make the read to get to Douglas. Detroit has one of the best defensive units so far this season, so I personally wouldn't be playing Douglas.

Owen Daniels (BAL) is out this week after having some "cleanup" done on his knee. No other viable option exists with the Ravens for fantasy purposes, so go fine yourself a waiver guy like maybe Andrew Quarless from Green Bay or Luke Willson or Cooper Helfet from the Seahawks.

Fred Jackson (BUF) is out for a few weeks. Some estimates are 2-3 weeks, or as many as 6 with a groin injury. In the absence of both Jackson and CJ Spiller there isn't a consensus on whether Anthony Dixon or Bryce Brown are the best play. Take your shot this week, or just don't play any Buffalo running back this week. The Bills play the stingy run defense of the Jets this week, so caution may be the best option.

Philly Brown (CAR) is out this week with a concussion. It is unlikely you were playing Brown, but he does return kicks, so if you were playing him in a league that gives credit for this, you won't have him to score for you this week.

Chris Ogbonnaya (CAR) is questionable this week with a groin injury against the Seattle Seahawks. The Panthers running back situation is its usual mess, with anyone who is anyone banged up. Jonathan Stewart is getting the start this week, but with the 2 starting guards out for the Panthers, I wouldn't feel good about starting any of their backs.

Fozzy Whitaker (CAR) is out this week. Part of the mess of injured Panthers running backs, Whitaker will not be available to you this week.

AJ Green (CIN) is questionable this week. Having already missed time with a toe injury this season, this is not a surprise to any Green owner. He was heard to say last week that he was playing this week, but was only able to do conditioning this week at practice. I wouldn't count on him playing, and even if he does, there is no way to know how effective he would be. I would look for better options this week.

Reggie Bush (DET) is listed as doubtful this week with an ankle injury. With Joique Bell and Theo Riddick both healthy, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense for the Lions to play Bush this week. Riddick might be a good addition if you are weak at running back, as the Lions play against the terrible defense of the Atlanta Falcons this week.

Calvin Johnson (DET) was a limited participant in practice this week. According to multiple reports on Friday night, it is unlikely the Lions will play Johnson this week. If they do, you can be pretty confident that he will be able to contribute, as the Lions have found a way to be competitive so far in his absence. The confounding issue is that this game is an afternoon game in London, and starts at 9:30 am eastern, 6:30 am pacific. If you go to bed with Johnson in your lineup, you better be up to make sure he plays.

Theo Riddick (DET) is listed as probable for the Lions this week. In the absence of Reggie Bush, Riddick will likely get the workload of the second running back for the Lions. In week 6 when bush was inactive, Riddick was a big contributor in the Lions passing game against the Vikings. He had 5 catches for 75 yards and a score, adding slightly to that with 3 rushes for 6 yards. Riddick is a good hail mary at running back against the Falcons. If Detroit can get a big lead, it is likely that Riddick will see much of the work. He will likely make a good one week option for a desperate team.

Eric Ebron (DET) is out this week against the Falcons. Missing his second game in a row for the Lions with a hamstring injury, if you were playing Ebron, time to get another option.

Joseph Fauria (DET) is bad at being a pet owner. Fauria will miss another game with an ankle injury, now famously, sustained trying to stop his dog from peeing in the house. I feel bad for Fauria, but it is one of the better weird injury stories.

Brandon Pettigrew (DET) is listed as doubtful for the Lions this week. The third tight end for the Lions to be unlikely to play this week, Pettigrew has a foot injury. Having almost fallen off the fantasy football map, it is unlikely that you were playing Pettigrew anyways, but if you were, unlikely this week.

James Starks (GB) is probable for Sunday after being limited in practice all week with an ankle injury. It is unclear if Starks will continue to get the workload he was getting in the past few games seeing as he is hurt, but he has been getting a near equal share of the work and did score last week. Keep an eye on the inactives list to be sure, but Lacy seems like the better option this week for the Pack.  This is also the Sunday night game, so it makes it more difficult to wait to see what Starks status will be.

Trent Richardson (IND) did not participate in practice this week and is listed as questionable for Sunday with a hamstring injury. Richardson left last weeks game early and has not been on the field since. This is a late game on Sunday, so I would make other plans if you have Richardson in your starting lineup.

Reggie Wayne (IND) is out for Sunday against the Steelers. After suffering an elbow injury, Wayne is likely to miss a few weeks. A possible replacement in the Colts lineup is either Hakeem Nicks or Donte Moncrief.

Toby Gerhart (JAX) was a full participant in practice Friday. It is unclear what Gerhart's role will be with the Jags on Sunday, but he was unimpressive in his previous appearances for Jacksonville. This one is your judgement call.

Donnie Avery (KC) is out this week for the Chiefs with a groin injury. Not a big fantasy name, you likely don't have Avery as a regular member of your squad, but if you did, take him out.

Shane Vereen (NE) missed Friday practice with an illness. Head coach Bill Belichick is famous for listing guys on the injury report possibly erroneously, but it is possible that Vereen will not play. Keep an eye on the inactives Sunday. Jonas Gray is a good name to keep in mind if Vereen is out.

Jimmy Graham (NO) was limited in practice this week with a shoulder injury. Graham was active last week, but only got 2 targets. Being the night game on Sunday makes him a difficult decision. It is possible that if you wait on him and he is inactive you could gamble on Gavin Escobar or Niles Paul in the Monday night game, but unlikely you have a better option that Graham. Because he played last week, it is likely he would play this week after being able to participate in practice at all.


Pierre Thomas (NO) is out this week for the Saints with rib and shoulder injuries. The logical replacement for Thomas in the Saints offense is Travaris Cadet. Likely available, if you want to play a Saint against the Packers 31st ranked run defense, Cadet will assume the Thomas role.

Khiry Robinson (NO) is out this week with an arm injury. This bolsters the role for Mark Ingram for the Saints. Ingram is a great play this week as the only running back surviving for the Saints that actually runs most of the time.

Eric Decker (NYJ) was limited in practice this week for the Jets. This will likely be the case for most, if not all, of the season. Keep an eye on the inactives for Sunday as Decker has missed time already this year, but if you have been playing him, plan on continuing.

Darren Sproles (PHI) was a full participant in practice for the Eagles. Officially listed as questionable with a knee injury, keep your eye on the inactives and make your educated decision.

Vincent Jackson (TB) is questionable for the Buccaneers after being limited all week in practice. Widely expected to play, you can likely pencil Jackson into your lineup Sunday, but make sure to check inactives Sunday morning.

Shonn Greene (TEN) was a full participant in practice for the Titans. Muddying up the running back situation for Tennessee, Greene will likely be in a backfield with a disappointing Bishop Sankey on Sunday. Currently there is no solid information on who will have what workload, so playing either guy is a gamble. Adding to that the Titans are starting Zach Mettenberger this week for the first time. The Titans may decide that it is time to see what the youth of their team can do together, so tread carefully with Greene.

Robert Griffin III (WAS) was a limited participant in practice this week. Being called a game time decision by head coach Jay Gruden, it is possible Griffin returns to play this week. Being the Monday night game makes it nearly impossible to wait to see, but you may want to stash RG3 if you have faith left in him.

That brings this look at the Friday practice reports to a close. Remember the early Sunday London game, and to keep a close eye on the inactives for your players. Good luck this week!