Post Week Two Waiver Wire
Twitter Questions @Cimini
Has the fat lady begun singing for your fantasy team(s)? Did you over indulge in drafts with your buddies and plan on exiting by dodging logging in to a certain league? That’s not the way to participate in a fantasy league. Fight every week by making the proper moves via the waiver wire and necessary roster adjustments. Here is a look at week two’s waiver wire pickups.
Quarterbacks
Joe Flacco-
Flacco is dazzling to start the year. Even in a loss he outdid Mike Vick by a large margin, and had a touchdown called back on an offensive pass interference that shouldn’t have been. I listed Flacco as the top breakout quarterback performer this year, and still believe he will continue to perform strongly. He has the faith of his organization that has finally translated into pass play calls. With the weapons around him and his increased confidence Flacco may be on his way to the Pro Bowl.
Sam Bradford
Last year Bradford looked like he might be headed for doom with constant injuries. The change to head coach Jeff Fisher seems to be what the doctor ordered. He has his health back and the team seems to be responding much better with the overall change. Remember just a few years ago Bradford had the Rams in a battle to almost get the last spot in the playoffs over Seattle. Seattle snuck in and made history by defeating the Saints, but it’s not a far stretch to see Bradford resurge and turn things back around.
Andy Dalton
By no means is Dalton to be considered a fantasy starting quarterback. He has a ways to go to get there, and the offense the Bengals run will likely prevent him from being a major fantasy threat. His strengths are with his accuracy, and natural chemistry with his team of receivers. By next year Dalton will be beyond a sleeper for many draftees to think about as their signal caller.
Alex Smith
Smith was on the list last week but comes back on as he is available in 50% of Yahoo leagues. The flash isn’t there but the consistency is. San Francisco seems more balanced than ever offensively, at a time when Alex Smith just is not making mistakes. It’s as if this team knows there going to be right back where they were in the NFC Championship game in January.
Ryan Tannehill
As the season stretches Tannehill may be right behind RG3 and Andrew Luck for rookie quarterbacks in terms of fantasy numbers. Russ Wilson’s impact in Seattle’s offense is going to remain on a small scale. As the team will rely on their defense and Marshawn Lynch each and every week. Tannehill just seems unrattled by whatever occurs on the football field. With the backfield weapons he has, Tannehill will be able to mature on the field and grow properly as a quarterback. His advantage for fantasy points comes with his legs as he has the capability to stretch out plays.
Running Backs
Mike Goodson-
If you’re in a PPR league Goodson has value right now. Most of the minimal owners that own Goodson are just handcuffing Darren McFadden. With the issues the Raiders are having at receiver, Carson Palmer has checked down to his running backs plenty of times in the first two games. The bonus with Goodson will be if McFadden misses anytime like he has his entire career.
Andre Brown-
Brown did a solid job filling in for the injured Ahmad Bradshaw against the Buccaneers. Who didn’t have a great fantasy day for the Giants? Brandon Jacobs had fantasy value that tapered off as his seasons dwindled with the Giants. With the Giants limiting the carries of David Wilson after his early season fumble, Brown is the guy until reassuring news unfolds for Bradshaw.
Vick Ballard-
In the Colts old coaching regime, Donald Brown had fallen on thin ice based on performance. Delone Carter was drafted and had a chance to take over Brown’s job. Now he is the one that is not in good view with the Colts coaching staff. Brown had a decent preseason but has had two poor outings to start the regular season. One more poor game and Ballard may start to get closer to the ten carry mark and turn the backfield more into an even share.
Wide Receivers
Danny Amendola-
There won’t be a player hotter than Amendola trying to be snared in half the leagues that he is currently available in. No one knew who would rise in the Rams receiving group, or if anyone would even be fantasy worthy. Two games in and Amendola has had a start that would make Larry Fitzgerald owners jealous. He did fumble against the Redskins that led to a defensive touchdown, but his play more than made up for that and led to the Rams gaining a victory.
Brian Hartline-
The past two years the Miami receiver that had the highest value was Brandon Marshall. With him gone everyone expected Davone Bess to continue to rise for the Dolphins. Tannehill had different thoughts, and his main target after two weeks is Brian Hartline. A big game with minimal catches is a fluke, but one with nine catches is not. Tannehill is looking his way often and will continue to do so.
Martellus Bennett
How did the Cowboys not implement Bennett all those years? Eli is obviously coming off a prolific passing day, but Bennett is a new found weapon for Eli. His size and ability to get down field have just added another deep threat weapon for the Giants passing attack. At this point if you drafted a tight end after the big five, you may want to make a change and snag Bennett.
Robert Meachem
Meachem went without a catch week two and some of you are likely puzzled on how he is on the waiver wire report. For whatever reason Rivers just has not looked his way yet. An NFL season is long though and there are still fourteen games. Rivers is likely going to be in the top ten in pass attempts this year and you have to figure Meachem will be involved sooner or later. With him being available in 25% of leagues and probably more after his week two performance, it’s a gamble worth taking for a receiver in a high impact offense.