By Zack Cimini

notjustagame23@gmail.com

Bye weeks are something to worry about now. Just adding depth is not the sole reason to consider a waiver wire pickup. If you’re in a bye week jam, you may want to look at picking up one of these players.

Quarterbacks

Donovan McNabb

Throw out week one and McNabb has become an efficient game manager. Understanding his role as a quarterback that takes the backseat to Adrian Peterson has clicked in McNabb’s head. He has the best back in football and utilizing AP constantly is going to continue to open up pass plays for McNabb. There are a lot of teams in the hole to start the year, so this could be the year multiple teams at 9-7 make the playoffs. The Vikings have showed they can play with just about everyone, but cohesiveness needs to continue to be the key. McNabb can make a few plays a game with his legs and do enough with his arm to make him an option in deeper leagues as a number two quarterback.

Running Backs

Bernard Scott- Benson will likely serve his three game suspension at some point. When that happens the twenty five carries a game Benson is getting will all be his. Scott has been a comparable fantasy backup to Benson, and should have no problem filling in a few games. If you’re looking for that extra lift to help your team out for a few weeks, why not go Scott’s way?

Jonathan Dwyer- Dwyer stole the show from Redman. For a team that has struggled with the running game all year, there might be a mix up with the way Dwyer performed. Keep an eye on this situation as it develops.

Jackie Battle- Surprise, surprise. The Kansas City Chiefs realized McCluster could not be a split carry back, and a new back sprung from the Chiefs backfield. It seems to be a pattern for the Chiefs over the years. Holmes went down, in came Larry Johnson, down went Johnson in came Jamaal Charles. Now Battle.

Donald Brown- When Addai went done the team did not solely rely on Delone Carter. Brown hardly used all year, was used for eight carries. It looked as if the Colts had rode off the former first rounder. With the passing game revived with Painter under center, maybe the rushing attack will re-establish itself as well.

Kendall Hunter- The 49ers offense has shifted under Harbaugh. Alex Smith isn’t necessarily doing anything special. He is delivering timely key throws, but his statistics have been ordinary. The team is pounding the run and living off it very well. Hunter has shown great ability as Gore’s backup. With Gore fighting through injuries, you could find a steal in Hunter if Gore goes down for a length of time.

Wide Receivers

James Jones- How many Packers receivers caught a ball Sunday? The zone Aaron Rodgers is in has not been seen in a long time. Each week a new Packer could catch fire at receiver. Jones has shown before that he can be a big time performer. It’s the consistency to catch the ball that has limited him. The Packers resigned him for a reason, and for the first time this season he showed why. Only owned by 13% of Yahoo owners, Jones is going to be a hot pickup this week.

Devin Hester-

Hester seems to be one of the few receivers for Chicago that has been able to avoid injury. Cutler is starting to look more and Hester’s direction. You’d think that big plays would eventually happen with the Bears passing game involving Hester. Forte is too much of a threat rushing and out of the backfield, for another player not to emerge.

Chaz Schilens- Oakland needs that reliable big target that is different from the speed receivers they possess. That may be Schilens. Schilens was a waiver wire commodity a few years ago, and has fought off injuries the last few years. Sunday he made the game winning touchdown catch, and could see his involvement rise over the next few weeks.

Jason Hill- He could be a one week wonder, as seventy four of his yards came on one play. Jacksonville’s offense is upgraded with Gabbert at the helm over McCown. It is the transition as a rookie with Gabbert that worries fantasy owners on utilizing a Jaguar receiver. It may take another month or two, but Gabbert should establish himself as the other rookie quarterbacks have.

Doug Baldwin- You write him off once, twice, but not three times. Unheralded Baldwin has had a couple of impact games already this year. Instead most people discounted it for the simple fact that he is a Seahawk. The Seahawks offense is starting to do some things, and Baldwin has solidified that he is the most viable Seahawk fantasy wideout.

Jason Avant- I had Avant listed as a waiver wire pickup weeks back. There is no reason for Avant not to be considered as a depth filler on your fantasy team. With the way the Eagles have struggled defensively, the offense is going to need to put up points every week. That means more passes for Mike Vick, and balls spread out amongst the Eagles star receivers. Avant did struggle at securing the ball, but he is a veteran that will advance from it.

Devin Aromashadu-

McNabb has always been a quarterback that likes to air it out deep a few times a game. Minnesota does not really have too many weapons that can do that. Aromashadu is the one that can, and you can expect him to be targeted. As long as AP keeps establishing the offense, Aromashadu could have a few big games this season.