Post Week Two Waiver Wire Pickups

Follow@cimini It was a rather quiet week for breakout performances from unknown players. That’ll happen in the first few weeks of the season. Injuries are soon to come in the upcoming weeks and that’s where you’ll see breakout performances come from. Find out who you should be looking at for waiver wire pickups this week. Quarterbacks Ryan Tannehill Two straight road wins by the Dolphins to start the season. It has largely been due to Tannehill’s amazing pocket presence and accuracy. Sunday he threw some incredible accurate throws that were huge for Miami’s close win over the Colts. He has elevated himself into the range of an on the cusp starter and sure fire fantasy backup quarterback. EJ Manuel After the preseason and first two games of the season Bills fans have to be extremely pleased with the drafting of Manuel. A pick that was downgraded by scouts, analysts, and the media. They have their true quarterback of the future finally in Buffalo. He just makes plays and will only get better. Dynasty leagues should consider trading for him or pursuing him via trade. In deeper leagues snare Manuel in case of injury or a need to start over a poor performing quarterback. Kirk Cousins This is an anticipatory move. RG3 is no where near ready to step onto the field. Sooner rather than later Mike Shanahan has to make the move to Cousins to protect the Redskins season from going down the drain. It’s clear that RG3 needs more time to acclimate his body, timing, and overall health. Cousins has shown he can step in and deliver, and would fit right back into an offense that is fantasy friendly. Running Backs Bernard Pierce John Harbaugh shook off the injury to Ray Rice postgame by stating Rice will be fine. We will all see about that. Extreme caution has to be paid here, and that means that you need to pickup Pierce if you own Rice. If you have a higher waiver wire priority try and steal Pierce over a Ray Rice owner. Dexter McCluster Kansas City has kept their offense very basic. It’s been extremely similar to how San Francisco based theirs around Alex Smith. When they’re forced to make a play offensively they have went more and more to the direction of McCluster. His value is great in PPR leagues and will rise as Kansas City is forced to attempt to score more points. Charles Clay Clay had a breakout game against the Colts. Miami is doing an excellent job of finding complimentary players to produce without a tight end to step up. Clay and Brian Hartline are getting extra looks and attention in the offense because of it. Giovanni Bernard Bernard provides that spark factor that forces a coach's hand to get him onto the field. His pass blocking skills still are not where they need to be, so Bernard's fantasy impact will have to come in a decreased amount of plays on the field. As the season wears on if Bernard can show an increased knowledge on picking up blitzes he may become a fantasy viable threat. For now he can be used in PPR leagues but standard leagues should be leery on using him. Danny Woodhead A crowded backfield in San Diego was pieced together on purpose. Woodhead is who he is, and though he didn’t have major damage yardage wise Sunday, he filled up PPR leagues with nine catches. That can’t be overlooked, and neither can the constant shuffling of backs San Diego has been doing. Andre Ellington Arizona has found there third down back and it comes in the sixth round pick in Ellington. With Arizona struggling to produce more than a field goal, Ellington was able to take a wide open pass into the end zone. Palmer has always been fantasy friendly to his running backs, and that won’t come with Mendenhall. In Bruce Arians passing attack a back like Ellington is a quality waiver wire pickup. James Starks Down went Green, and now so has Eddie Lacy. Green Bay has constantly had running back injury woes over the last three to four years, and this time they protected themselves. Keeping James Starks on the roster was a smart move, when most thought they may cut him after the drafting of Lacy and Jonathan Franklin. Starks performance has to be calibrated appropriately, as he gained a lot of yardage when the Packers had a huge lead. The key takeaway though is he will be a complimentary focus back to Aaron Rodgers guerilla passing attack. Wide Receivers DeAndre Hopkins I’m not a big fan of rookie wide receivers as they have a hard time retaining value week to week. But Hopkins was drafted to detract attention from aging wide receiver Andre Johnson. The weeks Hopkins rises to the occasion will be the large question. Towards the end of the year he may have higher value. Foreseeing that is a great reason to stash Hopkins as your fifth or sixth fantasy wideout on your bench. Eddie Royal One can’t help but still classify Royal as a weekly wonder. It’s two weeks in a row now, and Royal has totaled five touchdowns. San Diego’s mix of pass plays has been stellar to start the season. Royal’s five touchdowns has equaled what he had from 09-12. His role seems to fit perfectly with what the Chargers new passing attack brings to the table. Ted Ginn Jr There is no possible way that Cam Newton will continue to be relegated to how he has performed the first two weeks of the season. Ginn Jr. wanted a new chance at wide receiver after being pushed back for years on other teams. He has his chance in Carolina and has done a solid job in the first two weeks of the season. As soon as Cam opens the passing game back up, Ginn may have a breakout game. Mohammed Sanu Cincinnati desperately needs either Sanu or Jones to emerge and solidify themselves as a threat opposite AJ Green. Sanu was drafted for the role a year ago, and should be able to handle the role. He is available in the majority of leagues and would be worth taking a flier on for a developmental roster spot on your team.

By Zack Cimini
notjustagame23@gmail.com

Get out the air horn and belt out at the same time, CAM NEWTON IS THE REAL DEAL. What a show he put on, in an all out treasure performance. It’ll go down as the debut of debuts. No matter what sport in the next ten to fifteen years, when a rookie’s first game is underway, Newton’s will be at the top of the bar. Play after play, throw after throw, Newton stayed undeterred, calm, and poised. Delivering rocket throws with his ahem, non accurate arm.

Throughout all of his summer interviews and predraft interviews he answered questions appropriately but with emphasis on getting better each time. Those workouts and hard work advanced his weaknesses that were just on display in college eight months ago, to near flawless execution. Was it a mixture of the Cardinals attacking too much with pressure, and leaving the secondary exposed? Maybe. Newton though made plenty of tough throws and right reads. Right reads being key. As many rookies overlook wide open receivers consistently.

It was an amazing start to week one, and owners are for sure to scurry their way to right click and add plenty of players. At the top being Newton. Who else should be looked at.

Quarterbacks

Cam Newton-
Newton possesses all the attributes you could want. A younger 2001 Daunte Culpepper. Slimmer, faster, and possibly a better arm. He already shows the natural pocket presence that leads you to believe he will only get better. If you already had Newton as a fantasy player, all you were expecting was 200 yard games POSSIBLY, and additional points from rushing. Not anymore. He’ll obviously tail off in some games, but he is going to be a monster for years to come.

Ryan Fitzpatrick- Why he continues to not get his proper credit is beyond me. He did well last year by dropping back and putting the team on his shoulders week after week. He blossomed over the 2010 season and has the Bills believing. Four touchdowns and proper management of every drive at Kansas City was very impressive.

Mark Sanchez- Only 64% owned in Yahoo leagues, Sanchez showcased a solid week one outing. He may not have too many 300 yard passing games, but he should see an increase in the touchdown category. He has too many weapons to throw to and should be a viable backup fantasy quarterback at the least. With Shonn Greene performing bust like in the regular season again, the Jets might have to rely on Sanchez’s arm more than they thought.

Running Backs

Cadillac Williams- Steven Jackson’s exit after an galloping touchdown run, makes room for this waiver wire pickup. Cadillac Williams has been through his fair share of injuries over the years, but hasn’t lost his toughness. He stepped in well with nearly ninety yards rushing and fifty receiving. He is likely available in the majority of leagues and is worth stashing on your bench if you’re thin on backs.

Jacquizz Rodgers- You can already see the funk of the Falcons offense, resulting in some changes. One that likely will happen is finding a way to get Rodgers on the field and more touches. He is the scat back type that offenses love to mix in. Watch for increased plays from Rodgers over the next few weeks. He did some damage as a pass catching receiver Sunday.

Delone Carter- Whispers were circling just a week ago when Carter eclipsed Donald Brown on the depth chart. It seems that there are some big changes ahead for the Colts, not just in the loss column. Carter could end up overtaking this job before long.

Derrick Ward- Dependant on if Arian Foster’s hamstring injury lingers, Ward could be a decent impact guy. The Texans love to rush the football, so the top two backs always have great fantasy value.

Wide Receivers

Jason Avant- Avant just keeps staying productive as an Eagle. With the Eagles loving to throw the football, Avant has always had fantasy value. This year there are many variables to see that increase. The Eagles are more explosive, and the concerns with the athletes above Avant on the roster chart.

Jason Hill- Luke McCown is going to be the typical Jay Fiedler type at quarterback. Handing the football off enough not to lose the game and drive his coaches crazy. With an effective ground game as the Jaguars have, it’ll create openings for McCown to deliver some throws. Hill didn’t catch a touchdown but caught enough passes to warrant waiver wire attention.

Jabar Gaffney- Gaffney is a journeyman that keeps on handling his business. Could the decision to start Rex Grossman last season truly of been the proper call? Grossman seems to have found his niche with the Redskins, which boosts all Redskins receivers up a tad from a week ago.

Brandon LaFell- Newton’s yardage average was assumed to be near 200 yards a game at best. Was his four hundred yard game above average? Clearly. But teams will go back to doubling Steve Smith like they did years ago. When that happens, LaFell will become an increased target.

Randall Cobb- Cobb could be a one week wonder. Based on what we have all seen from special teams super studs the last few years, you’d have to expect for Cobb to get on the field more. Even with all the Packers receiving weapons, Cobb poses as a fantasy worthy pickup in deeper leagues.

Ed Dickson- Joe Flacco has always been very comfortable with his tight ends. Todd Heap was the main guy for the start of Flacco’s career. Now it’s Dickson, who even though has been a Raven, really never got involved as a pass catching tight end. Those doubting Dickson being effective as a fantasy worthy tight end may want to reshift, as he can be this years Mercedes Lewis.