by Will Overton
It seems like the focal point of these waivers articles often tend to be on the wide receivers. With the way the league is going and the amount of receivers that can be used at one time it’s only natural that more receivers surface as viable waiver wire options. It’s part of what makes drafting running backs early so important.
But, ultimately you have RB’s go down with injury or you have guys not producing, and you need to find someone on the waiver wire. So this week I am including three RB’s in the discussion for this week’s waiver wire pickups.
A couple of these backs are coming off good or decent weeks running, one of them is about to come back from injury. I also have included a couple WR’s coming off big weeks and a QB who has quietly made some waves early on this season.
Here are six guys who should be near the top of the waivers list this week and my take on them:
Tashard Choice – RB, Buffalo Bills: Another Buffalo running back went down this week and now it’s Tashard Choice’s turn to tote the rock. Choice came in yesterday and ended up carrying the ball 20 times for 91 yards against the Browns. We’re waiting for something definitive to come out on Spiller’s injury, but it looks like he’s definitiely not playing this coming week at least. This past week I made the mistake of not using my waiver priority on Andre Brown because I wasn’t sure he’d play more than one week and he made me pay. I won’t make the same mistake with Choice. He’s probably only a flex play at best against a decent run defense in New England, but if this turns into a few weeks of starting you don’t want to have missed out on a 20 – 25 carry per game guy.
Verdict: Buy ‘Em
Ramses Barden – WR, New York Giants: Not having Hakeem Nicks available created an opportunity for Ramses Barden and he made the most of it. Barden torched the Panthers secondary for 138 yards on 9 catches. Barden came out of nowhere to make it happen, but he’s on the radars of fantasy owners now and he’s likely secured a third receiver spot in New York. The Giants have been extremely pass happy early and even with a returning Nicks, a number three wideout on a team that throws this much could have value in deep leagues at least.
Verdict: Buy ‘Em
Javon Ringer – RB, Tennessee Titans: There it talk in Tennessee that the Titans are losing patience with Chris Johnson who is off to another slow start again this season. This coincides nicely with Javon Ringer getting close to being healthy and ready for game action once again. After the numbers Johnson has put up I wouldn’t be surprised to see Ringer get some looks. However I am not convinced as to how he’ll do with them. The Titans O-Line looks to be pretty weak at this point and I don’t know that Johnson is really as washed up as it looks. Passing on Ringer could bite me later, but right now I am not convinced enough to take a flier except in maybe a 14 or 16 team league with a deep bench.
Verdict: Deny ‘Em
Christian Ponder – QB, Minnesota Vikings: Three weeks into the season and Ponder is starting to look like the real deal. Yesterday he threw for 198 yards and 2 TD’s on the 49ers defense , and he ran for another TD. He now has 713 yards in three games with 4 TD’s and 0 INT’s, plus the one rushing TD. The fact that he has yet to throw a pick and he’s completing 64% of his passes are very good signs. I think Ponder has become a solid backup and even a nice number 2 in 2 QB leagues.
Verdict: Buy ‘Em
Damaris Johnson – WR, Philadelphia Eagles: Filling in for Jeremy Maclin, Johnson caught 5 balls for 84 yards yesterday. He did lose a fumble, but all in all he looked solid. However, the injury to Maclin shouldn’t keep him out too long and even if Maclin is out again Johnson is still the third option, and he’ll battle Jason Avant for that role. That’s not an ideal position to be in when your QB is as inconsistent as Michael Vick has been so far. This was a nice game, but I don’t think I’d bet on a repeat performance. Maybe take a flier after waivers clear, but I wouldn’t use a waiver priority on him.
Verdict: Deny ‘Em
Bilal Powell – RB, New York Jets: I have never hid the fact that I am not a Shonn Greene fan, and the Jets seem to be souring a bit on him too. Greene still carried the ball 19 times yesterday , but only managed 40 yards. Powell had 45 yards on nine less carries and he also caught a couple of passes. Powell seems to have more of the playmaking ability that Greene lacks and with the Jets growing tired of waiting for Greene to develop, Powell could be in line for even more touches in the coming weeks. I’d much rather bet on Shonn Greene not turning things around and Powell getting a chance than Chris Johnson not turning things around and Javon Ringer stepping in.
Verdict: Buy ‘Em
Who are you buying and denying off the waiver wire this week? Is there someone else you are eyeing in your league?
I’m not sure what exactly has happened with Kevin Smith in Detroit (and I’m a Lions fan), but I have him on both of my fantasy teams. In my 10 team league, I could try to drop him for Ahmad Bradshaw, Mendenhall, Ryan Williams, or the RBs you mentioned above. In my 12-team league, I could drop him for those you mentioned. Both leagues are standard… What would you suggest? Thanks!
The Lions weren’t even using Smith in that game as the backup. And Leshoure looked quite good in his first start so I don’t think the future looks bright for Smith.
In you ten team league I’d probably lean towards Bradshaw. Andre Brown worries me, but Bradshaw should still start and see a good chunk of carries.
In your 12 team league is Leshoure available? If so I’d pick him up over any of these three. If not, probably would roll with Choice for the next week or two while Spiller is out.
Leshoure is not available, unfortunately. What do you make of the Miami RB situation w/ the reports that Bush might miss some time? Would Daniel Thomas or Lamar Miller be good pickups?
Both could have value, I would tend towards Thomas a bit more as he is familiar with the playbook and played well this week. Miller likely becomes a third down back type in Bush’s absence.
For this coming week I might lean more towards Choice, but if you’re looking for a few weeks out than Thomas may have more long term gain as we are unsure how long Bush is out.
I thought Fred Jackson is supposed to be back in Week 4 – granted, that is still semi-up in the air. But give that Fred Jackson should be returning soon, is Choice really a “Buy ‘Em”??
Not long term, but I think he makes a decent flex play this week. Jackson might be back this week, but that would be ahead of schedule. He’s slated to return in week 5. Even if Jackson comes back this week I think Choice gets the majority of the carries.
Chan Gailey said today that Spiller isn’t as bad as originally thought – still “unlikely” for this week though
I have Foster, Tate, Benson, and Fred Jackson at RB and Cruz, Hawkins, Hankerson, Colston, and Cobb at WR. My other roster spots are filled with Eli, Gates, Pitta, Tucker, and Packers D/ST.
Choice, Bilal Powell, Ringer, Daniel Thomas, and Jacquizz are available in my league as is Barden. I start 2RBs, 3WRs, and 1 R/W flex in my 10-team 1/2 PPR league.
(1) Would you recommend adding any of the available RBs and Barden? If so, who would you recommend dropping?
(2) Also, would you swap Big Ben for Eli after this coming weekend?
Thanks for the time.
You are in a tough spot. With a four man bench you typically end up using one of those bench spots as a revolving door for bye weeks and plug in plays.
It’s starting to sound like Reggie Bush might play this week, but if he doesn’t Thomas could be a plug in for a week.
I can see Hankerson being expendable, especially if Garcon comes back, and Cobb could be as well as his production seems so inconsistent.
As far as the QB situation, I don’t think I’d drop Eli for Big Ben. The Giants are a very pass happy offense right now.
Thanks, Will. Cobb is gone after his 2nd dud in a row and the fact that GB has too many mouths to feed. GB defense killed me this week, too, but so did poor team management. If I started Pitta over Gates like I planned on it, I would have won. Oh well. It won’t happen, again. thanks for the time and advice.