by Will Overton
Another week in the books and for some teams desperation may be starting to set in a bit. After five weeks you start looking at the standings and you start getting a bit nervous. It starts to get hard walking that fine line between overreacting and making the moves you need to make for success.
Week five had its share of standouts that are going to be considered on the waiver wire. I’ve got five guys listed here whose performances warrant some thought and I’ve got my take on each one and whether or not I would buy them coming off their recent performances.
This week WR’s get the majority of the focus with four of the five guys being targeted being WR’s, but it is a pass happy league and so there always seem to be new WR’s creeping into the waiver wire radar. Here are this week’s guys:
Brandon Gibson – WR, St. Louis Rams: After finding the end zone in each of the first two weeks of the season Gibson has yet to find the end zone again and he’s yet to have the breakout game owners hope for. This past Thursday though Danny Amendola, the Rams number one receiver and only fantasy threat, went down with a collarbone injury and appears to be out for several weeks. The Rams pass offense isn’t exactly the most potent in the league, but someone is going to have to step up and Gibson is the number two guy. He’s got Miami this week who is a decent, though not great pass defense and could be a sleeper play.
Verdict: Buy ‘Em
Golden Tate – WR, Seattle Seahawks: Another TD catch for Golden Tate, one of three catches he had yesterday. It was also his third TD in the last three games, though we all know the controversy surrounding the one against Green Bay. With him finding the end zone he’s been turning in solid point totals, but it’s hard to count on. Tate’s not being targeted a whole lot and now Doug Baldwin is back in the mix. When he scores he helps you, but there is no guarantee he keeps finding the end zone and without the TD’s he has no real value.
Verdict: Deny ‘Em
Alex Green – RB, Green Bay Packers: Before the season Green got a little bit of attention as a deep league sleeper back. Through the first four games of the season he didn’t see much of the field, btu after Cedric Benson went down with an foot injury yesterday he came in and carried the ball 9 times for 55 yards, a very solid showing. Keep an eye on Benson’s injury report this week because if he’s out Green could make a flex play for a team with guys on bye week. If Benson is healthy though Green’s value is likely cut all the way out. I’m going to say buy him, but only if Benson is out.
Verdict: Buy ‘Em
Jordan Norwood – WR, Cleveland Browns: Looks like Brandon Weeden is starting to find a favorite target, After catching four passes last week for 56 yards, Jordan Norwood took it up another level this week with 9 catches for 81 yards. It’s nice to see the connection forming, but so far Brandon Weeden has been a bit up and down and it’s hard to know how much you can trust any Browns receiver. In a deep league with the right matchup Norwood could make a decent play, but in the majority of leagues he’s not someone I would be overly trusting of.
Verdict: Deny ‘Em
Kendall Wright – WR, Tennessee Titans: It’s beginning to look like Kendall Wright might be supplanting Nate Washington as the number two guy in Tennessee. And with the way Kenny Britt is questionable for every single game, that’s not a bad place to be even with the QB questions. Wright caught a season high 9 passes yesterday for 66 yards. In his last four games now Wright has 20 receptions. The yardage isn’t piling up, but it could come as the Titans trust him with more advanced routes. Wright won’t be anywhere near my starting lineups this week against Pittsburgh, but looking past that he has Buffalo and Indianapolis coming up the two weeks following this one and both of those are strong matchups. Couple the matchups with the way he’s playing and I am a buyer on Wright.
Verdict: Buy ‘Em
Who are you buying and who are you denying on this week’s waiver report? Who isn’t on this list that you have an eye on this week?
I have a trade proposal that I need help with. I am being offered Charles and Colston for McGahee Calvin Johnson and Jimmy Graham (I happen to have Aaron Hernandez as well). I would really like a consistent RB. If I went through with the trade I would have Leshoure, Morris, Mendenhall and Charles at RB; Colston, Steve Johnson, White and Hartline at WR; Hernandez and Bennett at TE…
That is the most unfair trade I’m not sure why you would even consider it. If you gave away just mcgahee and jimmy graham, then I would do the deal
Charles is the top back in my league and Colston is 25 points up on Johnson for WR’s and I have Hernandez behind Graham. That being said, I countered with McGahee and Graham and I guess I’ll see where it goes.
I can see where you are coming from with wanting to bolster your RB crop. And unless you can play 2 TE’s you really don’t need both of the guys you have.
However Johnson is a bit much to give up in that deal. I think your counter makes sense, but if it falls through maybe try and offer just Graham for Charles or something along those lines.
Funny thing is I can play 2 TE’s in my league but if I play 2 TE’s I can only play 2 RB’s (instead of 3)…the rule is 2-3 RB’s 2-3 WR’s and 1-2 TE’s…He turned down my Graham/McGahee offer so I think I’ll stand pat and hope Hernandez has a big week and I can offer Hernandez up straight up for a solid back…I’ve left 100 more points on my bench than anyone else in the league and I’m 2-3 right now so I’m frustrated!!
You would be out of your mind to do the initial trade. Its not about who you have as backups on your team already. Calvin Johnson and jimmy graham can be #1 picks. When hillis comes back, we will see if charles gets the ball just as much as he is now. Know who will continue to be consistent? Johnson, graham and mcgahee. Crazy to look at year to date totals.
B Gibson worth swapping for either Lafell or M Williams Will?
Thanks
I am sure some may disagree with me, but I would drop Lafell for Gibson. Lafell has really taken a tumble here lately down my personal rankings. Greg Olsen is clearly the number two target and Cam isn’t consistent enough to make three guys viable fantasy options.
I agree with Will here. I almost traded for Lafell and/or Steve Smith a couple of times this season because I have Cam and I’m really glad I didn’t. One guy had me willing to give up Aaron Hernandez for Smith.
Anyways, all Carolina WRs are suspect until Newton gets his sh*t together for more than one week at a time.
My Bears DEF has a bye week along with Jimmy Graham..Do I start Pitta or try to pick up a TE off waivers (Rudolph & Cook top 2 options in my league). I have also been offered Heath Miller and Antonio Brown for C.J. Spiller, and even though I have plenty of RB’s (Morris,Charles,Forte) I also have Graham so I don’t see the value there. The DEF on waivers have me choosing between CIN, MIA, & TB, and leaning towards Tampa even with Miami playing the Rams. Let me know what you think about my TE & DEF situation, thanks.
I like both Miam and TB defenses this week. While I like Miami slightly better, got with your gut.
As for the TE, I wouldn’t make the trade just for a one week fix. I have Rudolph one apt behind Miller (8th) and Pitta at 10. If you have someone to drop for Rudolph he’s my choice.
Isn’t Vincent Brown a good pick up this week before news of him coming back makes him impossible to pick up in deep leagues?
In deeper formats, I would say he is worth grabbing though he is going to be WR from a must use option.