Fantasy Football Week 2 Waiver Wire Options
Week 2 of the NFL 2012 regular season is now in the books and that means it’s time to start tinkering with your fantasy football line-ups for Week 3. Below you’ll find some names worth checking out on the waiver wire if you’re team can use some fine-tuning.
QUARTERBACK
Honestly, there aren’t any quarterbacks worthy enough to mention in this spot. Most QBs worth having on your fantasy football roster, either starting or stashed on the bench, shouldn’t be available on the waiver wire. One name to keep on an eye on is Chad Henne. Jaguars starting QB Blaine Gabbert had to leave the game against the Texans this past Sunday because of a leg injury. If his injury sidelines him for any period of time consider picking up Henne if you’re very desperate for a fantasy QB. The Jags do play the Colts this Sunday so the match-up ain’t all that bad.
RUNNING BACK
Bilal Powell. Jets RB Shonn Greene had to leave the Jets’ game versus the Steelers on Sunday because of a head injury/possible concussion. He left the field after a helmet-to-helmet hit and most observers figured his day was done. Powell came on in relief of Greene and rushed for 33 yards on nine carries but Greene eventually and surprisingly returned to the game.
Not eye-popping numbers for Powell but Rex Ryan is in love with him and wouldn’t hesitate putting him in the starting line-up if need be. Powell might not be a must add now but if you own Green you should stash him on your bench if you can.
Andre Brown. The Giants will be awaiting word on starting RB Ahmad Bradshaw, who had to leave the game against the Bucs with a neck injury. It wasn’t rookie David Wilson who took over for Bradshaw. Nope, Andre Brown was the man given the opportunities and he took advantage of them rushing for 71 yards, one touchdown and one two-point conversion on 13 carries while filling in for Bradshaw. He also had two receptions for 19 yards. If Bradshaw can’t go against the Panthers on Thursday Night then Brown would be an adequate substitute an any Bradshaw owner must own Brown.
Sep 16, 2012; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants running back Andre Brown (35) picks up yardage before being brought down from behind by Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David (54) during the first half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim O
Daryl Richardson. One thing we learned about the Rams’ running back situation is that rookie 7th rounder Richardson is the back-up to starter Steven Jackson; not highly touted 2nd round rookie Isaiah Pead. Jackson didn’t play for must of the game against the Redskins either because he was benched for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty or he injured his groin; probably a little bit of both. In his place Richardson touched the ball 17 times (15 rushes, 2 receptions) for a total of 102 yards. If Jackson is healthy he’s the starter but if he can’t go look for Richardson to be the go-to guy until Jackson returns.
WIDE RECEIVER
Donnie Avery. While everybody waits for the return of Austin Collie (concussion) Avery has been doing a wonderful job as the Colts’ #2 WR behind Reggie Wayne and he might even get to keep the job if or when Collie returns. In the Colts’ first game Avery made three catches on eight targets and scored a touchdown. In their second game Avery caught nine out his ten targets for a total of 110 yards (all team highs) and even added a couple of rushes. Avery probably won’t see as many targets as he did this past week but the Colts are a passing team and if Avery can keep his play up at a high level he could become a weekly WR3 start in fantasy line-ups.
Julian Edelman. In two receiver sets for the Pats’ on Sunday against the Cardinals it was Edelman who got the majority #2 WR snaps over Wes Welker. Edelman saw 15 out of 18 two wide-out snaps and that indicates that he has possibly jumped ahead of Welker on the depth chart in New England. It’s a situation worth monitoring but now that Aaron Hernandez is out for at least six weeks the Patriots will more than likely run a whole lot more three wide-out sets, which will hurt Edelman’s productivity.
TIGHT END
Dennis Pitta. The Ravens tight end situation was one many have avoided because the team has two quality options at the position and neither Pitta nor Ed Dickson stood out over the other. That has changed after the team’s first two regular season games with Pitta emerging as Flacco’s #1 TE option. In week 1 Pitta was targeted nine times and caught five balls for 73 yards and a touchdown. In Week 2 he was targeted 15 times and caught eight balls for 65 yards. Dickson in both games has been targeted a combined seven times, making a total three catches for 45 yards and zero touchdowns. In a case like this the stats don’t lie; Pitta is the one to own and could make for a suitable replacement if Aaron Hernandez was your team’s starting TE.
Brandon Myers. Myers is an unknown name in fantasy circles bus that might change soon. After two games Myers has combined to make 11 catches on 11 targets for 151 total yards. He doesn’t have a touchdown but Palmer has been looking for him and he’s a name to remember the longer the season goes
KICKER
I don’t usually mention kicker a whole lot in my fantasy football columns but Ravens rookie PK Justin Tucker is looking like the real deal. In the Ravens’ game against the Eagles he booted field goals of 48, 51 and 56 yards. Tucker has a powerful leg and if your kicker has been underperforming you should snatch him up.
DEFENSE
Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals play the Eagles this week in Arizona and they could turn in a sneaky defensive performance. After two games the Cardinals rank 11th overall in opposing pass yards (218) and 13th in opposing rushing yards (102.5). They have given up less than 20 points in their contests against the Seahawks (16) and Patriots (18) and have a total of two interceptions and seven sacks in those games. Not to mention that Patrick Peterson is always a threat to return a punt or kickoff back for a touchdown and you have a potentially top ten D/ST fantasy unit in Week 3. Plus, Mike Vick this year in two games has thrown six interceptions, fumbled the ball three times and lost one of those fumbles.