Fantasy Football Week 10 Waiver Wire Options
Week 9 of the NFL regular season is now in the books and if your fake football team started the Hamster Muscle, Mr. Doug Martin this past week then congratulations! His performance alone should have helped you win your week. If you were one of the unfortunate souls that had to go up against him then my condolences go out to you. There was nothing you can do, as he was a one man wrecking crew against the Raiders this past Sunday afternoon.
Oct 25, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin (22) rushes for 6 yards against the Minnesota Vikings in the second quarter at the Metrodome. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-US PRESSWIRE
Oh well, Week 9 is in the past and it’s time to look into the future and see which names on the fantasy football waiver wire or free agency list are available in your league that will help you for the stretch run. Below I’ve listed a few players that you should target in your league if you need help at certain positions on your team.
QUARTERBACK
Nick Foles. In the end Mike Vick was named the starting quarterback for last night’s Monday Night Football clash between the Eagles and the Saints and if Andy Reid had to do it all over again he would have been wise to bench Vick and go with Foles. Going up against one of the worst defenses in football, real or fantasy, Vick wasn’t able to do much of anything. In the Eagles’ 28-13 loss Vick threw one pick-six and fumbled the ball yet again, however this time he didn’t lose it.
It’s far from certain that Reid will now turn to Foles this week against the Cowboys, a Cowboys team that didn’t allow MVP favorite Matt Ryan to throw a touchdown against them, but what choice does Reid have? Pick up Foles as Vick insurance and a name to stash for the fantasy football playoffs when he plays the Bucs, Bengals, Redskins and Giants in weeks 14-17.
Jake Locker. Matt Hasselbeck is not the future at quarterback for the Titans and the team knows that. Injured starting QB Jake Locker has been out with a broken left shoulder and he might be cleared for action this week. If he somehow does get cleared and is starting Sunday you should pick him up and stash him on your bench, as he has legitimate QB1 talent.
RUNNING BACK
Marcel Reece. Both Raiders starting RB Darren McFadden and his back-up Mike Goodson suffered high ankle sprains in the Raiders’ Sunday loss to the Bucs. The team isn’t confident enough to start Taiwan Jones if neither Run DMC or Goodson can go this week so take a flier on the FB Reece. In the running game Reece didn’t do anything at all but in the receiving game he was targeted nine times by Carson Palmer, catching eight of his targets for 95 yards and a touchdown. In a PPR league Reece’s value would be higher but he’s still a good pick up in any format. Just check the practice reports during the week to see who’ll be starting for the Raiders at running back this week.
WIDE RECEIVER
T.Y. Hilton. It’s been hard to choose between which secondary receiving option to pick up in fantasy football from the Colts’ roster. The opportunities are there but they have just been spread around to the likes of Hilton, Donnie Avery, Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen. Both Avery and Hilton went for over 100 yards receiving on Sunday but Avery had to leave the game in the 4th quarter, which allowed Hilton to become the true #2 wideout on the team. If Avery misses any action Hilton immediately becomes a WR3 in fantasy football and could put up some huge numbers. Sunday he caught six of a team high eleven targets for 102 yards and a touchdown and also dropped a wide open touchdown catch in the second quarter.
Danario Alexander. Only three passes were thrown to Alexander last Thursday night against the Chiefs but he caught all three of them for a total of 61 yards. He was also on the field for 34 of 48 snaps and looks to be the team’s new #2 WR behind Malcolm Floyd. Head coach Norv Turner came out and said that Alexander will have big role going forward for the Chargers and the tall WR out of Missouri could perhaps help light a spark in the Chargers passing game and give Rivers that big target he has missed since the departure of Vincent Jackson in free agency this past off-season.
TIGHT END
Brandon Myers. I’ve mentioned the name Myers over and over again in my weekly waiver wire pick-up columns but I’m not sure if you have gotten the message or not. Well, here’s one more: against the Bucs on Sunday Myers caught eight out of 13 targets for 59 yards and 2 touchdowns. Pick the man up!
DEFENSE
Pittsburgh Steelers. It used to be that the Steelers were one of the few fantasy defenses you could rely on week-to-week in fantasy football but that’s no longer the case. However, that doesn’t mean they aren’t a good match-up play and right now there is no better match-up for fantasy defenses than going up against the Kansas City Chiefs. Thursday night against the “world-class” fantasy football defensive unit known as the San Diego Chargers the Chiefs threw one pick-six, lost a fumble that was returned for a touchdown, lost a total of four fumbles and gave up one sack. Any week you can get two touchdowns from your fantasy defense/special teams unit is a good week and that makes the Steelers a savvy pick up this week, as they go up against the hapless Chiefs.