Working the Waiver Wire - Week 8

 QBs

1) Matt Stafford (DET QB)
We've pumped up Stafford last week (and throughout the preseason) and boy did he deliver on Sunday. He looked 100% healthy while throwing for four TDs. He looked a little rusty on the first few drives but as soon as he got his bearings, Stafford looked like a top ten QB. He won't always face secondaries as generous as Washington's, so don't rush out and trade Drew Brees for Stafford just yet. But pick him up now even if you don't need a top QB; he's great trade bait and can c$%k-block your opponents in another bye-heavy week.


2) Jon Kitna (DAL QB)
We also mentioned Kitna last week. We observed that although he looked very shaky when he first took over for an injured Tony Romo, he climbed that learning curve very quickly while the game was in progress. After a week of practice with his weapons, Kitna looked pretty solid on Sunday completing 70% of his passes for 379 yards, a TD... oh, and 4 picks. This was largely a comeback effort, but that's how he racked up great fantasy stats in Detroit a few years ago. Garbage time = Kitna time. It will be messy, but Dallas will throw a lot and Kitna could help some teams out in the second half.

RBs

1) BenJarvus Green-Ellis (NE RB)
We've discussed this guy before but he's still owned in just half of leagues. BJGE looked like a superstar carrying the ball 17 times for 112 yards and 2 TDs. That's a 6.6 yards-per-carry. Danny Woodhead will steal touches but BJGE must be owned in every league with 8 or more teams. Even when he struggles against tough defenses, BJGE salvages fantasy value because he's scored in every single week since week three.


2) LeGarrette Blount (TB RB)
Again, Blount is someone we've already discussed but he's still available in 2/3 of leagues. Blount is the clear-cut featured back after getting 22 carries for 120 yards and 2 TDs. Blount had an incredible run that practically sealed the win in the 4th quarter. Tampa is playing pretty solid football so add Blount now. I'm cutting guys on committees with potential (C.J. Spiller, Marion Barber) for Blount where I need someone to step in and get some decent points now, rather than later.

3) Keiland Williams (WAS RB)
Ryan Torain exited the game with a hammy injury, and an MRI today revealed no serious tear. Still, Torian has shown he has a hard time recovering from injuries. Going from 3rd down back to an every down back, Williams carried the ball 6 times for 25 yards and a score, plus added 3 catches for 28 yards. Williams was one of our preseason darlings, then seemed like he wouldn't pan out, and now has a golden opportunity. Washington has a bye this week, but we all know Coach Shanahan can make a star out of any RB. Ryan Torain-owners especially, grab Williams and monitor the injury news.

4) Kevin Smith (DET RB)
This is for slightly deeper leagues and Jahvid Best-owners. Best pronounced that he was at 100% health, but the workload was still split 50-50 between Best and Smith. They each had 12 carries and Smith was a tiny bit more productive with them (4.3 YPC vs. 4.0 YPC). We know that Jahvid is not the Best at staying healthy, so Smith could be a sneaky pickup now. The Lions offense looks impressive, so whoever is running the ball could be in line for some nice opportunities ahead. 

5) Julius Jones (NO RB)
This is another deeper league, sneaky pick. Chris Ivory was knocked out of the game with a concussion after struggling mightily over the past two weeks. Ladell Betts may be too fumble-prone for the coaches to have confidence in him. Meanwhile, Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas are still out indefinitely. That leaves the last man standing, 5th stringer, Julius Jones. Jones tied Ivory for the most carries Sunday with 7 each, but Jones was twice as productive against the Steel Curtain (2.3 YPC vs. 1.0 YPC). Jones could make for a decent flex play this week against Carolina. He may be splitting carries, and may lose the job soon, but he's worth an add in deep leagues for teams that need a warm body now.


WRs


1) Mike Sims-Walker (JAC WR)
MSW has been a huge disappointment all season, averaging just 34 yards per game. But boy did he have a huge game today - 8 catches for 153 and a TD. If this is a sign of things to come, then MSW is a must-add in the 36% of leagues he's available in. I'm not rushing to grab him yet in 10 team leagues though, because he's incredibly inconsistent.

2) Nate Washington (TEN WR)
Washington stepped up when Kenny Britt left the game in the first quarter. He was pretty solid in the first games of the season while Britt worked his way out of the coach's doghouse. It looks like Britt will miss significant action, so Washington will have an opportunity to shine once again. On Sunday, he posted 4 catches for 117 yards and a TD. Monitor Britt's status and consider adding Washington, who should be Tennessee's number one receiver in the coming weeks.

3) Anthony Armstrong (WAS WR)
Armstrong was averaging about 20 yards per catch entering today's game. He continued exhibiting that big-play potential Sunday with 3 catches for 92 yards. He will be inconsistent but worth a look in deep leagues as the number two WR after Santana Moss.

4) Darrius Heyward-Bey (OAK WR)
Heyward-Bey had a career game with 5 catches for 105 yards with a TD, plus 30 rush yards. In Louis Murphy's absence, DHB was the go-to guy and delivered. I hesitate to add him in anything but the deepest of leagues however, because it was done against a weak Seattle secondary and DHB has been terrible all year. Just like every stud is entitled to a fluky goose-egg every once and a while, so too is every nobody entitled to a fluky big game.