Working the Waiver Wire - Week 6

QBs 

1) Kevin Kolb (PHI QB)
After an incredible 300 yard 3 TD performance in an important win against Atlanta, the QB controversy continues in Philly. Needless to say, there's a lot of fantasy value for whoever is playing QB for the Eagles, so make sure both Kolb and Vick are owned in your league.

2) Matt Stafford (DET QB)
Shaun Hill suffered an arm injury that will sideline him for at least a few weeks, not that Stafford necessarily needed that to take the starting job. The Lions have a bye this week, but then Stafford gets 3 easy matchups to get back in the swing of things. Stafford was likely dropped in your league, and with Calvin Johnson, Nate Burleson, Tony Scheffler, and Brandon Pettigrew to throw to, Stafford has a lot of potential. If you took Megatron's stats alone, you'd have an okay fantasy day for the QB. Toss in the rest of the guys, and you could have a great fantasy performance.

3) Matt Cassel (KC QB)
Cassel looked pedestrain in his first four games, but he blew up against a weak Houston secondary this week. Now that we know he can capitalize in easy matchups, he makes for a good start against Jacksonville this week and then Buffalo in week eight. 

RBs

1) Ryan Torain (WAS RB)
Torain is still available in one third of leagues. After 100 yards and 2 TDs in Sunday Night Football, that obviously has to change.

2) Chris Ivory (NO RB)
First, Reggie Bush goes down. Then Pierre Thomas suffers a high ankle sprain. Then Ladell Betts gets the opportunity to start the game, but takes a backseat after some costly turnovers in week five. After looking very impressive in the preseason games, rookie Chris Ivory finally got his chance to shine in week six, and boy did he capitalize. Ivory had 15 carries for 158 yards, and a 17 yard catch. And it wasn't mostly on one big run; it was on several chunks, 10 or 15 yards at a time. It looks like Pierre Thomas will likely miss week seven and could miss week eight too. Reggie Bush is targeting a week eight return date too. But Ivory should be the feature back for two weeks (Julius Jones and Ladell Betts had some carries this weekend, but they were in junk time when this game was way out of hand.) Here's the downside for Ivory: his two matchups are against a surprisingly stout Cleveland rush defense and then Pittsburgh. The coaches have said they need to work in Ivory even when Thomas and Bush return, but there will be too many mouths to feed. But if you just need a decent flex play over the next two weeks, with a little bit of potential for upside after that, add Ivory. 


WRs

1) Deion Branch (NE WR)
Brandon Tate was a non-factor in this game. And it was instead Tom Brady's old pal Deion Branch who stole the show. Branch had 9 catches for 98 yards and a TD. Their chemistry looked undeniably solid. He has a tough slate of matchups for a WR with San Diego, Minnesota, and Pittsburgh in three of his next four meetings. That being said, Branch had this big day against an equally tough Baltimore defense (at least on paper.) Branch has got to be a top waiver pickup this week.

2) Mike Williams (SEA WR)
When Deion Branch left the Hawks last week, we wondered who would pick up the slack in Seattle. Matt Hasselbeck said they wanted Williams to be the guy, and gave him "the sombrero." It worked. The 6-foot-5 receiver had 10 catches for 123 yards. Williams had 15 targets and the guy with the second most had only 4. You can't count on 15 targets each week, but the Seahawks have no reason to change the formula after this impressive victory, as they currently sit tied for first in a very winnable NFC West. I expect Williams to be the leading receiver going forward, making him a flex option most weeks.


3) Danario Alexander (STL WR) 
After Mark Clayton went down last week, Danny Amendola looked like he would be the new go-to guy. But this week, Amendola hardly did anything and Danario Alexander came out of nowhere with 4 catches for 72 yards and a TD. Bradford really spread the ball around giving 5 targets each to Alexander, Amendola, Brandon Gibson, and Billy Bajema. Normally, that's not a recipe for fantasy success, but the Rams seem to think that Alexander is special. The rookie had the most receiving yards in America in college, and the Rams signed him to an unprecedented 4 year contract off the practice squad. Alexander is definitely worth an add.


4) Jabar Gaffney (DEN WR)
Gaffney was also likely dropped in your league once the carousel of Denver WRs seemed to settle with Royal and Lloyd as the guys. But Royal left the game with an injury, and Gaffney stepped up with 6 catches for 81 yards. Gaffney had a similarly solid game last week too. He is behind only Lloyd in targets, with a whopping 53. There's no word yet on whether Royal will miss time, but Gaffney is worth an add if you have room.

 5) Patrick Crayton and Craig "Buster" Davis (SD WR)
With all the defensive attention bottling up Malcolm Floyd for just 15 yards, it was instead Crayton who blew up with 6 catches for 117 yards. Davis actually had the most targets, but could only haul in 3 of them for 39 yards and a TD. Naanee missed this game with an injury and Malcolm Floyd looks like he will miss week seven with an injury suffered in the 4th quarter. And Antonio Gates left with an injury but could return soon. Before Naanee, Floyd, Gates and eventually Vincent Jackson return, this could be the Crayton and Davis show in San Diego. There's no shortage of production to go around with Phil Rivers at the helm. I like Crayton a little more, but this passing game is definitely a situation to monitor as the many question marks could open a big door for someone.

6) Jason Avant (PHI WR)
DeSean Jackson took a big hit and will likely miss several weeks. Maclin becomes the #1 but somebody else has to step up to the plate, and the only option is Jason Avant. Avant caught all 5 of his targets for 62 yards. In this offense, Avant has a big opportunity ahead of him.

7) Danny Woodhead (NE RB/WR)
Randy Moss's departure leaves a pretty big hole in the Pats offense, and all the hype was on Brandon Tate to fill that hole. Tate had zero catches, and one run. Meanwhile, Danny Woodhead carried the ball 11 times for 63 yards and added 5 catches for 52 yards. It's hard to know what to make of this feisty player at this point. He makes for a decent add, but I would wait and see before inserting him into your starting lineup.

8) Robert Meachem (NO WR)
Meachem is another guy who was likely drafted and dropped in your league. He is slowly taking over the #2 spot from Devery Henderson. Meachem posted 4 catches for 71 yards and a TD. Last week, he had 4 catches for 57 yards and a TD. Marques Colston is still the leading receiver and had the most targets and catches, but Meachem was just one behind in targets and catches. More importantly, Meachem has been able to do a lot more with those catches. I would rank the Saints receivers Colston, Meachem, Moore, Henderson going forward.


9) Michael Jenkins (ATL WR)
Jenkins benefited from all the defensive attention on Roddy White, and posted 5 catches for 99 yards. It's his first game back from an injury so it's hard to judge whether this can or will continue, but he's worth consideration. You can say his big day was only due to double teams on White, but you know that White will face double teams all year.

TEs

1) Owen Daniels (HOU TE)
Daniels has been playing all year in spite of an ACL injury, but last week Coach Kubiak said Daniels finally looked fully healthy. Kubiak was right as Daniels has been improving each week, and had his best game of the season on Sunday with 5 catches for 79 yards. He was the second most targeted Texan, behind only Andre Johnson. Daniels was drafted in most leagues, but dropped in so many that he's now available in a majority of leagues. If you have Cooley or Gates and they miss one week, then Daniels isn't the answer as he's on bye this week. But I do expect Daniels to be a TE1 option going forward.


2) Heath Miller (PIT TE)
Miller must be ecstatic to have his QB back. Miller posted 2 catches for 50 yards and a TD. Big Ben spread the targets around with 8 for Wallace, 6 for Ward, and 4 for Miller. I don't think he'll be quite as good as last year, but Miller should be a top 12 TE option every week from now on, meaning he's a starting TE1. Plus, his next 5 matchups all rank in the top ten easiest matchups for TEs. 


3) Ben Watson (CLE TE)
Watson posted 6 catches for 88 yards and a TD. He's already the leading receiver on the Browns, and it looks like it will remain that way as the poor QB play leads to a lot of short dumpoffs. Watson currently has the 8th most fantasy points of TEs, ahead of guys like Jason Witten, Brent Celek, and Kellen Winslow. If you lost Finley, or possibly Gates or Cooley, Watson makes for a solid pickup. Watson also has a nice slate of matchups for TEs coming up.