Last-Minute Gems
Ah, early September. Labor Day weekend hangovers still haunt you, the Caribbean is lousy with hurricanes, and most fantasy league drafts have finished up. After months of conjecture, hype, and tea-leaf reading, it's time to separate fraud from fantasy stud. More importantly, it's time to scan the waiver wire for that last-minute gem to round out your fantasy squad in preparation for Sunday's opener.
And by all means, if yours is one of the leagues that still has Titans rookie playmaker Chris Johnson on the waiver wire, run - do not walk - to the wire and pick him up pronto. I've been steering the Chris Johnson " hype="" train throughout the summer, and it remains on track: this kid is electric, and he's going to blow the doors off the NFL early in the season. Get on board while you still can.
***
This is the first Waiver Wired of the season, so let's review the rules established by Gregg Rosenthal last year:
Every Tuesday, I'll go over the best available pickups at every fantasy position except kicker. Every league setup is different, so I'll try to include players who may be available in shallow leagues, and lesser-known players that are worth trying in deep leagues. I give a recommendation for each player, such as "Should be owned in 12-team leagues." This doesn't mean you should own him, just that he's good enough to improve one of the rosters in your league. If I write, "Must be owned," or "Should be owned in all leagues," I'm recommending doing what you can to find a spot. Let's get to the players.
Quarterbacks
Sports
Kurt Warner, Cardinals
Amazingly, Warner is still unowned in about half of all fantasy leagues despite the recent announcement that he beat out Matt Leinart for the starting job.
With Larry Fitzgerald and an often-banged up Anquan Boldin last season, Warner tossed 27 touchdowns in just over 13 games last season. He closed out the season with three-straight 3-touchdown performances and an average of over 300 yards in the last four games.
Sure, he's an injury risk and a slippery-mitted statue in the pocket, but enjoy the ride while it lasts. Warner is a legit asset at starting quarterback for fantasy leaguers and no longer belongs on the waiver wire in any league.
Recommendation: Must be owned in all leagues
J.T. O'Sullivan, 49ers
Straight from a Mike Martz casting call, JTO has a pedigree similar to former Mad Mike rags-to-riches success stories Kurt Warner and Jon Kitna. He wasn't given much of a chance to start at the beginning of camp, but he drastically outplayed holdovers Alex Smith and Shaun Hill as soon as he got under center.
O'Sullivan isn't a quarterback to invest in heavily, but he makes for a fun dice roll as a QB2 who could thrive under Martz's system or crash back to earth and lose his job by Week 4.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues
Brady Quinn, Browns
Derek Anderson returned to practice Monday and the Browns say he will play Sunday against the Cowboys, but there have been rumblings that his concussion was more troublesome than first believed.
Quinn would take over a high-scoring offense should Anderson have any setbacks over the next couple of weeks. There remains a possibility that Quinn could begin to see playing time later in the year should the Anderson-led Browns stumble through a tough schedule.
Recommendation: Worth monitoring in 12-team leagues
Joe Flacco, Ravens
Troy Smith's tonsillitis has led the Ravens to push the rookie into the starting role in Week 1. He's been overwhelmed for the most part, but Flacco clearly has a cannon arm and exciting potential. The team may go back to Smith when healthy, so Flacco is only an option in dynasty and two quarterback leagues.
Recommendation: Worth a look in two quarterback leagues
Running Backs
Ray Rice, Ravens
Despite Willis McGahee's preseason knee scope, his handcuff is owned in just a third of all fantasy leagues. The Baltimore Sun has questioned McGahee's commitment level and has even gone as far as to suggest that he could be cut before the season is through. Meanwhile, Rice has received an inordinate amount of praise since camp began.
The best reason to pick up Rice, though, is the possibility of a Week 1 start against an always inviting Bengals rush defense. McGahee returned to practice Monday, but he's a long way from being in football shape. If he's unable to go against the Bengals, Rice makes for a very nice RB2 this Sunday.
Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues
Maurice Morris, Seahawks
Julius Jones is owned in 75 percent of all leagues while Maurice Morris is hovering around 20 percent. It's been widely assumed since Jones' signing in Seattle that he would get a chance to take the job and run with it early in the season. The reality, however, is that coach Mike Holmgren has consistently name-dropped Morris whenever the subject has come up.
This has the makings of a committee attack, but Morris remains number one on the depth chart and is the favorite to start Week 1 versus the Bills.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues
Rudi Johnson, Lions
Rudi has been dropped or undrafted in quite a few leagues. After signing with the Lions, he's behind only rookie Kevin Smith for carries. Don't go crazy about projections coming off a 2.9 yards per carry season and moving to a team with a poor offensive line, but Rudi is worth carrying to see just what his role will be in Motown.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues
Tim Hightower, Cardinals
Already the favorite for goal-line work, the rookie Hightower has also been projected to eat into Edgerrin James' workload throughout the season. And let's face it: second in line behind a 30-year-old back with almost 3,000 career carries is a nice to place to be. Just ask Shaun Alexander how quickly age and a heavy usage pattern can change the backfield picture.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues
Pierre Thomas, Saints
Speaking of being second in line behind an older, injury-prone running back, Thomas is in a plum situation with the Saints high-flying offense. It's no secret that soon-to-be thirtysomething running back Deuce McAllister is coming off a second ACL surgery and an additional microfracture surgery.
Thomas' impressive 226 total yards in Week 17 last season is proof that he can contribute in both the running game and the passing game if Deuce is too rickety for a consistent role.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues
Steve Slaton / Chris Taylor, Texans
With Ahman Green returning from a groin injury, the Texans are expected to give both Slaton and Taylor extra work early in the season. Slaton has been getting most of the hype here, but he's also coming off a minor turf toe injury.
The coaches have yet to decide who will be first off the bench behind Green, so we will know more after the first game. Taylor is the more powerful runner of the two while Slaton is faster and more of an asset in the passing game.
Recommendation: Both should be owned in deeper leagues, but monitor the situation this week in practice
Andre Hall, Broncos
An obvious Selvin Young handcuff and a not-so-obvious touchdown vulture, Hall is unowned in the majority of fantasy leagues.
With the whims of Mike Shanahan, the No. 2 back in Denver is never a bad roster stash. Throw in Selvin Young's injury history, and Hall gets even more intriguing. His one start last season produced 167 total yards and a touchdown.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues
Wide Receivers
DeSean Jackson, Eagles
Even before Kevin Curtis' sports hernia surgery, Jackson was slated for a significant role in the Eagles offense. The buzz from Philly's camp has been strong all summer, and Jackson has been ever-present in the passing game.
Coach Andy Reid's decision to hold him out the final preseason game along with the other important starters speaks volumes about his value to the team. He should be targeted out of the slot early and often.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues
Courtney Taylor, Seahawks
The Seahawks are a very flanker-friendly offense, and Taylor is the likely Week 1 starter opposite Nate Burleson. Noted for his precise route running, good hands, and penchant for moving the chains, the 2006 sixth-rounder has the upside of a high-target possession receiver.
With Bobby Engram out and Deion Branch a poor bet for early season contributions, Taylor could be a savvy plug-in for Brandon Marshall and Steve Smith owners.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues
Mark Clayton, Ravens
It's tough to imagine now, but Clayton was ranked as a surefire Top-25 receiver going into last season. Battling through injuries to his foot, calf, head, and back, the expected breakout receiver just couldn't get anything going in 2007.
New offensive coordinator Cam Cameron promises to be more creative than Brian Billick, but the Baltimore quarterback morass and Clayton's lost season have scared owners away. He hasn't lost the talent, however, and has the look of a classic post-hype sleeper.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues
Matt Jones, Jaguars
Jones went from December star in 2006 to a complete afterthought by Week 1 of 2007. We now know that a large part of the problem was that Jones lacked commitment and didn't even know the plays last season.
His arrest for cocaine possession earlier this summer may have served as a wake-up call as he's been the Jags best receiver throughout the preseason and has a shot to start the opener. Jones' Week 17 performance of eight catches for 138 yards and a touchdown to close out last season shows that he has the ability to put up numbers if he can work his way into a prominent role.
Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues
Eddie Royal, Broncos
The rookie out of Virginia Tech went from fifth receiver and probable punt returner to starter opposite Brandon Marshall by the time camp was over. Coach Mike Shanahan has been effusive in his praise of the precocious Royal and backed up the hype by moving him up the depth chart. He's an especially nice target in return-yardage leagues.
Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues
Josh Morgan, 49ers
Morgan isn't guaranteed to start over veteran Bryant Johnson, but it remains a strong possibility. The sixth-rounder has been the star of the Niners preseason and has a physical style that calls to mind the play of recent impact rookies such as Marques Colston and Anquan Boldin.
Recommendation: Monitor this week, but worth owning in deep leagues
Tight Ends
Zach Miller, Raiders
In spite of his obvious rapport with greenhorn quarterback JaMarcus Russell, Miller is only owned about a third of all leagues. In Russell's Week 17 start last season he hooked up with Miller eight times for 84 yards, and the two have picked up where they left off this preseason.
With an underwhelming wide receiver crew, expect Miller to continue to be Russell's go-to option in the offense.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues
Ben Utecht, Bengals
Chris Henry's four-game suspension leaves the Bengals without an obvious third option in the passing game. Utecht will fill that void as the franchise's first legit receiving tight end of the Carson Palmer / Marvin Lewis era.
Recommendation: Should be owned in deep leagues
Randy McMichael, Rams
McMichael's disappointing 2007 has soured many fantasy owners on his potential as a TE2, but he's expected to play a bigger role in the passing game this season. It's no secret that new offensive coordinator Al Saunders intends to utilize McMichael heavily as he has previously for his eight straight pro bowl tight ends.
Recommendation: Should be owned in deep leagues
Anthony Fasano, Dolphins
A Bill Parcells favorite and former second-round pick, Fasano in a great fit as Chad Pennington's safety blanket in Dan Henning's offense. A beat writer's projection of 600 yards and 6-8 touchdowns is overly optimistic, but Fasano does have a chance for TE2 production.
Recommendation: Worth a look in deep leagues
Team Defense
Bengals
The Bengals are nobody's idea of a good defense, and their return game options are as mediocre as any in the league. However, they make for an intriguing Week 1 match-up play against the Ravens and raw rookie Joe Flacco.
