Hitting The Waiver Wire For Week 17; Matchups To Watch For: Playoffs Pt. 3

Welcome in week 17 of the football season and week 17 of your fantasy season. Alas, for some of you this is the week to show your fantasy football dominance in your league in the Championship Game. But for others this is simply a week to watch football, back to normal, as if fantasy football didn’t exist.

Like I have all season, I will go over the top five waiver wire acquisitions as well, the top three matchups I like that could potentially help you get a win over your opponent.

The first player I see jumping off the boards this week is Dallas Cowboys quarterback Kyle Orton, who is owned in just over one percent of leagues. With Romo down for the count, Orton will get the start. I like Orton only because of the players he has around him, because the matchup is not that great against the Philadelphia Eagles. I would start Orton only if you had Romo, and don’t have another option.

The second player I like this week is New Orleans Saints wide receiver Lance Moore, who is owned in just over 64 percent of leagues. I like Moore for the fact he has big play ability and they matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this week. I would start Moore if you are looking for a second receiver or a flex start.

The third player I see coming off the boards this week is New York Giants tight end Brandon Myers, who is owned in just over 68 percent of leagues. I like Myers as a starting fantasy tight end this week with the matchup against the Washington Redskins.

The fourth player I like this week is actually a defense, the New York Giants defense, which is owned in just over three percent of leagues. I like the Giants matchup against the Washington Redskins this weekend. With both teams out of playoff contention this game is going to be a true slugfest between NFC East teams looking to save some grace in week 17. I like the Giants as a starting defense if your matchup you have currently is poor.

The fifth player I would take a shot on this week is Philadelphia Eagles kicker Alex Henery, who is owned in just over 10 percent of leagues. It’s been proven that a kicker can change a matchup and get the win, thank you Justin Tucker of the Baltimore Ravens two weeks ago with his six field goals. So this week I like Henery and the Eagles against the Dallas Cowboys. While I don’t think Henery will get six field goals, anything is possible, and this is a playoff bound matchup so both teams will be putting everything on the table. I like Henery as a starting kicker if you have a poor matchup with your kicker.

Now that I have gone over the top five waiver wire pickups I will go over the top three matchups I think you could benefit from starting players in to get a jump on your opponent this week.

The first matchup I like this week is the San Francisco 49ers at the Arizona Cardinals. The hopes for both teams playoff placement are still alive. The 49ers are already in, but are still in the running for the No. 1 seed in the NFC and home field advantage. On the other side of the ball, the Cardinals are fighting to maintain a Wild Card spot. I like the 49ers to win this game, and with a little help from the St. Louis Rams beating the Seattle Seahawks, the 49ers should enjoy a first round bye going into the playoffs. I see the 49ers taking this one 31-17. On the 49ers side of the ball I like Colin Kaepernick, Frank Gore, Vernon Davis, Anquan Boldin and Michael Crabtree. On the Cardinals side of the ball I like Carson Palmer and Larry Fitzgerald.

The second matchup I like this week is the New England Patriots at the Buffalo Bills. The Patriots are still in the hunt for a first round bye on the AFC side of the playoffs; while the Bills are just looking to earn an upset win to end the season on a high note. I like the Patriots to roll by the Bills in this game and earn that first round bye. I see the Patriots running away with this one, 41-24. On the Patriots side of the ball I like Tom Brady, Shane Vereen, Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola. On the Bills side of the ball I like Fred Jackson.

The third matchup I like this week is the Philadelphia Eagles at the Dallas Cowboys. This is probably the best matchup of the year. Two playoff hopeful teams playing each other in the final week of the season looking to clinch the NFC East playoff spot. While neither team has a shot for a first round bye week, each team still wants to make the playoffs. I like the Eagles in this matchup, but the Cowboys have an outside shot to take this one. However, I see the Eagles winning this one 28-27. On the Eagles side of the ball I like Nick Foles, LeSean McCoy, Zach Ertz and DeSean Jackson. On the Cowboys side of the ball I like Kyle Orton, DeMarco Murray, Jason Witten and Dez Bryant.

That’s all for this season. I will be back after the Super Bowl to recap my three best and worst pickups I had over the season, which three players were over rated and under rated as well as a recap of what my teams did this season. Good luck in your championship game if you are in it, and if not enjoy the playoffs!

Hitting The Waiver Wire For Week 16; Matchups To Watch For: Playoffs Pt. 2

Welcome in week 16 of the football season and week 16 of your fantasy season. For some of you this is the second round of the playoffs, and for others it’s the consolation round. Alas, for some of you this is the week to show your fantasy football dominance in your league in the Championship Game.

Like I have all season, I will go over the top five waiver wire acquisitions as well, the top three matchups I like that could potentially help you get a win over your opponent.

The first player I see jumping off the boards this week is Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, who is owned in just over 56 percent of leagues. Cutler is back and he picked up right where he left off. Cutler obviously was the day one starter, but injuries sidelined him for Josh McCown, now Cutler is back and he will try to help the Bears make the playoffs. I like Cutler as a starting quarterback in one or two quarterback leagues this week if you have a chance to grab him.

The second player I like this week is Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who is owned in just over 17 percent of leagues. I haven’t been keen on Tannehill since the beginning of the season by any means, but his showing last week makes me think he will be in for a repeat performance against the Buffalo Bills this week. I like Tannehill as a second quarterback in deeper leagues.

The third player I see coming off the boards this week is Tennessee Titans tight end Delaine Walker, who is owned in just over 26 percent of leagues. Walker has had his ups and downs this season, but recently he is coming off an up-type game where he had eight catches for 53 yards against the Arizona Cardinals. While I wont count on Walker to replicate those numbers, there are numbers to suggest he might. I like Walker in deeper formats, or if you need a replacement at tight end.

The fourth player I like this week is Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz, who is owned in just over two percent of leagues. I was high on Ertz out of Stanford, but he didn’t show me much to start the season, as he averages just two catches through week eight. But his recent play in weeks 13 and 15 that included three touchdowns and 11 receptions has me grabbing Ertz as a replacement for an injured tight end. His fantasy matchup this week against the Chicago Bears is not a great one, but he could still manage to help a team looking for a tight end in a very deep format.

The fifth player I would take a shot on this week is Oakland Raiders wide receiver Rod Streater, who is owned in just over 11 percent of leagues. The Kansas City Chiefs blew the Oakland Raiders out last week last week, but Streater was able to pull down four passes for 59 yards. While that is not a huge fantasy impact by means, Streater has the ability to have a bigger game; such as the one he had against the New York Jets just a week previous when he had seven receptions for 130 yards, a career high. I like Streater in deeper formats with three wide receivers or as a flex in deeper formats as the Raiders take on the San Diego Chargers this week.

Now that I have gone over the top five waiver wire pickups I will go over the top three matchups I think you could benefit from starting players in to get a jump on your opponent this week.

The first matchup I like this week is the Denver Broncos at the Houston Texans. This is an interesting matchup as the Broncos are still hoping to keep their No. 1 AFC seeding alive for the playoffs, while the Texans are just hoping to give their fans a morale boost on their treacherous season. I expect the Broncos to win by a landslide. On the Broncos side of the ball I like Peyton Manning, Knowshon Moreno, Montee Ball, Julian Thomas and Eric Decker. On the Texans side of the ball I like Matt Schaub, Dennis Johnson and Andre Johnson.

The second matchup I like this week is the Indianapolis Colts at the Kansas City Chiefs. This is a great matchup between two playoff bound teams as a pair of No. 1 drafted quarterbacks faceoff. The Chiefs are coming off a huge win over the Oakland Raiders where they put up more than 50 points; while the Colts are coming off a very one-sided win over the Houston Texans. I like the Chiefs to prevail in this game, which should see both teams score in the low to mid 20s. On the Colts side of the ball I like Andrew Luck, Trent Richardson and Griff Whalen. On the Chiefs side of the ball I like Alex Smith, Jamaal Charles and Dwayne Bowe.

The third matchup I like this week is the Atlanta Falcons at the San Francisco 49ers. The final regular season game at Candlestick is upon us next Monday night when the 49ers host the Falcons. This game is a far cry from where the two teams were this time last year, as the Falcons have really dropped the ball on the 2013 season. The 49ers are still in the midst of the playoff hunt, and looking to lock up the top wildcard position. I like the 49ers in this game, but wouldn’t put the win on a silver platter as the Falcons do still have quite a talented squad and will be looking to knock off the 49ers if they get a chance. On the Falcons side of the ball I like Matt Ryan, Steven Jackson, Tony Gonzalez and Roddy White. On the 49ers side of the ball I like Colin Kaepernick, Frank Gore, Vernon Davis, Anquan Bouldin and Michael Crabtree.

That’s all for this week, check back next week when I go over the top five waiver wire pick ups and the top three matchups to watch for.

Hitting The Waiver Wire For Week 15; Matchups To Watch For: Playoffs Pt. 1

Welcome in week 15 of the football season and week 15 of your fantasy season. For some of you this is the first round of the playoffs, and for others it’s the consolation round.

Like I have all season, I will go over the top five waiver wire acquisitions as well, the top three matchups I like that could potentially help you get a win over your opponent.

The first player I see jumping off the boards this week is Baltimore Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta, who is owned in just over five percent of leagues. With tight ends around the league falling off left and right, and it already being a shallow position Pitta might be just who you need to fill in your tight end gap in the playoffs. While I don’t think Pitta will have a touchdown in every game down the stretch like he did in his debut last week, I still like his chances to catch five or six passes from Joe Flacco. Pitta is worth a start if you just like your tight end like I did … Rob Gronkowski, you were just what I needed. Why did you leave me so soon?

The second player I like this week is Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins, who is owned in just over one percent of leagues. With Robert Griffin III down for the season and Cousins in, it’s a no brainer to take this quarterback for the stretch run. Last year Cousins played well when RG3 went down. I believe it will be the same again this year, as he faces the Atlanta Falcons, Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants. I would grab Cousins if you have Griffin, or another injured quarterback ala Aaron Rodgers, Jay Cutler or Terrelle Pryor.

The third player I see coming off the boards this week is Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Da’Rick Rodgers, who is owned in just over one percent of leagues. Rodgers had an explosive game last week going for over 100 yards with a score. While I don’t expect him to keep that up for the remainder of the season, the idea that he can do it is there, and that intrigues me. I like Rodgers as a flex start in deeper leagues, or if you need a spot start due to an injury.

The fourth player I like this week is Oakland Raiders quarterback Matt McGloin, who is owned in just over one percent of leagues. McGloin will get the start Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs. While this is not a great matchup for the Raiders, McGloin is a good quarterback, and if the Chiefs get an early lead McGloin will be trying to get the Raiders back in the game with his arm. I like McGloin as a spot start in deeper leagues, or if you had an injury at the position.

The fifth player I would take a shot on this week is Oakland Raiders running back Marcell Reece, who is owned in just over three percent of leagues. The Raiders running game has been inconsistent at best this year, with Darren McFadden having a great start then going down due to injury. Then it was Rashad Jennings having great games, but he too went down with an injury. Jennings is cleared from his concussion he suffered two weeks back, but there is still the looming issue of head injuries that worries me. I like Reece for the fact that he will suit up no matter what. I would handcuff Reece with Jennings, and watch the reports going towards Sunday to see who you should start.

Now that I have gone over the top five waiver wire pickups I will go over the top three matchups I think you could benefit from starting players in to get a jump on your opponent this week.

The first matchup I like this week is the San Diego Chargers at the Denver Broncos. This is a Thursday night matchup, and a good way to get some early points on your competition making them scramble to make up points when it counts most, the playoffs. In the first meeting between these two teams the Broncos came away with a 28-20 win. Now the game shifts to Denver, and I expect the results to be the same. On the Chargers side of the ball I like Phillip Rivers, Ryan Matthews, Antonio Gates and Keenan Allen. On the Broncos side of the ball I like Peyton Manning, Knowshon Moreno, Montee Ball and Julian Thomas.

The second matchup I like this week is the Philadelphia Eagles at the Minnesota Vikings. The Eagles are coming off a great win against another NFC North opponent in the Detroit Lions, and now are facing a team in trouble in the Vikings. I expect the Eagles to roll by the Vikings in this matchup. On the Eagles side of the ball I like Nick Foles, LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson. On the Vikings side of the ball I like Toby Gerhart.

The third matchup I like this week is the New England Patriots at the Miami Dolphins. Historically the Patriots dominate this matchup, and I don’t expect it to change even with the Patriots losing Rob Gronkowski last week. There are some factors though that could make this game close. Last time the Patriots faced the Dolphins, Tom Brady only passed for 116 yards with one touchdown and one interception. However, since Brady has been on fire. I expect the Patriots to find a way to win this matchup, similar to the score in week eight, 27-17. On the Patriots side of the ball I like Tom Brady, Shane Vereen, Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola. On the Dolphins side of the ball I like Lamar Miller and Mike Wallace.

That’s all for this week, check back next week when I go over the top five waiver wire pick ups and the top three matchups to watch for.

Hitting The Waiver Wire For Week 14; Matchups To Watch For

Welcome in week 14 of the football season and week 14 of your fantasy season. Like last week I will go over the top five waiver wire acquisitions as well, the top three matchups I like that could potentially help you get a win over your opponent.

The first player I see jumping off the boards this week is Denver Broncos running back Montee Ball, who is owned in over 77 percent of leagues. Ball was in line to be the go-to back when the season started, but veteran Knowshon Moreno beat him out and has proven to be a solid all-around back since. However, last week Ball showed that he deserved more carries with his first 100 plus yard rushing day of his young NFL career. I don’t think Ball will immediately take all the carries away from Moreno, but he should be worth holding onto if you have Moreno. Going forward the Broncos play the Tennessee Titans, San Diego Chargers, Houston Texans and Oakland Raiders so he should see some more time as the Broncos coast into the playoffs.

The second player I like this week is Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Terrance Williams, who is owned in just over 42 percent of leagues. While Williams’ three receptions last week were the most since a week seven matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, I still like Williams going forward. Tony Romo has lots of choices in the offense with the Cowboys, but Williams always seems to be running opposite of Dez Bryant, and this week against the Chicago Bears I think Williams’ routes will pay off. I like Williams this week as a third receiver or flex and going forward I like him against the Washington Redskins and Eagles.

The third player I see coming off the boards this week is Seattle Seahawks tight end Zach Miller, who is owned in just over 11 percent of leagues. Miller had his best game of the season last week, following his best yardage output the game before. It looks like the Seahawks are going to keep targeting Miller more, trying to get him more involved in the offense down the stretch. This week against the San Francisco 49ers might not be the best play, but in this fierce NFC West matchup anything is possible. I like Miller as a tight end play, or a flex in deeper leagues.

The fourth player I like this week is Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who is owned in just over four percent of leagues. While the matchup against the Denver Broncos doesn’t look to be an inviting one, I actually like it for Fitzpatrick. I don’t think the Titans will keep up with the Broncos, so I believe Fitzpatrick will be a good play as the Titans look to play catch up in this game. The one precaution with this philosophy would be if Fitzpatrick tosses interceptions as he did last week against Indianapolis. I like Fitzpatrick as a spot start if you need a new quarterback.

The fifth player I would take a shot on this week is actually a defense, the Oakland Raiders defense, which are owned in just over 12 percent of leagues. The Raiders defense has actually been pretty solid this year except for a few miscues against the Denver Broncos and the Philadelphia Eagles. This week against he New York Jets and error-filled quarterback Geno Smith, I look for the Raiders to continue their strong performance. I like the Raiders as a spot start this week.

Now that I have gone over the top five waiver wire pickups I will go over the top three matchups I think you could benefit from starting players in to get a jump on your opponent this week.

The first matchup I like this week is the Cleveland Browns against the New England Patriots. The Browns have had a very up and down season, while the Patriots have been on a roll lately thanks to the return of Rob Gronkowski. In this matchup I like the Patriots to win, but I like a few players on each side of the ball. On the Browns side I like Josh Gordon and Jordan Cameron. On the Patriots side I like Tom Brady, LaGarette Blount and Rob Gronkowski.

The second matchup I like this week is the Detroit Lions against the Philadelphia Eagles. This is a matchup between two high-powered offenses, and I expect the game to be a shootout despite the recent success the Lions had against the Green Bay Packers. I like the Lions to win, but I still like a few players on each side of the ball. On the Lions side I like Matthew Stafford, Reggie Bush and Calvin Johnson. On the Eagles side I like Nick Foles, LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson.

The third matchup I like this week is the New York Giants against the San Diego Chargers. The San Diego Chargers are hoping for a late run to squeak into the playoffs with a wildcard spot, while the Giants are still in the running for the division despite the poor start to the season. I like the Chargers to win, but I like a few players on each side of the ball. For the Giants I like Eli Manning, Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks. On the Chargers side I like Phillip Rivers, Ryan Matthews, Keenan Allen and Antonio Gates.

That’s all for this week, check back next week when I go over the top five waiver wire pick ups and the top three matchups to watch for.