This week’s edition of “Riding the NFL Fantasy Wire” is riddled with impactful injuries as well as players I mentioned earlier this year who are now stepping up and producing.
Injuries are always tough because we make every attempt to handcuff our players but sometimes we just don’t have enough cuffs to go ’round. Another thing to consider is as teams move to having 3-4 running backs playing in a game it becomes progressively more challenging to get good value. One thing I did notice this week is that there are some good running backs in the league that aren’t getting the respect they deserve and could find themselves being traded in the offseason to a team that needs a lead back. Let’s check out this weeks waiver wire pick-ups.
Marcel Reece RB OAK – I must admit that once Darren Mcfadden went down I jumped on the waivers, looking for Mike Godson not realizing that he also suffered an injury and Reece was set to take over at lead back. At 6’3 240, the third year back out of Washington, Reece is the team’s fullback and should be able to grind out some yards. In the last game Reece had 8 grabs for 95 yards and a score which alone makes him a nice pick-up in PPR leagues and should help some owners with RB issues in their run for the playoffs.
TY Hilton / Donnie Avery WR IND – With the way Andrew Luck has been playing it’s tough for teams to cover 3 legitimate receivers and two young TE’s. Luck is starting to look more and more as advertised as being the best QB to come out of college in years. Dynasty league owners should take note on Hilton as he is starting to build chemistry with Luck and could be a deadly combination for years to come.
Chris Ivory RB NO – I was very impressed with his game play on Monday night but was somewhat agitated with the turn-stall of New Orleans RB’s. Ivory is slowly drawing interest from other teams in the NFL as he is a restricted free agent in 2013. If a team offers him big bucks it will be hard for the Saints to match the offer with three other productive RB on their squad. If you don’t think you have a shot at the playoffs in your dynasty league this is a must add as he could be starting for another team come next season.
Brandon Myers TE OAK – I’ve had my eye on Myers since week 3, but with other TE’s producing there is no need to have a second TE on your squad. Myers would have been a nice bye-week pick up last week as he had 8 receptions for 59 yards and two scores. Carson Palmer is looking for his TE more often than forcing the ball down the field, which was his trademark forever. The next couple of weeks Myers has a tough match-up against Baltimore and New Orleans. Myers is starting to look like a top 10 TE in most Fantasy formats and is currently only 24% owned in Yahoo leagues.
Emmanuel Sanders WR PIT – With Andre Brown hurt this will be Sanders’ time to prove that he deserves to be on the field at all times. With Wallace running the deep routes Sanders should be able to pick up a lot of yards underneath. Last year there were discussions on who was the better receiver and many thought that Sanders was the better raw talent and Brown was a more polished route runner. That being said, if Sanders is on the filed for all snaps in the upcoming week against KC you can expect him to put up the same numbers as Brown.
Riding under the Fantasy Waiver wire
Ryan Broyles WR DET – With the injury to Burleson the receiving core needed to step-up – and they did, finally! Broyles had 6 receptions for 52 yards in Sunday’s match, which adds to his total for the last 3 weeks of 12 receptions for 140 yards and two scores. If Broyles keeps producing he might push Titus for the number two spot on the roster. Broyles is a nice PPR and Dynasty league stash if you have room for him on your roster.
Thanks again for reading and I hope some of my picks have helped you in your Fantasy Leagues. Good Luck this Week!
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