Outside of the leagues that I play with this site, and my friends and family, I joined a league of writers from multiple fantasy websites. My intent of joining this league was to face ultra-competitive enthusiasts who share the same passion and desires for this imaginative game that we play. Unfortunately, I have set too high of a bar for this esteemed league. This past weekend marked the second time a team manager failed to set their rosters for the weekend.
The first time it happened, it was a matter of a simple switch of tight ends. Jordan Reed was out and Antonio Gates was on his bench.
The second time, the manager left a couple guys in the starting lineup who were on bye. He had two other players, on the bench, who were primed to start.
I’m not exactly sure if this kind of complaint places me among the snobbiest of snobs, but I enjoy this pastime to the highest degree.
We’re here to have fun and when we face someone with an incomplete lineup it zaps the fun out of the victory. A win is a win, but the competitive edge is lost, which leads to mutiny and anarchy. That kind of behavior is infectious and contagious and can kill the league quicker than a smallpox outbreak.
So, if you cannot take five minutes out of your day, per week, to set your lineup then why bother?
Now that we have set my frustrations out of the way, let’s talk about this week’s waiver wire targets for our regular Tuesday tune-up.
*Reminder: MIA and OAK are on bye (Not much to worry about here)*
Tune-up Tuesday
Eli Manning, QB NYG: Whatever was in the air at the Meadowlands this past Thursday must have been witch’s brew because Eli posted some magical numbers. Larry Donnell, mentioned in previous articles, was the recipient of three of the four touchdowns that Manning threw for, not including the one he gained on ground. Five touchdowns on the night and Manning owners feel alright. This could be the effect of Ben McAdoo’s west coast offense, but whatever it is, it seems to have revived Eli.
Teddy Bridgewater, QB MIN: I waited to see a full start from Teddy to place a full on endorsement for the kid. If you get a chance to watch the replay of this game, do it. I’m floored by the poise and precision of this young man. Whether the Falcons defense was in shambles or not, Bridgewater displayed veteran decision making and used his feet to move the chains and jump into the endzone. He knows how to slide (take a note RGIII), throw it away, and how to stay in the pocket under pressure. Although he didn’t pass for a TD, he still piled up 317 yards via air mail. This kid is the real deal; let’s just hope his ankle heals up for his first, of many to come, rivalry game with the Green Bay Packers.
Jerrick McKinnon, RB MIN: Another Viking claiming a spot on the list. We spoke of his extreme athleticism in succinct manner last week, but against a shredded Atlanta defense, McKinnon shined bright for all eyes to see. On only 19 touches (18 carries, 1 reception) he collected 152 yards. The talent is there, we just need to see consistency, but claim him before he puts on a repeat performance.
Denard Robinson, RB JAX: At this point we’re not convinced that Gerhart can keep up with an underperforming offensive line. Jacksonville needs someone that has a dynamic skill set and can do more than charge ahead and break tackles. I’m expecting a ton of garbage time from this team and there will be a lot of experimenting; especially when it comes to the backfield.
Branden Oliver, RB SD: Honestly, we’re surprised that the Chargers couldn’t have an effective run game against the most generous, Jaguars run defense. They couldn’t even notch 50 yards between Oliver and Donald Brown. Pitiful. The truth here is that San Diego hasn’t had the need to establish a run game with the way Phillip Rivers has been commanding the field. Ryan Matthews should be coming back in a few weeks, but Oliver stands a chance at seizing a share from Donald Brown since he has been underwhelming to say the least. Proceed with caution.
Darrin Reaves/Fozzy Whitaker, RB CAR: This is absolutely atrocious. I don’t even feel good about putting this in your face. DeAngelo Williams is hurt, again. Jonathon Stewart is hurt, as well. This boils down to an ugly two-headed monster that is working behind an ailing Cam Newton. We need help here and I wouldn’t advise turning to these options unless your backfield is completely depleted.
Marvin Jones, WR CIN: Marvin jones is on the mend since there haven’t been any hiccups since he fractured his foot. He’s set to return to the Bengals’ week five contest against the New England Patriots. With Mohammed Sanu impressing in his absence, I wouldn’t expect a heavy load out of the gate, but I would stash him in leagues where there is space on your bench.
Eddie Royal, WR SD: For two weeks straight, Royal has caught two touchdowns in each contest. It appears that we are experiencing a bit of Déjà vu since last year we saw an eerily similar couple of weeks. In 2013 Royal scored three touchdowns in the first week and followed up the next week with two touchdowns, and faded into oblivion. This is likely to happen again this year because of the bevvy of options in the Chargers’ passing game, but Royal deserved some recognition this week because of the beautiful grab he completed on his second TD before tumbling into the sidelines. You might be chasing last week’s point total, but it’s worth a shot if you need help.
Jarius Wright, WR MIN: Norv Turner is tormenting fantasy souls when it comes to Patterson stockholders. His first week he put the versatile athlete on full display and has been employed as a decoy ever since. The recent beneficiary of Turner’s scheming is third year wide receiver Jarius Wright. Teddy developed masterful chemistry and rapport with the slot receiver and tallied eight receptions for 132 yards. We could be looking at fool’s gold here, but it was very clear that Wright was the best option for a young’un learning on the go.
Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE TB: Tampa Bay was impressed enough by Austin Seferian-Jenkins’ (ASJ) skill set to send second year TE Tim Wright to the Patriots for an aging Pine Jack Savage in Logan Mankins. This left him to battle with veteran journeyman Brandon Meyers for starting duties, which Meyers has quietly receded into the brush since. With that in mind, the only way the Buccaneers can keep this momentum going after losing rookie Mike Evans to injury, for the next 2-3 weeks, is to get the ball to Vincent Jackson and ASJ. Promptly.
Travis Kelce, TE KC: For one reason or another, I haven’t included Mr. Kelce in any of these Tune-up editions as of yet. His monster stat line on Monday night against the Patriots was a friendly reminder. Eight receptions, 93 yards and a touchdown. After exploding in the preseason, and now in the Monday lights, Kelce is quickly evaporating from free agent pools. Soak up the last bit there is before he’s gone.
Not Pretty, but Why Not?
Clay Harbor plays tight end for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He reeled in all eight of his targets for 69 yards. In his five year tenure he has been a non factor with awful QB play in the mix, but if Bottles keeps up this excellent play for much longer, he’ll need to have a big guy to catch passes.
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LANDOVER, MD – SEPTEMBER 25: Quarterback Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants celebrates his 4th quarter touchdown against the Washington Redskins at FedExField on September 25, 2014 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
