Fantasy owners far across the nation are panning for fantasy gold on the waiver wire today. Before you stake a claim in Justin Gage, I have a few thoughts to consider in the first ever Football Spikes. Read More Football Spikes are like slant routes-quick-hitters to keep the chains moving as we plug away at the 2009 fantasy football campaign.
Finding waiver wire gold is much about luck and timing than anything. Having a need to fill forces owners to scan the pool of players. The hard part is dealing with a roster you believe is pretty solid moving into week 2. You like what you have but you also don't want to miss out on the next great fantasy football claim. Worse, you don't want someone else dramatically improving their fantasy squad by adding a guy for nothing. Here are a few of my opinions on the flavors of the week.
WR Justin Gage - Add only if you are in a 12+ league and need depth. By the time your WRs are on a bye week, someone else will be just as good on the wire to plug in.
RB Julius Jones Ok so he is probably only on the wire in 10-team leagues but I just need to make a public service announcement here: SELL SELL SELL! Got it? good.
WR Mario Manningham Deep leagues leave fantasy owners with limited options on the wire so guys like Manningham get some love. Like Gage above, if you need depth to cover an early bye week he is an option. Manningham has the size Manning likes and would have had a TD if Manning wasn't hurried on the play.
TE Ben Watson The TE position is deep. Brady will spread the ball around. He will score, but there are so many TEs on that team fantasy owners are kidding themselves if you think you can get consistent production from Watson this year. I'd rather have the next guy...
TE John Carlson The kid is good but the offense played the Rams folks. If you want to make a change at your TE spot, Carlson is a good option but I'm betting the guy you are dropping isn't too bad either.
WR Patrick Crayton Tempting isn't it? Every year it seems Crayton makes a big play for a score and fantasy owners circling the waiver wire can't turn away. I'd rather take my chances with a Devery Henderson making a long TD grab each week than Crayton.
QBs Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick I'd stay away unless your QB position is in bad shape. Kolb, not Vick, is the guy to add if you choose to go down this road. Kolb isn't great, but he has Trent Edwards-like fantasy upside. There is enough around him to salvage a few starts should you have to lean on him over the next week or two. Keep Vick in the kennel.
One last thing. If RB Rashard Mendenhall has been dropped in your league, scoop him up. It might not happen overnight, but I still think Mendenhall will be in fantasy lineups by the second half of the season.
If you liked this post and are looking for more insight into the waiver wire pickups of the week I suggest taking a look at The Hazean's Fast Starting Fantasy Players To Monitor as well.
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