Week 14 Waiver Wire:

 
Each week, I will compile a list of the best Fantasy Football Free Agent pickups. Free Agents fluctuate between leagues, so not everyone listed here will be available in every league, and even better guys may even be available in some leagues. If you have a question about anyone not included (or anything Fantasy-related for that matter), hit me up on Twitter (@BigDKey19) and I’ll gladly answer your question. Good luck with your teams and have fun.
 
NOTE: Playoffs are now here for an overwhelming majority of leagues. As such, the column will now turn into a Playoffs Survival Guide. Adds will be based on who you can use this week to try and make it through to next week. Long-term strategy will be sprinkled in as needed, but by and large, this will be a week-to-week-focused column.
 
Add (in order of most-to-least desirable):
QB:
Russell Wilson (SEA)
 
If you started Brandon Weeden last week because of this column, I owe you one. That said, Weeden’s collapse was a bit unpredictable. He had a great matchup and was coming off a nice day against a similarly-nice matchup. But that’s how fantasy goes; just when you think you know something, it all changes. Weeden has an even more attractive matchup this week, but I’d have a really hard time trusting him after last week. Russell Wilson had a similarly poor day last week, and despite the final score, Arizona is a tough matchup for a QB. The game getting out of hand and Wilson getting pulled also played a role. I’d trust Wilson to get back to his usual 250/2/0 line this week against Buffalo.
 
RB:
David Wilson (NYG)
DeAngelo Williams (CAR)
Joique Bell (DET)
 
Mr. Wilson had an official coming-out party in Week 13, and if Ahmad Bradshaw misses this week’s game, Wilson has an enormous ceiling. That said, as is always the case with Wilson, if he fumbles, he gets benched. Seeing your starter standing on the sideline after an early fumble is a miserable way to get knocked out of the Playoffs, so starting him is not for the faint of heart. However, his ability and matchup against Atlanta are too good to ignore. This past week, DeAngelo Williams had a great day if you’re in PPR leagues, and a pretty good one if you’re not. His matchup (against Atlanta, go figure) had a lot to do with that, and he draws a tougher opponent this week. Bell is a nice PPR play and has strung together enough solid weeks that his “pull the rug out from under you” performance against Green Bay can be forgotten (for the most part).
 
WR:
Brandon Gibson (STL)
Golden Tate (SEA)
Kenny Britt (TEN)
Dwayne Harris (DAL)
 
Gibson returned in Week 14 and took over from where Chris Givens left off in Week 13. Gibson seems to be the easy choice between the two (as long as he doesn’t get suspended again for being a bonehead). He has a favorable matchup this week but I wouldn’t play him over any of my usual guys. Golden Tate suffered from a poor passing outing last week, but he has a great matchup this week and could be a nice sneaky play if need-be. Kenny Britt had a great day in Week 13, but his matchup is tough this week. Dwayne Harris is only viable if Dez Bryant misses this week, and even then he’s a tough investment. I wouldn’t start any of these guys unless I had to, and beyond them, good luck finding anyone worthwhile.
 
TE:
Dennis Pitta (BAL)
Martellus Bennett (NYG)
 
Pitta and Bennett both had predictable nice days last week, and I
expect the same again for both (especially if the Ravens Offense gets
a boost from losing Cam Cameron). Denver has been a dream TE matchup
all year, and while Atlanta has been a nice matchup themselves, I’ll
take Pitta against Denver over Bennett against Atlanta.
 
K:
Pick up whoever has scored the most points so far if you need a Kicker.
 
DEF:
Detroit
Cincinnati
Miami
 
Go get Detroit now, start them over just about anyone, and enjoy. I know the Seahawks D is a lot better than Detroit’s is, but if Detroit is even half as productive as Seattle was against Arizona, they’ll score 20+ this week for you. Cincinnati and Miami (in that order) are the next-best choices.
 
Drop (in order of most-droppable to least-droppable):
QB:
Ryan Fitzpatrick (BUF)
 
“Whoops!” on the Big Ben Drop argument last week. He obviously still nhas value, but that doesn’t change the fact that his remaining schedule isn’t the greatest. Anyway, if you still have Ryan Fitzpatrick, you are literally asleep at the wheel. He is going to get destroyed this week by Seattle’s Defense.
 
RB:
Look at your roster. If you have a RB who stinks and/or has matchups that preclude you from being willing to start him, Drop him. Fill your roster will people who could actually start and contribute. The only exceptions to this are guys who are currently backups but would be huge weapons if they got playing time (ex: in the event of an injury). So aside from high-upside handcuffs, I’m cutting every RB that isn’t expected to play a critical role in my Playoff run. Obviously, don’t cut guys so that you can add some other crappy player. But if you have a need, cut the low-ceiling depth guys first.
 
WR:
Same story as above. If you have a need, but the low-ceiling depth guys first.
 
TE:
Unless you have two great TEs, you should not be Rostering two TEs at this point. Ride your starter and cut the backup.
 
K:
N/A
 
DEF:
If you aren’t willing to start them, cut them. Churn your Defense to keep getting optimal matchups, even if it means cutting a studly Defense that has bad matchups. There is no long-term value anymore, it’s just in the here and the now.

Week 13 Waiver Wire:

Each week, I will compile a list of the best Fantasy Football Free Agent pickups. Free Agents fluctuate between leagues, so not everyone listed here will be available in every league, and even better guys may even be available in some leagues. If you have a question about anyone not included (or anything Fantasy-related for that matter), hit me up on Twitter (@BigDKey19) and I’ll gladly answer your question. Good luck with your teams and have fun.

 
NOTE: Playoffs are now here for an overwhelming majority of leagues. As such, the column will now turn into a Playoffs Survival Guide. Adds will be based on who you can use this week to try and make it through to next week. Long-term strategy will be sprinkled in as needed, but by and large, this will be a week-to-week-focused column.
 
Add (in order of most-to-least desirable):
QB:
Brandon Weeden (CLE)
Russell Wilson (SEA)
 
Brandon Weeden faces the lowly Chiefs this week, and despite their emotional win over the Panthers in Week 13, they still are a team to target when it comes to picking favorable matchups for your players. In fact, the fact that the Chiefs had success Offensively in Week 13 bodes well for Weeden even more. A competitive game means more passing, so if Kansas City can have similar success this week, Weeden should be asked to throw quite a bit. Weeden also has a nice matchup (against Washington) in Week 15, so he’s a solid Add overall. Russell Wilson has been great for a while now, but the bad news is that his Playoffs schedule is about as tough as they come. He faces Arizona this week and San Francisco in Week 16 (with an improving Buffalo wedged in the middle). In his previous meetings with Arizona and San Francisco this year, Wilson’s two-game average was 137 passing yards, 0.5 TD, 1 INTs, and 0.5 fumbles. That’s the kind of stat-line that will end your season. Here’s how I would approach this: I take Weeden this week and see how Wilson does. If he shows dramatic improvement against Arizona, then I pick him up for the Buffalo game and hope he has similar improvement against San Francisco. Ideally, you have a QB in place who will prevent you from needing either of these guys, but if you have Michael Vick (or even Big Ben depending on his availability), these guys are your best bet to pull through.
 
RB:
DeAngelo Williams (CAR)
 
DeAngelo Williams is the only widely-available Back that has a prayer of a chance of helping your team this week. He draws a great matchup against Atlanta, and he even scored a Touchdown in their prior meeting this year. If you’re really desperate for a RB play, DeAngelo is your guy.
 
WR:
Chris Givens (STL)
Donnie Avery (IND)
Kendall Wright/Kenny Britt (TEN)
 
All of these guys have very favorable matchups in Week 14. Givens is actually on a two-game hot streak, so he gets the nod over Avery. Avery had a fantastic Week 13, but he followed up his previous season-best performance with a 2/24/0 day, so there is risk with him for sure. Kendall Wright has been consistently decent lately, and maybe this week’s favorable matchup pushes him a little higher. Britt seems like a huge game waiting to happen, but he’s just been so cold that it’s tough to throw him in there.
 
TE:
Martellus Bennett (NYG)
Dennis Pitta (BAL)
 
“If you need a TE this week, Bennett is your man. He has a dream matchup and will likely produce well.” – Waiver Wire, Week 12. I will literally repeat the same thing again this week. Grab Bennett as the clear-cut first choice at TE. If you throw out the two Pittsburgh-driven disasters, Pitta has actually been solid again lately, and he has a fantastic matchup this week. I think he may be a surprise producer in Week 14.
 
K:
Pick up whoever has scored the most points so far if you need a Kicker.
 
DEF:
New York Jets
Cleveland
 
I have harped on the potential huge value of the Jets Defense down the stretch for weeks now, and hopefully you picked them up and started them this past week against Arizona. Here’s there remaining schedule: Jacksonville, Tennessee, San Diego, and Buffalo (Buffalo is relevant for all two of you who play your Championship in Week 17). Pick them up, start them, and allow them to Jet you all the way to the Championship. It’s that simple. The Browns Defense is a great Week 14 plug-and-play. Beyond that, they draw Washington, Denver, and Pittsburgh. I think it’s safe to say you won’t want to use them in any of those games.
 
Drop (in order of most-droppable to least-droppable):
QB:
Ryan Fitzpatrick (BUF)
Ben Roethlisberger (PIT)
 
Fitzpatrick’s home stretch is horrible. Drop him now. If you’re really counting on him, you’re not in the Playoffs anyway. If you’re desperate for help at another position and have another QB on your roster who is good and has favorable matchups down the stretch, I wouldn’t hesitate to drop Ben. It’s still unclear when he’ll return, and when he does, he doesn’t exactly have great matchups down the stretch. Chances are you’d bench him anyway if you are in the situation I described, so why roster him? Help other spots on your team instead.
 
RB:
Look at your roster. If you have a RB who stinks and/or has matchups that preclude you from being willing to start him, Drop him. Fill your roster will people who could actually start and contribute. The only exceptions to this are guys who are currently backups but would be huge weapons if they got playing time (ex: in the event of an injury). So aside from high-upside handcuffs, I’m cutting every RB that isn’t expected to play a critical role in my Playoff run. Obviously, don’t cut guys so that you can add some other crappy player. But if you have a need, cut the low-ceiling depth guys first.
 
WR:
Same story as above. If you have a need, but the low-ceiling depth guys first.
 
TE:
Unless you have two great TEs, you should not be Rostering two TEs at this point. Ride your starter and cut the backup.
 
K:
N/A
 
DEF:
If you aren’t willing to start them, cut them. Go pick up the Jets or Browns. Constantly churn Defenses to get the best matchups.

Week 12 Waiver Wire:

Each week, I will compile a list of the best Fantasy Football Free Agent pickups. Free Agents fluctuate between leagues, so not everyone listed here will be available in every league, and even better guys may even be available in some leagues. If you have a question about anyone not included (or anything Fantasy-related for that matter), hit me up on Twitter (@BigDKey19) and I’ll gladly answer your question. Good luck with your teams and have fun.

 
Add (in order of most-to-least desirable):
QB:
Colin Kaepernick (SF)
Russell Wilson (SEA)
Chad Henne (JAC)
 
While I was a little disappointed in Kaepernick’s fantasy performance against a horrible Saints Defense, his real performance should have him completely locked into the starting job. He should have legitimate value the rest of the way, and if you’re in a keeper/dynasty league, I’d definitely invest in him. The risk/reward balance with him long-term is ridiculously skewed in a good way. Russell Wilson continued his streak of nice performances, and his streak of 2+ TD games is now up to 4. He’s not the best play this coming week because he faces the Bears Defense, but keep an eye on him in case a QB need pops up on you. Chad Henne wasn’t incredible this past week like he was in Week 11, but he has made the Jaguars’ Offense a functionalunit. Props for that, and given the right matchup (this week against Buffalo, for instance) I would consider him a viable plug-and-play QB option.
 
RB:
Bryce Brown (PHI)
Knowshon Moreno (DEN)
DeAngelo Williams (CAR)
Michael Bush (CHI)
 
Hopefully Bryce Brown is already on your roster, but if not, hopefully he’s still available in your league and you have #1 Priority on the Waiver Wire this week. Brown is an elite RB play every week as long as he remains the starter (and Foles too, I’d say). Andy Reid loves to give his RBs heavy workloads when his backup QB is starting, so I do think that Vick returning would hurt his value a bit. There are whispers that Vick and McCoy may just be shelved for the rest of the year, and if that’s the case, ride Brown to your league’s championship. Knowshon Moreno was the clear winner of the Denver RB Dilemma of last week. If you’re on Twitter, you probably saw the pregame reports saying that Moreno would be the starter in Week 12, and hopefully you picked him up before 1 pm hit. If so, nicely done. DeAngelo Williams is one of my least favorite players in all of fantasy, but he’s worth a prospective add here. With Jonathan Stewart on IR, Williams finally has the workload he needs to be relevant. Michael Bush barely makes the list, simply because it seems that Matt Forte’s injury is not that bad. Forte sounds Doubtful for this week, but Bush draws the Seahawks, and that’s far from ideal. Bush may get a TD this week, but I wouldn’t count on a big day. If Forte comes back in Week 14, Bush’s value is really minimal.
 
WR:
Ryan Broyles (DET)
Brandon Stokley (DEN)
 
Broyles had a very nice day with Titus Young out of the picture. He should have pretty good fantasy value the rest of the way, as the Lions will likely be passing a lot and Broyles will surely get a ton of snaps to work with. Brandon Stokley remains a consistent 10+ point guy with a ceiling not far above 10. Use if necessary.
 
TE:
Martellus Bennett (NYG)
Kyle Rudolph (MIN)
 
If you need a TE this week, Bennett is your man. He has a dream matchup and will likely produce well. Kyle Rudolph had a nice daybefore being injured, and he’s Questionable for this coming game. He may not be a good value this week, but if you need someone long-term he’s a decent option.
 
K:
Pick up whoever has scored the most points so far if you need a Kicker.
 
DEF:
New York Jets
Cleveland
 
This is the moment you’ve been waiting for if you’ve been carrying the Jets Defense. Their home-stretch schedule is extremely soft, although Henne’s emergence in Jacksonville does dampen things a little bit. Regardless, they are set up for a great finish, all the way through Week 16 (or if you play to Week 17, even Week 17). Grab them up and ride them the rest of the way. Cleveland has great matchups the next two weeks, then a murderer’s row to finish things out (unless Peyton sits in Week 16, in which case, they could win you your Championship).
 
Drop (in order of most-droppable to least-droppable):
QB:
Ryan Fitzpatrick (BUF)
 
I’d give up on him at this point. Tough stretch to end the year and he’s been playing very poorly.
 
RB:
Jalen Parmele (JAC) (IR)
Kendall Hunter (SF) (IR)
 
Self-explanatory.
 
WR:
Domenik Hixon (NYG)
 
Give it up, already. Hixon has 1 point in the last 4 weeks combined (0 if non-PPR).
 
TE:
N/A
 
K:
N/A
 
DEF:
Tampa Bay
 
Aside from their Week 14 matchup against Philadelphia, their remaining schedule is one you’d want to avoid.

Week 11 Waiver Wire:

Each week, I will compile a list of the best Fantasy Football Free Agent pickups. Free Agents fluctuate between leagues, so not everyone listed here will be available in every league, and even better guys may even be available in some leagues. If you have a question about anyone not included (or anything Fantasy-related for that matter), hit me up on Twitter (@BigDKey19) and I’ll gladly answer your question. Good luck with your teams and have fun.

 
Add (in order of most-to-least desirable):
QB:
Colin Kaepernick (SF)
Russell Wilson (SEA)
Chad Henne (JAC)
 
Consider me onboard the Colin Kaepernick hype train. Jim Harbaugh is the rare NFL coach who is willing to try and improve his team by changing players even if it’s not the conventional thing to do. Remember the Peyton Manning saga? Harbaugh knows who Smith is and he knows that shopping around for an upgrade is a wise thing to do, despite Smith’s success. I’m still not sure what Harbaugh is going todo here, but if he rolls with Kaepernick, he could have a monster day against a horrible Saints Defense this week. Bye weeks are a thing of the past, but if you’ve got a marginal QB with a tough matchup this coming week, you might as well pick up Kaepernick and hope he gets the start. Russell Wilson returns to action this week following his Bye, and for someone who entered it hot and is a known workaholic in the film room and on the practice field, I doubt he’s lost any momentum. Chad Henne had a big day and may actually make the Jaguars a viable offense. Fantasy relevance isn’t a given, but he’s worth a shot if you’re desperate.
 
RB:
Ronnie Hillman/Lance Ball/Knowshon Moreno (DEN)
Jalen Parmele (JAC)
 
Good luck figuring out which of the three Denver Backs will be the lead dog (if any), but they’re your best bets for hitting Waiver Wire RB gold this week. Hillman seems like the most likely beneficiary of Willis McGahee’s injury, but others have speculated that this was the exact moment the Broncos have been holding onto Knowshon Moreno for. Lance Ball will likely be the goal line back, but who really knows how the Broncos will handle things going forward. Jalen Parmele replaces Rashad Jennings as the lead man in Jacksonville while Maurice Jones-Drew continues to try and make it back onto the field.
 
Wait and see: Bryce Brown (PHI)
 
Brown is worth a pickup if (and only if) LeSean McCoy misses this upcoming game due to the concussion he suffered against Washington.
 
WR:
Danario Alexander (SD)
Cecil Shorts (JAC)
Justin Blackmon (JAC)
Ryan Broyles (DET)
Brandon Stokley (DEN)
 
I hope you picked up Danario Alexander already, but if you and the rest of your leaguemates missed him, don’t make the same mistake twice. Alexander has been on fire lately, and there’s no sign that he’ll be slowing down anytime soon. Cecil Shorts continues his strong season and deserves a spot on your roster. Fellow teammate Justin Blackmon finally showed up in the NFL, and while I don’t expect him to be an every-week starter from here on out, he is worth an Add just in case he manages to keep rolling. Ryan Broyles may benefit from Titus Young’s attitude issues, but it remains to be seen just how much. Brandon Stokley has been hot lately, largely due to Touchdowns. If he can continue to find pay dirt, he’ll be a solid WR option the rest of the way (especially if the Broncos go pass-happy with McGahee out).
 
TE:
Brandon Myers (OAK)
Kyle Rudolph (MIN)
Dwayne Allen (IND)
Tony Moeaki (KC)
 
Brandon Myers remains the most under-appreciated player in fantasy. Consistently among the top fantasy TEs in the game over the last month, Myers is still a Free Agent in a staggering number of leagues. If you lost Rob Gronkowski and need a replacement, Myers is your man. If Myers is gone, Kyle Rudolph is your next best bet, and who knows, maybe the Vikings spent their Bye scheming how to get him more involved. Dwayne Allen has been solid lately as has Tony Moeaki, but their ceilings are not very high unless something changes dramatically.
 
K:
Pick up whoever has scored the most points so far if you need a Kicker.
 
DEF:
Cleveland
New England
New York Jets
 
Cleveland stifled the Dallas Offense for the majority of their matchup and gets a beat-up Pittsburgh team this coming week. I expect a very big week from this unit. The Patriots get the Jets this week, and New York’s momentary spike in Offense will be short-lived in my opinion. As for the Jets, they are an absolute must-avoid this week. However, the remainder of their schedule is extremely favorable. You may want to invest in them before other people realize.
 
Drop (in order of most-droppable to least-droppable):
QB:
Nick Foles (PHI)
Ryan Tannehill (MIA)
 
Well, that sure blew up in my face. I hope none of you made the same mistake I did and picked up (and started) Nick Foles this past week. The good news is I won despite Foles’ 1-point effort, but I think it’s safe to say that he has a long way to go before he can even be on the fantasy radar again. As for Tannehill, he and the Dolphins Offense have seemingly lost their midseason magic. He’s not worth rostering until he finds the Fantasia hat again.
 
RB:
Joique Bell (DET)
 
Bell has been a favorite here (in the Add department though) but now has abruptly lost his job to Kevin Smith. Who saw that coming? Bell is worthless if he’s not getting snaps on 3rd down, as was the case in Week 11.
 
WR:
Domenik Hixon (NYG)
Leonard Hankerson (WAS)
Andrew Hawkins (CIN)
Titus Young (DET)
 
The top two guys here are familiar faces that just seem to be masterful at eluding the Fantasy Turk. The last two are new faces, but both deserve to join the club. Hawkins’ great three-game stretch to open the season is a very long time ago, and he hasn’t been reasonably productive since. As for Titus Young, he’s going to have a hard time getting snaps the rest of the way I think, so he’s not holding on to.
 
TE:
Dennis Pitta (BAL)
 
After a one game bump in Week 10, Pitta returned to mediocrity in Week 11 and there’s no reason to hang onto him anymore.
 
K:
N/A
 
DEF:
N/A

Week 10 Waiver Wire:

 
Each week, I will compile a list of the best Fantasy Football Free Agent pickups. Free Agents fluctuate between leagues, so not everyone listed here will be available in every league, and even better guys may even be available in some leagues. If you have a question about anyone not included (or anything Fantasy-related for that matter), hit me up on Twitter (@BigDKey19) and I’ll gladly answer your question. Good luck with your teams and have fun.
 
Add (in order of most-to-least desirable):
QB:
Carson Palmer (OAK)
Nick Foles (PHI)
Russell Wilson (SEA)
 
You should know the book on Palmer by now, because he’s been a regular here for a while. Foles is intriguing, but he will have to improve a great deal before he’s truly fantasy valuable. He’s more of a speculative Add at this point, and maybe if you’re lucky you can use him as leverage against a Michael Vick owner. Foles does have a great matchup this week though, so if you’re feeling really bold, you may get a nice day out of him. Or, he could throw 4 INTs. We’ll just have to see how things go. But he’s a nice low-risk/high-reward pickup (if Vick doesn’t return this season, Foles could end up being gold. Although, he could simply turn out to be… Foles Gold). I always have a tough time Adding guys who are heading into a Bye, but Russell Wilson has been so good lately, he may be worth it for you.
 
RB:
Marcel Reece (OAK)
Joique Bell (DET)
 
Reece hops to the top of the list after another nice day and reports that Darren McFadden will likely be out another week. He is a definite starter as long as his pathway to touches isn’t impeded. Joique Bell continues to make an impact in PPR leagues, and is a great bet for a solid day just about every week. He won’t be a game-breaker, but sometimes you just need somebody who you know can get you 10+ points on a given week.
 
WR:
Danny Amendola (STL)
Danario Alexander (SD)
Cecil Shorts (JAC)
Chris Givens (STL)
Donald Jones (BUF)
Laurent Robinson (JAC)
 
I hope you added Danny Amendola based on my recommendation in the previous week’s Waiver Wire article. His big day could’ve been even bigger if not for multiple penalties bringing back huge plays of his (including an 80 yard TD). He is by far the best WR available (if he’s still available, and if not, you snoozed, and you lost). Danario Alexander has literally forced the Chargers to give him playing time, and there’s no reason to think he won’t continue to be a huge part of the San Diego Offense the rest of the way. Must-Add. Cecil Shorts has produced a TD and/or 100 yards in 3 of his last 4 games. Jacksonville is scary, but he’s worth an Add. Chris Givens was inactive in Week 10 for violating team rules and certainly will lose targets to Amendola, but he still has value as a big-play guy. Donald Jones has been solid lately, and the Bills will likely be throwing a lot the rest of the way. He’s a decent pickup. 2011 Fantasy Standout Laurent Robinson also makes an appearance on the list this week. He hasn’t caught any Touchdowns yet, but he’s put up solid catch and yardage numbers since returning from his concussions.
 
TE:
Dustin Keller (NYJ)
Brandon Myers (OAK)
Kyle Rudolph (MIN)
Dennis Pitta (BAL)
 
Keller is by far the best pick-up here, and that’s even after factoring in the miserable Jets Offense. If he’s available, snatch him up. Myers had a bit of a let-down in Week 10 after a great Week 9. He’s still valuable, though. Kyle Rudolph finally re-emerged in Week 10, and while it may be a knee-jerk reaction to pick him up (given the variability of the Vikings’ Offense), quality TEs are a scare resource. Get him on your roster and just see what happens. That’s all you can really do. Dennis Pitta is off of the milk carton, finally, and while it remains to be seen what his long-term value will be the rest of the way, he certainly is a solid Add.
 
K:
Pick up whoever has scored the most points so far if you need a Kicker.
 
DEF:
New York Jets
Tampa Bay
Dallas
 
The Jets have a really nice schedule down the stretch, and I think they could have at least a few big days. Tampa Bay has been hot lately and gets Carolina next. Dallas had a big day in Week 10 and has a favorable schedule down the stretch.
 
Drop (in order of most-droppable to least-droppable):
QB:
N/A
 
RB:
N/A
 
WR:
Devery Henderson (NO)
Domenik Hixon (NYG)
Leonard Hankerson (WAS)
 
Give up the ghost, guys. These players are not going to help you.
 
TE:
Jacob Tamme (DEN)
Jermichael Finley (GB)
 
Tamme is becoming a regular here (just give it up, guys!), but Finley is a new addition. I think we can finally say that he’s basically worthless.
 
K:
N/A
 
DEF:
Detroit

Week 9 Waiver Wire:

Each week, I will compile a list of the best Fantasy Football Free Agent pickups. Free Agents fluctuate between leagues, so not everyone listed here will be available in every league, and even better guys may even be available in some leagues. If you have a question about anyone not included (or anything Fantasy-related for that matter), hit me up on Twitter (@BigDKey19) and I’ll gladly answer your question. Good luck with your teams and have fun.

 
 
Add (in order of most-to-least desirable):
QB
Carson Palmer (OAK)
Ryan Tannehill (MIA)
 
All signs point to Palmer being an extremely high-volume passer the rest of the way. Between his Defense’s issues and his running game’s issues, he will likely be asked to throw early and often. He did so against Tampa Bay and ended up with a 414/4/3 line. The 3 INTs obviously aren’t great, but I can live with those if he’s also giving me the 414 and 4, especially in leagues that only dock points slightly for turnovers. Meanwhile, Ryan Tannehill could be a very savvy pickup right now. He’s shown the ability to throw for nice yardage totals, but the TDs haven’t really come yet. However, his remaining schedule is about as friendly as they come, so I think he may break out over this home stretch and really put up some nice days. I’d get him before he blows up if I had any need for a QB. He gets Tennessee and Buffalo next, so if you have a late Bye for you QB, both of those matchups are ideal for a plug-and-play Tannehill start.
 
RB:
Joique Bell (DET)
Ronnie Brown (SD)
Marcel Reese (OAK)
Vick Ballard (IND)
 
If you need RB help, this is a pretty good week for you. Joique Bell and Ronnie Brown present the best long-term values of this group, but if Reese or Ballard are handed a starting job, they get boosted up to the top of the list. Reese had a really nice day despite not getting a single carry, and could be a really nice play in PPR leagues once again if Oakland’s primary RBs miss Week 10. Ballard has a great matchup, and on a short week, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Donald Brown be rested. If that happens, Ballard is a nice starting RB option. Bell and Brown primarily have value in PPR leagues, but they’ve been pretty consistent lately and both seem to have legitimate roles on their respective teams. Again, the rankings are based on long-term value. If you just need a plug-and-play option for this week and don’t care about long-term value, I’d move Reese and Ballard to the top of the list if the guys in front of them look to be out this week.
 
WR:
Danny Amendola (STL)
Chris Givens (STL)
Davone Bess (MIA)
Cecil Shorts (JAC)
 
Amendola will seemingly return from injury this week, so if he’s available, grab him. Chris Givens also is an attractive add, especially in leagues that gives bonuses to big plays. Davone Bess should reap the rewards of the easy schedule I talked about earlier with Ryan Tannehill. I think he could have a very nice finish to a somewhat disappointing season. Cecil Shorts lost some momentum this week, but I do think he could still have fantasy value down the stretch.
 
TE:
Brandon Myers (OAK)
Joel Dreessen (DEN)
Dwayne Allen (IND)
 
Myers had his best game of the season in Week 9, and is really worth a roster spot in my opinion. Joel Dreessen has had some Red Zone success lately, so if you’re desperate for a TE, you can always pick him up and hope for a TD. Dwayne Allen had a nice day and could be a “hope he does good” addition for a TE-desperate team.
 
K:
Pick up whoever has scored the most points so far if you need a Kicker.
 
DEF:
New York Jets
New England Patriots
 
The Jets have a really nice schedule down the stretch, and I think they could have at least a few big days. The Patriots have a decent schedule as well, and also will seemingly improve with newly-added Aqib Talib.
 
Drop (in order of most-droppable to least-droppable):
QB:
N/A
 
RB:
N/A
 
It seems that people have finally woken up and gotten rid of their worthless RBs. All of my usual punching bags have been dropped in most leagues, so I really have nothing to say here. Good job, people!
 
WR:
Devery Henderson (NO)
Domenik Hixon (NYG)
 
If you’re holding onto these guys… why? Henderson already had his one great game of the year, so there’s no point in keeping him around anymore. Hixon has been just about worthless lately, and the Giants passing game is struggling overall. I could see holding onto a backup WR on a team that’s lighting it up in the air, but the Giants are not that team right now.
 
TE:
Jacob Tamme (DEN)
 
If you are a Jacob Tamme owner, cut him right now and go add Brandon Myers. I don’t know how else to say it.
 
K:
N/A
 
DEF:
Minnesota