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Jamey Eisenberg

Waiver Wire: Acquire stud insurance

By | Senior Fantasy Writer


If there was a lesson learned in Week 12 and at various times throughout the season, it is to handcuff your stud running backs when possible. And with the playoffs starting as early as Week 14 in some leagues, you still have the chance now with certain players.

The latest examples came from Pittsburgh and the Giants. Mewelde Moore came on for an injured Willie Parker (knee) against Cincinnati, and Derrick Ward started for the inactive Brandon Jacobs (knee) at Arizona. It's also expected that Pierre Thomas and Deuce McAllister will play again for Reggie Bush (knee) against Green Bay on Monday night.

Leon Washington is proving that he can be productive with enough touches. (AP)  
Leon Washington is proving that he can be productive with enough touches. (AP)  
Chances are Moore (84 percent owned on CBSSports.com) and Ward (81 percent) are gone in most leagues. McAllister (81 percent) is likely owned as well, but Thomas (38 percent) could be available. If he is, add him now depending on what happens against the Packers. Brandon Jackson (17 percent) should also be added to backup starter Ryan Grant.

Looking around the league, most of the top backups are taken already because tandems have been so rampant this year. But if you watched Earnest Graham (ankle) go down for the season, you know how important it is to own Warrick Dunn (90 percent), who likely is unavailable also.

This year, many Fantasy owners have scooped up backup running backs when starters went down. Dominic Rhodes (65 percent) is probably the best example when Joseph Addai missed two games, and Rhodes continues to play well with a touchdown against San Diego on Sunday night even though Addai is healthy.

It appears Moore will return to Fantasy prominence after a solid stint earlier this year when Parker missed five games. Peyton Hillis (69 percent) is also next in line as the new starter for the Broncos following a series of injuries in Denver.

We also had more injuries Sunday when Kevin Smith (shoulder) and Julius Jones (calf) had to leave their respective games. Maurice Morris (20 percent) took advantage with 14 carries for 103 yards against Washington and is worth adding. And Rudi Johnson (32 percent) will see a boost if Smith is out, but Johnson has minimal Fantasy value right now.

Also, some backups were hurt when Correll Buckhalter (knee) left the game at Baltimore. With Brian Westbrook already dealing with a myriad of injuries, Lorenzo Booker (3 percent) could now be worth a look. And Ahman Green (27 percent) hurt his knee at Cleveland, leaving Ryan Moats (0 percent) as the potential backup to Steve Slaton.

The other backup running backs who are available and worth adding are listed below. If you own the starter and have a roster space, do yourself a favor and pick up his backup just in case an injury occurs.

It could be the most important move you make for your Fantasy team as we hit Week 13.

Add 'Em

J.J. Arrington, Arizona
Owned: 13 percent of leagues
Starter: Tim Hightower
Analysis: It would interesting to see if Edgerrin James (56 percent) would return as the starter if Hightower got hurt, but right now Arrington is playing a prominent role. He had five catches for 38 yards Sunday against the Giants and scored two touchdowns at Seattle last week. He is the third-down back for the Cardinals, which is a good role to have since Arizona throws almost 40 times a game on average. In leagues where receptions count, Arrington is a good asset.

LeRon McClain, Baltimore
Owned: 50 percent of leagues
Starter: Willie McGahee
Analysis: Ray Rice (59 percent) should get consideration also, but McClain has been on a roll recently. He had 18 carries for 88 yards and a touchdown against Philadelphia on Sunday and now has a touchdown in three of his past four games. This is after scoring four touchdowns in the first four games this year, so Fantasy owners know what he's capable of. And as we know, McGahee is injury prone, so McClain could continue to play a role in your leagues this season.

Fred Jackson, Buffalo
Owned: 23 percent of leagues
Starter: Marshawn Lynch
Analysis: The Bills have used Jackson and Lynch in tandem at various times this season. Including Sunday at Kansas City when he ran for 56 yards on nine carries, Jackson has four games with at least 50 total yards this season. Lynch is a starting Fantasy running back, and Jackson would be on the cusp of a starter if Lynch got hurt. Last year, Jackson starred in two games when Lynch was hurt and had over 120 total yards in both games.

Leon Washington, N.Y. Jets
Owned: 59 percent of leagues
Starter: Thomas Jones
Analysis: Fantasy owners are starting to use Washington as a flex option now because he has become a factor in the Jets offense. He had eight carries for 82 yards and two touchdowns at Tennessee on Sunday and now has either a touchdown or 50 total yards in five of his past six games. Imagine what Washington could do with all the touches, so keep an eye on what happens with Jones the rest of the year. Washington could be a solid Fantasy option if he were a starter in this offense.

Darren Sproles, San Diego
Owned:
38 percent of leagues
Starter: LaDainian Tomlinson
Analysis: We expected to see Sproles at some point this season with Tomlinson dealing with the toe injury, but Sproles remained in a reserve role. Still, we know Tomlinson has been banged up all year, which means Sproles could still surface as a starting Fantasy option at any point. This is an obvious move that Tomlinson owners should have made on Draft Day, but Sproles is still available in most leagues, so pick him up now if you have the roster space.

Cadillac Williams, Tampa Bay
Owned:
50 percent of leagues
Starter: Warrick Dunn
Analysis: Williams returned from his knee injury from Week 4 last year on Sunday at Detroit and had 16 carries for 24 yards. With Earnest Graham (ankle) out for the year, Williams moves up the depth chart at No. 2 behind Dunn. Since Dunn already missed a game this year with a back injury, Williams could find himself starting at some point if Dunn were to get hurt again. That would be an amazing comeback story, but Williams has been a solid Fantasy option in his career when healthy.

Ladell Betts, Washington
Owned:
24 percent of leagues
Starter: Clinton Portis
Analysis: Portis proved his knee injury is fine with 29 carries for 143 yards Sunday at Seattle, but he's still playing in pain. If Portis is forced to miss any time, Betts would get the call. He had a touchdown against the Seahawks and was successful for Fantasy owners in 2006 when Portis missed time due to injury. Don't expect Shaun Alexander to play a role, so focus on Betts if you've been riding Portis to this point in the season.

Antonio Pittman, St. Louis
Owned:
50 percent of leagues
Starter: Steven Jackson
Analysis: Jackson has already missed four games in the past five weeks with a thigh injury. Pittman has been hit-or-miss in filling in for Jackson. He only had 19 total yards against the Bears on Sunday, but he has over 100 total yards in two games against New England and San Francisco. If Jackson remains out, don't give up on Pittman just yet. And if he's still out there pick him up because depending on the matchup he could be useful.

Worth Stashing

Adrian Peterson, Chicago
Owned: 2 percent of leagues
Starter: Matt Forte

Jerome Harrison, Cleveland
Owned: 3 percent of leagues
Starter: Jamal Lewis

Tashard Choice, Dallas
Owned: 2 percent of leagues
Starter: Marion Barber

Tatum Bell, Denver
Owned: 24 percent of leagues
Starter: Peyton Hillis

Jamaal Charles, Kansas City
Owned: 25 percent of leagues
Starter: Larry Johnson

Ahmad Bradshaw, N.Y. Giants
Owned: 30 percent of leagues
Starter: Brandon Jacobs

In case you haven't noticed ... It's time to add 49ers quarterback Shaun Hill. As we told you the past two weeks, we thought Hill should have been San Francisco's starter from Day 1. He passed for 303 yards, two touchdowns and one interception Sunday at Dallas and now has 13 touchdowns and five interceptions in seven games going back to last year. Hill, who is owned in 24 percent of leagues, also has made Vernon Davis a decent Fantasy option again with two touchdowns in his past three games. Hill has great matchups remaining against Buffalo, the Jets, Miami and St. Louis.

Each Monday we will highlight players who might be available in your league and whether you should consider picking them up off waivers based on their recent performances. The players chosen are based on the percentage of ownership in CBSSports.com leagues.

Avoid 'Em

Davone Bess, WR, Miami
Owned: 0 percent of leagues
Week 12: Had five catches for 87 yards against New England.
Analysis: With Greg Camarillo (knee) out for the year, Bess isn't going to post consistent stats to help your Fantasy team. Bess does have eight catches for 137 yards in his past two games against the Patriots and Oakland, but the Dolphins will be running all day in Week 13 at St. Louis. Leave Bess on the waiver wire for now, but keep an eye on what happens to Camarillo just in case.

Ashley Lelie, WR, Oakland
Owned: 1 percent of leagues
Week 12: Had four catches for 92 yards and a touchdown at Denver.
Analysis: Last week it was Ronald Curry with a good game at Miami, and this week it's Lelie's turn. Outside of Justin Fargas, Darren McFadden and possibly Zach Miller, there aren't many Fantasy options for the Raiders worth owning. Their passing game is too inconsistent, including Lelie. He scored in Week 1 against Denver and hadn't scored a touchdown again until this week.

Jerheme Urban, WR, Arizona
Owned: 0 percent of leagues
Week 12: Caught five passes for 69 yards against the Giants.
Analysis: Urban is the No. 4 wide receiver for the Cardinals, and while there are enough passes to go around in Arizona with the way Kurt Warner is playing these days, the best Fantasy options still remain Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, Steve Breaston and their running backs. Urban could be a decent reserve in the deepest of leagues, but in most formats, leave him alone.

Others to monitor ...

Harry Douglas, WR, Atlanta
Owned: 0 percent of leagues
Week 12: Had four catches for 92 yards and two carries for 3 yards and a touchdown against Carolina.
Analysis: The rookie from Louisville is worth adding in keeper leagues because he could play a prominent role in the offense. He has two games with over 90 yards receiving this year, and the Falcons would love someone to step up opposite Roddy White since Michael Jenkins hasn't been consistent in his career. Don't add Douglas in seasonal leagues right now, but he could be a good player in the future.

Domenik Hixon, WR, N.Y. Giants
Owned: 6 percent of leagues
Week 12: Had six catches for 57 yards at Arizona.
Analysis: If Plaxico Burress (hamstring) is out, Hixon would be worth adding and starting as a No. 3 Fantasy option. He has played well when Burress was suspended against Seattle in Week 5. Hixon had four catches for 102 yards and a touchdown against the Seahawks and played well against the Cardinals when Burress left the game. With his status unknown, Hixon could step up again.

Kevin Kolb, QB, Philadelphia
Owned: 2 percent of leagues
Week 12: Completed 10-of-23 passes for 73 yards and two interceptions and had three carries for 12 yards at Baltimore.
Analysis: It's obvious that no matter what happens the rest of this year, the Eagles are going in a different 0direction from Donovan McNabb. Kolb appears to be the heir apparent and is worth adding in keeper leagues. If he starts for the Eagles this year, then he could be worth a late-season addition because of how much Philadelphia throws the ball. Kolb will have better matchups than coming into the game against the Ravens.

Do you have a question? Send your thoughts to DMFantasyFootball@cbs.com and we'll post the best responses. Be sure to put Attn: Waiver Wire in the subject field. Include your name, hometown and state.

 
 
 
Player News
Matt Schaub
Schaub doing well in rehab
Matt Schaub, QB, HOU
1:03 PM
News: The Houston Chronicle reports Tuesday that Texans QB Matt Schaub, who finished the season on injured reserve following foot surgery, is doing well and his rehab is ahead of schedule. The report says Schaub works out almost every day.
Analysis: This is great news, and we expect Schaub to return at 100 percent in 2012. Continue to monitor what happens with Schaub, but he should be considered a low-end No. 1/high-end No. 2 Fantasy QB heading into the season. He is worth a mid-round pick in all leagues on Draft Day.

Lofa Tatupu
Tatupu visits Saints
Lofa Tatupu, LB, SEA
2:36 PM
News: Free agent LB Lofau Tatupu visited with the Saints on Monday, according to NFL.com. The 29-year-old Tatupu sat out the 2011 season. The former Pro Bowl MLB was asked to take a pay cut by the Seahawks after the lockout ended last summer, and subsequently asked for his release. Tatupu was scheduled to visit with the Raiders and Redskins in August, but didn't sign with anyone and fell off the radar for the remainder of the year while he reportedly dealt with a knee injury. Tatupu was scheduled to earn more than $4 million in 2011 before his release by Seattle. The six-year veteran was a second-round pick and has played in three Pro Bowls. But he also started to wear down from 2008-2010, including finishing 2009 on injured reserve with a knee injury. He did start all 16 games in 2010, but had surgery on both knees during the offseason.
Analysis: Keep an eye on what happens with Tatupu and where he plays in 2012. When healthy and active he could be a No. 3 Fantasy LB worth a late-round pick in IDP leagues.

Ravens
Flacco, Ravens to work on deal
Ravens, TQB BAL,
12:47 PM
News: The NFL Network reports that the Ravens are set to open contract extension talks with QB Joe Flacco's agent at the NFL Combine next week. The report says both sides aim for a long-term deal. Flacco is entering a contract year in 2012, and Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti recently said Flacco would be the team's starting quarterback for years to come.
Analysis: Flacco's won a lot of games for the Ravens but hasn't taken the next step statistically, even when the team added Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith. Flacco has had between 3,610 and 3,622 passing yards and between 20 and 25 touchdowns in each of his last three seasons. But this year his completion percentage and yards per attempt dropped like a rock while his pass attempts hit a career high (542, breaking the previous mark of 499). Flacco fits the bill as a great No. 2 Fantasy QB; though he's finally outfitted with a quality receiving corps, he simply doesn't invoke much confidence as a starting option. Look for him late in drafts.

Jahvid Best
Best 'on pace' for offseason work
Jahvid Best, RB, DET
12:43 PM
News: The Detroit Free-Press reports that Lions RB Jahvid Best’s status remains uncertain because of concussion problems even though team president Tom Lewand is optimistic. Lewand said Best is "on pace" to be ready for offseason workouts, and he is looking forward to seeing Best and Mikel Leshoure play together. "Jahvid is a special player and he'll be even more dynamic when he can ... share the load with a guy like Mikel in the backfield."
Analysis: We hope Best can return at 100 percent, but he will likely be used as a change of pace rusher and a third-down back. Continue to monitor what happens with Best, but he should only be drafted with a late-round pick in standard leagues and a mid-round selection in PPR formats since he will likely be used in tandem with Leshoure and possibly Kevin Smith if he returns as a free agent.

Mikel Leshoure
Leshoure's recovery going well
Mikel Leshoure, RB, DET
12:40 PM
News: The Detroit Free-Press reports that Lions RB Mikel Leshoure, who tore his left Achilles tendon in the second week of training camp last year, is close to making a full recovery. At the Lions’ request, Leshoure just moved the final stages of his rehab back to Detroit from Arizona. He’s doing resistance work and light running and is expected to join OTA workouts at some point this offseason. Leshoure looked like he was going to be a key part of the Lions offense when injury struck last August, and the team is anxious to get a read on him this spring. RB Jahvid Best’s status remains uncertain because of concussion problems, and even if Best returns it’s clear he’s not an every-down back.
Analysis: Leshoure should be considered a great sleeper heading into 2012, and he is worth drafting as a No. 3 Fantasy RB as long as he's healthy. He has tremendous upside, and he could be a great weapon for the Lions, especially with Best struggling as an every-down back. Continue to monitor what happens with Leshoure, but he is worth drafting as early as Round 6 in 2012.

Mike Wallace
Steelers want to lock up Wallace
Mike Wallace, WR, PIT
12:17 PM
News: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Steelers GM Kevin Colbert said Monday the team wants to keep WR Mike Wallace "here for the long run." Wallace, their leading receiver last season, will become a restricted free agent March 13.
Analysis: Wallace played well in 2011 with 72 catches for 1,193 yards and eight touchdowns on 114 targets. He will remain in Pittsburgh in 2012, and hopefully he can sign a long-term deal. We consider Wallace a Top 10 Fantasy WR on Draft Day, and he should be selected in all leagues in Round 3.

Hines Ward
GM says no decision on Ward yet
Hines Ward, WR, PIT
12:13 PM
News: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Steelers GM Kevin Colbert said Monday that no decision has been made on whether WR Hines Ward will be back with the Steelers in 2012. "To this current point, no final decisions have been made," Colbert said. "We've had several discussions internally. We're right in the midst of our free agent evaluations of other teams' free agents. We'll meet on those [on the Steelers roster] starting Thursday and carry through Monday." A recent report on NFL Network said that Ward won't be back with the Steelers in 2012 but a source close to Ward refuted the report.
Analysis: Keep an eye on what happens with Ward and where he ends up in 2012. No matter where Ward plays, however, he would have minimal Fantasy value, and he is not worth drafting in the majority of leagues.

Brandon Lloyd
Pats could go after Lloyd
Brandon Lloyd, WR, STL
12:08 PM
News: The Boston Herald reports that the Patriots will be in the market for a WR this year, and one obvious possibility is Brandon Lloyd, who is an impending free agent, because of his ties to offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. The fact that Lloyd said “I’m tied to McDaniels” makes him a likely free agent target. Lloyd had 51 catches for 683 yards and five TDs last year in 11 games in St. Louis when McDaniels was the offensive coordinator makes him look pretty good after he amassed 77 catches for 1,448 yards and 11 scores with Denver when McDaniels was the coach.
Analysis: One holdup for Lloyd and the Patriots could be Lloyd's agent, Tom Condon, who has a rocky relationship with the Patriots. We'll see what plays out this offseason, but if Lloyd signs in New England he would be considered a low-end No. 2 Fantasy WR. He could still return to the Rams, where he would be a strong No. 3 option. Or he could shop himself around the league. Stay tuned, but either way Lloyd is worth a mid-round pick in all leagues.

Bills
Fitzpatrick finished season hurt
Bills, TQB BUF,
11:53 AM
News: The Sports Xchange reports that Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick's second-half swoon in 2011 was mystifying to fans and media who concluded the front office badly miscalculated in handing the career journeyman a 10-year, $60 million contract extension. But now it appears Fitzpatrick played the final nine games last season with cracked ribs. "A lot of people don't know, but Fitz, during the Washington game, actually cracked a couple of ribs," WR David Nelson said. "So after that he was playing hurt." It showed. In Fitzpatrick's first seven games of the year, he threw for 1,739 yards, 14 touchdowns and seven interceptions. After the injury, he had 2,093 yards, 10 touchdowns and 16 picks. He finished the year with a league-high 23 interceptions. "It's hard to find the silver lining but as we evaluate the season and what went right and what went wrong I'm sure we'll find a lot of positives and a lot of things that we can carry into next year hopefully and continue to get better at it," Fitzpatrick said.
Analysis: Fitzpatrick obviously has 4,000-yard, 25-touchdown potential, but issues involving the personnel around him along with his own issues (accuracy, for one) make him risky for weekly use in Fantasy. Figure that he's worth a late-round pick as a good No. 2 Fantasy QB with potential to be a low-end starter. It should only help him if the Bills not only re-sign Steve Johnson this offseason, but also add talent at wide receiver.

Josh Scobee
Jags want Scobee back
Josh Scobee, K, JAC
11:47 AM
News: The Sports Xchange reports that Jacksonville has most of its top offensive players locked into contracts for the coming season with one notable exception - kicker Josh Scobee, who is an eight-year veteran. Scobee has been one of the league's most accurate kickers in his eight seasons with the Jaguars, converting better than 75 percent of his field-goal attempts in all but one season. Scobee led the team in scoring last year with 92 points, including 23 of 25 (92 percent) field-goal attempts, the second time in his career he's finished over 90 percent with his kicks. It isn't likely the Jaguars would use the franchise tag on him and probably won't have to. They'll make every attempt to sign him. For a team that was among the league's lowest scoring clubs, the Jaguars can ill afford to lose a player with Scobee's talents.
Analysis: Keep an eye on what happens with Scobee. He is not worth drafting in the majority of leagues, but he could be used as a bye-week replacement as long as he remains with the Jaguars.

 
 
 
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