Waiver Wire: Acquire stud insurance
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.
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| Leon Washington is proving that he can be productive with enough touches. (AP) |
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, ArizonaOwned: 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, ChicagoOwned: 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.
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